private The Æther Project

[Thundy]

@Jack Baker @Starforce

Thundy jumped down from the ceiling and revealed himself. "Alright, you found me..." He said as he set his invisibility device back on his belt. "Gah...I hate these dilemmas..." He added. Thundy was an honest griffon, and he hated to lie because with that failed diversion, it may have just been a giveaway. 

[Maud Pie]

@Courageous Thunder Dash @Illiad Easle @Jack Baker

Maud draws her sword from it's holder. It makes a loud metallic noise as it is revealed from its holder. It was one of the swords she was allowed to use from the armoury. She was also fully armored and had conviction in the armor's ability to keep her safe. She also tightened her helmet too. Maud looks to where Raze was looking with a cold emotionless expression. Upon him revealing himself, she just stares at him silently keeping him under constant watch. 

[Thundy]

@Starforce @Jack Baker

Thundy simply looked at the other pony who had drawn her sword out. He was currently in no fighting position. "Okay...if you really want to know...come close. I promise I won't hurt you. You have to trust me. I myself am keeping guard." Thundy explained. 

[Maud Pie]

@Jack Baker @Courageous Thunder Dash

Maud stood still and didn't move a muscle. She didn't trust this gryphon, and what he was saying was rather suspicious. "We will not step closer to you." she said in a monotone manner. It was ominous in a way, as well. 

[Thundy]

@Starforce @Jack Baker

"Well, I guess I'll have to do it telepathically, if you're okay with it. Who knows who's watching us..." Thundy stated. Thundy was getting a little nervous, but he wasn't showing it. It seemed that everyone here had completely different agendas. 

[Jack Baker 698]

@Starforce @Courageous Thunder Dash

I jumped up and grabbed my sword from the ceiling.

"Yeah, no," I said as I landed on my feet. "Whatever you have to say, you can do it in a cell after we take you in." I pointed my sword at him. "So how 'bout it?"

 

[Maud Pie]

@Courageous Thunder Dash @Jack Baker

Maud was satisfied with Raze's words and pointed her sword to Thundy as well. "I advise you to drop your weapons. Surrender." she spoke with an unwavering coldness in her words. Despite this, she is still on high alert. Thundy could merely be a distraction. 

[Thundy]

@Starforce @Jack Baker @Illiad Easle

Thundy chuckled. "So this is what it comes down to hm...well too bad...you gotta make me!" He said as he pulled a device from his belt and threw it at the two. The device let out a high pitched frequency and at that moment, Thundy disappeared with a hoof after reigniting his energy. He reappeared close to where he needed to be, leaving small traces of energy where he went behind, but hardly enough to know exactly where he went. 

[Evil Pink One 13,507]

@Illiad Easle @Windy Breeze

Light was about to reply to honeydew but he cought a glimpse of someone familiar to him.... And she was quite near to hear their conversation. Light avoided to continue honey dew's conversation and called out the pony to also alarm honey dew that they are not alone anymore. "...hey! I recognize you....your with windy..." At that point, Light realized that him and windy in this dimension don't know each other. ".... Ermm windy? The one with the wonderbolt costume! We both road the escape vehicle together!"

" It's been a very long time seens I've seen my batch of escapees! How've ya been! Oh we haven't really introduced ourselves properly! You know. Since escaping for our lives and what not hahaha! My name's White Light."

Edited June 29, 2021 by Kujamih

[Windy Breeze 15,190]

@Kujamih

White immediately introduced himself. She swore she saw him earlier at the meeting with General Quarters as well as among the small group she and Windy joined back at the surface.

“Nice name, I'm Shadow. Shadow Trail. It's nice to see you a familiar face”  she approaches White and the mare, “I see you are already making a mare friend, who's she?"

[Evil Pink One 13,507]

@Illiad Easle @Windy Breeze

"Oh her?"

She is... A scientist.... Who does science stuff........she help made this junk.... I meant project! Project." Light looked at honey dew and gave a small bow to show he was sorry for what he just said.

" And also a good friend of mine. We both hate Apollo... I mean love his leadership AGHUUUU!!!" Light said while coughing at the end.

"Enough  about us... How bout you I what you been up to this months?" Asked sweatingly...

Edited June 29, 2021 by Kujamih

[Illiad Easle 3,166]

@Starforce @Jack Baker @Courageous Thunder Dash

(You guys sure have posted a lot here, I hope I didn't miss anything)

The two guards who had been pushing the cart quickly went to stand one in each doorway to the hallway, only a few paces away from the cart. They didn't draw weapons until Thundy revealed himself, but held off from attacking for the moment. One of the guards, a unicorn, had a rifle trained on Thundy.

When Thundy went on the offensive the unicorn guard shot the thrown device, cutting off it's shrill note early. The other guard called out, "Alert! Traitor spotted! Lockdown the section!"

There was a bit of a delay before an alarm went off and security doors started to close, trapping the two guards, Raze, Maud, and Thundy in the same section.

The rifle guard backed themselves against a corner, "Show yourself coward!"

 

@Starforce

The head guard shrugged, "It might not be, but given you've likely met far more ponies before coming aboard than after, it simply seemed more likely. Then again, Spiral isn't exactly an uncommon name, you may also have simply intercepted a note meant for another pony named Spiral. We'll keep an eye out for any suspicious activity, you should do the same. In the mean time go ahead and get some rest, maybe we'll have some more information by your shift tomorrow."

With that she was dismissed do do as she wished.

 

@Windy Breeze

Things were pretty calm in the hospital until she heard the faint sound of an alarm from the direction of the hangers, if she remembered her guard training she'd recognize it as a localized lockdown alarm, something must be going on.

 

@Windy Breeze @Kujamih

Honeydew looked a bit uncomfortable as Light rambled on, "I've been told I've a somewhat feminine figure, but I assure you I am a stallion, and not interested in your friend in that way." He stood from the table, "I'll leave you two to talk, before Light embarrasses himself further in front of Guard Trail." He nodded to Shadow, "Safe travels."

 

@Windy Breeze @Blitz Boom

Wildebeast had approached while Briar was relating the tale of his youth, he had an uncharacteristically sad expression on his face, "I apologize, but I couldn't help but overhear, that's a pretty brutal upbringing. Far be it for me to say I understand, because I couldn't hope to, but I do feel for you." He paused a moment before going back to his regular expression, "Still, the two of you did an excellent job! And just in time too, we're going to cycle the layers below now that the fresh soil is all ready to go, and we'll need some ponies ready to mix in the fertilizer and plant the seeds while the soil is still soft from the rotation."

He'd lead the way down to the bottom layer, a number of other ponies standing by, "Stand back, don't want to dump you with the soil now."

A few moments later, with a mechanical 'thunk', the ground split before them, revealing the planter area was made up of several rectangular sections, each of them turning over to dump the old soil off the project, before linking back together. Then with a second 'thunk' the ceiling split, and the section above dumped it's dirt down to the layer they were on before linking back together. Once the ceiling was closed the rest of the ponies started spreading out the dumped dirt, mixing in bags of fertilizer as they went. 

[Windy Breeze 15,190]

@Illiad Easle @Kujamih

Shadow frozen upon hearing Honeydew voice and also his explanation. Then, her face turn red as a rose. She spoke to Honeydew as he is about to leave, “Take care, sir” she said politely.

Once he left, she turns to Light, “I'm doing good, got decent meals, and finally able to sleep without opening an eye for any dangers. How about you, Light? How's Æther for you?”

***

Windy's ears twitched, she could the faint sound of an alarm, must been a local lockdown. She was having second thoughts about whether she should be taking action or stay in the hospital.

I hope everything will be alright she thought.

***

@Blitz Boom

Serene was a little surprised to hear Wildebeest, having forgotten the stallion actually exist

29 minutes ago, Illiad Easle said:

"Still, the two of you did an excellent job! And just in time too, we're going to cycle the layers below now that the fresh soil is all ready to go, and we'll need some ponies ready to mix in the fertilizer and plant the seeds while the soil is still soft from the rotation."

Fertilizers? Serene didn't know what fertilizers are, maybe he should ask Wildebeest later. He followed the stallion to the bottom layer before stopping at their destination. He noticed some ponies are standing by.

He then heard a mechanical sound. Having paid heed of the warning he's given by his superior, he's able to witness the ground split in half without plummeting into what it seems to be an area made out of rectangular areas. The ceiling also open, and spilling out is a waterfall of what it seems to be healthy soils.

Serene questioned his choice of work as the ceiling closed and the ponies began to make their way to rectangle areas “I should have just become a farmer than a weather pony” he made his way to one of the rectangles and began spreading the dirt. Looking at the ponies nearby, he noticed them dumping bags of...something. He turned to Wildebeest, “What are those inside their bags?” he asked.

[Maud Pie]

@Illiad Easle @Jack Baker @Courageous Thunder Dash

Maud got ready to fight at a moment's notice as the guards did their duty. She would not step off of of mineral ore that was to be guarded. "Fire upon him. Restrain him. Do what it takes." Maud said, then looking to Raze as she grasps the hilt of her sword tightly in full mental awareness of the situation.

@Illiad Easle

Trixie nodded to the guard. "We shall see what happens." she spoke to the guard before leaving. She wasn't just going to go to sleep though. Trixie was going to investigate what was going on and she decided to hide just outside the door of the library and listen on in. If there were any other guards or other ponies coming in or passing by, she would proceed off to investigate for anything unusual around in any particular place. 

[Jack Baker 698]

@Courageous Thunder Dash @Illiad Easle @Starforce

The moment the screeching noise stopped, I immediately switched my sword grip to backhanded and stood up on my hind hooves. I quickly dashed towards the intruder, then slid to a halt. I performed an upwards vertical slash , while using the momentum to simultaneously do a backflip kick, hoping to knick him in the face.

[Thundy]

@Jack Baker @Starforce @Illiad Easle

At the moment Thundy saw the kick coming towards him, he moved out of the way. He noticed the guards coming. He quickly charged up some energy and let out an electromagnetic pulse. It drained his energy quite a bit. He had leftovers to teleport, but not very far, just enough to get a little closer to the Minestrolium. 

[Evil Pink One 13,507]

@Illiad Easle @Windy Breeze

"ahehe see you later." Light said as honey dew left.

" Anyway... Yeah I've been doing good. I've been doing a lot of work for queen Permu and have made a name here a bit."

Light felt a sudden disturbance and made him pause a bit.

" ahmm Hey you know Apollo gave me an assignment, and he wanted me to go find some traitors. And I'm sure us newly introduced to the projects are good candidates for them to join their rebelion.

You got any juicy stuff for me?"

" I'll treat you a meal? I mean of course...if you're already in that kind of group, ahmm" -light coughed-" I won't rat out someone I know... I'm not like that... I'm just...cool....and you know just curious.... I'm not really help helping Apollo.... I'm not saying I'm against him either... But that guy can be such a prick..."

 

Edited July 1, 2021 by Kujamih
Edited the hearing the sirens part....

[Maud Pie]

@Jack Baker @Illiad Easle @Courageous Thunder Dash

Maud remembers and old trick she had. She pulls out a small stone from her pocket and slides it into her mouth and then sort of vibrates her jaw and then does a sort of reverse bucking motion. The vibration causes the rock to shoot off at Thundy at a rather fast speed, she does not get off of the container. 

[Blitz Boom 4,641]

@Windy Breeze @Illiad Easle

 

"Never loose hope, my friend. In the darkest hours, it is the only light that might guide us through.

And if you feel sadness for me, you needn't worry. The past is unchangeable. What remains is the future, and I believe in better days to come then. My story is not meant to raise pity in the listerner, but only to educate about an unjust system. And when I return to her blessed earth, and grow a new sacred tree, it will be changed from how it were. I will know better, than those who came before me, and can raise my kind to surpass this old bias. Is there not joy and hope to be found in that?"

Briar would smile warmly towards Serene, and if he seemed to need it, offer a mossy hoof on the stallions shoulder. A friendly gesture, meant so show he were there for the stallion, if he needed it. Perhaps he wouldn't, but they could all do well remembering sometimes, that they had others who cared for them, and would help if they felt down.

As for his own story, Briar had as mentioned, accepted his past. And while he could no longer aim for salvation for his imprisoned kin, he could still aim to do better for the generations that were to come. Long as he, and the seed remained, the Evergrown would too. What happened until the glorious day of rebirth, were of less concern to him, and only filled him with excitement, for all the things that were to learn and experience, up here high in the skies.

19 hours ago, Illiad Easle said:

Wildebeast had approached while Briar was relating the tale of his youth, he had an uncharacteristically sad expression on his face, "I apologize, but I couldn't help but overhear, that's a pretty brutal upbringing. Far be it for me to say I understand, because I couldn't hope to, but I do feel for you." He paused a moment before going back to his regular expression, "Still, the two of you did an excellent job! And just in time too, we're going to cycle the layers below now that the fresh soil is all ready to go, and we'll need some ponies ready to mix in the fertilizer and plant the seeds while the soil is still soft from the rotation."

"My message goes to you, as it does to him, Wildebeast. As for the task ahead, you know you can rely on me. Lead the way if you will, please."

Briar had bitten notice in Wildebeast being there, but it hadn't seemed prudent to address him until now, as he were discussing things with Serene. That he too knew of Briar's past, were of no concern either. He were always happy to tell any who wished to know, as only through educating others of their historically secluded kind, could there be any hope of change, and understanding. Keeping it to himself, would not serve any purpose.

 

19 hours ago, Illiad Easle said:

A few moments later, with a mechanical 'thunk', the ground split before them, revealing the planter area was made up of several rectangular sections, each of them turning over to dump the old soil off the project, before linking back together. Then with a second 'thunk' the ceiling split, and the section above dumped it's dirt down to the layer they were on before linking back together. Once the ceiling was closed the rest of the ponies started spreading out the dumped dirt, mixing in bags of fertilizer as they went. 

The path down were unremarkable, though the same could not be said for the process that came when they arrived. At least, it felt and sounded impressive. It were somewhat chaotic, and Briar wasn't sure exactly what it were he were witnessing. It felt like soil being dumped down a layer, and the loud sound of machines, but it were one more thing in this place, that just had no comparison for him, and as such, were hard for him to truly fathom in its entirety. Machinery were a strange thing.

"This place never ceases to amaze. Such peculiar ways you have found, to flourish so far from nature. Yet there is work to be done now it seems. Let us wander forth."

Briar would get out and begin spreading dirt along with the rest, whilst Brittle did hers to use her magic and hooves, to pack the earth a little better, as to avoid it seeming like an uneven mess.

18 hours ago, Windy Breeze said:

“What are those inside their bags?” he asked.

"Judging by the smell, I would venture it is fertilizer. Not a blend I am familiar with though, and I have spend many a day performing day labor on farms, in my day. It still smells familiar enough though, to make me somewhat confident in my assertion."

Edited June 30, 2021 by Blitz Boom

[Illiad Easle 3,166]

@Windy Breeze

(Windy didn't do anything, so there's nothing to add here just yet)

 

@Windy Breeze @Kujamih

(Light and Shadow are too far off to hear the alarm, I'll give you a bit to continue your conversation)

 

@Windy Breeze @Blitz Boom

In response to their talk about the fertilizer, Wildebeast chimed in, "Taters is right, It's something the scientists whipped up, they say it helps the soil stay useful longer and helps the plants grow better. I don't know everything they put in it, but from my experience it seems to be mostly compost, all the food that doesn't get eaten and goes bad gets re-used to make more food, so nothing is wasted."

Once they were done spreading out the dirt, they'd go back to get the seed bags, potatoes again, and would set out planting them in the soil they had just prepared.

Wildebeast decided to spark up some conversation, "I think those are some good plans you have Taters, for when we get to go back down," he turned to Serene, "What do you think you'll do when you get back to the ground? I'd say I was going to go back to being a mustang, but I don't think I'll be young enough to pull that off by then. Maybe I'll just have to settle into being a farmer full time."

 

@Jack Baker @Starforce @Courageous Thunder Dash

There was a sound like a switch being flipped, then the lights went out in the hallway. Some trembling came from below, and Maud would feel the cart shift a bit, being lifted up a few inches, before it rapidly descended through a new opening in the floor to another hallway below.

If Maud stayed on the cart, she'd be knocked out by some magic and pushed off the cart.

Regardless, as soon as the cart dropped a ball of light floated up into the hallway from the hole, a bright flash going off to temporarily blind everyone in the room. 

From below a masculine voice called out, "Six, get down here." Thundy would recognize the voice as that of Blu.

Once Thundy went through the hole, or after a minute, the removed panel would be replaced in the hallway, blocking anyone else from getting through.

 

@Starforce

The library was a popular place at all hours, so she'd see a good number of ponies and guards coming and going, however none of them matched the magic she had detected or looked familiar to her outside of that she had seen them in the library before.

[Thundy]

@Starforce @Illiad Easle @Jack Baker

Thundy was hit by the rock and let out a grunt. He felt a little woozy and did his best to recover. He was on a mission and he wasn't going to surrender. From his first impression, Thundy knew that the grey pony was not somepony to mess with. She seemed very strong and smart. Thundy looked on his belt. However, the lights went out and Thundy heard a voice. He followed the voice and arrived at where Blu was. 

[Maud Pie]

@Illiad Easle

Trixie had stood there for a few minutes in observation of the events transpiring within the library. With nothing of note, she would head down the hall. An idea crossed her mind, what was Dazzle up to? She would begin to head towards the performance area she had gone to before. Perhaps she can catch up with Dazzle, or see if there are any unusual in that area.

@Jack Baker @Illiad Easle @Courageous Thunder Dash

Maud had gotten off of the crate. She wasn't going to risk ending up wherever it had gone when she didn't have backup. Deciding to call it quits in her defense of the materials, she would at least know the perpetrator who caused this (Thundy). When the light blinded everyone, she closed her eyes tightly. Upon her eyes adjusting to the new darkness, Maud would pull out a flashlight and shine it in the room so the others could see, and proceed to slam down onto the panel in hopes of busting through. 

 

[Jack Baker 698]

@Starforce @Illiad Easle @Courageous Thunder Dash

I quickly closed my eyes when the flash of light appeared, and when I opened my eyes again, the materials were gone, and the perp nowhere to be seen.

"Well, shoot..." I said, before noticing Maud trying to bust down some sort of wall panel. I put a hoof on her to get her attention.

"Let me get a look at it," I said before observing the panel. It looked rather sturdy, and I theorized we were going to be here all day at the current rate it was taking to destroy it.

I began to weigh my options, but the more I began to think, the more it dawned on me that there was only one real solution...

If I may... I may be able to cut this wall down with ease.

And there it was.

I looked around at the guards, then back at the wall. I still had my reservations about using Thanatos openly. What would happen when I summoned him? How was I going to explain him? What would they do to me afterwards?

After a minute of debating, I took a deep breath. Right now, someone is threatening the Project, and as a guard, I can't let that slide. I've still got my pride as a former Royal Guardsman after all, and I'm not about to let some two-bit thief and his friends get away with stealing a bunch of hard earned Minostralium.

Besides, I guess there's no point in hiding. Eventually, I would've gotten found out. So why bother?

"Everyone... stand back." I said. I gave them some time to do as I said, then took another deep breath.

"Alright, Than... cut it down."

At that moment, Thanatos manifested in a flash of blue light, drawing his sword.

"As you say."

He then attempted to cut the panel with two quick strokes, one vertical, one horizontal, forming a cross pattern.

Edited July 6, 2021 by Jack Baker

[Evil Pink One 13,507]

@Windy Breeze @Illiad Easle

".... Ahehehe sorry for being weird and what not." Light bowed his head to avoid eye contact and hide his blushing face.

" You know what I'll just treat you anyway and forget what I just said hahahaha." 

[Windy Breeze 15,190]

@Illiad Easle

Despite growing restless, Windy struggled to remain calm as she walks around the hospital with caution, looking at anypony she comes across though remained friendly.

***

@Kujamih

Shadow ignored all that Light said other than one, “Who's Apollo?" Shadow has not ever heard of Apollo before, not even from Windy's constant bickering mention someone with that name, “Can you telll me more of this Apollo?”

@Illiad Easle @Blitz Boom

Serene got more than what he asked for. Not only he got an answer from Briar but also got a description from Wildebeest, telling them they are compost from rotten fruits. It was interesting but also disgusting at the same time. Who eats food which come from soil made out of leftover food?

Serene decided to shrug this body-cringing Information, joining the other farmers putting seeds on the fat soil.

On 2021-07-01 at 6:35 AM, Illiad Easle said:

Wildebeast decided to spark up some conversation, "I think those are some good plans you have Taters, for when we get to go back down," he turned to Serene, "What do you think you'll do when you get back to the ground? I'd say I was going to go back to being a mustang, but I don't think I'll be young enough to pull that off by then. Maybe I'll just have to settle into being a farmer full time."

“I'll go back to my town and do my old weather job, maybe even join the repairing the damage left by the wide-scale invasion" a small smile forms In his lips.