We stand united 1x1 Maple Bat

[Maple Bat 3,568]

Fluttershy screamed quietly for a second, "I don't remember. I passed out a while after the others left. My memory is faded, I remember tigers and... Riders... I think... But nothing more than that, Since that's all that was revealed to me anyways, They... were warriors if I remember correctly." She said frantically. "I'm sorry I really had forgotten."

[MickeyAdaptus 2,211]

"You have forgotten? No, that won't cut it. If you won't remember, then I will FORCE you to remember." He said, now growing angry.

He drew his revolver and pointed the barrel at one of the hostage's head.

"I will give you 2 minutes to remember, but if you haven't until then... he dies." He said as he cocked the hammer on the revolver.

"The clock is ticking."

[Maple Bat 3,568]

Fluttershy was now extremely stressed "They were leading us somewhere. They didn't tell us where because we didn't ask. The eldrich you speak of knew that they weren't going to hurt us so we trusted them not to lead us to a trap. Before they told anyone anything about where we were going I pulled something, I think and fell to the ground until you found me." Fluttershy despreatly tried to help the person who was probably about to die, she was leaning against the chains pulling them out to their farthest length "Is that good enough for you."

[MickeyAdaptus 2,211]

"That is good enough, and now..." He then gathered a few syringes and injected all 3 of the hostages with it.

"Enjoy your company." He said with a mocking tone as he left and slammed the door shut.

The 3 hostages were going to turn eventually, but they wouldn't be able to reach Fluttershy because of the chains that there holding them back.

 

[Maple Bat 3,568]

Fluttershy relaxed a bit sliding back a ways due to release of tension She landed on her back in a resting position. She rested for a minute before she decided to find out how strong the chain was she knew that not everything was perfect but she could tell that she was going to have no luck breaking the chain. She sat on the ground crying for a bit.

[MickeyAdaptus 2,211]

"We are really doing good, I do think we should land soon tough, my arms are getting a bit tired." Jack said as he was resting his head on her back.

"And we might need to save our strength now for when we are really getting into the action, which should be in 10 hours or so." Jack mentioned.

[Maple Bat 3,568]

"Alright." Evelyn said, "Know however that is probably a win or die situation though I won't let you die." She said as she landed. "So yea, for my sake you best be ready."

Maple and Woody both met the two as they landed. Maple looked much better quickly too. "So Jack Ready to go rescue my Mother? It starts in a few hours after all."

As for Woody, he seemed to be thinking about something "Well I'm certainly ready to get this over with."

 

[MickeyAdaptus 2,211]

"It's not going to be so simple as finding her and saving her Maple. First, we have are going to attack one of their outposts and hope we can find records about Fluttershy's capture and location from their databanks, then, IF  we are lucky, we can start preparing for an all-out assault on where Fluttershy is being held. And then is the matter of this planet itself, haven't you guys thought about liberation itself? If we play it right, we can do attack from attack until we can clear our way straight into the Tower that holds their main grip on this world." Jack said.

"Your idea sounds good, but it has some problems though, we might have a very large army as of yet, but it still pales in comparison to what we will face if we attack to decide the tower, it is a fool's errand to just go there and think we might stand a chance, we need more troops and most of all, a better plan if we are going to strive even further." Karthspire said from behind them.

[Maple Bat 3,568]

Woody growled, clearly upset by the things that were said "Why can't anything be simple for ONCE!" His paw hit the ground and magic 'shotgunned' out of it into the ground it wasn't a lot of damage but it was there  "I just want my family back together but now I don't think that's possible anymore. Why..."

Maple flinched when Woody blasted the ground "Woah. Calm down Woodland."

[MickeyAdaptus 2,211]

Karthspire frowned from Woody's certain outburst.

'He has got quite the sparking magic when he is angry.' He thought with surprise.

"Because nothing is simple, i am not sure how it used to be back at your home, but here things have never been easy. There is a reason why we do certain things because we have no other choice, we can't find your mother by using some spell and *poof*, we would know where she is. No, this is the reality of what life has become, only by teamwork and determination will anyone be able to live in this world, had i not founded this city, then everyone who is living here would be roaming across the wilderness, having to live in the worst conditions and hope for the best as they are reaching primal levels. I hope you realise that is how we where always forced to live this way, and while it hurts me to say this, the very same thing might happen for all of you, just think about it like this. What was your planets name.. Equestria was it? Yes. Equestria now is in pretty good condition, but what would happen if Valtrek would gather his major fleets and launch an all out assault on your planet, should you even be able to counter it, all of your resources and living conditions will be reduced to nothing but to the state we live in. Because that is the reality of war, you do not escape it, you embrace it." Karthspire said.

Jack was a bit shaken by Woody's outburst while he was still sitting in the saddle.

[Maple Bat 3,568]

"What's the point then!" Woody shouted suddenly. "I traveled across the Demon realm to get here to save my mother and I don't  even get that because..."He turned to face Jack "You left her behind!" He then looked at Karthspire and made sure his left eye was completely visible "I got this scar from Valtrek himself. He's strong... So strong that I no longer see a point in standing to face him, When he grabbed me he filled my head with these things... Visions of failures... Losses... Corruption. I... I can't keep fighting for something that's such a lost cause! Face facts, It's all over..." He sounded like he was ordering them. He was just so mad but he felt so right to a degree he was, there was and always would be a chance even if it was small.

[MickeyAdaptus 2,211]

Tears started to form in Jack's eyes as he heard what Woody blamed him for, and his face in his hand as he silently started to cry.

"You and Jack go somewhere else in the city now, he needs some time away from these discussions." He whispered to Evelyn before he turned to Woody.

 

"*such a lost cause! Face facts, It's all over...* I have been waiting for you to say that line, because it's the indicator for every warrior to say when they realise the truth behind whats going on this war, we might be able to lay waste to most of their armies, but it makes little difference if the source of the problem cannot be removed. We may not be able to bring everything back to the way it used to be, but we can fight for what is left. Many of us don't see the line of reason from *We will win and everything will be alright*, our line is reason stands for *We won't stay away from our inevitable doom, but instead we slaughter as many of our enemies as we can before we face our deaths, but in the end, we laugh at the howler of destruction, because we know we will be the one that cries out freedom when they will be stopped by another rising power.*" Karthspire said with a small smirk.

"Let me ask you this when you found that diary in the temple, did you study through its content and pursue where its origins were coming from? Or did you throw it away, thinking it was blattering nonsense because it's all the in the past now? Most say that we shouldn't be clinging in the past, but you know what? That is the reason why we are not standing much of a chance, because how do you deal with an overpowerful being that comes from the past? You figure delve straight into the information of that past and find out WHAT happened because then you can find clue's on perhaps even a weakness, or better yet, a weapon or artefact that can demolish it. Have I ever told you about the fact that Valtrek had already died once? Not at the hands of weapons, no, he died at the hand of Aliah who wielded an artefact, the very same artefact that could destroy Valtrek again. You should really listen more to those who tell you these things because this could potentially save not only us but literally everything. And there is a BUT because nobody knows where the artefact even is, except for one person who is still alive." Karthspire said.

"You know Woody, you might see your fight with Valtrek as a terrible mistake, but if you think about it, could you have really prevented it? He would have attacked you regardless of what you did, and you might feel about that eye you have now, but there is one thing you should know before you let your anger explode again, we are all part of this same brotherhood. You might have been aware but Caerson has been a victim of Valtrek's exposure to, but instead of his eye going blind, it was incinerated entirely, and the once optimistic and vengeance full engineer, went into hiding and tried to walk away from everything that had plagued him in the past. but if there is one thing he never lost is his will to help people, and even with all that pain and suffering, he did not take it as a bad thing, he saw it as pride, knowing that he stood with his brothers against the darkness one last time. Perhaps you need to do the same, don't take this pain and nightmares as a problem, but see it more as a lesson that you managed to overcome. Should you keep embracing this as a problem? It will lead to darkness, it is how many individuals had joined Valtrek's cause because their psyche and mind fell to a point where they had no way out, and that can happen to ANYONE, regardless of how much magic you possess, only the acceptance can fix this problem." He said

"But now on the more severe topic, Fluttershy had been lost, and the entire group was there with her before, but instead of blaming the entire group, you went straight for Jack, why is that Woody? I am curious because this was rather a straightforward blame." He asked with a raised eyebrow.

He then narrowed his eyes a bit.

"I am going, to be honest with you, that was a wrong move to make, I can understand your anger, but to straight up blame a single person for a group action, the very person that saved your sister's soul? You should perhaps not go near him if you are going to make such accusations. Words are not going to be enough for him to forgive you that easily, not when you blame that very person for something so big." He said, his expression changing.

Edited September 30, 2017 by Mickey Adaptus

[Maple Bat 3,568]

Evelyn had started to fly off around the time he said it, it was still a bit after when she actually left. "Sorry about that Jack. He doesn't have the right to direct it to you since anyone in that group could've noticed. Come on, Let's go find Luna for you she'll help." She added 

-----------------------------------------

"Why him? Why him in particular? Because he promised..." Woody said looking at the hole he had made, "He promised Fluttershy would come back from the battle Safe... She never did, and now she's gone for the second time. Who knows whats happening to her now she's probably being tortured or perhaps she's dead. So what's the point of fighting if you have nothing left to save... Please... Just give me a reason."

"A... reason." Maple hit her brother with her metal hoof. "Mom's not the only pony that we have to protect! Look at yourself Woody, bad stuff happens, I know you had a bad experience with Valtrek but you know what. I lost my body and am still fighting, Possibly stronger than ever. Realize that you sitting on your flank and doing nothing is you giving  Valtrek permission to destroy our home and everything we've even know. That makes you just as bad as him."

"Shut it, Maple, you never know when to quit do you. Our mother is gone and dad's probably going to die somehow too. You are dead too... You may have a fake body... but that doesn't count. So it's over... the thing that I worked and practised so much to protect forced from my paws..." Woody finally admitted falling to the ground sobbing

[MickeyAdaptus 2,211]

"You need to realise what you are doing is not the correct answer, you are clinging your thoughts on an unconfirmed act. That she is captured, we know that, but her being dead? Definitely not, since she is a pony, which means that slave trader would not kill her, she is like a bargaining chip to him, and he would not hurt her because she is one of a kind in his possession right now, he would only hurt her if he had multiple ponies in his collection, but he doesn't. He might be savage when it comes to these things, but he is not a fool, wouldn't hurt his prized possession, which is what works in our favour because if we play it right, we get her out of there unscathed." Karthspire said.

"However, that doesn't mean you can go act like this, you blamed a friend of yours for the capture of your own mother, and then you call your own sister having a fake body. You can still fix this, but the first step is that you need to open your eyes and stop drowning yourself further in this current belief of yours. Instead of looking at yourself, take a look at others, Maple had lost her original body yet she returned stronger as ever, and no shred of reduced emotion is there, many of us have lost our families, friends, but even if we show such emotion, we still fight on for what we have left, we are not asking you to go straight into enemy territory and fight all the enemies, we are asking you to step up from this behaviour and stand with your brothers and sisters, that is what matters now." Karthspire said.

--------------------------------------------------------------

"Could you please stay with me tough? I would really appreciate that if you did." Jack said with red parts around his eyes from the crying.

 

[Maple Bat 3,568]

Maple nodded agreement to Karthspire. "Woodland... I know you feel like you've been through the worst... but look around all these people... All these civilians have lost... something, Family, homes, Even whole planets. Hay, Jack lost everything even his race. He messed up ok, You can't blame him, Celestia shouldn't have been told to keep an eye on mom so you can blame her but not jack he's a kid. Don't expect him to do everything!"

After hearing both Karthspire and Maple speak Woody calmed down. He was still crying "I'll be back... I've gotta clear my head." Woody paused time and hurried over to where Jack and Evelyn were and left a note in Jack's hand he then ran to grab some parts from the engineer's place, He had an Idea for something he could use... He then left the city, unfreezing time, going back to the ruins area, Not able to forgive himself for what he just did. Once in the city, he looked at an earlier battle. He picked up 2 shotguns that were laying on the ground and he went into a random building and started working on this random Idea he had. He was hopping that the effort would help him forget all about this. HE was going to save his mother according to Karthspire so he was much calmer but he was still upset at the way he treated Jack he didn't deserve it.

----------------------------------------------------

The letter Jack had read on it  

"Jack I'm sorry for blaming you about my mother, It's not your fault, anyone else should have seen her gone. Forgive me for my mistakes. I'm leaving the city for a while don't come looking for me I need the space." - Woodland"

Edited September 30, 2017 by Maple Bat

[MickeyAdaptus 2,211]

Jack read the note and did not really know what to say, he was still a bit shaken from the entire situation.

'I don't really know what to do think about it. I guess I forgive him, but I just don't really want to talk to him for a while.' Jack thought with a sigh.

He then remembered something.

"Hey Evelyn, you remember that thing where Karthspire talked about our minds being linked, want to try that out? I believe it should be constant, meaning it even works for the most furthest distances." Jack said, wanting to distract himself on something else.

[Maple Bat 3,568]

Evelyn frowned "Sorry I was using it as you read that letter." She apologized "If you want to try distance we could but... Your friend left the city... He's in danger now, I know he said not to follow him but... Really? You're just gonna let him leave and most likely die... all because he wrongfully blamed you for something? Well, whatever he said he'd rather not be followed I guess. Although... Aren't you at least worried about him? I mean he is your friend and all."

[MickeyAdaptus 2,211]

"I worry about him alot, and I don't want to leave him, but what can I do? He specifically told me he wants some space, I really want to do something but... what can I? I am not exactly a good friend to anyone in the first place, having been an outcast for most of the time after all. While i never want to abandon friends, i don't want to disturb his wishes either, if he really wants some time alone and i would just end up following him only to find out he did not want me to come in the first place... I think the only thing i could do is warn the others but can i really go after him? I don't even know where he is in the first place." Jack said with worry.

[Maple Bat 3,568]

"Of course you can do something!" Evelyn responded stopping in midair stalling out completely allowing them to just sit in the air and talk. "If you worry that he's gonna get hurt then don't care about what he wants, Think about what he needs. I'll leave it to you since I'm supposed to protect you. If you genuinely think he'll be ok... Wherever he is now, Then we don't go but if you have even a hint of fear about something happening to him then we need to help him."

[MickeyAdaptus 2,211]

"I don't know where he is, but i do know i have to do something. While i am aware Woody can handle himself good against enemies from what i know about him, but that doesn't mean i can just leave this be, we should go to Maple and give her this note, That seems the most reasonable thing to do since i don't even know where he could be now." Jack said.

"We should hurry to Maple fast."

[Maple Bat 3,568]

"Alright She's still with Karthspire I believe."She said storming back over there. Hoping Jack was able to hold onto the saddle and not fall off.

Once they got there Maple was still with Karthspire. "I'm really... Really sorry about Woodland. He's been acting strange since he and Windphaser went through the demon realm. I'm sad to see him like this... Jack, and Evelyn? What are you both doing here?"

[MickeyAdaptus 2,211]

Jack holding on real tight and was this time able to stay on, he was leaning forward in the saddle to stay on better when going at very high speeds.

When they landed, Jack threw the note to Maple.

"It's from Woody, he said he felt sorry and was leaving the city for a while, saying he needed some space. But you had better read it yourself, it's urgent." Jack said with worry.

[Maple Bat 3,568]

Maple caught the letter and read through it quickly. "Outside the city? We haven't even been on this planet before how would he know if it's safe to leave this place or not?"  She threw the letter behind her, and her wings opened "Where did he go? He did give this to you, right? that means you know where he started to go yea?"

[MickeyAdaptus 2,211]

"I am not sure where he wants, the letter just appeared in my hand, which means he stopped time while he did it, its one of the reasons why we didn't see him leave." Jack said with sadness.

"You know him better than i do Maple, perhaps you know where he could be going because I just have no clue where he could be." He admitted.

[Maple Bat 3,568]

"Well According to what I think I overheard about the little adventure. He'd probably head to a sorta ruinous area with a few destroyed buildings. He'd probably be looking for something... A spark of hope... Or a drop of sadness. The point of the matter is, in fact, he left safety to get away from what he viewed to be a very serious mistake, So let's hope he's where I think he is and not... with mom..." Maple said worried "I don't know where this ruined area is but I'll follow you if you do."