private Deep Science 1x1 with Blitz Boom

[Illiad Easle 3,139]

@Blitz Boom

(Null)

Nine recoiled from Null's mental outburst, "Don't yell at me, please, you didn't ask what Grey Mane's crimes were, so I figured it wouldn't help for you to know." Nine paused a moment, "Grey Mane stands judged for the murder of six Grey enforcers for their failure to recover you and your sister when you were taken out of the Eponsilon research station. The enforcers did not deserve death for their failure."

Grey himself also had something to say about Null's accusations toward him, "I did no such thing. Your mother died because of the family curse that all Grey would be widows and widowers. She knew this before she agreed to have you. I had to keep you at a distance because being in your presence would kill you, even now you can feel the draining. Your aura doesn't negate magic, it transfers the energy to me, which is why I can do magic that is unaffected by it. I arranged for you and your sister to be cared for at Eponsilon, you were entrusted to a pair of good scientists who care for you as their own. Think, outside of the tragedy that befell the two of you there you did not lack for anything." His expression grew colder, "If it weren't for that idiot researcher Gemini Powers, who let that amulet which caused those cultists to attack you get out, the two of you would have had wonderful, safe, lives there. Had those scientists brought the two of you to me, as I asked them to, and not fled the facility like cowards I could have put you somewhere safe. But no, they ran, my Enforcers could not find you, and you've suffered all this time since. I killed them for that."

His expression softened, "Regardless, you will kill me, because you won't be able to leave otherwise, and because I deserve it. But now you know why, and who to go after next."

The barrier between them disappeared, "Just... make it quick would you? I did at least give the enforcers that mercy."

 

(Void)

They gathered around the book as Void showed it to them, Ardee commenting, "I think Miss Gemini showed us a book like this one, back in the facility. There were a lot of different creatures down there too."

Elef shuddered, "Not all of them as nice as in the book."

The foals were mostly oblivious to their siblings worries as they were more fascinated by the pretty pictures, doing their best to call out the creatures they new, like "Po-ny, Pe-ga, U-ni, Bat" etc, not knowing any name over two syllables or any creature that Null and Void hadn't seen in the facility. 

The only creature that none of them had seen before was the camel, as they were native to the desert that Troy encompassed and they had grown up in Equestria's borders. Void would likely have met some camels when she and Null were in Eponsilon, before the incident that sent them running across the continent, camels were a mostly solitary species, not interacting much with other races when they could avoid it, preferring a nomadic migratory lifestyle similar to the buffalo, though they would often set up around oases and sell trade goods to merchants.

Vale didn't have much experience with camels, so would defer to Void to answer on camels.

When it came to the wall though, Vale did have an answer, "The wall around Troy was built long before the incident, it's primary function is to keep the sand outside from blowing into the city and reduce the evaporation of the central oasis. The city and the wall used to be smaller, the foundation stones becoming the roadways as the city expanded, next time we go out I'll be sure to show you that. There's a large sandstone and marble quarry not far from the city where they cut out the blocks used to build the wall, transporting them by train."

The young ponies seemed confused by the word 'train', Vale turned to Void, "You want to explain trains to them?"

 

(Molotov)

The Consul didn't have anything else to say to Molotov, and let him depart without issue.

 

(Changelings)

Rasputin had his eyes closed as he trained, so he could not tell the coloration when Gloop first encountered him, but he was aware of her presence and ensured that none of his knives came anywhere near her while she was in the room.

He took greater notice of her when he came out to find her in the kitchen, "You must be the one known as Gloop correct? A good morning to you as well. I don't require any assistance at this moment, other than knowing where I might find Bling, she and I have much to prepare so that the hive can get trained and organized."

[Blitz Boom 4,627]

@Illiad Easle

(Null)

On 2021-09-05 at 7:11 PM, Illiad Easle said:

His expression softened, "Regardless, you will kill me, because you won't be able to leave otherwise, and because I deserve it. But now you know why, and who to go after next."

The barrier between them disappeared, "Just... make it quick would you? I did at least give the enforcers that mercy."

Null raised the blade in her hoof, the blade glistening in the light.

*clang*

Yet, it didn't find it's way into Grey's back, but rather fell to the floor.

However, if Grey looked at her, he wouldn't find Null with tears down her face, about to embrace him, and scream that all had been forgiving. Her eyes still looked at him with icy cold hatred. She still very much could kill him, and by all that were holy, unholy, and in-between, she wanted to. He deserved to die, for many, many things he had done.

"Is there not a single, bucking brain cell in this entire bloodline?"

She took a step forward, not caring that she felt that draining effect going, nor really what it meant. She had plenty of time later to think harder on how apparently, she hadn't been helping others, or suffered for no reason at all. It had all been to feed this miserable cur, which definitely would make her irrationally furious later, when she had a chance to really think of all the horrible magic she had sent away.

"Have you ever heard of a letter, you pathetic mongrel?! Messengers. Radio. A bloody vision?! If this nonsense were true, then why not use any sane application of rationale?!"

She were raising her right hoof right now, yelling loudly at this mongrel that dared to call himself her father. Who now what, tried to paint himself in a good light? For what, exactly? For telling their mothers that they would die? For attempting to keep them in their little cages? For protecting them about some curse he was imagining, that he probably never tried to fight against? All without any sort of evidence. She should throttle him where he stood!

And yet, she wasn't cutting him down just now, because there were one thing that now battered into her head: That this were not her choice at all. This were a playbook, and she were playing a part in it, like a clueless little minion.

"Why should I give you the satisfaction of dying, old man?  You, Nine, Vengeance- All of you can kiss my flank! I'm not a pawn. Do you hear me?!"

She'd pick up the knife again and make a slashing motion towards Grey, likely hitting him slightly, if he remained still. Yet nothing that'd even resemble something fatal.

"I don't owe you Anything! And you want me to play your little game!? And for what? Some idiotic old hag that yapped on about curses? She can go straight to Tartarus, and rot along the spawned! What did she do, huh? What's the whole bucking point to all of this?!"

She were probably still gonna end up killing him. She didn't want to, but every time a word came out of her mouth, it got that much harder to stop herself from jamming this knife into his heart, and twisting it. But why? What the hay would she be doing this for? Just to repeat some cycle she never knew about? And then what, she'd end up like this? Some pathetic, lonely pony, hiding away in a bunker, until her own flesh and blood would come in to kill her? Like hay that were gonna happen. Not for her, and not for Void. She wanted answers, and she wanted them Now.

Sadly, just dying here with him, wouldn't break the cycle. Void were still alive, and she could end up being dragged into this too. And Null refused to accept that. She wouldn't end up a widow, cut off from her own foals. It wasn't acceptable. She didn't care if she had to feed herself to a god to stop it. If that's what it took, she'd do it. But she needed answers first. And fast, before she couldn't hold back from finishing what she started anymore.

(Void)

On 2021-09-05 at 7:11 PM, Illiad Easle said:

They gathered around the book as Void showed it to them, Ardee commenting, "I think Miss Gemini showed us a book like this one, back in the facility. There were a lot of different creatures down there too."

Elef shuddered, "Not all of them as nice as in the book."

"Well, not every creature out there, is gonna be nice and kind. This foals book shows things a little idealistic, but most creatures are good, even though it can sometimes feel hard to believe it."

She knew well herself how it felt, to not know who to trust, and constantly thinking that the answer were generally no one. But she had come to understand that it wasn't like that, and had gotten some perspective over the past. Enough to see that there were a lot more good creatures that she just hadn't focused on, or had distrusted for little reason. Hopefully she could try and learn the foals be better than that, as well as understand how to spot bad ones, and then what to do, if they noticed one going after them. And she wasn't meaning stuff like *find an adult*. More like actual combat training if need be, as they had to be able to keep themselves safe, and not rely solely on others.

On 2021-09-05 at 7:11 PM, Illiad Easle said:

The foals were mostly oblivious to their siblings worries as they were more fascinated by the pretty pictures, doing their best to call out the creatures they new, like "Po-ny, Pe-ga, U-ni, Bat" etc, not knowing any name over two syllables or any creature that Null and Void hadn't seen in the facility. 

The only creature that none of them had seen before was the camel, as they were native to the desert that Troy encompassed and they had grown up in Equestria's borders. Void would likely have met some camels when she and Null were in Eponsilon, before the incident that sent them running across the continent, camels were a mostly solitary species, not interacting much with other races when they could avoid it, preferring a nomadic migratory lifestyle similar to the buffalo, though they would often set up around oases and sell trade goods to merchants.

Vale didn't have much experience with camels, so would defer to Void to answer on camels.

Void got a little smile on her face, seeing the foals play along, and point out what they could see, whilst saying their names as best they could. It was so cute, and she would fill in the blanks where she could. One of those they seemed to be mostly drawn towards though, were the camels. And she couldn't blame them. Frankly, she really didn't know a lot either, but she could tell them what she did know at least, right? Vale hadn't come in with anything, so she assumed that this were up to her at least.

"Well, I don't know a whole lot, but these are called camels. Those I know of, are nomadic, and wanders across the desert in large caravans. I think  the influx of spices in the area can be atributed greatly to them. What else... Oh, right. You see the hump on their back? They're using that to store fat, so they can last for longer without having to eat out in the desert. I heard a myth that some think they're filled with water, since camels don't need to drink as much out there, but that's not true. They just drink a lot at a time, and retain it good."

That was about all she knew for sure, so... Yeah. Wasn't a lot, but hopefully it would help them understand the peculiar creatures a bit more.

On 2021-09-05 at 7:11 PM, Illiad Easle said:

When it came to the wall though, Vale did have an answer, "The wall around Troy was built long before the incident, it's primary function is to keep the sand outside from blowing into the city and reduce the evaporation of the central oasis. The city and the wall used to be smaller, the foundation stones becoming the roadways as the city expanded, next time we go out I'll be sure to show you that. There's a large sandstone and marble quarry not far from the city where they cut out the blocks used to build the wall, transporting them by train."

The young ponies seemed confused by the word 'train', Vale turned to Void, "You want to explain trains to them?"

"I can try.

It's a big machine. Nothing bad though. It takes lots of carts behind it, that any being that's not too big, like a large dragon for example, can fit into, and travel long distances without having to walk, or fly. It's kind of like a long metal wagon, dragging lots of other metal wagons behind it, on rails. Metallic bars on the ground with wood in between, to keep them stable as the train puffs and puffs across.

Doesn't really explain it all that good, huh? Maybe I could draw it for you, perhaps? Where did we put the paper after using it last time?"

(Changelings)

"Y-Yes, that's me, sir. It's actually Glossy Persona, but with what I do, the others just sorta started trying to give me nicknames. It was one of the younglings who started saying Gloop, and then it just... W-Well, you know how it goes, yes?

*clears throat* Bling is probably on the stage. She said you might need her, so she's instructing a few others in where to deliver the food for today, and to let those they come across, that couldn't, or wouldn't, come yesterday, what happened. Y'know, encourage them towards maybe lending a hoof too.  That's really all I know, sir. And I... Should probably g-get back to work. Gotta make sure there's enough food. Can't run out. Won't let it happen. Nope..."

She sorta just turned around awkwardly, and returned to her duty. Gloop were nowhere near as good at dealing with others as her siblings. Especially when it was someone like Rasputin, whom she were kinda intimidated by. Him being a king and all. Plus you know, his history.

If he went back out into the main hall, Rasputin would catch Bling just as she were waving off about half a dozen other changelings, carrying bags or baskets with them. She had a great, beaming smile on her face, and seemed pumped up for the day. Even did a little pirouette once she saw the last ones get out of the door. That's how she spotted Rasputin, which caused her to halt, and give him a theatrical bow.

"Thank you, thank you. I'm here all day.

I miss those days sometimes. The light, the audiences adorating... *sigh* Good times.

Anyway, did you sleep well?"

[Illiad Easle 3,139]

@Blitz Boom

(Null)

Grey seemed somewhat amused by Null's outburst, "Don't mistake coincidence for design, you're here because you wanted to be here. Vengeance simply gave you the tools to get what you wanted. Still, you're right, I could have reached out, but the two of you never stayed in one place long enough for a message to reach you, and the one time you did, that ingrate Bunsen stole you away for his own ill-conceived revenge against me."

Grey leaned back in his chair, "As to killing me, it isn't so much giving me the satisfaction of dying. I will die today whether you kill me or not, the question is whether you'll get the satisfaction of killing me."

"Still, you want to know the story of House Phi? Over a thousand years ago, in the oasis Phi, lived the matriarch of our house, The Oracle Del Phi, famous for her ability to paint her visions of the future. She however sought what was forbidden of oracles, she sought to know of her death, and of events beyond the end of her life. She entered into a dark contract, turning her only son, the first Grey Mane, into a magical conduit to give her the power she needed to foretell her own death, and those events beyond. She was murdered by her own son, and the curse and blessing has been passed down ever since. I myself have seen my death, in this very room, on this very day. The details are fuzzy, but the result is the same: I will die, and one of my daughters will take my place. I tried to fight it, and only succeeded in setting up the very events that brought it to pass."

He closed his eyes, "Now, will you kill me? Or will we both die in this room? I'm sure your nigh-immortal coltfriend here has a preference."

Nine offered some words of his own, a twinge of hurt in his voice, "I didn't make you come here, and the deal always was that you were free to continue with Vengeance afterward if you wanted, but you're not obligated to. I can't force you to kill him, I can only assure you that he deserves it, and that you'll die if you don't. He wasn't lying about the drain, your life is being drained away just by being this close to him."

 

(Void)

Elef was quick to retrieve the paper and some of the colored pencils from where they were stored so Void could continue her explanation, all of them were interested in learning about this, and the foals were interested because now the fun art supplies were involved.

 

(Changelings)

Rasputin nodded as Gloop dismissed herself, "May the fire within guide you truly, Miss Glossy, if all goes well you'll have a few more helpers soon, as well as more fellow changelings to feed."

He seemed a bit intrigued by her greeting, "Quite, but now it is time to get to work, I believe I had a vision during my meditation this morning, and if it is correct there will be quite the upheaval today. Changing times are perfect for us to integrate into the city. We'll need to be ready to move as soon as the time is right. Do you happen to have a list of unemployed or undisguised changelings? Those are the ones we should focus on training first."

By this point in the morning, at least one of the changelings would have been notified of R. House's death and the funeral currently taking place in the Top Suits casino.

[Blitz Boom 4,627]

@Illiad Easle

(Null)

On 2021-09-08 at 2:39 AM, Illiad Easle said:

He closed his eyes, "Now, will you kill me? Or will we both die in this room? I'm sure your nigh-immortal coltfriend here has a preference."

Nine offered some words of his own, a twinge of hurt in his voice, "I didn't make you come here, and the deal always was that you were free to continue with Vengeance afterward if you wanted, but you're not obligated to. I can't force you to kill him, I can only assure you that he deserves it, and that you'll die if you don't. He wasn't lying about the drain, your life is being drained away just by being this close to him."

Her eyes narrowed, as Null looked up at her ingrate of a *father*. She could feel as if something were slowly getting pulled from her. Tugged away, like a monstrously strong sloth, were slowly, yet consistently, dragging part of her away. She couldn't deny this was a thing that were going on, and as she had no other suggestion as to what it were, it seemed that were indeed her life force. So dissent wasn't an option. One of them had to die here, and if it became her, that meant that this cycle would go on, with only one left to confront, and deal with Grey. A situation he'd likely drag her into somehow...

Void weren't going to carry that weight.

"Fine, but mark my words, old man: The cycle will break. I'm not going to let her end up like us."

She'd brandish the knife in her hoof, and tense her muscles. Her eyes focusing on the central point that'd end this quickly, and cleanly.

"Goodbye, Grey Mane. I'll see you in Tartarus."

She'd rush forward, and plunge the knife straight into his heart. She could feel the sadly familiar pressure of the knife going in, and puncturing this vital organ. And then, she'd twist the knife, whilst the same, copper-smelling liquid ran down her hooves, that had been there many a time before.

And yet, it wasn't the same. This was not just some random crook, or deranged cultist. This was Grey Mane,. The beginning of her suffering, and the one she had wanted to see suffer for what happened to her for so long. The biggest threat she could think of, to her family's safety. His death, should be a large weight off of her shoulders. And yet, she felt numb, and cold. The weight growing on her as the blood of her own father spilled down on the floor.

Maybe somewhere, deep inside, she had wanted to believe there had been another way. Despite all of her hatred and want for revenge, there could be a small part of her, that had heard his words, and thought he wasn't so bad as she had always imagined. Just an utter idiot, who didn't understand all the ways that he could have changed this, and made everything turn out differently. Even if they couldn't be near one another, they could have communicated through surrogates, or letters. Hay, they could have used walkie talkies even. But if his words were true, he had chosen the path of some sort of out of reach overseer instead.

...Were she really so different from him, after all? Despite what she kept telling herself, even when looking at the picture of Grey Mane out there, where she had gazed upon a familiar hatred in his painted eyes, perhaps they were both misguided in their ideals. A path which had now lead her to killing him, after seeing him from the first time, that she could ever remember.

No, she didn't feel any better from killing Grey Mane. Deserving of it or not, she just felt numb right now, and when that feeling passed... Well, she definitely wasn't going to feel like dancing through a field of flowers.

She wouldn't respond to Nine right now. She didn't have words, neither physical, nor mental, in this moment. There was just blood, and the cold, silent numbness.

(Void)

Now, Void weren't an artist. She were going to be the first to admit that her pictures, were similar in skill level to a twelve year old. Still, it would be sufficient to draw a train cart, however rudimentary it were, with the faces of ponies and griffins inside. Tough it were mainly possible to see the difference between those two, due to the beaks on the griffins.

She'd try and put some tracks underneath the train too, and finish it off by showing puffs of smoke from the chimney, on the front one. It were a classic look, that tended too work well, and to top it off, once she were done, she'd make a *chugga chugga* sound. All whilst showing the foals her finished picture.

"Tadaa. It's not all that good, but this is essentially what a train is. A big, transport metal cart, with other boxes behind it, that passengers can sit in."

She did better when it came to forming things in glass, than with a pen for some reason. Drawing were more Null's thing, than it were hers, *sigh* She hoped her sister were okay right now...

(Changelings)

On 2021-09-08 at 2:39 AM, Illiad Easle said:

He seemed a bit intrigued by her greeting, "Quite, but now it is time to get to work, I believe I had a vision during my meditation this morning, and if it is correct there will be quite the upheaval today. Changing times are perfect for us to integrate into the city. We'll need to be ready to move as soon as the time is right. Do you happen to have a list of unemployed or undisguised changelings? Those are the ones we should focus on training first."

By this point in the morning, at least one of the changelings would have been notified of R. House's death and the funeral currently taking place in the Top Suits casino.

"Changing times can be good, but an upheaval? That doesn't make me think that it's gonna go nice and smoothly. We should be ready to lend aid, and prepare evacuation of the weakest of our kin, if it gets violent. I'll make sure that the right ones are told to stand ready, just in case.

And a list, a list... Well, I kind of have one. The unemployed tend to need us more than the rest, and I try to get to them first on my route, since they'd be hungry more often, so I have a route plan, and some names attached to it that we can go by. I can add the names of some of those I know got laid off over the past few months too. I feel sad for them, but maybe they'll be uplifted, by hearing there's something they can do to stay active now."

Bling lifted a leg to take a step towards the *office* - a broom closet more or less - but hadn't even put her hoof down, before a changeling came barging in, looking rather frantic. A typical drone, with a emerald-green belly.

"B-Bling, Rasputin, it's..."

"Easy there, Drumstick, easy. Take a deep breathe, and tell us what's gotten you so riled up."

"It's House. He's dead."

Blind made big eyes as she heard that.

"Already? But I heard he were still at fine enough health. Are you sure?"

"Edelweiss is positive about it."

"Oh boy. This is gonna cause some ripples... I dunno if this is an upheaval though, Rasputin. But things are gonna happen for sure. He was an important pony in the area. Guessing that means Epsilon is taking over in full then."

Best if she tried taking contact to Epsilon then, just to see how her stance were, regarding the changeling(s) that were connected in some way, to her casino. She always seemed like a rational, less scary version of House, so it'd likely go fine, but it were best to just go, and make sure. once she had some time, of course. The poor mare must be grieving.

"It's not all. She also says that The Grey are acting weird. She didn't give more details about that, but she looked spooked."

"...*sigh* Guess there's no way around it. Send word to Marmelade, Venga, Grovel, and Jingle. Don't tell them to do anything drastic yet, but let them know to prepare for the worst.¨If The Grey are being abnormal, there might be a storm brewing."

Lest Rasputin had something to say/questions for the drone, he'd nod, and rush off to do this, whilst Bling let out a deep sigh. Today was gonna be potentially more spicy than she had thought.

[Illiad Easle 3,139]

@Blitz Boom

(Here's where things change.)

(Null)

Grey only winced in pain when the knife entered, gasping slightly when she twisted it, "I doubt it." were his last words before he slumped over in the chair.

It was quiet in the room for a moment, then another, there was a tension that wasn't yet relieved.

Arcade stirred from where he had been laying in the corner, shaking himself off, "Now that was terrible. I'd much rather he'd killed me repeatedly." He noticed her somewhat vacant expression, coming over to her and nudging her towards the door, "We should go, before someone comes looking."

Arcade would drag Null along if she didn't follow willingly, or drop to the floor, pushing open the door to the hallway, revealing a sobbing Epsilon hunched over Vector's now dead body. Her head shot up when she heard the door open, her eyes bloodshot from the tears, "no..." Shakily she got up and shoved past them to go into the room where Grey sat dead in his chair, "nonononono..."

She pressed her forehead against his, his horn resting on the top of her head, "I'm sorry Father... I didn't know."

The shadows grew longer in the hallway, before they made their way in one mass towards the room, avoiding Null and Arcade. Epsilon spoke with hurt and determination, "Nibiru... I accept your offer." 

The shadows rushed into the room, hiding Epsilon and Grey's corpse for a minute. When they cleared, the albino thestral was now fully grey in coloration, including her eyes, while Grey had reverted to the black coat and white mane that the first half of his portrait showed.

Nine spoke, almost with a bit of surprise, "You weren't selected."

Epsilon's voice was different when she spoke again, it held a bit more weight, like she had aged several years, "In one day I lost three father figures, two by your hoof Null Pointer. Yet, I see I cannot fault you. Go. Leave this place. Should you step out of line, I will be watching, and my vengeance will be swift and brutal. You are disowned, as are all who are not selected, the blessing withheld and the curse removed."

It was then that the tension broke, like a wave running over Null, she felt... something, like there was something moving... alive, around her, all about her. The air, the ground, she could feel it like never before.

But there wasn't time to dwell on that, Arcade was pushing her towards the elevator with greater urgency. Only stopping once they were inside and the elevator car rising.

 

(Void)

The young ponies seemed interested in Void's drawing, Elef in particular, "I think Ada showed me one of those, sitting out in the dunes, she said most of them had been destroyed by the spawn at the start, it was really big."

Vale nodded, "That they were, most train cars could hold up to two dozen ponies, and an engine, this one in the front, could pull a good number of cars at once, much faster than most ponies can run. Some, like the Trojan Express, could even outpace a pegasus in flight."

They seemed impressed by that knowledge, "Unfortunately yes, they were mostly all destroyed by the Spawn. Even if they weren't, the tracks they need to run are broken, besides... there isn't much of anywhere to go with them now. Though there are plans to clear the tracks to New Pegasus and the old Equestrian line, helping settlers start to reclaim the world, Maybe you will get to be among them? Adventuring about like Void here did."

They turned their attention back to Void, Ardee speaking up, "What was it like? The world, that is?"

As void was about to answer she was struck by the same odd sensation as her sister, like a wave passing over her she was suddenly aware of the air around her and the ground beneath her in a way she never had before.

The ponies and Vale seemed to notice, their expressions growing worried, "Are you alright?"

 

(Explanation in the OOC)

 

(Changelings)

Rasputin nodded at Bling's initial assessment that in the case of an upheaval they needed to take steps to ensure the safety of their most vulnerable.

Per the news of House's death, Rasputin offered, "Hold off on approaching Epsilon for now. Even though our cause is genuine, she may not see our presence during her grief as anything more than a power play. We should hold back for a moment, let the overly ambitious reveal themselves, and move in only when the timing matches our intentions. Still, I get the feeling there is more to Epsilon than we now know, it may be connected to the happenings with the Grey, though I cannot be sure. It is all the more fortuitous that we have called the changelings here. The more of us we have together the safer we'll be against any potential upheavals."

He turned to Bling, "We should muster any guards we can, hopefully they won't be necessary, but better to be safe than dead."

[Blitz Boom 4,627]

@Illiad Easle

(Null)

Null did not resist being dragged out by Arcade. She'd just follow silently, and not really react to anything, as she left bloody hoofprints in her wake. Her ears vibrated some as she heard the voice of Epsilon, but she did not try anything, as the mare sat above the now dead member of The Grey, whom Null had not been able to save. It were impossible, the way things had been set up, and if Epsilon had tried to beat her up for this, Null wouldn't have stopped her. She failed the mare, and deserved it, in some way.

On 2021-09-11 at 8:22 AM, Illiad Easle said:

She pressed her forehead against his, his horn resting on the top of her head, "I'm sorry Father... I didn't know."

The shadows grew longer in the hallway, before they made their way in one mass towards the room, avoiding Null and Arcade. Epsilon spoke with hurt and determination, "Nibiru... I accept your offer." 

However, she did stop up, once the shadows started to rush past them, and she heard a rather familiar word, which she had not expected to hear from Epsilon. She stood with her back turned, motionless, and Arcade would not be able to rush her along, as the transformation went on behind her. Shye didn't need to look. She could guess what it meant when Epsilon spoke of a deal, and Nine then chimed in. Not the exacts, but enough to guess that whatever he had been able to do, wouldn't end up dying with Grey Mane. What other deal were there to be made, than to take over, where there were now a vacant seat? It wasn't as if Null had offered to do so herself.

Nine wouldn't feel hatred, or anger poking out of Null's numb state. He'd only find a rising sorrow, blooming slowly, and spreading throughout her mind.

On 2021-09-11 at 8:22 AM, Illiad Easle said:

Epsilon's voice was different when she spoke again, it held a bit more weight, like she had aged several years, "In one day I lost three father figures, two by your hoof Null Pointer. Yet, I see I cannot fault you. Go. Leave this place. Should you step out of line, I will be watching, and my vengeance will be swift and brutal. You are disowned, as are all who are not selected, the blessing withheld and the curse removed."

It was then that the tension broke, like a wave running over Null, she felt... something, like there was something moving... alive, around her, all about her. The air, the ground, she could feel it like

"I-"

Null felt shaky, as she felt the unfamiliar rush flowing over her. As if something opened her senses up. Like a thick blanket had suddenly been pulled off of her, and she didn't know what the hay were going on. It didn't change how she felt, beyond adding some confusion to the sorrow though, and make her waddle a step backwards slightly.

*drip* *drip*

Two droplets hit the floor, and she slowly turned around to look at Epsilon, as she now stood. Grey and throwing threats around. The very thing that had just been removed, living on inside her. And though she threw her big words around, promising Null torment if she *stepped out of line* - whatever that may mean to Epsilon currently - Null didn't face her with threats of her own. Just more of a trail left on the dirt, from her blood-soaked hooves, and the tears rolling down her eyes.

"-I'm sorry I did t-this to you, sister."

She had her suspicions, but had thrown them off as mere paranoia, instead of truth. Yet were there any mistake? The cursed bloodline would go on, as Grey had implied, and if it hit Epsilon, her words of Grey being her father, were true.

And she had just both killed off her parents, and made her chose a desperate, cursed path. If it were not already hitting her hard to think about what she had done, she had now hurt an unknown half-sister of hers. Some protector of her family she had turned out to be...

Despite her words of wanting to parade Grey's head around, she wouldn't leave this room even attempting to get it. In fact, she would throw the knife away she had use4d for the act, as hard as she could. The sound of it clanging across the floor were near deafening to her. The primary sound she heard, amidst this emotion torment, and odd sensation waterfall she were caught in.

Arcade would be able to drag her out by then, without much resistance. Though he'd have to content with her quiet sobbing, and shaky movements. She had a lot to deal with right now, and she hadn't even come to keeping her promise, about telling Arcade the full story. Including what he'd now know as her real name, instead of Horizon.

(Void)

On 2021-09-11 at 8:22 AM, Illiad Easle said:

They turned their attention back to Void, Ardee speaking up, "What was it like? The world, that is?"

As void was about to answer she was struck by the same odd sensation as her sister, like a wave passing over her she was suddenly aware of the air around her and the ground beneath her in a way she never had before.

The ponies and Vale seemed to notice, their expressions growing worried, "Are you alright?"

To give the illusion of speed, and to make it more foal friendly, Void would hold up the drawing during Vale's explanation, and make chugga sounds, as well as move it about. Silly of course, but the heavy subject should be lightened up some, and it was a fun visual in her opinion. It was honestly a shame in her mind, that the trains had been taken out of commission, but she could understand why. It was a potential escape route for others, and it had sounded like the forces of Tartarus, and the various deserters, weren't all that happy about that potential. Couldn't allow for stragglers, when they were attempting to destroy the world. *Sigh*.

Thankfully they would eventually get back on track again, and would provide a welcome path for those wanting to go to New Las Pegasus, or here, for that matter. Sure it were still possible to do so as it were, but the dunes could be dangerous, and it wasn't everyone who knew how to traverse them safely. Or could, due to various health issues. A train would be a great boon for the area.

The subject went towards something a little less bright and shiny soon after, as the little ones got steered by Vale, to ask her of the great big world. Her mind raced to think of something light to tell them, yet still find a way to warn them that it could be a dangerous place out there. They shouldn't fear the world, yet they shouldn't be unprepared either, what to say though...

She opened her muzzle, having settled on something she thought would work, when a strange sensation flooded her. Or well, multiple sensations at once, like popping your ears, but full body, and a great deal more immersive. It were as if she could suddenly feel things around her, in ways she hadn't imagined before. Like it all just... Came to life.

The look in her eyes went vacant, and the drawing of the train would slowly fall down towards the floor, as she did no longer make an effort to keep hold of it.

She'd stand vacant like that a few seconds, before trying to say something again, but it were staggered.

"I... I..."

As were her walking, and she'd halfway trip over herself as she wandered forward. She managed to get her hoofing before she ended up crushing any of them thankfully, but she'd still manage to get close enough, to where she were just next to Piecey, which put the foal in range of her general, cancelling aura. It may also put another unicorn there, who'd then also feel something very odd. Perplexing perhaps, considering that normally, they'd feel a certain lack of something around her, that wouldn't be present anymore.

"S-Sorry, it's... I don't know. Something just... I f-feel weird. Oddly... Aware I guess? It's... I don't k-know. Vale? H-Help, please."

Void looked worried towards Vale, scared of what might be happening, and hoping that as a smart one, she would be able to help her understand what were going on, and hopefully help her. She were getting really worried it might be dangerous, and that it could hurt the foals.

(Changelings)

"I'm not going to approach her with anything bad in mind. She needs time with her grief, and I'm not going to bother the poor mare with talks about how we stand now, when she's in the midst of her grief. I'm just going to send our condolences for her loss. House was a... Divisive figure for some, but he were overall fair with us, and I personally found him a generally reasonable stallion. We did not see eye to eye on all things, but I will mourn his loss. He gave a fair bit of changelings a reasonable chance, if they could prove themselves. That's not something everyone is willing to, regardless of how much I've talked the case of us. Some creatures are just set on not trusting us, sadly.

Normally I'd say Epsilon wouldn't think we'd attempt a power play either, since we've never done that, but I'm pretty sure at least one of the big houses knows about you by now, so that might make some get suspicious... Yeah, we're gonna need to take this into consideration too. Whelp, no one said this were gonna be easy.

And I sorta have some bad news about the guards. See, most of the ones we have here are survivors from other hives. And in most of those hives, the guards died protecting the others, or trying to save their queens. So our number of actual guards is only at about... Thirteen, give or take three.

But we have some various ones who knows how to pack a mean punch. Including most of the nursing drones. You ever tried to invade the chamber where they care for the hatchlings, and you'd know. Seem all nice and kind, but push comes to shove, and they'll tear your limbs off.

But I'll send word out about this, to get the right parties ready here at the theater, while the ones holding the biggest presence in the four sections of town, will get ready to evacuate, or bunker down, in case something goes horribly wrong. If there's a storm coming, we'll weather it."

Though they weren't fighters, Bling, Upbeat, and Gloop, were still able to provide in a fight, due to their hives affinity for illusions, which were well honed. Came from the theater work, where they often had to use it, during performances.

Granted, they were not as good as Cheshire herself. She could make dozens of illusions that looked like her, and make seemingly monstrous sights, that would seem, and even feel real, and would work wonders to distract. Why, one time, she had seen Cheshire seemingly just fall apart, into a swarm of gelatinous cats, that'd then suddenly start to charge around the area. The real her would be hiding out as one of those escaping amidst the chaos, but if she didn't know this, from Cheshire telling her later, Bling would never have been able to tell. Her mother were a clever, devious little trickster. And the three of them could still do things that'd make her proud if things went badly, like causing various lightshows, or rapid transformation, to cause a ruckus via various actions. They had in fact, lost a sibling like this, as he did his best to defend a bunch of creatures, trying to make it to the gates of town in a more rough time. They had made it, but sadly, he had been struck down just before he got back in. Blastad spawn and their evil ways...

"Any other words you think would be good to get out, or can I get some messengers around right away, Rasputin?"

[Illiad Easle 3,139]

@Blitz Boom

(Null)

Epsilon didn't offer any words of her own in return, simply watching as Arcade pushed her the rest of the way to the elevator. Once the doors closed behind them and the elevator set off, he sat with her, holding her close if she would allow it. He wouldn't say anything unless Null spoke to him, mostly as he himself had no idea what to say.

The elevator stopped at the ground floor, opening to a side hallway of the hotel, Arcade would nudge her out of the elevator so that it could close and depart, then wait a moment if she hadn't said anything by that point before saying, "Well, we should get going. I imagine after something like that you want to get out of town right? Should we stop by the embassy first? Or simply leave what we had there for gone?"

 

(Void)

Vale shared the same worried expression as the others, though came closer to inspect, "I mean... I'm not well versed in medicine but I can try. Are you feeling nauseous? Feverish? Stick-" She suddenly froze, a perplexed look on her face, "Hold on now... I could see that."

Her comments only served to confuse the young ponies further, but Vale continued, grabbing a white crayon from the box and giving it to Teal, "I want you to draw an X on Miss Void's forehead, right where she would have a horn."

Teal looked confused, "But I can't use magic near her."

Vale nodded, "Trust me."

Dutifully Teal picked up the crayon and carefully brought it closer and closer to Void with her magic, surprisingly encountering no resistance where they might have expected her to, until she was able to touch the crayon to Void's forehead, at which point Vale signaled for her to stop, "Now, you don't actually have to draw on her." She turned to Void, "It looks like your aura is gone."

 

(Changelings)

Rasputin shook his head, "They'll have to do for now. Until we know the exact nature of the storm we're about to weather it's best if we prepare for the worst. We'll be much stronger together than scattered, both now and going forward. Hopefully it will be a peaceful transition, with opportunities for us to strengthen ourselves afterward."

 

[Blitz Boom 4,627]

@Illiad Easle

(Null)

18 hours ago, Illiad Easle said:

Epsilon didn't offer any words of her own in return, simply watching as Arcade pushed her the rest of the way to the elevator. Once the doors closed behind them and the elevator set off, he sat with her, holding her close if she would allow it. He wouldn't say anything unless Null spoke to him, mostly as he himself had no idea what to say.

Not only would Null allow it, but she'd actively grab hold of him, and bury her face in Arcade's chest fur, as she kept crying. She did her best to hold back the sobbing, yet she were undoubtedly a mess right now, and were probably going to be so for some time. Especially at night, as this day were likely going to cause her to have some new, yet equally as terrible nightmares as she sometimes tended to have.

Grey Mane got what he deserved. That much were certain, yet what had she done to dole out that vengeance? Looked at her father, as she spilled his dark blood, and cursed her half sister with the loss of two fathers, and the burden of whatever darkness Grey had carried with him beforehoof.

She had hurt her kin...

Her hooves tightened as the elevator went further up, and they neared the surface once more. The tears would begin to dry, and her muzzle tighten, as she bit her teeth together. A mixture of resolve and anger were starting to bubble up in her being as those five words circled around her mind, and just before they reached the end of their upwards, trip, Null would finally remove her face from Arcade's chest, and stagger to her hooves again.

"I'll find a way..."

She had fulfilled one purpose, but now she had another one, to add to the list: Finding a way to get that darkness out of Epsilon, and end that chapter in her family's history for good. She could say she were disowned all she wanted to. Epsilon were blood, and this one, she didn't have reason to want dead.

She still twitched as she felt the blood on her hooves, with every step she'd take, but she'd move. Likely get some eyes on her too, if she couldn't find something to wipe this off in, but she frankly, didn't give one solitary heck about that. What were they gonna do? Send The Grey after her? They bloody well knew what she had gone in for. What did they care? Though if she did find something like a plant, or piece of cloth to use, she'd do so.

18 hours ago, Illiad Easle said:

The elevator stopped at the ground floor, opening to a side hallway of the hotel, Arcade would nudge her out of the elevator so that it could close and depart, then wait a moment if she hadn't said anything by that point before saying, "Well, we should get going. I imagine after something like that you want to get out of town right? Should we stop by the embassy first? Or simply leave what we had there for gone?"

"We're picking up our stuff, and then we're leaving. The less we tell the others the better. And then... It's going back to Troy, so I can say goodbye to my family, and you can meet up with yours."

She'd start to move, but then halted briefly, and looked over at Arcade. Her eyes were still rather puffy from the tears, and she were frankly feeling rather weird still. Whatever were going on, she couldn't place her hoof on it, and it were oddly enough, not passing. Probably some new nightmare to contend to, but she just couldn't get to caring about it right now. She had enough going on in her head as it were. Including potentially Nine, poking her about things. Though considering the magic animating him time and time again, Arcade might grasp what had happened to her exactly.

"Once we reach the desert, you'll know everything. And... I'm sorry for the lies. I just didn't want to drag those I cared into this mess."

If he wanted to hear her out still, as they left, he'd know it all. Though if he hated her too much for all of this, she couldn't exactly blame him either. It would hurt though, if she learned that were the case. More than the situation before had, and in ways she had never expected something to hurt her. But then, she had never expected to fall in love with someone.

(Void)

18 hours ago, Illiad Easle said:

Dutifully Teal picked up the crayon and carefully brought it closer and closer to Void with her magic, surprisingly encountering no resistance where they might have expected her to, until she was able to touch the crayon to Void's forehead, at which point Vale signaled for her to stop, "Now, you don't actually have to draw on her." She turned to Void, "It looks like your aura is gone."

Void were feeling odd enough that she were willing to try anything, but Teal was right. The crayon wouldn't get near enough to touch her, and even if it did, crayons weren't a cure for anything. Not far as she knew, and she had read some weird cures for things in her times. Some of them being objectively weirder sounding than crayons, so she'd let them have a go. Maybe it were some sort of distraction tactic?

Well, if it were, it certainly would, as Void's jaw dropped, when Teal were able to use magic to actually get the crayon to touch her. What did this mean? Besides the obvious, that Vale pointed out afterwards.

"It's... Gone? Then s-she must... Big s-sis... *whimper*"

Void broke down crying. Her flank would promptly hit the floor as she sank to a sitting position, and she placed hooves in front of her eyes, as the tears ran down her face, and legs.

Yet, it wasn't from sorrow. There was a big smile on her face regardless of her tears, and minutes later, when she were over the worst of it, and removed her hooves, her puffy eyes were filled with joy.

"She b-broke the curse. We're f-free... Oh big s-sis, I didn't think... S-Sorry, it's just..."

She tried to explain further, but the noise coming out of her muzzle by then, were more or less incomprehensible.

There'd be a lot to tackle for her later on now. The increased feelings, trying to understand what that were going to be like, the knowledge that she were no longer safe from spells- All those things, yet right now, they didn't matter. All that did, were knowing that not only were she free of this curse, but it had to mean that Null had done what she set out to do, when it came to Grey Mane. He had to be part of this, right?

(Changelings)

"We're changelings. If there's something we're good at, it's adapting."

She would get to work, on gathering up some who could send her word around on this, and would spend the next ten minutes doing that, as well as telling some others where to open up more space in the theater, and prepare to hunker down. Plenty to do, though hopefully, it wouldn't be something that would be needed. Whatever were going on, would hopefully just blow over quietly, and without much fanfare. Best to be prepared though, right?

"Okay, that should send the word out to the right ones, and get thinks readied up here. I hope you're right that we won't need it, but we can't rely on that, if The Grey are acting weird. With them being the primary legal force and all that, the city could erupt into chaos if they started to disband, or go erratic. Thankfully we don't have anything worth stealing, so there's a silver lining.

If we did get attacked though, ancestors forbid, how are you in combat, Rasputin? I mean, there's stories, but it's hard to say what's just tales, and what's real sometimes."

[Illiad Easle 3,139]

@Blitz Boom

(Null)

There were plenty of plants in the hallways that she could use to clean the blood off of her hooves.

Arcade would walk with Null, going along with what she was saying, he did look surprised when she mentioned lies, "Lies? What lies have you been telling me? Because I'd hardly consider going by another name the worst thing in the world. Unless you've been lying about liking me, I don't think you have anything to worry about. It's not like I've told you everything about myself either."

Arcade would lead the way out the back door they had used the last time they had secretly exited the tower, taking the lower path to get around the town square where it looked like most of the Grey were gathering, entering into the courthouse in a large group. "Looks like there's no better time to get out of town, though I question how we'll get to Troy by ourselves, given what I heard from the caravan it's mostly desert between here and there, and strong as I may look I don't think I can carry enough food and water to last us the trip."

If Null didn't object he'd take them up one of the outer streets to head back to the embassy.

 

(Void)

The young ponies had all but forgotten their unfinished breakfasts as their attention was fully directed at Void. The foals hurried over to grip her forelegs with worried expressions, "No Sad" "No Cry" they called out.

Vale softly chuckled at that, before motioning for the others to join in, "Come on everyone, she can really use some love as she figures out what's happening."

With that they would all gather around to hug Void until she managed to calm down and sort out everything she was feeling.

 

(Changelings)

When she mentioned the possibility of the Grey disbanding he shook his head, "If the cycle continues properly, the Grey will simply return to their proper place in the shadows, the town will need to put up its own guard, or perhaps accept help from Troy to impose law and order. Unfortunately that, while a role we can supplement, is not something I'd advise we take upon ourselves."

When asked about his skill in combat he simply smirked, "I wouldn't be so haughty as to say 'unparalleled' even if that may be true. You need not worry for my sake, I've no doubt I could successfully defend this place by myself if need be, but I'm not here for you all to depend on me, I'm here to help you depend upon yourselves."

He went to move, "I'll be on the roof, observing the situation as it unfolds, I'll let you know if further preparations are required."

[Blitz Boom 4,627]

@Illiad Easle

(Null)

On 2021-09-15 at 4:49 AM, Illiad Easle said:

Arcade would walk with Null, going along with what she was saying, he did look surprised when she mentioned lies, "Lies? What lies have you been telling me? Because I'd hardly consider going by another name the worst thing in the world. Unless you've been lying about liking me, I don't think you have anything to worry about. It's not like I've told you everything about myself either."

She'd have dried the blood of a fair few times as they wandered off, but she could still feel it there. Not physically though. This were an angle tinged in guilt, as she knew the feeling well, to an extend. It were akin to how she had felt when she had thought she had killed her parents, as she too had felt like she had their bloods staining her hooves, in a way she couldn't wash off. Grey Mane's blood were not making her as guilt stricken, but the feeling were still there. That she couldn't run away from. Much as he deserved to die, and there had been no other way, it were still the blood of her father, and with how family focused she were, spilling even tainted blood of her own family, were still something that she'd feel mark her.

"I'd never lie about that, but I still weren't truthful. And I just... Sorry, I dunno. I'm having a hard time focusing right now. Something feels wrong. I think she did something to me."

On 2021-09-15 at 4:49 AM, Illiad Easle said:

Arcade would lead the way out the back door they had used the last time they had secretly exited the tower, taking the lower path to get around the town square where it looked like most of the Grey were gathering, entering into the courthouse in a large group. "Looks like there's no better time to get out of town, though I question how we'll get to Troy by ourselves, given what I heard from the caravan it's mostly desert between here and there, and strong as I may look I don't think I can carry enough food and water to last us the trip."

If Null didn't object he'd take them up one of the outer streets to head back to the embassy.

"We'll have to find a way. They need to know what happened. Maybe we can try and lay low, and sneak along with a caravan going out of town? Or convince Dawn that Troy needs a report on Grey Mane's sudden death, since The Grey is important for the Consul to know about too? I dunno, something. We can't stay here at least. Sister... Epsilon, were not thrilled with us, and there's gonna be allies of Grey Mane who'll want to have...

Wait, the dragons. They weren't thrilled with Grey Mane, and they've been useful before. maybe they'll be so again? Or they'd hand us over to Epsilon to gain favor. I could just imagine that."

She did not think about what were actually going to happen though, if she went there. The feathers she had given them, had likely lost power now, as she had, and without the aura, she'd just be another thrall, worshipping their every move. Arcade following troop, as he no longer had her to shield him either. Though she had more or less veered off that path as it were for now anyway, as she were wondering that they might try to use them for further favor. They had been up front about doing things for their own reasons after all. Why stop at this?

Urgh, if she could just focus right here, she'd think of something. But her head was in turmoil, and she were starting to feel varying degrees of guilt over several things creep ever closer - including *yelling* at Nine for no reason - so it weren't easy. And this odd sensation were definitely not doing her favors either. Why were she suddenly feeling things around her? Were this some kind of trick? A new variation of her curse? Epsilon might have said it was taken, but that probably didn't mean the aura was gone. More like the curse of Grey Mane looming over her. She had probably just used his own aura to tamper with it, to punish her.

She really needed to get out of this town, and back to Void. She'd know what to do. Her sister always were the one who could keep her head cool, and stay somewhat rational, in crazy situations. At least compared to Null.

(Void)

Void scooped them all up in a big hug, as the tears rolled down her smiling face.  Vale too if she got near enough. She were a strong mare, and could handle them, though she'd still do it gently. She shouldn't bear hug them, and potentially cause harm. That would ruin the good feelings of the moment, and despite her tears, she certainly were happy.

"Don't worry l-little ones. I'm not sad. I'm c-crying because I'm happy."

When eventually, the tears stopped, and she let go of them, she'd first and foremost, use the grey bandana around her neck, to dry her eyes. And as she did so, she'd take a few deep breaths as well, to get herself calmed down a little. Which did little, as her heart were still pounding away, and her mind felt like fluttering. And feeling... All of these odd feelings that were going over her now. As if the ground were alive or something? It were actually pretty hard to explain. Were this what normal earth ponies felt like?

"My sister, s-she went to deal with a very bad pony, who hurt us a lot, and it seems, she broke our curse at the same time. It's the o-only thing that makes sense, but it's... G-Gods, it feels weird now.

*sniff* She said she'd come back here when she were done, so if A-Arcade still follows her, you'll get to see him too. Won't that be nice? I'm sure you've missed him."

Granted, she had to intercept them first, since the way that Null had said she'd return, were not foal friendly. It would not paint them in a good light, if the second time they saw Null, she were parading around with a decapacitated head on a pike. Especially Peal and Piecey should not see that.

As for directing things more towards Arcade, than herself... Well, she didn't know how to explain how she felt right now, and didn't want to burden the any of the foals, young or older, with more worries about her. This were supposed to a place where they focused on them, and how they were doing. She'd be dine. Though she desperately needed to talk with Vale in private eventually. And go visit her parents. And the Consul. He should be made aware of this too.

(Changelings)

"Wait wait wait wait. You don't get to drop a bombshell and then wander off that easily, mister. What cycle are you talking about? Do you know  something about The Grey?"

Bling were aware of The Grey, but mostly as enforcers of this city, and before that, more or less mercenaries. Their more intricate history, were not something she were aware of. Partially because... Well, she never needed to, really. Before the crisis, she barely knew them, and considered them mostly just a strange group, that had better things to do than listening to a theater changeling, asking about their weird outfits. Plus, she had other things to do.

After the crisis, the amount of things she had to do increased dramatically, so she really didn't have time. And with them eventually taking over this town again, and getting put as the top law enforcement, she Really didn't want to look into their history. She didn't want to be made an example out of, for snooping around. So really, she didn't know a lot about them. including that apparently, they had to have been around for a long time, for Rasputin to know them.

"And I'm not saying we should rely on you solely for combat. But we all gotta know what we can do, so we can help the hive the best, right? Knowing if you can fight, helps us know that if it came down to it, you could help in protecting the weaker ones as they made their escape. Don't worry, I wouldn't leave you with carrying everything by yourself. That's not a way to treat kin, and it won't help us in the long run. In the right here and now though, it might make a real difference.

But you can take off and do your thing for now. I'll need to get things prepared in case we do need to hunker down for a while, and take in those who'll arrive."

And she'd soon have something to get worked up about, once there'd arrive some changelings, talking about how The Grey were gathering up. Something which likely meant bad news, as a general assembly like that, meant that Grey Mane had plans. And she didn't like the sound of that one bit.

Rasputin would likely be able to tell something were amiss too, soon enough, as he gazed over town. It'd be hard to miss the steady stream of changelings popping in this direction, and how the town would likely be reacting to the gathering. Varied as it were likely to be, it were unlikely that something weren't gonna make the normal behavior in town rather erratic.

[Illiad Easle 3,139]

@Blitz Boom

(Null)

19 hours ago, Blitz Boom said:

"I'd never lie about that, but I still weren't truthful. And I just... Sorry, I dunno. I'm having a hard time focusing right now. Something feels wrong. I think she did something to me."

Nine took that moment to speak up, "If only you had someone living in your head who knew the answer to that question." They seemed a bit annoyed, "Oh wait, you do! Rather than just tell you  what happened, I'll do something I've wanted to do since I first got trapped in here, and let you figure the rest out."

Having said that, one of Nine's tendrils that previously had inhabited one of the diamond feathers of Null's artificial wing, lifted off of the wing and slapped Null across the face. "Don't bother asking what that was for, you know you had that a long time coming."

Arcade was surprised by the scene to say the least, "Did your shadow just... slap you?"

 

Once they got back on track with their departure plans, Arcade would answer, "I think the embassy is our best bet, they've no reason to distrust us, and even if they can't transport us immediately they could make some arrangements. The mesa you found us at was a landing pad once, and we could get there in about a day's journey, we could wait there until something could be organized, outside the reach of the town."

 

(Void)

The young ponies all nodded in response to hearing about Arcade coming back, with the exception of Ardee, whose earlier jealousy of him getting to leave while she stayed resurfaced momentarily.

Vale would soon recover their attention, "Now, back to your breakfasts everyone, they wont be back for several days even if they left immediately, there's still plenty of things for us to learn in the mean time."

With that they returned their attention to their food, excited for what the new day would hold as Vale stepped aside to talk with Void, "The Consul should likely hear about this. Do you want to tell him yourself? Or should I go this time?"

 

(Changelings)

19 hours ago, Blitz Boom said:

"Wait wait wait wait. You don't get to drop a bombshell and then wander off that easily, mister. What cycle are you talking about? Do you know  something about The Grey?"

Rasputin smirked, "I was there when house Phi was first cursed, when the Grey was first founded, I know a good deal of their inner workings, enough to recognize when the generation has shifted. No doubt Grey Mane is now, or soon will be, dead, and the new Grey Mare will take her place in the shadows. There will be some lurkers, some bad actors among the Grey, who will be purged over the next few days as they try to exert their authority. But once the purge is done things will be peaceful again provided the town comes together, and doesn't tear itself apart. That is where we will come in, Changelings, always the glue that holds society together."

 

As he watched the movements in the city he did see the changelings moving home, he also saw a few gangs looking to take advantage of the absence of the Grey. No doubt crime would be on the rise for a few days. He'd head back to Bling, "Send out a group of messengers, warn everyone friendly to us, knowingly or not, to stay inside for the next few days. Warn them that a gang war is about to break out. When they are spared the worst of it they'll be all the more thankful to us."

[Blitz Boom 4,627]

@Illiad Easle

(Null)

On 2021-09-17 at 6:05 AM, Illiad Easle said:

Having said that, one of Nine's tendrils that previously had inhabited one of the diamond feathers of Null's artificial wing, lifted off of the wing and slapped Null across the face. "Don't bother asking what that was for, you know you had that a long time coming."

Arcade was surprised by the scene to say the least, "Did your shadow just... slap you?"

Null would rub the side of her cheek, where the shadow had struck her. Odd time for Nine to start doing this, compared to all the other times he could've done it, but whatever. He wasn't wrong after all, that she deserved it, though he should specify for what. She could probably think of about three times right on the spot, that she'd probably deserved a slap in some form, for how she acted around him.

She wasn't getting an answer out of him right now though, probably. He seemed to be in a prissy mood.

"Yeah it did. Think of it as a literal act of karma, though the long story on this is going to explain it better. Gonna require you to keep an open mind though."

Least Nine hit like an infant, instead of someone with actual power behind their strike. The point still came well across though, and it'd probably not be the last time this were going to happen.

On 2021-09-17 at 6:05 AM, Illiad Easle said:

Once they got back on track with their departure plans, Arcade would answer, "I think the embassy is our best bet, they've no reason to distrust us, and even if they can't transport us immediately they could make some arrangements. The mesa you found us at was a landing pad once, and we could get there in about a day's journey, we could wait there until something could be organized, outside the reach of the town."

"Sounds like a good plan. Let's follow that, unless something goes haywire."

She'd look around, trying to focus on something else than the odd sensations flooding her, but it wasn't easy to get distracted from this. What the hay did Epsilon do to her? And why were she seeing a fair deal of changelings out and about right now? Sure she had spotted some the other days, but this were a good deal more, and they seemed to wander with determined steps in various directions. Some going out and rushing along, with others being escorted in a few directions, or fleeing with some property of their tied to their back, and looking worried. Were some sort of cleansing about to happen, or...

"...Small thought here, but with all the gangs in town, kept in line by The Grey keeping them afraid, what's gonna happen when they're away?

We should hurry back to the embassy."

(Void)

On 2021-09-17 at 6:05 AM, Illiad Easle said:

With that they returned their attention to their food, excited for what the new day would hold as Vale stepped aside to talk with Void, "The Consul should likely hear about this. Do you want to tell him yourself? Or should I go this time?"

"I think it might be best that I do it. I have some other questions for him too, and w-well, you can educate them a little while I do it. I'll make sure to ask what happened with... You know. Can you make sure that they wash their plates, when they're done? I can take the dishes proper when I come back, no worries. Though it might be a little while. I think the Consul will have some words on a lot of things when I get there."

Plus, she might pick up a thing or two while she were out. This were a cause for celebration, right? Had to be something special she could get ready for later today, to celebrate it.

"Also... I have something I need to show you later."

She felt like if the letter was from Molotov, it likely somewhat involved Vale too, and as such, she should see it too. Though it might not be bad for her to read it first, just in case it was some sort of crude comment. It uhm... Wouldn't be unlike him, she supposed.

If there were no objections, Void would finish her own bowl of food, and if the foals had anything to ask/say, she'd go over this with them before she left. If Vale made a good argument for wanting to be the one to go instead though, she'd listen, and they could see if perhaps the deer would be the one to go instead after all.

Provided she wasn't, Void would soon enough excuse herself, and be on the way towards the Consul's estate, though she'd be slower at getting there than normal. The odd sensations she were feeling now, were making her wander slowly, and taking in a fair amount of things in ways she hadn't before. It felt so... Alive, she supposed the word were? It was hard to describe, since she had never felt this sort of thing before.

(Changelings)

On 2021-09-17 at 6:05 AM, Illiad Easle said:

Rasputin smirked, "I was there when house Phi was first cursed, when the Grey was first founded, I know a good deal of their inner workings, enough to recognize when the generation has shifted. No doubt Grey Mane is now, or soon will be, dead, and the new Grey Mare will take her place in the shadows. There will be some lurkers, some bad actors among the Grey, who will be purged over the next few days as they try to exert their authority. But once the purge is done things will be peaceful again provided the town comes together, and doesn't tear itself apart. That is where we will come in, Changelings, always the glue that holds society together."

Though she didn't say something to this, Bling visibly paled from what she heard. It wasn't obvious as to what part of it that concerned her the most, but Rasputin would figure out what it were soon enough. However for the time being, she'd turn, rush off, and let out a loud whistle, to get the attention of whomever were near her. She had far more to do now than she anticipated, and not a second to spare.

On 2021-09-17 at 6:05 AM, Illiad Easle said:

As he watched the movements in the city he did see the changelings moving home, he also saw a few gangs looking to take advantage of the absence of the Grey. No doubt crime would be on the rise for a few days. He'd head back to Bling, "Send out a group of messengers, warn everyone friendly to us, knowingly or not, to stay inside for the next few days. Warn them that a gang war is about to break out. When they are spared the worst of it they'll be all the more thankful to us."

Rasputin would find that Bling were seeing off a dozen changelings roughly as he returned, as well as directing changelings of various ages and damages, towards certain others, that'd make sure that they were taken well care off in their stay here. Judging by the pale, worried looks on their faces, she had seemingly just told them something that scared most of them. Albeit one looked a little bloodthirsty by the news.

As Rasputin would arrive proper, she'd turn to face him, and he'd see that her chipper attitude weren't present. She were more stoic, determined, and behind her worried eyes, raced a myriad of thoughts, as she were thinking on how they dealt with this situation the best.

"Way ahead of you. The ones with their own residency is being told to board up and prepare, then send word back with the messengers if they don't have enough jelly to last for at least three days. The homeless, or down-throddden, are directed to the nearest emergency shelters we've set up, in the four directions of the town. Everyone's being given the option to come here too, but the primary focus right now is to get everyone that we can, to hunker down for an ugly few days. Including non-changelings. If anyone asks what's happening, they'll let them know quickly about The Grey, before moving on. Word should spread then.

I've arranged for our most stealthy members to go to Gloop, and get training in how to transport jelly, and they'll then work with her to do so in the most secure manner. In case this drags on, we have to be ready to get out rations, without being spotted. Thankfully we have some excellent scouts, but... No, we'll get through this. As will those who doesn't have enough rations right now as it is. The ones going out with rations, are being intercepted, and they'll work on trying to distribute among those who can't get to one of our safe shelters. It'll depend what they come back with, but if we need to get out rations quickly, I'm having Gloop and a few of those I sent to her, working quickly to get it sacked up, and ready for transport, within the next half hour.

*sigh* I'm not a supporter of The Grey, what with all they've done, but they made sure to keep peace, by keeping the gangs in check. Without them there to intimidate them into compliance anymore... I mean, I hope It isn't gonna go full on chaotic, but we've already had two come in, that said they were jumped by some gang members, with the bruises to prove it. The pot's been stirred, and now, it's just a question about who'll end up stepping up to assert dominance the first, and what the consequences of that's gonna be. And then there's waiting for us to get a proper guard force going, if The Grey is stepping out of the limelight... It's gonna be hectic."

If you wanted to find a silver lining though, Rasputin and the other changelings in town, would get a good glimpse of how Bling would be able to handle a crisis, if she were to become queen. She were taking charge, and making sure that their kin were ready to weather the storm as best they could, and the various changelings weren't questioning her. They did as they were asked, with haste, as she tried to get them ready for staying safe. Or worse, preparing to evacuate.

And here some of them thought that her suggestion that they dug out tunnels here and there, in case of emergency, were a little excessive. Might be she'd end up being regrettably right about this choice instead.

[Illiad Easle 3,139]

@Blitz Boom

(Null)

8 hours ago, Blitz Boom said:

What the hay did Epsilon do to her?

Nine facepalmed, "How are you still wondering about this? Was the fact that I can now physically interact with you not enough of an answer? Or did losing your curse also remove your intelligence? She disowned you from House Phi, thereby freeing you from the family curse. Your draining aura is gone, having a foal won't kill your husband, and you won't get any more glimpses of the future."

In response to Null's question Arcade shrugged, "I suppose they'll fight it out, maybe one of them will win and become the stand in for the Grey, or maybe Troy will step in and impose order with their troops." He looked over at Null, "I don't suppose it matters much if we're leaving, do you have plans to come back at some point?"

It wouldn't take them long to reach the embassy, the guards at the door were on high alert, but they let the two pass without issue. Inside Dove and Branch were both frantically at work, Dove looked relieved to see them, "Thank the stars you two are alright, a changeling came by to say something was happening with the Grey, and that there'd be a gang war shortly. We've sent out for reinforcements, if things get too bad they'll send a transport to evacuate us. Best if you two hunkered down in the mean time."

 

(Void)

Vale nodded at Void's instructions for the foals, "Of course, take all the time you need, I'm sure this is quite a bit for you to process and he should be able to offer some guidance, if not answers."

She hesitated a bit when Void said she had something for her later, "I hope it's something good, but judging by your wanting to save it for later I can only assume it isn't." She sighed, "I can't convince you to show me now can I?"

 

Once Void left the apartment, she'd have no difficulty reaching the Consul's estate with the exception of the distraction that walking on the ground provided, as she stepped she could feel the ground, the dormant life, the hidden magic, it held slumbering. The different stones parts of once larger wholes. Passing near the central farming area she could feel the flow of life going into the plants, blowing through the air. Being around other creatures was almost electrifying, their life and magic apparent, but faint, no doubt something that other earth ponies were used to, having felt it their whole lives, and hardly noticed. She'd have no issue entering the estate and reaching the Consul, sitting at his desk, he looked surprised when she walked in, "Hold on... I felt you coming a long ways off, and not as a hole in the field. Either you're a changeling pretending to be Void, or something's happened. Care to explain?"

 

(Changelings)

Rasputin nodded, "Good, I see their faith in you is not misplaced. Once the message is all gone out, all that will remain will be to wait out the storm. Honestly it will serve to be a convenient time to train all those who shelter here, when they emerge they'll be ready to rebuild the town better."

[Blitz Boom 4,627]

@Illiad Easle

(Null)

On 2021-09-19 at 9:46 PM, Illiad Easle said:

Nine facepalmed, "How are you still wondering about this? Was the fact that I can now physically interact with you not enough of an answer? Or did losing your curse also remove your intelligence? She disowned you from House Phi, thereby freeing you from the family curse. Your draining aura is gone, having a foal won't kill your husband, and you won't get any more glimpses of the future."

"I never had glimpses into the future, what are you even on about? And this is how life is without that aura? How the hay does anyone live like this? Everything's just... Hammering at me from all angles. I swear, it feels like things are alive around me. It's bloody weird."

It wasn't that Null hadn't thought this was the case. More like her usual, stubborn denial had poked its head up, and made her refuse to believe it. Yet with him yapping on, the shadow being able to hit her, and so on, she had to begrudgingly admit that it was a thing, and had to deal with that. Just... Not right now. She had enough weighing on her right now as it were, and didn't need this to add to it. Sure she couldn't ignore the feelings since it were hammering her like a bloody freight train! But she could keep refusing to address it, and just try and push through this. She'd get to a long list of pros and cons over this when there were head space for it, and she couldn't run from facing it any longer.

On 2021-09-19 at 9:46 PM, Illiad Easle said:

In response to Null's question Arcade shrugged, "I suppose they'll fight it out, maybe one of them will win and become the stand in for the Grey, or maybe Troy will step in and impose order with their troops." He looked over at Null, "I don't suppose it matters much if we're leaving, do you have plans to come back at some point?"

"Yeah. Once I find a way to break her out of her deal, and end the chain for good, I'll come back to confront Epsilon. It's a big world out there, Arcade, and I've seen things that's more powerful than you could imagine. And if she can only drain what I used to be able to, I know some loop holes, though I ain't gonna like it. Making deals with gods... Its got a history of backfiring."

On 2021-09-19 at 9:46 PM, Illiad Easle said:

It wouldn't take them long to reach the embassy, the guards at the door were on high alert, but they let the two pass without issue. Inside Dove and Branch were both frantically at work, Dove looked relieved to see them, "Thank the stars you two are alright, a changeling came by to say something was happening with the Grey, and that there'd be a gang war shortly. We've sent out for reinforcements, if things get too bad they'll send a transport to evacuate us. Best if you two hunkered down in the mean time."

"Yeah, we got the newsletter."

She were feeling a little well cranky right now, so Null didn't go on further, and especially didn't feel like explaining what had happened. Quite frankly, at best, she might tell Dove that Grey Mane were dead, and that the Consul needed to hear about it. No way in Tartarus were she gonna say it was her who did it though. She'd be thrown to the figurative wolves for causing a stir.

Did she anticipate a gang war would break out over this? No, but frankly, that wasn't gonna be her problem. Nothing she could do about it, and while in the short run, this were gonna cause trouble, and likely hurt some, in the long run, it were best that Grey Mane were gone. Whatever her sister were going to do with them going forward... It couldn't be a worse direction than what he had done with them.

Null would wander in without stop, and go right for her room. Unless Dove stopped them, and wanted a report in some way, she were frankly feeling about ready to just hunker in a corner, covered in a blanket, and have a nice, long cry. And a bit of an existential crisis.

(Void)

On 2021-09-19 at 9:46 PM, Illiad Easle said:

She hesitated a bit when Void said she had something for her later, "I hope it's something good, but judging by your wanting to save it for later I can only assume it isn't." She sighed, "I can't convince you to show me now can I?"

"I don't know if it's good or bad. I haven't seen it yet. But I know that whatever it is, is going to affect you, and the foals would pick up on it. I think they all had enough of a turbulent showing for today.

I promise you Vale, I'll go over it with you, once they've gone to bed. Hopefully it's good news though. *sigh* Come on Lacuna."

The lizard had wandered off of her for a little bit, to go over to the table and nick a juicy strawberry for himself. He had stood and chomped through it nearby, looking on what the two of them were doing, before he were called upon, and he'd rush over to Void. Then he'd climb back up on his usual spot on her shoulder, and would continue to feast on his little treat. Little rascal, playing all innocent, despite going on the table.

On 2021-09-19 at 9:46 PM, Illiad Easle said:

Once Void left the apartment, she'd have no difficulty reaching the Consul's estate with the exception of the distraction that walking on the ground provided, as she stepped she could feel the ground, the dormant life, the hidden magic, it held slumbering. The different stones parts of once larger wholes. Passing near the central farming area she could feel the flow of life going into the plants, blowing through the air. Being around other creatures was almost electrifying, their life and magic apparent, but faint, no doubt something that other earth ponies were used to, having felt it their whole lives, and hardly noticed. She'd have no issue entering the estate and reaching the Consul, sitting at his desk, he looked surprised when she walked in, "Hold on... I felt you coming a long ways off, and not as a hole in the field. Either you're a changeling pretending to be Void, or something's happened. Care to explain?"

"Just... G-Give me a moment please. It's been a little t-taxing getting here."

That were frankly an understatement. Her whole life, things around her had just been... Well, things. And creatures. She could touch them, see them, that sort, but that were about it, and she assumed this were normal. But this? She had felt like she could almost reach out and touch the natural magic that flowed through the plants, and infused them with life from deep, deep beneath the crust of the earth. Far deeper down than she'd be able to sense, but the top layer infusing itself with the plants as they grew? That she could feel, and the closer she were to the farming area, the more overwhelming it got. She almost stumbled and fell three time in that area alone, as it were messing with her system quite massively.

Even other creatures had a new layer to them, as she felt as if there were something more beneath the surface. Was this life energy? Dormant magic? She had no idea, and frankly, subtle as it might be, it were still overwhelming for her. Small ones had a chance to get used t this throughout their lives, but not her. She had only ever known her cursed state, and sad as she were to admit, she were missing it a little right now. This was just.... It was a lot to take in.

After getting a few minutes to catch herself, she'd be able to address the Consul, though he wasn't the only one feeling another right here. She were feeling him, and... By the gods, was this weird.

"I don't know how, but the curse, it's... I-It's gone. I felt this w-wave go over me, and suddenly everything just b-bloomed up, and became alive. It's... A l-lot to take in.

This have to be s-something with big sis, right? Do you think... Is it p-possible she could the curse, if she k-killed Grey Mane somehow?"

(Changelings)

"In a time of crisis, we need to act fast.

It's weird to just go ahead and do it, and everyone just follows my lead on this, but that's just good, right? I mean, not for selfish reasons, but because it goes way smoother when there's a chain of command. Any sort of delay could end up costing us lives. I figured it might end up being really important that some others heard about this as well, so I asked Wobble Tubber to go past the embassy with those nice ponies from Troy, and pass along the message on her route. The Grey have history with them, from what I hear, so the Consul would probably like to know about this. Maybe he could even send some troops to help with the gang war? We can only hope."

A more callous changeling might have thought more of it as gaining some influence, by making sure to warn the Trojan ambassador, so they'd get a hoof in, but Bling hadn't thought of that at all. She just figured exactly what she told Rasputin: That the Consul would need to know, and the best way to do that, was through his embassy. Plus, the ones there were outsiders. They might not get the hint before it was too late, and they had seemed like some really nice creatures. It'd be a shame if they got hurt. Including the small couple. Though the mare would probably kick a mugger in the face. There were a lot of anger in her.

"Gonna come in more soon. I hope no more of them have been beat up... But I'm doubting it. *sigh* I miss Sew Snap at times like this. Sister would have been really helpful in patching up the wounded... Well, no time to reminisce. There's work to do."

[Illiad Easle 3,139]

@Blitz Boom
 

(Void) (Doing her first this time)

Vale wasn't pleased with the answer, but sighed, "Alright then, I'll hold you to that. Try to give it a look while you're out alright? It might be time sensitive."

 

The Consul waited patiently for Void to collect herself,

5 hours ago, Blitz Boom said:

"I don't know how, but the curse, it's... I-It's gone. I felt this w-wave go over me, and suddenly everything just b-bloomed up, and became alive. It's... A l-lot to take in.

This have to be s-something with big sis, right? Do you think... Is it p-possible she could the curse, if she k-killed Grey Mane somehow?"

He thought a moment, then nodded, "It's possible, though it points to things not going exactly to plan. I may have to go out to New Pegasus myself sooner than I thought." He sighed, "Now, I don't have all the answers, and the answers I do have may well be heresay or outdated, but I'll tell you what I know. The curse you and your sister had was a family one, passed down each generation to those the presiding Grey considered family. More likely than not Grey Mane is dead, and whoever took his place does not consider you family, which is why I believe that Null did not take his place. Meaning she is either dead, or the two of you have more family than we thought."

He looked over at his desk, "I sent out a task force to New Pegas about an hour ago, they'll be bringing Null back if she's still alive along with the ambassadors. I'll be sure to let you know when they return. Now,"

He turned his attention more fully to Void, "You've been reconnected to the magic field, I'm sure it's quite the experience for you, it certainly was for me when I became an alicorn. You'll get used to it in time, but no doubt you'll have a much greater appreciation for it than others. Still, thusfar in life you've defined yourself in relation to your field, that much was clear by your mark. Now that it is gone, what will you define yourself by I wonder?"

 

(Null)

Arcade left Null to pack as he went to gather the few things he had brought with him from the facility, adding the suit he had used for the party the other day.

Once he was packed he would come in to Null's room to see if she needed help or comfort.

Provided they didn't try to leave, about an hour later the task force would arrive, landing one of their flying transports on top of the motel where the embassy was. A few minutes later Dove came looking for them, "We're being evacuated, come on, it's back to Troy for us."

They'd pass a number of properly armored Trojan soldiers along with the General they had met at the dinner when they had first arrived in Troy from Deltrot. Soon enough they'd be on the transport along with the guards who had come with the caravan, and they'd be on their way back to Troy. Arcade would lean over to Null, "Well, that was convenient. Anything you can tell me about Troy before we get there?"

 

(Changelings)

Rasputin looked contemplative, "The Consul? Hmm... I wonder if it's the same one as before the incident, or if they elected a new one. The Consul I knew was a force to be reckoned with, if Discord's hesitation was anything to go off of, kept saying that the timing had to be perfect or he wouldn't succeed." He shook his head, "Stories say the old Consul managed to defeat Discord and became an alicorn in the process, but I'm not sure I believe that."

Still, Rasputin was impressed, "Good work, you'll make a good queen for this hive, your humility will help you in the long run."

[Blitz Boom 4,627]

@Illiad Easle

(Void)

"I'm not just a thing that stops magic. I'm a working mare, and a caretaker. This is... Very, very weird, but I'm still me. It's just another step in life or something. Right? I'll uhm, figure out something smarter to day some day. I just mean that well... Ever since coming here, being able to dot hat, haven't been a big part of my life. I have my work, and now, a good deal of time to care for the foals and young ponies that Null found. Whatever that curse really were, I'm happy to be rid of it, and I'll get used to it. Hopefully soon. It's a bit much right now.

And she's not dead. If she could handle Grey Mane, she could handle whoever came after it. That that is family is... I don't know what to think about that. I don't even know about any blood relative of ours. I just hope whoever it were, didn't hurt my sister."

That one were a little tougher to swallow, that they apparently had some sort of family, that disowned them. A meaningless gesture really, since they were still blood, and disowned or not, that weren't changed. Or well, this time around, she guessed it did change things, but it were a mess to try and make sense of. Even if the Consul seemed to have some sort of idea what were going on. Though she refused to believe that Null were dead. Her big sister were stronger than that, despite her... N-No, she didn't want to think about that.

As for her cutie mark, it described her talent, but if that held little meaning now, she didn't know what'd happen to it. Would it vanish? Perhaps just be a reminder, of something she weren't anymore? Change? She had no experience with this sort of thing, so she hadn't the foggiest, and it hardly seemed all that important. It were just a stamp on her flank. It wasn't who she were.

"I uhm... D-Do have a question for you too though, if that's okay?"

Provided it were greenlit, she'd go into her saddlebag, and pull out the folded up letter that she had been given.

"I haven't read it, but it were slid under the door. I'm sure it have something to do with Molotov, and I'm going to read it, but... Can I ask you first, what happened? He looked a little broken when I saw him rush away yesterday. Is he okay?"

There were much for her to tackle personally, but this was an important thing too. Partially because it also involved Vale, who'd need to know, and hearing from the Consul himself, she could compare to the letter, and see if whatever would come of it, were the truth. She trusted Illiad to tell her the truth, so his version would be what she compared things too, unless it sounded too odd and outlandish.

(Null)

Once he actually came to the room, Null had gotten past her crying session. You could see on her puffy eyes that it had happened, yet she were doing better, somewhat. She were packing the few things she had at least, which all fit in the saddlebags she had worn when she got here. She'd keep the silver band around her leg, as well as the sash, and put them in though. It were a reminder of her date with Arcade, which were doing well in keeping her from breaking apart again.

Killing her father, as much as she despised him, hit her hard. Adding then that she found out she had another half sister, that were now taking the curse they had endured before that, were not helping things. It put a heavy blanket of guilt over her, despite rationally, she had just done what she had to. Grey Mane had said it himself, that one of them had to die. And Espsilon had made her own choice.

Sadly, facts didn't really help her with that feeling of misery that went over her, and she had needed a bit of time for herself, to get some of it, out of her system. Arcade would've just made it worse had he been there, as she'd likely have tried to get herself under control for his sake, instead of letting it out. She still felt like crying, but she had emptied the waterworks for now. There'd be more tears in the times ahead.

When Arcade came in though, she closed the door behind him, and began to tell him everything. Her early years, her relation to Grey Mane, the last twenty years of her life, before then being frozen, and all that happened after that. Even how she were sent to Tartarus. She would tell him everything, just as she had promised, and would be done about ten-fifteen minutes before Dove would arrive, depending on if she needed to retell some things, or not.

It would also include some of the things she had done over the twenty years on the run, but most of it were in broad strokes, with just some examples picked. One of them being the adoption lettter that had come for her sister, which he should be able to see ,she still felt guilty about, despite it being both a long time ago, and being made out of fear of being alone, by a scared filly.

They'd have some time to discuss things then, until Dove arrived.

(After Dove arrived)

"Already? Well, for the best. There's a lot to report back to the consul, and this place sounds like it's gonna get messy."

Null weren't gonna cause a fuzz or anything, but just follow along, though she weren't thrilled about the amount of guards around them as they wandered on. It made her feel things more than normal. This was going to be difficult to get used to.

What was it her sister used to say about sliver linings though... Maybe she felt like the world were better at a leg's distance like before, but least she'd be able to walk on clouds? Yeah, she'd probably say something like that. Guess that could be cool or something.

No time to test that. For now, it were just getting on the evac, get tied up proper, and then get the hay outta this place. She'd probably not be back, before she had a solution to deal with Epsilon.

At the question from Arcade, she'd lean back again, and try to give him a little bit of information that'd matter to him.

"Well for once, that's where the consul is. He's the stallion who dealt with Discord, and became an alicorn for it. Now he runs the sun, so he's a pretty big deal. He's a... Good stallion. I told you a little about him before, when we talked the task he gave me."

By that, she referred to how he were part of the whole Karmic shtick, and hence, he should expect him to act a lil' weird. No biggie, since he overall seemed a good one, and Arcade wasn't someone that he could just judge. Unless he somehow hid a ton of sadistic murdering tendencies extremely well. Which seemed unlikely.

"Beyond that... Well, big sandy place, got a market, some various shops, and there's a lot of various creatures there. Kinda hard to explain. Easier if I just show you, once we're done with the important talks. Got a few I have to get hold of after that anyway. Most of 'em at the market."

She were referring to the acts that she'd been told of a few days past, were sought for in New Las Pegasus. Right now wouldn't be a good time, but a few weeks, when everything had been settled? The casino would still be looking for acts, and they'd like a bigger, better audience for sure. As well as a stable pay check. It'd also kind of function as a gift for her sister, though she likely wouldn't care much about it in that way.

(Changelings)

"Consul Illiad Easle, that's the one. The pony who brought down Discord, and now takes care of sending the sun on its merry way. He's a pretty important alicorn for many reasons, though I think he struggles with all his responsibilities. The sun isn't angled like it used to, for instance, but who can blame him? There's not a lot of alicorns left now, and since he took down Discord, everyone looked to him for answers on how to deal with all the chaos and death, that's still happening. It can't be easy."

Bling certainly didn't envy him, that was for sure. And if ever she met him, she'd go and respectfully ask for permission to give him a friendly hug. It wouldn't do a lot to actually help, but sometimes, a friendly act could go a long way, on a grim day. She could also ask what sort of theater he might like, so they could try and set up something there. You know, when there wasn't a gang war brewing.

On 2021-09-22 at 4:12 AM, Illiad Easle said:

Still, Rasputin was impressed, "Good work, you'll make a good queen for this hive, your humility will help you in the long run."

A small blush managed to creep unto Bling's face at this compliment. She weren't used to hearing things like that, yet it were vanishing again quickly, as a group more of changelings hobbled in. One of them, seemingly having been slashed with a blade of some kind, and bleeding from his thigh.

"It's escalating already? Wrinkle, get Mallow to the back office. Gregory have a setup there. Get that leg checked, and tell him to get ready. This isn't going to be the end of things. If any of you have medical experience, or are fast learners, stay with him. Send word if we need to clear another room."

She were going to have to leave Rasputin the next half hour or so, to his own devices. There were coming in more, and if they weren't injured, many of them were scared, and unsure of what were going on. They'd need attention, and she needed to sort out where and how to address this. Rasputin would have to come later, once there were some degree of control over things.

Edited September 23, 2021 by Blitz Boom

[Illiad Easle 3,139]

@Blitz Boom

(Sorry for the delay)

(Void)

On 2021-09-23 at 8:18 AM, Blitz Boom said:

Whatever that curse really were, I'm happy to be rid of it, and I'll get used to it. Hopefully soon. It's a bit much right now.

Illiad nodded, "It is not uncommon for ponies to get a new mark after great changes in their lives, such that they feel their mark no longer represents them. As it seems, now that your curse is lifted, you may soon find yourself thinking of yourself in a different light, realizing to your deepest core who you really are. I'm sure, whatever the outcome, it will be what's best for you."

On 2021-09-23 at 8:18 AM, Blitz Boom said:

He looked a little broken when I saw him rush away yesterday. Is he okay?"

He looked a little less sure, "He... revealed to me certain troubling things I had hoped to avoid. I fear that my visions were not fully averted by my defeating Discord, and there may yet still be a dark time before things can fully return to normal. But I needn't worry you with such things, I asked him to get in contact with Vale, both to make amends as well as to get her insight on some of the things he showed me. Maybe together they'll be able to mitigate the worst of what is to come."

 

(Null)

On 2021-09-23 at 8:18 AM, Blitz Boom said:

They'd have some time to discuss things then, until Dove arrived.

Arcade listened attentively to her life story, not interrupting anything she said. He was silent for a moment once she finished, "Dang... That's... quite a life you've led. I didn't think anyone could have had it worse than I did, in the lab, but perhaps there is nothing to be gained through comparing pain."

He sighed, "There's nothing I can do to help your past, but maybe, if you'll let me, I can help make sure your future is as good as it can be?"

 

On 2021-09-23 at 8:18 AM, Blitz Boom said:

"Beyond that... Well, big sandy place, got a market, some various shops, and there's a lot of various creatures there. Kinda hard to explain. Easier if I just show you, once we're done with the important talks. Got a few I have to get hold of after that anyway. Most of 'em at the market."

Arcade nodded, "Looking forward to it then. Although... you should probably go see your parents first, it sounds like they mean a lot to you. I wouldn't know what that's like, not having parents and all, and the one parent-adjacent I did have being apparently responsible for a lot of what happened to you."

 

It wasn't long before they landed on the outskirts of Troy, where the Trojan military had reclaimed a large amount of land to serve as their training areas as well as the landing zone of the transports. One of the guards motioned for everyone to get off, "Welcome back to civilization, the Consul is expecting Branch, Dove, Event, and Arcade at his estate for debriefing. Stick together please, the sooner you get there the sooner you can get back to your families."

 

(Changelings)

On 2021-09-23 at 8:18 AM, Blitz Boom said:

"Consul Illiad Easle, that's the one. The pony who brought down Discord, and now takes care of sending the sun on its merry way. He's a pretty important alicorn for many reasons, though I think he struggles with all his responsibilities. The sun isn't angled like it used to, for instance, but who can blame him? There's not a lot of alicorns left now, and since he took down Discord, everyone looked to him for answers on how to deal with all the chaos and death, that's still happening. It can't be easy."

Rasputin looked impressed, "I did notice the sun's odd behavior, no doubt Discord started it on that course. Impressive that he could retain at least some semblance of order after the mess that was left behind."

Once left alone, Rasputin made his way outside to assist in guiding the changelings inside, as well as defend the weaker ones from the gangs that were growing more bold. Realizing that the Grey weren't patrolling, they thought they had free reign to start acting on all the aggressive tendencies they had previously been suppressing.

 

Once enough changelings were inside that they were no longer easy targets, the gangs shifted their focus towards each other, rather than the few stragglers that remained. A few Trojan guards were securing the embassy and the block it stood on, but otherwise were not branching out into the city just yet.

Edited September 25, 2021 by Illiad Easle

[Blitz Boom 4,627]

@Illiad Easle

(Void)

On 2021-09-26 at 12:02 AM, Illiad Easle said:

Illiad nodded, "It is not uncommon for ponies to get a new mark after great changes in their lives, such that they feel their mark no longer represents them. As it seems, now that your curse is lifted, you may soon find yourself thinking of yourself in a different light, realizing to your deepest core who you really are. I'm sure, whatever the outcome, it will be what's best for you."

"I always assumed they were just permanent. I mean, I heard stories, but drunk tales aren't really all that reliable."

Void wasn't a bartender by any stretch of the imagination. She had just hung around drunk ones, when she'd worked as a waiter in tough times. Not a lot, but it worked fine enough for a short while, as no one believed a bunch of drunk creatures that their magic was off. Not unless it started to be ar recurring theme.

...She may also at times, have pickpocketed from drunk creatures. She wasn't proud of it, but you did what you had to, to survive. In their case, that had sadly meant doing some shady stuff at times.

"I guess I'll see what times brings. Nothing really springs to mind right now though, beyond my work at blowing glass. Maybe something? *sigh* I don't know. It's confusing."

On 2021-09-26 at 12:02 AM, Illiad Easle said:

He looked a little less sure, "He... revealed to me certain troubling things I had hoped to avoid. I fear that my visions were not fully averted by my defeating Discord, and there may yet still be a dark time before things can fully return to normal. But I needn't worry you with such things, I asked him to get in contact with Vale, both to make amends as well as to get her insight on some of the things he showed me. Maybe together they'll be able to mitigate the worst of what is to come."

"Guess I'll just have to ask him then. Maybe it's something I can help with. And I think I need to be there to stop Vale from killing him. She isn't uhm... Well, she's very angry, for good reasons.

Maybe he put an address into this letter somewhere..."

Void would fold it out, and skim through it, looking for an address. Which she did find, along with quite a few things that made her cringe visibly, and give a few looks of concern.

"...It is saying he wants to speak with her. I uh... She's gonna need to s-see the rest of this too. No wonder he looked so horrified when I saw him...

I'll set up a meeting w-with them, and go through this with her, I promise. Is it true though? The parts about his uh... I-Involvement? I think that's going to be important for Vale to know, considering this might have been one of his."

She did her best to not read on too many of the items, but it did mention the machines that were twisted to toss out contagions, and mesmerize the general vicinity, to make for useful test subjects. It were hard to miss that one, and frankly, she felt less horrified than she probably should. Mostly, she felt sorry for Molotov. He always seemed like one who - behind his forthcoming personality - wanted to do something good. She couldn't imagine how horrifying it must be, to be told that your life's work had instead caused untold cases of misery, primarily on the poor and innocent.

(Null)

On 2021-09-26 at 12:02 AM, Illiad Easle said:

He sighed, "There's nothing I can do to help your past, but maybe, if you'll let me, I can help make sure your future is as good as it can be?"

Null pounced on him as he said that, and planted a kiss on his lips. The start of his response to her giving him the whole story (more or less, though he could ask for details later if he wished to), made her think they were going to sit and compare misery for a time. But no. Instead, he went and said something that were actually really supportive, and made her feel a little better about things. Knowing that perhaps, life was a miserable performance, but least she had someone to try and get through it with her now. It helped ease a lot of things, because she knew her trip home were likely going to be short lived.

"Long as I have you, I feel like things aren't gonna be so bad anymore."

On 2021-09-26 at 12:02 AM, Illiad Easle said:

Arcade nodded, "Looking forward to it then. Although... you should probably go see your parents first, it sounds like they mean a lot to you. I wouldn't know what that's like, not having parents and all, and the one parent-adjacent I did have being apparently responsible for a lot of what happened to you."

"That's my first stop, once the Consul is done speaking with us. I think he both wants, and needs, an update before the rest. I'd like to introduce you to them when it's time though."

Had she ever thought she'd go look up at her parents, and introduce them to her coltfriend? Not in this lifetime, that was for sure. And yet, here they were. This was a strange, yet delightful time to be alive. If you didn't think of all the murder and assorted other issues.

On 2021-09-26 at 12:02 AM, Illiad Easle said:

It wasn't long before they landed on the outskirts of Troy, where the Trojan military had reclaimed a large amount of land to serve as their training areas as well as the landing zone of the transports. One of the guards motioned for everyone to get off, "Welcome back to civilization, the Consul is expecting Branch, Dove, Event, and Arcade at his estate for debriefing. Stick together please, the sooner you get there the sooner you can get back to your families."

"Told you. The Consul wanted an update. Lead the way, and let's get this over with."

She'd follow along as she should, and as they wandered along, she'd point out a few local things to Arcade. Wasn't much to see here though, but there were a few things. Like the Pygmy Ghost Vulture they'd be able to see, sit on a stone, and feasting on a poor Cackler it had caught. The majesty of nature, in all it's brutality.

She'd go along somewhat slowly though, compared to how she'd usually just bash ahead. The feelings of things around her were still odd to feel. Especially from above. She had always felt a call tot he skies, when she had only one wing especially, but now it were in a whole nother way. With much more power and volume.

Hopefully they'd be at the Consul soon...

(Changelings)

It were good news when the worst were over, though it didn't come with perfect news, sadly. From what a pair of harrowed, hurt changelings said, one of them hadn't managed to make it back. A story sadly told three more times. It were uncertain if they were dead though. The stories were varied, with them either being dragged off, or hiding somewhere, changed into a random form to try and survive. Hopefully they'd live, but... For now, they had to focus on the ones they knew the whereabouts of.

Bling were busy directing others around, make sure those who were harmed - either mentally or physically - were sent the right places, that rations were sent for, to those who hadn't eaten yet. Then there were setting up stealth deliveries to be taken care of immediately, to the outpost areas, and barricaded ones, that were known to not have enough, arranging sleeping accommodations quickly, and so on, and so forth. Bling were rushing around, commandeering things, and ensuring that it went smoothly. A few times it seemed like someone wished to raise their voice, and question what she said, but then others tended to push them along, assuring them that this were the best way to help them all. Challenging leadership at this stage, were a critical error, and since Bling were the one taking charge, even those who didn't quite like her being in charge in the first place - due to her hive's former status as pacifistic and tiny, among other reasons - just accepted it, and followed directions.

Rasputin could likely spot though, that she were worried, and that there were panic in her mind, at making sure things got done right. It was a pressure test that came out of the blue, but despite her being stressed about this, she dealt with things remarkably well. No she were not completely cool and level-headed, but she wasn't a born and trained leader. It couldn't be expected of her, to be simply cold and emotionless about things. Especially not since she knew most of the changelings in town, and were worried about them.

Whatever would come of this whole thing, once the dust had settled, it would be a good test to see how she'd deal with a crisis. And the various changelings in town, got a chance to see that Rasputin were on their side. Sure there were some who'd still definitely judge him, and not trust him, but defending them, and their friends and families, sure got him some favorable PR, if you could put it that way.

It'd take about an hour before everything were sorted, at which point, Bling would have the doors and windows shut, guards set up of whoever had the bravery to take that duty, and instruct them to keep their eyes and ears peeled, in case they got some still trickling in later on. If they did, the entrance of wherever they came in, should be opened, and they be allowed access. Though there were mentioned four by name, who if they did come, would have to be immediately restrained, and searched. She'd welcome all whom were kin here, but sadly, some of them had joined the gangs, and the four in question, she knew would potentially try something, by experience. Even if they chickened out and came here, they had to take their precautions.

Once it were all settled, she'd finish by standing on the stage, and tell everyone to huddle closely with their kin, and to try and keep calm. They were making sure the others were taken care of outside as well, and there were plenty of food to go around. They would survive this. And in case someone tried to set their place on fire, they had precautions for that, and had so for a while. It wasn't like some changeling haters, and general misfits, hadn't tried setting this building on fire before. Though that wasn't covered, just the general safety rules, just in case. Once it seemed like they were settled in, she'd excuse herself, and say that she'd be sure to come back and update them as soon as she got some updates on what went on outside. Beyond the one she started with, which they had likely all figured out to some extend, about The Grey.

With that sorted, she'd leave the stage, wave Rasputin over to follow her, and go right for the nearest backroom. Where she'd promptly collapse on the floor, and hold her hooves over her head.

"Okay. Okay. You can do this Bling. Just breathe. Just... *siiiigh*"

She'd get back on her hooves after her minor episode, and turned to Rasputin with a friendly smile, pretending like she had definitely not just gotten a brief crack in her facade, about how terrible she felt about everything out there.

"I just wanted to thank you Rasputin. I know there's still some doubts about you, but it is good to see that you're definitely deserving of your second chance, and a fair bit of praise. There's at least a half dozen of our brethren that wouldn't have made it in here alive, if you hadn't helped defend them. To think the gangs would lay in ambush already though, and towards fleeing civilians... Despicable. We're lucky it didn't get worse than it have been so far.

And a lot of that, is due to you. If you hadn't warned us what exactly were going on with The Grey, we might have not reacted fast enough to minimize this, and we might have had dead kin right outside of our door now. I can't speak on behalf of every changeling in New Las Pegasus, but I can at least give you my own personal, deeply felt gratitude, for all of your help."

And with that, she'd give the changeling king, a deep bow. Thanking him in the respectful way that he deserved. Although she almost felt like tackle-hugging him instead.

[Illiad Easle 3,139]

@Blitz Boom

(Void)

5 hours ago, Blitz Boom said:

"I guess I'll see what times brings. Nothing really springs to mind right now though, beyond my work at blowing glass. Maybe something? *sigh* I don't know. It's confusing."

Illiad snorted, "That it is, the magic that governs marks is one of the most natural magics known in all of Equis, and as such it is the hardest to understand. Nonetheless, I'm sure whatever the outcome, it will suit you perfectly. Though if I had to hazard a guess, I'd say it would more likely reflect your compassion, your empathy, and your nurturing nature, if Vale's reports on how well you are caring for the ponies are accurate."

 

5 hours ago, Blitz Boom said:

Is it true though? The parts about his uh... I-Involvement?

He raised an eyebrow, "If you're asking whether the account is factual, I don't doubt it. If you're asking whether he bears responsibility, then I can confidently tell you that he does not. As of now he does not have any outstanding debt on the part of Vengeance, meaning that he stand blameless for the actions of his former companions. Vale may not accept that right away, but it should help her on the path of forgiving him for his tangential part."

He looked over at the clock, "I have another appointment, a meeting with some elected officials. Don't hesitate to come back if you need anything."

 

(Due to time difference, Null arrives at the estate about an hour after Void leaves, such that they do not cross paths before she reaches the estate.)

(Null)

5 hours ago, Blitz Boom said:

"Long as I have you, I feel like things aren't gonna be so bad anymore."

Arcade blushed at that, but did not hesitate to return the kiss. He had, after all, said what he did to comfort her, and because he genuinely did care.

 

When Null mentioned introducing him to her parents he nodded, "I would like that, I'm sure they've heard it from countless others already, but they deserve to know how good a pony they've raised."

 

Soon enough, about an hour after Void had left the estate to bring the news to Vale, Null, Arcade, and the rest of the group arrived at the estate and were brought into the dining room she and Void had sat in with their parents soon after they had first arrived in Troy. Food of many different kinds were being brought out and set at each place, and the Consul soon followed, taking his seat at the head of the table. Arcade and Null were directed to sit at his right, Dove and Branch on his left.

Arcade had an odd look on his face when he saw Illiad, he whispered to Null, "Is that what an alicorn looks like? Given how the scholars talked about Celestia I imagined something more... god-like?"

If Illiad heard the comment he didn't show it, nodding to each of them to take their seats as he did, "It is good to see that all of you were able to return... mostly unscathed... from your mission. I've already read the reports so we can skip over the minutia. Tell me, what do you think would be a good course of action in regards to New Pegasus? Null, I understand you have some pertinent knowledge of the current situation, care to weigh in?"

 

(Changelings)

Rasputin had his fair share of nicks and bruises by the time things calmed down enough that they could seal the doors and rest inside, but he had done well more than his fair share of the damage to all those who had tried to enter with malicious intention. Still, he was attentive and followed Bling off the stage and into the private room smiling tiredly as she collapsed. He waved a hoof dismissively at her praise, "Save you words for one who deserves it, my debt is yet far from repaid. It will take several years, if not decades, serving you and other changelings to atone for all I've done. But I'm glad you are willing to allow me to do so here."

He took a seat nearby, "If all goes well, it should take two or three days for Grey Mare to acclimate to her position, and for the corruption to be cleansed from the ranks of the Grey. They Grey will go back into the shadows, where they belong, cleaning up the scum that the law can't. Once we start hearing about gang bosses disappearing, then we'll know it's safe to go back to our lives. In the meantime, now is the perfect time to train everyone to be more productive, more effective as cultivators, harvesters, and gatherers. But that can wait until tomorrow. Everyone deserves a good rest after the day we've had."

[Blitz Boom 4,627]

@Illiad Easle

(Void)

On 2021-09-28 at 7:57 AM, Illiad Easle said:

Illiad snorted, "That it is, the magic that governs marks is one of the most natural magics known in all of Equis, and as such it is the hardest to understand. Nonetheless, I'm sure whatever the outcome, it will suit you perfectly. Though if I had to hazard a guess, I'd say it would more likely reflect your compassion, your empathy, and your nurturing nature, if Vale's reports on how well you are caring for the ponies are accurate."

"It's not hard. They're very good ponies, who just needs an environment of love, and understanding, so they can grow into healthy adults. Though some do have some issues. And I need to get hold of Molotov, to try and help with one of them."

If he had seen the reports, he'd know about the foal missing her wings. A horrible, disgusting thing done to her, which would normally not have any kind of solution. Yet as he had seen on Molotov, he were a unicorn, that had made functional wings for himself. Hence, he should be able to make functional replacement ones for wing amputees too. In fact, the design for them, were in the data cube the Consul had gotten already, so he could likely have it sorted via some other tech savvy beings too. Wouldn't even need the invasive surgery, since she already had the nerve endings and neural connections for it. Just had to make wings in the right size and weight, then have them attached accordingly. A simple spell could likely do that.

"But we'll see what happens, right?"

At this point, Lacuni stopped looking around the room from Void's shoulder, and looked straight towards the odd pony, that he had never seen before in the market. But Void were friendly with him, so that meant he was a friend, right? A friend who needed a happy greeting sound.

The cackler would let out a sound towards the consul, which were reminiscent of a ships fog horn. Impressively deep and reverberating too, and you could really see the little one putting some effort into doing it, and puffing his chest a little after that, mighty proud of himself. Earned him a bit of a scratching on the side of his face from Void, so that were good times for him. If the consul tried, he'd find the lizard would rub his head on his hoof, and radiate nothing but joy, and a little caution. Though the caution were normal, from any of his kind. It were an instinct thing, when one were this low on the food chain.

On 2021-09-28 at 7:57 AM, Illiad Easle said:

He raised an eyebrow, "If you're asking whether the account is factual, I don't doubt it. If you're asking whether he bears responsibility, then I can confidently tell you that he does not. As of now he does not have any outstanding debt on the part of Vengeance, meaning that he stand blameless for the actions of his former companions. Vale may not accept that right away, but it should help her on the path of forgiving him for his tangential part."

He looked over at the clock, "I have another appointment, a meeting with some elected officials. Don't hesitate to come back if you need anything."

"I meant more about him being responsible for making some of the things, that got used. But I guess you answered that too, at the same time. It's a relief to hear that he isn't responsible for the bad things, and I'll make sure to let Vale know that. Though I still think she's going to try and at least beat him up when she sees him. It's not easy letting go of your anger, and I think she needs someone to blame. I've seen it from my sister, many times. It's easier to blame another, than to accept what happened, and move on.

But I'll leave you alone. Good luck with your meeting, and thank you."

If there were nothing more, she'd leave, and move towards the outskirts of town. She needed to speak with Molotov, and it would be rather important to get done. She'd be back at the foals an hour after that, with a bit of a hopeful smile on her face, and a bag of something special she had picked up, after she were done. She wondered what they might be doing right now, but she were sure Vale kept them entertained.

(Null)

On 2021-09-28 at 7:57 AM, Illiad Easle said:

Arcade had an odd look on his face when he saw Illiad, he whispered to Null, "Is that what an alicorn looks like? Given how the scholars talked about Celestia I imagined something more... god-like?"

"I've seen real gods. This ain't nothing. Still, he's playing it common right now. Ain't the same if he gets flared up."

She'd whisper back to him, and she sadly wasn't joking. Demi gods and gods, she had seen them both. And from that, is how she learned that her curse did not affect primordial magic. Too raw and powerful she imagined. Tough regardless of that, the visual tended to be mighty weird on some of them. Especially the gods. She'd seen some with physical avatars, and some as pictures. Those in pictures were odd, like the ones from Harrowmark, though she were sure they'd be a great deal more impressive in real life. With Viz'nay, being a giant, silvery moth, with countless souls nestled under her wings, and Suusha looking like one of the old depiction of humans, but humongous, and with sharp claws, dark eyes, and six tentacles writhing on his back, in sickly green. Risen corpses bowing before him, as he towered above the swamps.

The ones she'd seen herself... She'd need some time to try and explain them. And don't even get her started on draconequui. By the gods, Discord were by far not the weirdest looking one of those, and he were already a weird mix of things.

On 2021-09-28 at 7:57 AM, Illiad Easle said:

If Illiad heard the comment he didn't show it, nodding to each of them to take their seats as he did, "It is good to see that all of you were able to return... mostly unscathed... from your mission. I've already read the reports so we can skip over the minutia. Tell me, what do you think would be a good course of action in regards to New Pegasus? Null, I understand you have some pertinent knowledge of the current situation, care to weigh in?"

"The town's gonna tear itself apart. Apparently, Grey Mane's lackeys kept the gangs from ravaging freely, and now that he's dead, they're going on the assault. I'd say to go in, and beat the tar out of their bosses. Show them that there's still law around, before they end up racking up a kill count on the civilians.

Dunno how it's gonna be when the new Grey leadership steps up, but even if they did go back to their thing, it might take some time.

...Her name's Epsilon. Their new leader. One of the casino owners. She seems... Fair."

She had more things to say on Epsilon, but that were for a time of privacy. The rest wasn't supposed to know about certain things yet, like her being taken over, or the family relation with Void and herself.

(Changelings)

On 2021-09-28 at 7:57 AM, Illiad Easle said:

"Save you words for one who deserves it, my debt is yet far from repaid. It will take several years, if not decades, serving you and other changelings to atone for all I've done. But I'm glad you are willing to allow me to do so here."

"Nono, I'm not hearing that. You saved lives at the gates, Rasputin. There's dozens out there, who have their friends and hive brethren, only because you stepped in. It might not seem like enough for you, but it matters to them, and you're allowed to feel good about that."

Bling looked concerned again, yet not about what were going on outside. Well, not primarily, though some would always be in her mind, as there were a lot to deal with, and some hunkering down and hoping for the best to get through.

The point being, that she were concerned about Rasputin now. Not so much because of his physical injuries, as they seemed mostly superficial, but more due to his emotional damage. It were good to be remorseful of wrongs you'd done, but he had to remember that he was allowed to be praised, and feel good about himself at times. It couldn't first be when he felt like everything were paid off, or he'd end up miserable. No matter his previous crimes, he didn't deserve to feel that way. He had been in Tartarus. He had suffered already. Now were the time for him to rebuild his life, and his reputation, and she wouldn't hear him being like this towards himself.

On 2021-09-28 at 7:57 AM, Illiad Easle said:

He took a seat nearby, "If all goes well, it should take two or three days for Grey Mare to acclimate to her position, and for the corruption to be cleansed from the ranks of the Grey. They Grey will go back into the shadows, where they belong, cleaning up the scum that the law can't. Once we start hearing about gang bosses disappearing, then we'll know it's safe to go back to our lives. In the meantime, now is the perfect time to train everyone to be more productive, more effective as cultivators, harvesters, and gatherers. But that can wait until tomorrow. Everyone deserves a good rest after the day we've had."

"We can manage easily throughout a few days like that, but today's not done. Still have to arrange for food, and getting everyone situated well. There's gonna be a lot of questions to answer too, and some of the most injured to see to. Make sure they're being taken well care of.

But that's my headache. You go and get some well deserved sleep. I'll get to it once I've managed to calm everyone enough. It won't do us much good in trying to train anyone, if they're worried that someone might break through at any second, or fear we're stuck in here for months. If your wounds are worse than they look, get to the medical station right away. If I get around tomorrow, and find you bleeding in bed, you're gonna be in a world of trouble."

Bling would pull her tongue at him playfully, then take a few deep breaths, before moving towards the exit again. She had gotten a little bit of time to collect herself, but now, it were time to get to work again.

[Illiad Easle 3,139]

@Blitz Boom

(Void)

6 hours ago, Blitz Boom said:

A friend who needed a happy greeting sound

Illiad smiled and chuckled when he heard the cackler's call, "A big hello to you as well my small friend." He'd hold out a hoof to rub Lacuna with, or more accurately to allow Lacuna to run hid head against. There was a bit of a wistful look in his eye, "Silver was fascinated with these creatures... no doubt she would have convinced me to get one... had we had more time together..." He sighed, but returned his attention to the matter at hoof.

 

6 hours ago, Blitz Boom said:

She wondered what they might be doing right now, but she were sure Vale kept them entertained.

When she arrived back at the house she would find that the young ponies and Vale had turned the beds into a pair of small forts and were busy tossing somewhat crudely made paper airplanes between them, while the foals frolicked in the middle trying to intercept them, Peal using her small wings to boost her jumps while Piecey tried to grab them with her magic, occasionally mustering enough focus to change their trajectory somewhat.

Vale took advantage of Void's return to duck out of the battle and come over to her, "There you are, what kept you?"

 

(Null)

Dove and Branch were surprised by Null's revelation, but the Consul simply nodded, "I assumed as much. It is unfortunate, I had hoped for a better outcome, but we'll build with the stones we have." He thought a moment, "If tradition holds, the new Grey will return to the shadows, while they'll do their part to maintain order, there won't be an official rule of law in New Pegasus. I think it would be a good idea to send a few more guards, see if we can't encourage them to some semblance of governance, hopefully train some of the residents to take up the role themselves."

He nodded to himself, "What of the changelings there? Dove tells me they have quite a presence."

 

(Changelings)

6 hours ago, Blitz Boom said:

"Nono, I'm not hearing that. You saved lives at the gates, Rasputin. There's dozens out there, who have their friends and hive brethren, only because you stepped in. It might not seem like enough for you, but it matters to them, and you're allowed to feel good about that."

He let out a rueful chuckle as he shook his head, "And I've slain hundreds more with my own hooves, a thousand more by those I commanded. I served Discord for a time, helped him seize Canterlot. I only stopped when he allowed one of his other Generals to threaten my granddaughter, Queen Delphi, The little good I've done here, as significant as it may be for you and the others here, is but a drop in the bucket compared to the atrocities I've committed."

 

Rasputin would head off to sleep without complaint, electing to meditate for at least some of the night, trying to see if there was any other dangers to watch out for.

(I think a time skip would be prudent here)

Over the next few days things quieted down in the streets, the Trojan guards starting to patrol the streets in a limited capacity. Rasputin spread his teachings among those selected to teach the others on how best to improve their harvests moving forward. His process boiled down to the following steps:

1. What emotion do we want to gather?
2. Where/When do creatures typically experience this emotion the strongest?
3. Is there something a changeling can do to encourage this event / bring creatures to this location?
4. Can a changeling be present to discretely collect this emotion while it is still fresh?
5. Repeat for each desired emotion

The morning after the second full day that they had been inside the theater, they would find a letter stuck in their door with a knife, Rasputin would identify this as a 'friendly' message from the Grey. The letter was addressed to Bling, and read:

Leader Bling of the Changelings,

With the death of R. House the Top Suits stands in need of new management. Given your group's history with the establishment it seems fitting that you and those who follow you take up said role. We have no doubt you'll find the accommodations to your liking. Anything you find within the casino and hotel when you take possession of it is yours to do with as you like, should you accept.

Gray Mare

Included with the letter was the original deed to the Top Suits, already signed over to Bling.

[Blitz Boom 4,627]

@Illiad Easle

(Void)

On 2021-09-30 at 5:12 AM, Illiad Easle said:

Illiad smiled and chuckled when he heard the cackler's call, "A big hello to you as well my small friend." He'd hold out a hoof to rub Lacuna with, or more accurately to allow Lacuna to run hid head against. There was a bit of a wistful look in his eye, "Silver was fascinated with these creatures... no doubt she would have convinced me to get one... had we had more time together..." He sighed, but returned his attention to the matter at hoof.

"There's still time, Illiad. She's not dead, and The Æther will come back some day. Maybe when it does, Lacuna will have matured, and had a clutch of his own you can pick from. If not, I know a good breeder."

Times like this, she felt really bad for the consul. He had a lot to deal with on most days, and then, he also had to think of his loved one, floating who knew where exactly, on The Æther, as the evacuation ship in a sense, floated between planes. He couldn't tell how she were, what she were doing, and had no idea when he'd see her again... It had to be tough for the poor alicorn. Hopefully with the gates closed, and Discord gone, they'd be able to get back home soon.

On 2021-09-30 at 5:12 AM, Illiad Easle said:

When she arrived back at the house she would find that the young ponies and Vale had turned the beds into a pair of small forts and were busy tossing somewhat crudely made paper airplanes between them, while the foals frolicked in the middle trying to intercept them, Peal using her small wings to boost her jumps while Piecey tried to grab them with her magic, occasionally mustering enough focus to change their trajectory somewhat.

Vale took advantage of Void's return to duck out of the battle and come over to her, "There you are, what kept you?"

"Sorry about that. The meeting with the Consul didn't take long, but I had another errand to run after that, and then I figured that since a lot of good have happened today, I'd get us something to celebrate it. So, I've picked up all the ingredients I'd need, for a Sand Platter.

Don't worry, it's not made with actual sand. It's a selection of local food, served up in small portions for tasting purposes. And after that, I'm improvising a cake. Sadly not easy to get hold of milk, but I know a few tricks on how to mix things right."

For the cake itself, she'd honestly just use butter, and then add in a little sweet to cover up the extra salt from that. It wasn't perfect, but diluted, a little sweetened - You'd barely be able to tell the difference. The frosting though, she'd make use of a few things, including the insides of a cactus. The water stored, mushed up with the flesh of the plant, and something she'd barely gotten lucky enough to spot at the market as she rushed along, and it should do the trick. It's be a little more lemony sweet, than simply sweet, but alas, such were the case with improvising.

"Looks like I'm not the only one that's been busy. It looks like you've been hard at work, finding a fun way to help the little ones gro into their wings and horn. It's very creative. I like it."

It was really looking like a fun way to do this, and it were working some. She could see them somewhat fly, and use a trickle of magic, to get to them. Or at least try to. Small steps here, and this were a small, yet entertaining way to begin that. Also utterly adorable.

(Null)

"It seems like there's a fair bit, and at the center, is three. Never met the third, but the two who met us there were called Bling and Upbeat. They seemed like nice enough changelings. From what we've seen and heard, the three of them is from a former local hive, and they're running a kind of community for them there. Gathering up food, sharing it around to others of their sorts, keeping them fed, giving them a roof over the head, help for work, that sort of thing.

They're present everywhere, but they don't seem to be in power anywhere. Looks like they're taking care of their own, and keeping up morale 'round town. Utterly harmless, but since they know some here, some there, they're probably the best to ask about what happens in town. You're also gonna need 'em when talking with a pair of the casino owners. Dragons. Got some sorta curse on 'em that makes others treat them like gods, by their own words. For some reason, the changelings ain't as affected.

...They also asked when we got into town, to spread the word that they're looking for their queen. Cheshire, I think they said the name was. They seem to think she's still alive out there somewhere. Dunno if I believe it, but they seemed nice. Might as well pass it along."

(Changelings)

On 2021-09-30 at 5:12 AM, Illiad Easle said:

He let out a rueful chuckle as he shook his head, "And I've slain hundreds more with my own hooves, a thousand more by those I commanded. I served Discord for a time, helped him seize Canterlot. I only stopped when he allowed one of his other Generals to threaten my granddaughter, Queen Delphi, The little good I've done here, as significant as it may be for you and the others here, is but a drop in the bucket compared to the atrocities I've committed."

"And you got sent to Tartarus, where you've suffered for your actions too. You've seen the error  of your old ways, and are trying to be better. That's what matters in my eyes, and it's a good first step towards making up for all the rest. Don't just focus on the end goal, or you'll end up feeling like you're not accomplishing anything."

Bling would send an encouraging smile to Rasputin, before they parted ways for now. He had done a fair few more nasty things than expected, but she stood by her assessment that he were showing remorse, and as such, should be given the chance to make up for the past. And so far, he were doing well there, and she thought he deserved to hear that. He might not think it was enough to merit praise, but then she'd just have to be more insistent with showing him some positivity, until he'd get it now, wouldn't she?

On 2021-09-30 at 5:12 AM, Illiad Easle said:

(I think a time skip would be prudent here)

Over the next few days things quieted down in the streets, the Trojan guards starting to patrol the streets in a limited capacity. Rasputin spread his teachings among those selected to teach the others on how best to improve their harvests moving forward. His process boiled down to the following steps:

1. What emotion do we want to gather?
2. Where/When do creatures typically experience this emotion the strongest?
3. Is there something a changeling can do to encourage this event / bring creatures to this location?
4. Can a changeling be present to discretely collect this emotion while it is still fresh?
5. Repeat for each desired emotion

Bling barely felt that a few days had gone by. She didn't go outside, so she couldn't judge by the sun, and she were far too busy counting minutes and hours. She tried counting meals at the start as an indicator, but then she skipped a few because she were needed for this or that, so that went out of the window. It were mostly going quietly, but there were a lot of various changelings now suddenly stuck under the same roof, and tensions were already high, with what were going on outside. The teachings by Rasputin, and the assigned heads of the various tasks, would thankfully keep them occupied enough for this to not escalate too much, but there were a few times when things got near spicy, and she had to do something. Plus, she had to make sure that various other things were handled in the background, with communication and updates going on around the other shelters of changelings, and making sure that there were supplies for all of them. They had more than enough here, but not all the shelters did, so they had to keep something going, or prepare it, in case it went on for much longer. If it wasn't for the reports, she frankly wouldn't have any semblance of what day they had right now.

As for the changelings, they were mostly taking to the teachings well. A few stragglers here and there, but peer pressure made practically all of them at least try to join in on getting educated on various tasks. So things seemed to go well. Beyond the times when Upbeat had to be after his sister, to make her get at least some rest.

And then, The Grey made contact.

On 2021-09-30 at 5:12 AM, Illiad Easle said:

The morning after the second full day that they had been inside the theater, they would find a letter stuck in their door with a knife, Rasputin would identify this as a 'friendly' message from the Grey. The letter was addressed to Bling, and read:

Leader Bling of the Changelings,

With the death of R. House the Top Suits stands in need of new management. Given your group's history with the establishment it seems fitting that you and those who follow you take up said role. We have no doubt you'll find the accommodations to your liking. Anything you find within the casino and hotel when you take possession of it is yours to do with as you like, should you accept.

Gray Mare

Included with the letter was the original deed to the Top Suits, already signed over to Bling.

Bling had been trying too take a short nap whilst waiting for news, so when Rasputin came in and told her she had a letter, she thought it was a note of sorts from their fellow changelings. Up until he told her whom it were from, and that it were addressed to her. Which certainly woke her up. And got her a little scared too, honestly. Why would they make contact to her specifically? She had done her best not to get on their bad side.

She honestly had to read it through two times, and then look over the deed to the casino four times, before it sank in what had just happened her, and her jaw figuratively hit the floor.

"They're... G-Giving us the Top Suits? That's...  Wauh."

She had to take a step back, and think about this for a moment.

"That's a pretty high end casino. And suddenly, it's... I don't even know what to do with it. I mean, the theater in there are amazing. The stage is wonderful, and horribly, horrendously underused. But the rest, is... And there's this place. It's my queens legacy. I can't just abandon it.

...Okay, okay, think... Maybe we can make both work. Retain this as a shelter for now, then try to get the Top Suits running. Get some acts in, have the theater open again. Maybe use the proceeds to fix this place up, and make it into a proper, olden theater, like she always hoped?

...I'll have to get hold of Penny Pincher then. Ancestors have mercy, she's gonna be smug about this, but she's the only one of us with any sort of business sense, and it wouldn't be good for us to squander this chance. We'd probably never have one like it again.

This came outta nowhere. I thought you said it'd take a few days for them to even gather themselves, but it's only been one, right? That's pretty quick. The new one must be efficient. Whom I guess must be Epsilon then. She were House's foal, she'd have the rights to the hotel. I guess she's taken up the cursed mantle then. Poor mare. I hope she'll be able to find some semblance of joy in the shadows."

[Illiad Easle 3,139]

@Blitz Boom

(Void)

On 2021-10-01 at 5:26 PM, Blitz Boom said:

There's still time, Illiad. She's not dead, and The Æther will come back some day.

Illiad didn't look too sure, "Twenty Five years is a long time... She may not even know I'm still alive. If she fell in love with another on the Æther... I wouldn't blame her. She deserves someone who can be there for her. And our foal... Plein will be twenty seven when the Æther returns. Older than I was when she was born, lived her whole life without me. She won't have any idea who I am." He sighed, "Perhaps it's better this way. As an alicorn I'll live for millennia, maybe it'll be easier to be separated like this... maybe it won't hurt as much when they die if we're distanced..."

 

The young ponies attention was brought back to Void as she talked about a cake, the foals more excited just to see her than anything else, trotting over to stand by her and see what she had with her. Peal jumping up onto her back rather skillfully to get a better angle.

Vale smiled at the praise, "Thank you, I figured teaching them paper airplanes would be a good way to get them interested in things like flight, and how creatures without wings can also fly, and from there it turned into a fun game. Ardee seemed rather interested at least. Maybe we could get a pilot to talk to her? Maybe one of the pegasi who trained your sister? What do you think about that?"

 

(Null)

The Consul nodded as Null gave her report, "It's good to hear that they're doing well even without their queen. Queens have been in rather short supply as of late, and the three we have here in Equis are either too old or two young to produce a new queen just yet. I wish I could say I have good news about Queen Cheshire, but I fear that reports have her listed as fallen in battle, ashes unrecovered."

He nodded, "It would be good to support them in any way we can, they'll prove to be strong allies if we can be on their good side."

He turned his attention to Branch and Dove, "What of the specialist I sent you?"

"Last report she was deep undercover in the Stacked Deck, looking to get some closer analysis on the relics she found there. I doubt her cover has been compromised yet."

He nodded, "I'll remind the guards to keep an eye out for her. Anything else?"

"We have reason to believe that two of the fugitives from the gates arrived in New Pegasus somewhat recently, the Scout and the Spy. They hadn't caused any trouble yet, but this shift in power might give them an opportunity to entrench themselves in the power structure."

He nodded, but less pleased, "Unfortunate, but we'll be prepared. If that is all, Branch, Dove, you're dismissed. I'll contact you once it's safe enough to send you back to New Pegasus."

The two of them finished off the food they had been eating before giving a short bow and leaving the room.

The Consul turned to Null and Arcade, a bit more friendly expression on his face, "So, I assume you're Arcade then? Null's sister Void has been taking good care of your family since they arrived here. If I might ask, were you with Null when she went to confront Grey Mane?"

He looked a bit sheepish, "Well, I was physically present, but I was incapacitated, I couldn't tell you much about what happened there."

Illiad nodded, "That's alright, I know you did your best." He turned to Null, "You mentioned that Epsilon is the new Gray Mare, who is Epsilon?"

 

(Changelings)

Rasputin smirked, "It's been almost a week your highness, but yes. The new Gray Mare seems to have taken to her role rather well. Things have been rather quiet outside for about a day now, I'd say it's safe for us to start venturing out now, and taking possession of the casino seems a good first adventure. The hotel will give us plenty of housing for any changelings who were previously homeless, and will free up space here to properly renovate it into a hive. If we're lucky we could even connect the two buildings with some tunnels once we start excavating."

He looked over the letter himself, "I do hesitate a bit on the line that anything we find within will be ours, It would be prudent to send an advance team first to see what exactly that entails before we go ourselves. It could be relics, it could be contraband. In either case we'll want to know before it becomes our problem."

He turned back to Bling, "Still, it seems we're already in the Grey's good graces, perhaps they've realized the karmic debt you're owed, and have decided to start repaying it."

[Blitz Boom 4,627]

@Illiad Easle

(Void)

8 hours ago, Illiad Easle said:

Illiad didn't look too sure, "Twenty Five years is a long time... She may not even know I'm still alive. If she fell in love with another on the Æther... I wouldn't blame her. She deserves someone who can be there for her. And our foal... Plein will be twenty seven when the Æther returns. Older than I was when she was born, lived her whole life without me. She won't have any idea who I am." He sighed, "Perhaps it's better this way. As an alicorn I'll live for millennia, maybe it'll be easier to be separated like this... maybe it won't hurt as much when they die if we're distanced..."

She didn't know how he'd act to it, but Void would walk straight over, and give the consul a comforting hug, lest she were stopped. He really looked like he needed one right now.

"We didn't see our parents for twenty-three years, and it didn't make us less happy when we found them again. Time is time, but they're still your family. Your wife will miss you, and your daughter might have only vague memories of you, but you're her father. She'll want to get to know her real father, and she'll be proud of what a great stallion he's been, for a world that almost got completely ruined.

And who knows? Perhaps with Discord gone, and the gates closed again, they might come back sooner than that. Don't lose hope, Illiad. And don't think it's better you didn't get to connect. You have a long life ahead of you, and generations of generations of foal, grandfoals, and so on, to make happy memories with."

Poor illiad had a lot on his plate, and these sad thoughts wouldn't be helping making them any easier. And with how much he had helped them  the absolute least she could do, were trying to give the stallion some support, and attempt to give him some hope.

She felt sure that she weren't wrong about his daughter either. Her dad was an alicorn, and the savior of the world. What kind of pony wouldn't be proud to have that kind of father? Sure he wouldn't be able to have her with him for long, when you thought of his long life, but then came the genrations after that. He'd still have family that he could cherish and care for. And with his now long life, he'd need the happy memories, in the millennia to come.

8 hours ago, Illiad Easle said:

Vale smiled at the praise, "Thank you, I figured teaching them paper airplanes would be a good way to get them interested in things like flight, and how creatures without wings can also fly, and from there it turned into a fun game. Ardee seemed rather interested at least. Maybe we could get a pilot to talk to her? Maybe one of the pegasi who trained your sister? What do you think about that?"

"I think that would be a lovely idea. It's a shame to have wings, and not get to fly. She just shouldn't get pushed to be a speed flyer. I don't want to be like them, and try to change her into someone she's not. It'd just be good if she wants or needs to, she can have a regular, lovely flight."

They'd have to find those who helped Null, but that should be possible. She had spoken about them enough to get a fine idea of them, and they could be helpful. Long as they didn't go too harsh on Ardee. She shouldn't be pushed to be like Rainbow Dash.

As for the little rascals that came over, she'd open one of the saddlebags and let them have a look at things. Though as everything was packed in, all they'd be able to see, were the top of some oddly red, tough looking fruit, some dark roots, and a few sour-smelling reeds of sorts. Desert food were odd, but with the right love, they'd still end up delicious.

Peal would be able to look into the other bag, as she were on Void's back, and find that there were the smell of sugar in there. As well as some cacti, free of needles, and cut packed in small bulbs.

There'd also be the letter that Molotov had sent them. Laying near the top, and ripe for the picking, if it were.

(Null)

8 hours ago, Illiad Easle said:

He nodded, but less pleased, "Unfortunate, but we'll be prepared. If that is all, Branch, Dove, you're dismissed. I'll contact you once it's safe enough to send you back to New Pegasus."

"Before you go-"

Null would have listened, and nodded along as needed when she heard what the Consul had planned for things. Seemed like he had a fair idea of how to deal with things, and seemed to be willing to lend the changelings a hoof. A smart move really, since they might not be the top dogs in that city, but they were present a lot of places. It were always wise to have those who had an eye and an ear almost everywhere, on your side. You never knew the stuff you might learn.

Still, there were one thing she'd like to share her opinion on, before Branch and Dove left.

"- Don't tell them about Cheshire, unless you can give them some sort of proof. I doubt they'd believe it, and there's no point in shaking their hope, without a meaning to it. I don't think it'd go well if the leadership they have, went into despair."

There were proof if one wanted it. A witness, in fact: One of the changelings that had been with her as they were attacked, who'd know the truth of it all. His name were Pirouette, and he had been relocated after narrowly making it out of there alive, and towards one of the few safe camps. He'd either been relocated to Troy, or the Blackwater Ridge, depending on which one had been the closest, and so far assumed his entire hive, and all of Las Pegasus, were nothing but ash and rubble. If they could get him to New Las Pegasus, he'd be able to tell a truth they wouldn't like, but would believe. And help him get back to his family again too. Beyond that though, there were no proof, or witness to speak of.

8 hours ago, Illiad Easle said:

The Consul turned to Null and Arcade, a bit more friendly expression on his face, "So, I assume you're Arcade then? Null's sister Void has been taking good care of your family since they arrived here. If I might ask, were you with Null when she went to confront Grey Mane?"

He looked a bit sheepish, "Well, I was physically present, but I was incapacitated, I couldn't tell you much about what happened there."

Illiad nodded, "That's alright, I know you did your best." He turned to Null, "You mentioned that Epsilon is the new Gray Mare, who is Epsilon?"

"Epsilon either works at, or owns, the Top Suits casino. More than that though, she's kin. Seemed like Grey Mane had more than two foals, but I didn't know before he was dead. And after that... Something's taken hold of her. Shadows surged at her, made her grey like he were, after she uttered an agreement to some sorta deal. I dunno what it is, but I got a name: Nibiru. Does that mean anything to you? I think it might be related to whatever the old quack of an oracle made contact with, to get us cursed in the first place. Need to figure out what it is, so I can find out how to yank it out of her, and shove it back into whatever abyss it came from.

...Also, ran into another face I recognized, the day before. Was in an alley, some gangbangers tried luring us into a trap, and he came in. The guy I stole my mace from, down in Tartarus. He's still alive, and made it out of the area before it closed up. No idea what he's planning to do in that town, but I'm guessing it's nothing good. With him being a serial killer and everything."

(Changelings)

8 hours ago, Illiad Easle said:

Rasputin smirked, "It's been almost a week your highness, but yes. The new Gray Mare seems to have taken to her role rather well. Things have been rather quiet outside for about a day now, I'd say it's safe for us to start venturing out now, and taking possession of the casino seems a good first adventure. The hotel will give us plenty of housing for any changelings who were previously homeless, and will free up space here to properly renovate it into a hive. If we're lucky we could even connect the two buildings with some tunnels once we start excavating."

"A week?! No wonder I feel like Upbeat is always pestering me about getting some sleep. Jeez. Time really flies when you're busy.

If you say it's safer, we can go. But not on our own. I'll have one of our delivery changelings come with us. She's been really helpful getting things around out there unseen. She'll know the safest routes. As for the casino...

I were actually wondering if perhaps we'd be able to have it run as a casino again, and then use the theater, as well as the unused, or unneeded spaces for shelter. Combined with this theater, we'd have more than enough space for not just all the changelings in town, but more and more that might come later. And if the casino remained active, it could help us finance things well. Everyone chips in here and there, and we do our best, but we still have to turn every coin, to make sure it lasts as long as possible.

That why I need Penny Pincher. She's used to work in places like this, before the crisis, and she's a deviously clever one. That's also why she's the last one left of Hive Agnostica. A hive of pride, that fell for their hubris... *sigh* Penny was smart enough to know when to make a tactical retreat, and got here a year after the crisis. We offered her help, but she said that until we had something to offer her that mattered to her, she didn't care. It got a little sour after that sadly. Some words thrown around, and I ended up saying I'd wait for her to come to us, and ask for the help she'd sorely need.

I'm not proud of what I said, and I have tried to apologize to her, but she's always busy, and kept saying we should get back to her, once we had something of value to our name. She's gonna be rightly smug about me being the one coming to ask her of help, but if we're going to have a chance to make this work, we're going to need her. And I know she'll do it. Last few times I heard about her from those few she does hang around with, they keep saying she's annoyed when she looks as the casinos, knowing that she could run them better than most of the current owners. I'll need to have an accountant or two that checks that she's not laundering money away if it is, but we could probably make it work. After getting hold of the town for a gambling permit, and I guess a few hundred other papers. She'd know best what they are."

Hive Agnostica, was a pretty short lived hive. Only lasted through it's first large batch of hatchlings, reaching maturity, so they hadn't made much of a mark in their time. Very prideful hive though. Refused to accept help from others, and as could be expected, pride were their favored emotion to feast upon. And there were no shortage of that here in New Las Pegasus, if you knew where to look.

"I'm not keen on making this place not functional as a theater though. This place is my queens pride and joy. Everything she lived and fought for. I'll have to think about what we do carefully. Maybe we can still keep the stage here at least, so we can use it for showing any potential new hatchlings someday, the joys of performing. She'd like that."

8 hours ago, Illiad Easle said:

He looked over the letter himself, "I do hesitate a bit on the line that anything we find within will be ours, It would be prudent to send an advance team first to see what exactly that entails before we go ourselves. It could be relics, it could be contraband. In either case we'll want to know before it becomes our problem."

He turned back to Bling, "Still, it seems we're already in the Grey's good graces, perhaps they've realized the karmic debt you're owed, and have decided to start repaying it."

"But one thing at a time. We should go there, then have a look at the ground floor, and see what's there. We can send in some groups to check out the spaces beyond that, and hopefully, if there were something bad, The Grey took it with them. We'll have to get rid of it ourselves if not. I don't want to sit on illegal stuff.

I don't really get what karmic debt there might be, but I'll have to thank Epsilon if I see her again someday, as well as give her my condolences. It's gonna be a weird meeting. *sigh* But I suppose, we might as well get ready to go check things out. Or would it be better to wait until later today? You definitely have a better idea of when it's the safest during the day, since I can't even keep track of what day it is."

Edited October 3, 2021 by Blitz Boom

[Illiad Easle 3,139]

@Blitz Boom

(Void)

Illiad didn't say anything more to her, not rejecting but also not really accepting the hug. When she left he had something of a contemplative look on his face.

 

16 hours ago, Blitz Boom said:

"I think that would be a lovely idea. It's a shame to have wings, and not get to fly. She just shouldn't get pushed to be a speed flyer. I don't want to be like them, and try to change her into someone she's not. It'd just be good if she wants or needs to, she can have a regular, lovely flight."

Vale nodded, "I thought as much. Being a pilot still uses the wings, but not in the same capacity as flying, so it'd be something she could do without reminding her of who she doesn't want to be."

The foals were certainly curious, though they had enough self restraint to not go rooting about in the bags themselves, as such the note was left undisturbed along with the food, only getting stared at by the foals unless something was held out for them to take.

Peal elected to lie on Void's back for a quick nap after her curiosity about the bags was satisfied.

The rest of the ponies trotted over soon enough, done with their game they were ready to see what was coming next.

 

(Null)

The Consul had been listening somewhat casually to Null's report until she mentioned Nibiru, at which point she had his undivided attention.

16 hours ago, Blitz Boom said:

Need to figure out what it is, so I can find out how to yank it out of her, and shove it back into whatever abyss it came from.

He held up a hoof to stop her there, "Hold there, are you certain, absolutely certain, that the shadow was called Nibiru?" He frowned, closing his eyes, "Nemesis," His shadow wings lifted up out from under his natural ones, wrapping in front of him to cover his face, another pair of eyes and a mouth shining through.

"Nine, come forth and confirm, doth our sibling yet live?"

Nine separated themselves from Null's diamond wing, allowing it to return to it's normal white coloration, "I can't be sure... It felt familiar, the power, the age, it could be them, I would believe it, but I could not tell for certain from where I was."

The face in the shadows nodded, "Dismissed"

The shadow wings retracted and returned back under the Consul's natural ones, "That is certainly news. Typically agents of Vengeance, such as you and I, receive a Shadow Specter to serve as a connection to Vengeance and as a link to the powers granted by the same. Nibiru was the one granted to Grey Mane when he first founded the Grey, it became bound to the same curse and tradition as the rest of the family, but does not cause it. Epsilon accepting Nibiru in addition to becoming the Grey Mare most likely means that she has agreed, like yourself, to serve Vengeance. If she decided to stop serving Vengeance, Nibiru would leave her and seek a new host, but she would still be the Grey Mare."

He sighed, "I have tried to destroy the Grey, but fighting against those loyal to a god as ancient as Phi is no small task. You were lucky enough to get disowned. I don't think Phi will be easily convinced to release the last member of the last family that serves them."

16 hours ago, Blitz Boom said:

...Also, ran into another face I recognized, the day before. Was in an alley, some gangbangers tried luring us into a trap, and he came in. The guy I stole my mace from, down in Tartarus. He's still alive, and made it out of the area before it closed up. No idea what he's planning to do in that town, but I'm guessing it's nothing good. With him being a serial killer and everything."

He nodded, "Yes, the Scout, we'll do what we can to apprehend him, see that he is properly punished for his crimes, but he is one of the most successful killers in Equestria's history. I could go on about his exploits, but I doubt you brought him up because you were interested in hearing his history. Although... if you decide to continue with Vengeance now that your personal vendettas are resolved, you may be assigned to deal with him."

He went to take a drink from his mug, then looked into it and sighed before setting it down empty, "If that's all, I think it's high time you saw your parents. No doubt you want to introduce them to your coltfriend before you marry him." He smirked.

 

(Changelings)

16 hours ago, Blitz Boom said:

I'm not proud of what I said, and I have tried to apologize to her, but she's always busy, and kept saying we should get back to her, once we had something of value to our name. She's gonna be rightly smug about me being the one coming to ask her of help, but if we're going to have a chance to make this work, we're going to need her. And I know she'll do it. Last few times I heard about her from those few she does hang around with, they keep saying she's annoyed when she looks as the casinos, knowing that she could run them better than most of the current owners. I'll need to have an accountant or two that checks that she's not laundering money away if it is, but we could probably make it work. After getting hold of the town for a gambling permit, and I guess a few hundred other papers. She'd know best what they are."

Rasputin did not look convinced, "It would not be a good look for you to reneg on your word, as helpful as Pincher might be. That is not to say you should portray yourself as infallible, as that got Celestia into countless amounts of trouble, but coming back to her groveling will only serve to augment her already inflated ego and pride, two things we don't need at this delicate stage in our operation. The last thing you need is to be in another's debt. An indebted queen is no queen, but a puppet. That is another reason why I refuse your praise, I don't need your debt, and you would do well not to be in my debt."

He sighed, "That said, I trust your judgement that she would be a good fit for the position. Provided her pride can be kept in check. What we'll need is for her to come to you, offer herself for the position, rather than have you ask her. Besides, there may yet be a better option among the ponies here in town, and integrating with a few trusted ponies can only help our image in town. My reccomendation would be then, once we've examined the property, to send out an advertisement for the position, make sure she sees it, and wait for her to come to you and ask for it. If she doesn't, then we'll no doubt encounter a number of willing applicants we can try in the mean time. I doubt that everyone who worked in the casino before were killed, so those who remain would no doubt be grateful to get their jobs back."

16 hours ago, Blitz Boom said:

Or would it be better to wait until later today?

Rasputin nodded, "Best to go while the sun is high, disguised, and be back before it sets. I'll meet you out front once you've gathered those you think would do a good job."