open Bangcolt Arena! (Fighting/Sol) -RP-

[Fractured 2,683]

@J.R.

Rarity gave a quick nod in response. "Oh, of course! This was much too fun to pass up on future occasions. I'll see you sometime later, Ice Blizzard!" Rarity waved off to him as he left When she was finished, she organized her stuff, making sure everything was in place and organized, before heading off back to her shop.

-------

@Denim&Venom

The stallion contemplated both questions. "Well, quarters are located right next to the arena. Big, tall, skyscraper looking building; you'd have to have passed it on the way over here, if you happened to be coming from registration. And as for open challenges..."

 

He reached out with magic, picking up one of the lists that he had stored behind the desk. He held it out in front of him, looking it over. "Well... it's not an easy process. But we can do it. Hold on a second..."

 

He began to concentrate, causing the letters on the list to flash. Green sparks of flame shot off of each of them, before they leapt off of the paper, racing off into the sky. Searching for their owners...

 

--------

 

@J.R., @Unicorncob, @Hazard Time, , ,@P-Jay, , @Literally Snails, @DarkusX, 

Across the limits of Bangcolt, parchments would appear to all those who had signed up to enter the tournaments. A solid brown sheet of paper containing an open invitation to the one one named "Luster," a map with directions on how to get to the arena, and directions for an ASAP, if possible...

-snip-

 

[J.R. 3,183]

​"See ya!" ​Ice waved back cheerfully. From there, he would make his way over towards the spa near Bangcolt's shopping areas. There, he went inside, and saw that there was a bit of a line for him to wait in order to get to the front. ​"Oh boy. They better not be doing that hot towel thing again like what happened in Ponyville's spa. I just want a good soak in hot water, and a massage. Is that too much?"

[Hazard Time 1,127]

Zenru drank from his cup, and set it down. "Well. That could be taken in a multitude of ways. Intimidation, threatening, laws..."

 

He smiled. "Although I was always a personal fan of the option to try and make your enemies into friends. Not only do you not have to worry about them...But you gain an ally, as well. But we've talked enough, if I don't hurry, I'll miss my patrol. I wish you the best of luck, in this situation."

 

He dipped his head, turning to stride out. A few words were heard spoken outside, and a few minutes later, a griffon walked in, looking at her. He had a white and gold color scheme, with a scar running across his cheek. Curiously enough, only one wing, as well...

 

"..." He cleared his throat. "...I'm Flugel. Can you tell me about the incident?" 

 

Carnelian's upper lip curled up in a sneer at his utterly ludicrous suggestion.  Did he seriously expect her to just forgive the fact that Raze tried to outright murder her?  Oh yes, she'll do that right now in fact!  Walk right up to that bastard, smile brightly, tell him how great it feels to leave the past in the past and that she can't wait to put their differences aside and--oops, he just stabbed her in the chest again.  I'm sure he didn't mean it.

 

If it didn't mean breaking the illusion that she was the victim, the baroness would have loved to regale this utterly ignorant guard captain with tales of nobles eaten alive for thinking that their code of honor prevented them from being stabbed in the back.  The only time she saw enemies become allies was when she was able to present them with a better offer.  Friendship...pah!

 

Then, the griff who was to be her instrument of justice entered the room, and her sneer returned to a smug grin.  "Detective, your captain said many good things about you.  I hope that the overwhelming evidence I provide will be enough.

 

"It began yesterday.  I had just arrived in Bangcolt, and I entered the lobby of the arena with one of the door guards.  I made a comment about how I felt it could have used a bit more furnishing, which prompted Raze to come out of whatever shadow he was brooding in to verbally assault me.  I told him in very kind words to leave me alone and that I meant him no harm.  Instead, he proceeded to physically assault me and the guard who was escorting me, destroying his helmet and my crown, the latter of which he then stole.

 

"I and several officers present gave chase, but he was too fast, and I eventually gave up.  After wandering the streets for a few hours, I found him again.  This time, however, he threatened my life and chased me onto a roof top.  I defended myself as best I could, but his skill trumped mine, and he mortally wounded me.  Had it not been for the actions of Dame Sunset Shimmer, I feel that I would have died.

 

"In conclusion, the crimes I wish to charge against him are as follows: Third Degree Assault and Battery, Aggravated Assault, Armed Robbery, and Capital Murder.  Of course, the guardsponies involved would also probably like to add the charges of Evading Arrest and Assaulting a Royal Guard, and Dame Sunset may even have charges of her own to press."

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

@,

 

"You son of a bitch...!" he scowled back at him. "You don't know this is what she wants!? She WANTS you to be Mr. Devil to her perfect little angel! It's how these damned demons work; you're dancing to her tune while you think that its yours! You have to beat nobles like her at her own game, one step at a time! And if you don't know that, you're more of a moron that I took you for in the first place. And before you say a word about it, no, she attacked me and I was defending myself. That damn lich..."

 

As Raze made his final, snarky comment, he turned away. "... fine. If my attempts at saving your ass from your own issues go completely unappreciated whatsoever, then go ahead. Have fun running your own one man war against the entire city. I wouldn't be surprised if she's got some of the city's finest on her case right now. I came here to relax and have fun, anyways, so screw you, Cactus Tail. Go be the stereotypical edgy anime wandering swordsman that dies in the end."

 

He jumped off the roof and landed softly on the ground, muting his glow, and walking in the direction of Rosalia. If the moron didn't want to acknowledge his assistance, fine. He had more issues, especially concerning Rosalia. Speaking of Rosalia, was that... blood leaking from her nose?

 

His trot turned into a full sprint. Oh hell, not this early...

 

---

 

@@J.R.,

 

OMIGOSH HE ACTUALLY SIGNED AND HE WANTS TO TAKE ME TO THE HOSPITAL AND OMIGOSH!

 

She let loose a small squee as she accepted the paper back from him. "Yeah... that might be for the best. Um... thank you so very much!" she said with a grin before sniffling and...

 

"Ah... ah... ACHOO!"

 

The built up blood and dust in her nose, although she turned away, would have came into contact with Batter Boy and infected him- but at that moment, what appeared to be a shadow blasted between the two of them, creating a gust of wind that threw her offguard. Whatever would have hit The Batter Boy was instead absorbed by the shadow (which was kind enough to wipe the stream of blood off her face, as well as leave in her hoof a tissue), which kept charging along the street afterwards. However, Rosalia didn't notice the shadow but immediately with wide eyes turned to Batter Boy, but her eyes weren't filled with excitement- they were filled with worry. "Oh no... I didn't hit you with that, did I?"

 

---

 

@@Unicorncob,

 

"Oh, come on!" muttered Agririon as the Rosalia Virus began eating away at his cloak, detecting it as a foreign entity. "I just had that washed, you microorganism terrorists!" Coming to a full stop, he sidestepped into an alleyway before opening a portal and throwing the old one within it and taking out a new one, swapping cloaks within five seconds before a notice appeared in the pocket of his new cloak. "... interesting. I'll look into that in a bit."

Shaking his head slightly, he stepped back out onto the main road, where he proceeded to walk into a... noticeably short pony with an axe. He stepped back a bit before looking her over. If this wasn't a fighter, he didn't know what was.

 

Time to piss someone off.

 

With a grin on his face that was hidden by his cloak, he said, "... you're a bit short, aren't you?"

[Unicorncob 5,671]

@

 

After a while of drinking - as in, another couple of hours - Tyra exited the bar after depleting most of her winnings on fine drinks. She had a noticeable buzz, and a relaxed grin on her face as she strutted down the street. A strange wailing emanated from her, which could only be assumed was a drinking song from her homeland in her own tongue. Though it sounded less like singing and more like a cockatrice being strangled.

 

In her almost-drunken reverie, she bumped into a cloaked stallion, and shook her head, making her ears and the wings on her helmet flop, before looking up at him. "Oh, sorr--"

 

 

 "... you're a bit short, aren't you?"

 

Her drunk grin quickly made way for a scowl. "Do not underestimate me, friend. A warrior is not measured in size!"

Mni had made a fatal lapse in judgement. His assumption was that she would never kill him because of her code of ethics. He planned to fake being incapacitated by her and then strike from behind when she let her guard down, something that probably would have worked if she hadn't made that hard but wise decision. Mni's eyes were wide with shock as they both heard a solid thunk, the sound of her blade hitting the ground underneath his neck after passing through it.

Then his eyes rolled back. Jade felt the firm flesh that her blade was stuck into begin to soften as Mni's whole body started to transform into a colored ash that withered and blew away with the wind. Beneath the ash a figure was slowly uncovered as the flakey remains that covered it blew away. A stallion much smaller than Mni, curled up in a fetal position, clearly dead, but without any wounds. The unicorn was a darker tone of green than Mni had been and wore a bright blue cowl with symbols on it that Jade couldn't recognize.

"An abomination!" Feather gasped after processing what he was seeing. "Unicorns that are so powerful in magic that they attract malicious apparitions that take over their bodies! Mni wasn't a demon at all... Not a true one."

"Likely a foolish boy who began research into things he wasn't supposed to." Tricis added, seeming like she knew this the whole time. "His body may look young, but he's really much older than I assumed. That robe he's wearing predates Equestria."

 

Jade kept her eyes closed and said nothing as Mni's demonic appearance withered away beneath her. It was a difficult decision, given her displeasure for killing, but it had to be done.

 

Hearing Feather and Tricis speaking, she opened her eyes and felt a pang in her chest as she saw the smaller stallion curled up beneath her. He must have been possessed all this time.

 

Slowly, she removed her blade from his neck, and placed a hoof gently on his shoulder.

"I'm sorry this happened to you... I hope you can find peace now, wherever your spirit lays."

[Literally Snails 2,307]

@

Jade kept her eyes closed and said nothing as Mni's demonic appearance withered away beneath her. It was a difficult decision, given her displeasure for killing, but it had to be done.

 

Hearing Feather and Tricis speaking, she opened her eyes and felt a pang in her chest as she saw the smaller stallion curled up beneath her. He must have been possessed all this time.

 

Slowly, she removed her blade from his neck, and placed a hoof gently on his shoulder.

"I'm sorry this happened to you... I hope you can find peace now, wherever your spirit lays."

"Winner Of the second match is Jade." Tricis announced with minimal enthusiasm. "Time to move on to the final round to determine the winner of the tournament: Jade Versus Feather!"

 

Feather stepped forward, but faced Tricis instead of Jade. "Mater Tricis..." he addressed, "I wish to forfeit and give victory to Jade." He said somewhat hesitantly. Tricis didn't respond verbally, she just looked at him with a stern, quizzical expression.

 

"You, um... You never said we couldn't." Feather added.

 

"Why would you work so hard to quit now?" Tricis asked accusingly.

 

"The way I see it, it would be wrong of me to continue." Feather explained. "After that fight, Jade expended everything she had to defeat an opponent I never would have been able to beat." He said, frequently shifting his focus between Jade and Tricis. "If I fight her like she is right now after expending all of that energy, I'll defeat her even though she deserves your training more than I. Conversely, if I wait for her to recover fully, She'll simply beat me with little effort." He gave off a shrug with closed eyes and a smirk. "So you see, this whole endeavor would be rather pointless."

[Unicorncob 5,671]

"Winner Of the second match is Jade." Tricis announced with minimal enthusiasm. "Time to move on to the final round to determine the winner of the tournament: Jade Versus Feather!"

 

Feather stepped forward, but faced Tricis instead of Jade. "Mater Tricis..." he addressed, "I wish to forfeit and give victory to Jade." He said somewhat hesitantly. Tricis didn't respond verbally, she just looked at him with a stern, quizzical expression.

 

"You, um... You never said we couldn't." Feather added.

 

"Why would you work so hard to quit now?" Tricis asked accusingly.

 

"The way I see it, it would be wrong of me to continue." Feather explained. "After that fight, Jade expended everything she had to defeat an opponent I never would have been able to beat." He said, frequently shifting his focus between Jade and Tricis. "If I fight her like she is right now after expending all of that energy, I'll defeat her even though she deserves your training more than I. Conversely, if I wait for her to recover fully, She'll simply beat me with little effort." He gave off a shrug with closed eyes and a smirk. "So you see, this whole endeavor would be rather pointless."

 

Jade's eyes widened with surprise at hearing Feather's forfeiting the match. The two of them came so far and fought so hard, and he was just going to give in like that?

 

She sheathed her sword and walked up to the stallion, a slight limp in her step from the fight with Mni. "Are you sure? I'd be happy to accept your challenge now."

 

The truth was, Feather was correct - now that she had come down from using that strange power, Jade was feeling exhausted. But she couldn't leave her new friend dissatisfied.

[J.R. 3,183]

@,

Jack blinked as she sneezed, but didn't seem to be affected by it at all somehow. ​"No...? It's just a small sneeze. A sneeze can't hurt someone tough like me." he said, trying to stay confident for the girl. She seemed pretty down as far as her situation went, so he wanted to help her feel better. ​"Come on, let's get ya to the doc."

 

​The colt went around behind her wheelchair, and started pushing her towards the hospital that was around the corner, ​"Comin' through. Batter Boy's got a patient here!"

[P-Jay 1,987]

Carnelian's upper lip curled up in a sneer at his utterly ludicrous suggestion.  Did he seriously expect her to just forgive the fact that Raze tried to outright murder her?  Oh yes, she'll do that right now in fact!  Walk right up to that bastard, smile brightly, tell him how great it feels to leave the past in the past and that she can't wait to put their differences aside and--oops, he just stabbed her in the chest again.  I'm sure he didn't mean it.

 

If it didn't mean breaking the illusion that she was the victim, the baroness would have loved to regale this utterly ignorant guard captain with tales of nobles eaten alive for thinking that their code of honor prevented them from being stabbed in the back.  The only time she saw enemies become allies was when she was able to present them with a better offer.  Friendship...pah!

 

Then, the griff who was to be her instrument of justice entered the room, and her sneer returned to a smug grin.  "Detective, your captain said many good things about you.  I hope that the overwhelming evidence I provide will be enough.

 

"It began yesterday.  I had just arrived in Bangcolt, and I entered the lobby of the arena with one of the door guards.  I made a comment about how I felt it could have used a bit more furnishing, which prompted Raze to come out of whatever shadow he was brooding in to verbally assault me.  I told him in very kind words to leave me alone and that I meant him no harm.  Instead, he proceeded to physically assault me and the guard who was escorting me, destroying his helmet and my crown, the latter of which he then stole.

 

"I and several officers present gave chase, but he was too fast, and I eventually gave up.  After wandering the streets for a few hours, I found him again.  This time, however, he threatened my life and chased me onto a roof top.  I defended myself as best I could, but his skill trumped mine, and he mortally wounded me.  Had it not been for the actions of Dame Sunset Shimmer, I feel that I would have died.

 

"In conclusion, the crimes I wish to charge against him are as follows: Third Degree Assault and Battery, Aggravated Assault, Armed Robbery, and Capital Murder.  Of course, the guardsponies involved would also probably like to add the charges of Evading Arrest and Assaulting a Royal Guard, and Dame Sunset may even have charges of her own to press."

 

Flugel kept silent through her speech. Nodding once, twice, once she finished. He looked almost bored, as if he heard things like this on a daily basis...

 

"So a classic hit-and-run. Gotcha." He muttered, scribbling down a few notes. Looking back at her, with a gaze that would rival a hawk's, he asked another question. 

 

"But I don't care what he did. Do you have any useful information that might lead to his capture? I need to know if he was with someone, and if this really took place in the lobby, I'm gonna have to go check the security cameras there...Maybe I'll see if he came there with someone. Also, you said he had a sword and gun, right? I'll need to start watching places that sell--or repair--weapons of that nature."

[Fractured 2,683]

Ivory Star dropped down out of the sky to land on the roof below her, the purple scar of trans-dimensional transportation closing from above her without a sound.

 

She sat down on all fours, looking ahead of her, to the princesses suite. She could see it in all of its glory, a massive white building gleaming like polished glass, eclipsed only by the height of the arena. Beautiful. Pristine. Probably not 4/10's as interesting as anything that she'd seen on her adventures.

 

She was stuck in a bottle right now.

 

Since she'd decided to become a villain all of several minutes ago, ideas had been whirling through her head on what to do. But all of them ran against two particular issues she couldn't shake, no matter how hard she tried. One, she didn't want to kill anypony, or cause any significant lasting harm. Two, she didn't know if she could pull this off without either of the first, and still garner attention. Good villains were convincing villains after all, and ones that were willing to break limits in order to get what they wanted.

 

Could she do that? And more importantly, where would it end...?

 

Ivory Star hung at the edge of the building, silently pondering to herself.

[Denim&Venöm 18,264]

@@Fractured,

Luster got pinged on her dragonmail account. A response to her open challenge. "Hmm. It seems somepony has already accepted my challenge.  A@@P-Jay, A Mr. Firebeak. So, which way to the arena? Oh and does our entrances into the battlezone come with pyro and music?"

[P-Jay 1,987]

Luster got pinged on her dragonmail account. A response to her open challenge. "Hmm. It seems somepony has already accepted my challenge. A Mr. Firebeak. So, which way to the arena? Oh and does our entrances into the battlezone come with pyro and music?"

 

Meanwhile, in an open area directly below the main Arena, a band of magi looked up, from around a circle, chattering to themselves. 

 

"I sent the email."

"Ready?"

"Not really."

"That's the spirit."

"Is this really safe? I mean, Tartarus is supposed to stay, well, sealed."

"It's not like we're releasing something like Tirek. Or...The King."

 

One of them shivered. 

 

"The 5th Circle is still no laughing matter. Remember when we first opened the 1st Circle, and released the Morphic Plague? This is way beyond that."

"Listen, we're only pulling one out at a time. Then we'll send him right back in. Easy. Done. We've done worse, after all, we're the tamers of Cerberus."

"...If this goes wrong, let it be known that this was Cyndia's idea."

 

The other three nodded their heads in agreement. One of them turned her hooves upwards. "Fine, I'll take the heat if something goes wrong. Let's just summon him already."

 

They nodded, and began to channel their magic into the circle, which started to glow in response. Drifting up from the ground, it split into five rings, each swirling with increasing intensity, before being sent up a hole in the room, out into the Arena. 

 

From within the circles, a portal appeared...And something fell out, landing in a heap, on the ground. The orange-and-red griffon looked around, before slowly reaching for his hat, to put on...A shadow settled over his horribly scarred face. 

 

He grinned, the crack in his beak widening sickeningly. 

 

Firebeak had been summoned to the Arena. 

 

Now all that was left was for Luster to make an appearance, so that the match can start...

[Denim&Venöm 18,264]

@@P-Jay,

 

"Reigns. You're tangled up in the reigns..."

 

The lights in the arena darkened, save for the spotlights on Firebeak.  

 

"I'm about to show you something beautiful." A cybernetic voice echoed through the arena. Sounding a shade like Princess Twilight, except lower & raspier. "You will look up to the sky. You will look up to the sky and see...hope..."

 

...I think I'll take that from you first."

 

The clanking of metal hooves on the arena floor echoed. Int he darkness, a pair of glowing amber eyes could be seen. Into the dim remaining light, a mechanical mare walked in. Faint traces of lavender paint could be seen here and there. Possessing a gold mane and tail with silver and copper streaks, and a golden gear cutie mark with a white star burst in the center.  On her sides, were metal saddlebags. Those were levitated off her back. The opened. Revealing two guns in each. A Baretta 92 pistol. A Banelli M4 Super 90 shotgun, an  AK-47, and an M40 sniper rifle.  She began loading the guns, pointing them into the air. 

 

"Now, admittedly I'm kind of new to this. When do we start?" 

[P-Jay 1,987]

@Denim&Venom

 

The griffon, who looked barely even alive, crawled with injuries that already speckled his body. His trench coat, dotted with holes, tears, and what looked like burn marks. Although, one could see a few holsters at his sides, filled with flit-lock pistols. A jug of...something was attached, at his back. But the most defining feature was either his hat, which bore no embalm, or his sword, at his side. 

 

He shifted, to face Luster, two dead eyes staring at her from under the shadow of the brim of his hat. He cocked his head, and spoke, in a voice impossibly raspy...Almost as if he had a lasting injury to the throat impeding his speech. 

 

"...Where...Am I?" He asked, his wary gaze flickering to the guns Luster held. One of his claws itched towards a gun of his own...

 

"I remember...My ship, sinkin'...My crew, rebellin'..." His wings flexed, the unpruned feathers shivering, with rage "...And then an eternity in a cage. Rottin', decayin', wishin' for anything else then that hell..."

 

He took a single step.

 

"...Was it you who put me in there?"

 

 

A scroll would be summoned, in front of Luster, in a rather neat handwriting. Though, it was obviously rushed...

 

 

Firebeak the Pirate. He was a notorious pirate captain, during the Early Alicorn era, who attacked Griffonstone and Equestrian ships both, raiding them. He showed no mercy, almost never leaving any survivors, and the few that he did spare, either ended up as slaves on his ship or joined his crew entirely 

 

Legend has it that what made Firebeak so formidable in navy battles, was a peculiar substance he utilized, that he called Griffonfury. It's incredibly flammable, explosive, and above all--hard to put out. According to lore, he would drink a large sum of the liquid, and using the flint-and-steel coverings on his beak, he would breath a column of fire at ships, once he was finished, to watch them burn and sink into the depths of the sea. This was his go-to solution, once his ship ever began to lose any battle, with opposing pirates or Kingdom-owned ships. Although, its far more likely he simply fired the liquid at ships, in a jar or other similar substance, because what kind of Griffon would be able to sink an entire ship?

 

It's unknown what exactly Griffonfury is made up of, but we do know that it had an undesired effect, from being ingested. Eventually driving Firebeak mad, he slaughtered his crew on a cruise, before his ship disappeared into the strait.

 

Some claim he died soon after. Some claimed he lived for a good few years yet, killing for the sole sake of killing. While some believe that his ghost is haunting the sea, even to this day. 

 

...But in reality, he's in the Arena. Fighting you. He'll be attacking to kill, so, try to forfeit or win before that happens. In the off-chance it does...We think we can bring you back regardless.

 

~Keplar

 

 

Edited July 14, 2016 by P-Jay

[Denim&Venöm 18,264]

@@P-Jay,

 

"Oh I remember him." She accessed her own historical records on her opponent. "I get to kill a zombie?  An evil pirate zombie? Is he dead? Let's find out." She began an x- ray scan of his body, while also listening for a heart beat.

 

"No. I wasn't. But I will be the one to send you back." 

[P-Jay 1,987]

@Denim&Venom

 

In a moment, his wings were spread, and it was revealed they were abnormally large. How they nestled against his back without trouble for him was a mystery, as with a single mighty flap, a gust of wind blew across the Arena.

 

The Arena, which had long since morphed to be what looked like a broken, withered ship's deck. 

 

"No...You're not."

 

He flapped once more, and was immediately streaking towards her, his sword swishing to the ready. Apparently, his flapping was propelling himself forward even faster then he could've attained, on his limbs alone.

 

"I am never...Going back there." He growled, aiming a horizontal strike as he came within reach...

[Denim&Venöm 18,264]

@@P-Jay,

 

Her scans were still processing whether he was alive or not. "Good thing I loaded up on the light ammo. Fittign that since I'm fighting a bird, I loaded up on-"

 

She pointed her Beretta shot gun in the general direction of Firebeak, and pulled the trigger. A flash of the barrel. Out of the muzzle flash shot a fanning column of lead birdshot. Right in Flamebeak's path. 

[P-Jay 1,987]

Her scans were still processing whether he was alive or not. "Good thing I loaded up on the light ammo. Fittign that since I'm fighting a bird, I loaded up on-"

 

She pointed her Beretta shot gun in the general direction of Firebeak, and pulled the trigger. A flash of the barrel. Out of the muzzle flash shot a fanning column of lead birdshot. Right in Flamebeak's path. 

 

It was revealed, that he was indeed alive--but not in a valid way. His soul was dead, yet his body lived on.

 

And it was soon to be known, that Firebeak was no stranger to combat. Screeching to a halt, once she aimed her gun, he flapped his wings to assist with a jump overhead. Once again, rather then using his wings for flight, he was using them to boost the speed of his movements. Although, a stray piece of the birdshot did indeed embed itself in his leg, it hardly seemed to even register to him. 

 

Bringing the sword down, after a few spins in the air, with full intent to cleave Luster's head open...

[Denim&Venöm 18,264]

@@P-Jay,

"Griffon sword techniques in regard to the cutlass. Accessing..." In between nanoseconds, Luster began rapidly analyzing known data in the fighting styles of 1st-5th century griffon marauders & privateers in regards to naval combat. While she was doing that, she slid her bayonet onto her shotgun.  "One other thing to think to consider: if I recall, most blades of that era contained iron. So-"

 

She activated the magnetic field in her horn, intent on stopping Firebeak's cutlass in it's tracks.   

[Fractured 2,683]

"...This shouldn't be so difficult," Ivory Star sighed.

 

"...What shouldn't be?" A voice behind Ivory Star made her turn her head, checking to see who was there. Sunset Shimmer looked back at her from where she stood, with a curious expression. She waved a hoof dismissively in Ivory Star's direction. "Not trying to pry. I just sort of saw you on the roof, and just couldn't help but get curious. So what's up?"

 

"...Just thinking." Ivory Star watched without comment as Sunset Shimmer trotted over next to her. "It's sort of been a crazy time since i've been here, and I find myself having to make some hard decisions. Ones that I don't know if i'm quite ready to make. Or if I should even have the right."

 

Sunset Shimmer stopped, as the back of her mind attempted to decode the information that had been given to her. She sat down next to Ivory. "Power issues?" She scoffed lightly. "Yeah, i've been there..."

 

"You don't understand."

 

"You think I don't understand?" She scoffed louder. "Try me."

 

"There's no end to the amount of ponies I could hurt, including my own friends."

 

"I backstabbed somebody who might as well have been my mom, and i'm still making up for it."

 

"I have powers that nobody should have ever been given."

 

"I turned into a raging she-demon by stealing an artifact of unknowable power, and brainwashed a school." She blinked. "...Still trying to make up for that, too."

 

"I feel like i've lost all connection to this world." Ivory Star sighed as she laid her head down on the roof's barrier. "Like i've forgotten what it's like to care about anyone, or that the connection's just disappeared entirely. I think i've gone too far."

 

"...Well. I think I know about the first one. I have been away for a while. Not so much the second. But, hey." Sunset Shimmer laid a single hoof on her shoulder. "If you want a connection with somebody, if you need somepony to care about, then I know the best place to go for that."

 

"Oh?" Ivory Star shot her a questioning look. "Do you really?"

 

"Yeah." Sunset Shimmer looked back at her with a grin. "Twilight Sparkle. But i'm the only one that's here, so it's going to have be me, instead."  She leaned over and nudged her with a friendly smile. "Tell me everything."

[J.R. 3,183]

Nurse Nadelle Fury was reading over some notes within Bangcolt's hospital. "Dies ist interesting..the vierte Fall in dieser Woche. Warum kommen so viele Ponys mit solch einer ähnlichen Krankheit nach unten? Es kann kein Zufall sein, aber es scheint keine direkte Konnotation zu sein..." ​the mare mumbled to herself in Germane. After a while, she got up from her desk, and walked over to a containment room. Four ponies laid on beds covered in purple spots, unmoving as if they were under anesthetics. ​"Vat can be done about this...ve may need help."

[Hazard Time 1,127]

Flugel kept silent through her speech. Nodding once, twice, once she finished. He looked almost bored, as if he heard things like this on a daily basis...

 

"So a classic hit-and-run. Gotcha." He muttered, scribbling down a few notes. Looking back at her, with a gaze that would rival a hawk's, he asked another question. 

 

"But I don't care what he did. Do you have any useful information that might lead to his capture? I need to know if he was with someone, and if this really took place in the lobby, I'm gonna have to go check the security cameras there...Maybe I'll see if he came there with someone. Also, you said he had a sword and gun, right? I'll need to start watching places that sell--or repair--weapons of that nature."

 

Damnit, why didn't he just take her word for it?!  She was a noble, a baroness!  What right did he have to challenge her word?

 

No, no, calm down.  Leave the PR suicide to Raze.  At the same time, she had a feeling this investigation was going nowhere fast.  She wanted Raze rotting in prison, and she wanted it now.

 

"He was with nopony, no," Carnelian answered.  "And the security cameras will tell you everything you need to know.  There is also another thing, however.  During the scuffling in which he mortally wounded me, I was able to stab him twice in the hind leg with a knife I have since lost.  You may also wish to check hospital records, in that case."

 

The noblemare stood up, brushing herself off.  "Anyway, is there anything else you wish to ask me?  For reasons of my own safety, I wish to temporarily leave this city, and the soonest train out leaves in an hour."

[Fractured 2,683]

@J.R.

"Help?" Nurse Redheart narrowly resisted the urge to smack her own face with a hoof; she'd done that once before, and the resulting bruise hadn't been pretty. "Help?" She took a deep breath, before she blew a gasket; that wasn't going to help anyone here. "...Four ponies sick with an incurable illness. The likes of which I haven't seen in Equestria, and of which our white magic happens to be useless against. We don't need help." She brushed a hoof back through her mane in exasperation, then looked to Nadelle. "...Do not enter that room unless you absolutely have to. Those patients are to stay inside that room, and not be moved unless they absolutely have to. Full scrub down of all the equipment that comes in and exits that room. Any other ponies with similar cases, we're putting them there as well. All personnel who have had interaction with those patients are to be brought in, and checked for signs of the disease." She shook her head once, before she shot one more brief glance at the room. "...I don't know if this disease is contagious or not, and I have no desire to find out, until we have a cure. Those are my orders." She walked out of the room, blowing another sigh as she went.

 

"Help? We don't need help..." Nurse Redheart blew out the biggest sigh of all, as she touched a hoof to a necklace that hung down to her chest. Attached to the bottom was an emblem, a solid circle. "We're going to need a miracle. Mother Harmony..."

 

-------

 

"...Wow." Sunset Shimmer blinked, just like she had been for the past several seconds; she had no idea what to say here. "Wow."

 

"That's the reaction I typically get from everyone. Or at least, the few people that know. And derision. And scorn." Ivory Star shrugged. "Like I could help who I was born as."

 

"No, you can't. Though from what I gather, having this sort of power was your own decision, wasn't it?"

 

Ivory Star nodded. "I wanted to meet someone beyond this world, so I 'realized' myself. I stepped into a plane of power that I was never supposed to have. That no one was ever supposed to have. And now-"

 

"-You just want to be normal?"

 

"...Yeah." Ivory Star nodded, before looking back out towards the princesses quarters. "...It sure is quiet, at the top of the world." She blew out a sigh. 

[P-Jay 1,987]

Damnit, why didn't he just take her word for it?!  She was a noble, a baroness!  What right did he have to challenge her word?

 

No, no, calm down.  Leave the PR suicide to Raze.  At the same time, she had a feeling this investigation was going nowhere fast.  She wanted Raze rotting in prison, and she wanted it now.

 

"He was with nopony, no," Carnelian answered.  "And the security cameras will tell you everything you need to know.  There is also another thing, however.  During the scuffling in which he mortally wounded me, I was able to stab him twice in the hind leg with a knife I have since lost.  You may also wish to check hospital records, in that case."

 

The noblemare stood up, brushing herself off.  "Anyway, is there anything else you wish to ask me?  For reasons of my own safety, I wish to temporarily leave this city, and the soonest train out leaves in an hour."

 

Flugel looked up. "Leave? Probably a good idea...You got any bodyguards with you, right now?" He asked, pocketing the notes. He'll start to put the wanted posters up in the sword and gun shops soon enough...

 

"Griffon sword techniques in regard to the cutlass. Accessing..." In between nanoseconds, Luster began rapidly analyzing known data in the fighting styles of 1st-5th century griffon marauders & privateers in regards to naval combat. While she was doing that, she slid her bayonet onto her shotgun.  "One other thing to think to consider: if I recall, most blades of that era contained iron. So-"

 

She activated the magnetic field in her horn, intent on stopping Firebeak's cutlass in it's tracks.   

Firebeak's sword, for an alarming second, didn't stop. Sheer strength and momentum triumphed over magnetic repulsion, but only just barely, as the blade nicked the surface of her head. Enough to cause bleeding, but then again, robots didn't exactly have blood, so at the least it should hurt. 

 

...Robots don't feel pain either, but whatever. 

 

After the minuscule blow was struck, he used the repulsion to help himself bounce away, in a ready position. The look in his eyes betrayed strategic thinking. Obviously, he was running through various plans to take her down...

[J.R. 3,183]

@@Fractured,

Nadelle straightened her glasses and followed Redheart's orders to the letter. She also started slowly trotting after the white colored anger machine. Despite her temper, Nadelle idolized Redheart for her dedication and work ethic. Something Nadelle herself needed to attain...

 

Regardless, she needed to tell her what she found, no matter how nervous she was. ​"Vell....erm....Red...N-nurse, Redheart. I-I may have found a trace sample leading to a...possible cure...b-but zere's a problem...Ze cure...it...well..."  ​she wiped the sweat from her head, and gulped. ​"Ze only zing I know is zat I need to do more testing before I know it is safe...and even then it may take a while to develop the correct sort of injection without killing zem. B-but I will try my best."