private Midnight in Manehattan Part 2

[crispy fries 432]

Link to OOC:https://mlpforums.com/topic/147808-midnight-in-manehattan-action-mystery-crime/page-7#entry4405330

 

@@Illiad Easle, @,

 

Ballpoint had been sent to Manehattan by her newspaper to investigate what had become one of the biggest monster attacks in Equestrian history. Some weeks ago, a giant monster that was supposed to be locked up tight in Tartarus had been summoned and wrecked half of Manehattan. The entire event was sudden and mysterious, and Ballpoint intended to get to the bottom of it. Her first stop was a hotel on Hay Street.

Edited March 4, 2016 by crispy fries

[Illiad Easle 3,128]

@@crispy fries, @, 

 

In the course of documenting the history of the buffalo for the Canterlot archives he managed to make a good impression on the local changeling queen. To make a long story short, she sent him to Manehatten, the last known location of Swift, to look for the missing changeling. He was directed to the Hay Tower where the queen of that area lived. He sighed as he got off the train from Dodge, it had been far too long since he had been out of the mild west and he was happy to have a sense of modern civilization again.

 

Sleipnir was not in a good mood. Raising a queen was a tiresome practice already and she wasn't even due to emerge for another year and a half. That combined with all the other changelings she was growing to replace the ones that had fallen was taking a toll on her weakened stamina. In addition, the artifact had been stolen from her. The guards had seen the griffon from before leaving the scene, Swift had arrived soon after she left, he quickly went to pursue,

 

a week ago

 

She was slightly worried what that griffon could be doing with the artifact.

[crispy fries 432]

@@Illiad Easle,

 

Ballpoint approached the receptionist at Hay Tower, keeping her rudeness in check, and said, "'Scuse me, I'm a reporter with the Canterlot Press, here to interview one 'Queen Sleipnir'. I think my boss called a few days ago to arrange it. We're looking to bring just what happened two months ago to light."

Edited March 4, 2016 by crispy fries

[Illiad Easle 3,128]

@@crispy fries,

 

The receptionist looked over in surprise. She looked her over before looking about the room. She looked back towards her desk and shuffled some papers as if she were disinterested. "That's certainly an odd name to be throwing about." She passed a small key over the desk. "Take the elevator, she'd much prefer if you called her Midnight Blue than try to say that name correctly. I do hope you have a great day."

 

Illiad approached the exterior of the tower, it looked nice considering it was still under construction in the higher floors. With a steadying breath he prepared to enter the building. 

[crispy fries 432]

@@Illiad Easle,

 

Ballpoint nodded at the receptionist and took the key. She used it to open the elevator, then put it in her saddle bag along with her notebook. Concealed in an easily accessible pocket was a switchblade, the handle of which poked Ballpoint's side. The elevator then dinged open.

[Illiad Easle 3,128]

@@crispy fries,

 

Illiad entered the lobby, looking about as he approached the reception desk. The receptionist looked surprised, then smiled brightly as he approached. "My, aren't you a bright spot of energy? You must be the one Golden Rod sent, if you hurry the elevator is amout to head down."

 

It was Illiad's turn to look surprised, quickly stammering out a thanks as he made his way over and into the elevator. He noticed the other occupant. "You headed down there too?" he asked as he entered. His diamond had a comfortable weight in his bags.

[crispy fries 432]

@@Illiad Easle,

 

"Yup. I'm a journalist with the Canterlot Press. Word is, somepony important who knows about the absolute clusterfuck that was the Manehattan attack lives here. I intended on getting an interview with her. Myself and the ponies who sign my paychecks want to find out just what in the name of Celestia's massive plot happened."

Edited March 4, 2016 by crispy fries

[Illiad Easle 3,128]

@@crispy fries, 

 

"Canterlot eh? I used to live there." He sighed as the elevators closed, the faint burn scars on his back ached slightly. "Fun times."

 

"I just came up from Dodge Myself, the locals down there are worried about someone who went missing during the whole event here, they sent me to go look for him and the search has led me here."

[crispy fries 432]

@@Illiad Easle,

 

"Man, somepony must've gotten really drunk if you start in a dust town like Dodge and end up in Manehattan," said Ballpoint.

 

The elevator dinged once more as it opened. "So do you know where to go? That receptionist just told me to take the elevator down," she said as she got out.

Edited March 4, 2016 by crispy fries

[Illiad Easle 3,128]

@@crispy fries,

 

Illiad walked out of the elevator. "These places are usually fairly intuitive. They don't let you go where you aren't supposed to. Also, they love positive attitudes." He looked over towards the nearest changeling. "Hey there, Golden Rod sent me to see Midnight." The changeling pointed down the hall. "It's the really big set of doors, wait for them to open before you go in." 

[Guest]

Second Sight arrived at the scene by carriage. During the incident, he noticed the beam of light and the portal, but was otherwise busy getting away from the immediate area.

 

Well, not that he had the time, he was curious as to what exactly created a portal that large and ominous. He walked around the rubble, scanning samples of charred rock as he went with a small handheld device.

 

They say the monster was made of Rock and Lava, so why is there radiation? he pondered, looking at the readings on his sensor.

 

He sighed. He was happy to know that the engine he had developed was useful during the battle. He could only wish that he could have witnessed the monster firsthoof. Talking about the monster....

 

Creatures don't turn into guns dust when they die, noticing the lack of a corpse.

[crispy fries 432]

@@Illiad Easle,

 

"Y'know, I've never met a changeling before. My mom always said you were some kind of monsters, but she was stuck up and and massive snob, so I dont trust anything she says. I'm too excited about getting an interview anyways. I wanna know why a lava filled rock... thing came out of the sky, and I want to know bad."

 

(I'm going to bed now. See you in eight hours.)

Edited March 4, 2016 by crispy fries

[Illiad Easle 3,128]

@@crispy fries,

 

Illiad approached the door. "Well, you're certainly in one of the right places to meet changelings. Personally, I think they're really cool. Since they feed on the emotional energy we all give off they devote themselves to fostering that production. They do what they can so that we feel the emotions they like best. Really it's a great system, it's too bad so many got such poor first impressions of them from that whole Canterlot incident." 

 

(My bed awaits me as well, see ya'll later.)

[crispy fries 432]

@@Illiad Easle,

 

"So, what's the deal with this 'Midnight Blue'? I hear she owns this place, and I also hear she's some bigshot changeling. And, I heard she helped kill that monster along with some zebra and a griffon. Even if I don't get the whole story, I'll still get something good."

[Illiad Easle 3,128]

@@crispy fries,

 

Illiad shrugged, "I'm sure she'd be willing to tell you what you want to know."

 

The doors opened and Illiad gestured. "After you,"

 

Sleipnir could not figure out how that griffon had gotten in and stolen the artifact, she should have been noticed the moment she tried to enter the hive and yet she had eluded them. She shook her head, now was not the time for such matters, the Canterlot press had sent someone to meet her, apparently, and a sister hive had sent someone to help find Swift and the griffon. She could feel his intense emotional energy outside the room, a bright sun to their black holes so to speak. She had the gates opened to let them in. She looked similar to Chrysalis, but a bit more dignified. the holes in her legs filled with solid glowing masses of cyan gel and her mane was well groomed. Her slit cyan eyes looked questioningly at the pair outside her door. 

Edited March 4, 2016 by Illiad Easle

[crispy fries 432]

@@Illiad Easle,

 

Ballpoint approached Sleipnir with caution. She, like most citizens of Equestria, had never met a changeling before, and wasn't sure what to expect. "Hi, I'm Ballpoint, Canterlot Press. I'm here for an interview with you," she said as she levitated a pen and notepad out of her saddlebag, 

[Illiad Easle 3,128]

@@crispy fries,

 

"Indeed, the receptionist alerted me to your arrival. What is it you'd like to know?" Sleipnir looked both disinterested and intrigued by the pony before her. She did love answering questions after all, though it was much more likely to be about the incident than anything she actually liked to talk about.

[crispy fries 432]

@@Illiad Easle,

 

"Well, first of all, I'd obviously want to ask about the Manehattan attack. The events leading up to it are still unclear, and the public should know about one of the biggest monster attacks in Equestrian history. You're also only the second time changelings have ever been known to be in Equestria, and I'd definitely like to be able to get your story."

[Illiad Easle 3,128]

@@crispy fries,

 

Sleipnir shrugged as she watched the reporter. "I would be delighted to answer your questions on any of those subjects. While I was involved in the beginning to a limited extent, the actual attack was where I actually have a first hoof account. Are you interested in my story specifically? Or just basic questions on my species?" 

[crispy fries 432]

@@Illiad Easle,

 

"A first hoof account of the battle is good, but I want to get to the bottom of why the attack happened. And I'm also more just asking questions about your species. The idea is to let the general public get to know how changelings really are, since all most people know is Chrysalis' attack on Canterlot."

Edited March 5, 2016 by crispy fries

[Illiad Easle 3,128]

@@crispy fries,

 

Sleipnir sighed as she looked away. "If you want to know why you'll have to ask one of the three that were involved, one is dead to us, another missing after going after the one that is dead to us. and Janeri who is usually around here somewhere. If you do have actual questions I'd appreciate it if you would ask them instead of wasting my time talking about why and what you plan to ask about." 

[crispy fries 432]

@@Illiad Easle,

 

"Thanks for the lead, and I do have some actual questions. Three, to be specific. The first is just, tell me about your hive. The second is, what are the struggles of trying to keep your hive together and well in a country that fears you? The last is, who is Janeri?"

[Illiad Easle 3,128]

@@crispy fries,

 

Sleipnir looked back at the reporter with a slightly skeptical expression. "Only one of those questions was actually specific. I lack the time to adequately explain the other two and I doubt that that is all you wanted to know." She sighed, gesturing to Illiad. "This is clearly going to take longer than I anticipated so let me deal with Goldie first, then I'll be able to answer your questions." She turned to Illiad, her disposition brightening similarly to the receptionist as he approached. "Ah, I see now why she calls you a shining star of wonderment. Now, Goldie sent you after Swift right?" Illiad nodded. "I last saw him about a week ago, just after that despicable griffon stole the artifact from me. He indicated a course towards the badlands, Goldie wouldn't appreciate if I sent you after him alone. Give me a day or two and I'll find some others willing to join you to find Swift. I don't think he'll come back until he has the artifact and possibly the griffon is dead, win-win really." Illiad nodded again. With a gesture by the queen Illiad took a provided seat against the wall.

 

Sleipnir turned back towards the reporter. "Now that that's dealt with I have more time to deal with you. Janeri is a zebra who knew about the artifact before it was used by the mafia to bring that beast here. There is quite a bit I could saw about my hive so you'll have to be more specific, and it is not difficult to keep a hive together. This hive is older than I am, being built a few decades after this city was founded, it was further outside city lines then. It's been more difficult to operate after Her actions to be sure, but secrecy has always been our strength. It just made the consequence for being discovered that much more troublesome. But the citizens have taken the news well so far, the past few weeks have only had minor incidents given that we saved the city."

Edited March 5, 2016 by Illiad Easle

[crispy fries 432]

@@Illiad Easle,

 

Ballpoint telekinetically wrote down what Sleipnir was saying. "Alright. So, just what makes a hive tick? I'd think it works the same way a hive of insects does. Oh, and another question, and I'm sorry if it ends up being stupid, but do you ever see changelings fully integrating into our society?"

[Illiad Easle 3,128]

@@crispy fries,

 

Sleipnir smiled slightly. "Though a bit unflattering, a hive of insects  is an apt analogy to our organization. I am on top and the rest are my children. each is predisposed to a purpose and talent much like you ponies are, but it is clear to us from a much earlier point in life what each of my children is predisposed to. They come down to five categories with innumerable subdivisions within them. The growers, the builders, the guards, the harvesters, and the infiltrators. They act autonomously with my direction. As to integration," She gave a slight laugh. "We've been here for centuries, a full percent of the city's population with relationships and productive roles in society. We're already fully integrated to your society, you just don't know we're there." She paused, "An idea occurs to me, if Janeri doesn't have the answers you want for what led up to the battle, maybe you could join Illiad over there in finding Swift. He was one of the ones involved with Janeri before the battle, he'd likely know what you're after." 

Edited March 5, 2016 by Illiad Easle