private Canterlot Tales: Total Over-ride

[HigurSan 195]

Link to OOC Topic: http://mlpforums.com/topic/29900-canterlot-tales-total-over-ride-sequel-to-canterlot-mystery/

"Excuse me ma'am, can you give me some directions?" This query drew the elderly mare's attention away from her garden plot to a startling sight waiting across her perimeter wall. There a large unicorn stallion stood with striking red eyes, a white coat, and striped black hair. His horn buzzed with energy, even without the use of magic. The sight of him nearly killed the weary ole girl on the spot, with only a few deep breaths restoring life to her mind. "Y-y-y-yes M'Lord. Where do you desire to travel?" Her voice quaked with age and fear, and a puzzled expression passed the stallion's face.

 

He was unsure of why she cowered into the dirt whenever he looked her way. She had done well for herself, with a sizable home and plot. Likely there was a whole family that lived in this area extending to second cousins. His curious gaze around her abode made her shake all the more, and soon she began to plead with him much to his shock and puzzlement. "P-p-please M'Lord! We are just farming ponies, of trouble to nobody! Our family has lived here for generations and its all we have left in these troubled times!"

 

Staring at her blankly, the cogs in the stallion's head began to dust themselves off and shake out all the nesting mice and rabid ferrets. Giving the rest of the farm a glance, his brow furrowed. "Why in the world are you afraid? I'm just a stallion of any sort, and I certainly have no provocation to hurt you, your family, or anyone else for that matter. I am concerned more with where I am. Haven't the slightest idea of where this is."

 

From the look on her face he had said something totally unexpected and verging on the words of a lunatic. Her gaze drew his attention to the medallion hanging around his neck. While most in those days would recognize it as an officer's badge from the New Celestial Military, he had no clue what it was. Looking back at her, then the badge, and then to the farm, he frowned. Before she started pleading all over again, he slipped the medallion from his neck and tossed it away. It landed in a patch of mud and for purposes of these events disappeared forever. Shrugging at her, he smiled. "Thing was of no worth to me, and I would hardl-" His words were interrupted with the mare fleeing and slamming the door, and soon all the windows on her house shut. The scene was earily quiet, as even the other animals had hidden.

 

Puzzled as he was, the stallion saw no further help forthcoming, so he sighed and trotted down the dirt road over the rolling ranges. In due time this lead him past other houses, but word seemed to spread faster than air in this time, and all the houses were locked down long before he reached them. This only lead to a certain concern crossing his features. Though he didn't know it, eventually he left the broadcasting range of the local emergency frequency while passing over a bridge. Soon his journey brought him to a place some might know well: Ponyville.

 

Far from the happy and playful town of past times, this community had taken a turn for the worse after the chaos a year ago. Many homes were abandoned and next to none of the original residents remained. With the streets empty, the stallion had to work towards finding anyone. Eventually he ended up talking to a blind colt who was crippled in a hind leg. The little fellow couldn't see the horn, but sensed it. Still, he couldn't get away and relented. Upon enquiry, the stallion found he could take any residence he felt like as long as he maintained it. He offered to help the colt for his injuries and hunger, but was stoutly refused. So saddened, he took up residence in the more desolate side of town inside of a sizable townhouse.

 

It is worth mentioning that none of th major players in times past were to be found in Ponyville. Most had fled or otherwise with the chaos, and only rumors remained of those that hadn't. Most notably the LIbrary had been burned to the ground by the Celestial Regime, and books of all kind were prohibited outside of school and state assigned kitchens. Though he was confused, the stallion persevered, and eventually managed to settle. The house needed repairs, but all were scavenged from other houses easily. Food was hard to come by, but he found he could get by on very little. Most importantly, his house was the only one lit in the nights, leading to what would happen later.

 

Mod's Edit: Out of character information belongs in the first post of the OOC thread. I've gone ahead and removed that for clarity, and added your OOC link which was lost.

Edited August 26, 2012 by Arylett Dawnsborough

[Nothing&NoOne 695]

Princess Ebony Nightingale had been in hiding ever since she had woken from her 2 month long coma. She'd begged to be put back into her comatose state once she heard there had been no news of Stonewall. She'd stayed alone in an abandoned house on the edge of the Canterlot borders after she ran away from the hospital. She'd lost control of her magic a few times, nearly drawing attention from the Dark spells and screaming of agony and rage. She'd also have regular breakdowns; asking the fading pictures on the walls where Stonewall had gone. She was lost without him. She tried perfecting her teleportation spell, though the outcome was far from perfect. She'd teleported into the middle of market square on Mane street, getting many looks from ponies nearby. She quickly teleported away after; she was being hunted. A royal unicorn, no doubt worth a few bits between the soldiers if she was caught. When she opened her eyes again after teleporting, she found herself in somepony's house, who shrieked in fear and cowered from her. Ebony stammered an apology then teleported away again, finally teleporting somewhere empty and dark. She collapsed on the ground, unknowing that she'd ended up in ponyville.

[null123456 759]

Splinter and his teammates had been trotting around Equestria ever since the incident that had happened last year. ''Damn.. How long has it been? I feel like I'm going to get a beard.'' Splinter said while rubbing his chin. ''That would be great.. A beard would looking good on you.'' Cameron Said Sarcastically. ''Hey.. Have you guys seen the red guy who was with us?'' Splinter said. ''Uh.. Splinter? I think the wolves got him.'' Ryan said while remembering what had happened. Ryan shivered and frowned. ''Nah. He must have just left. But where has Pinkie been?'' Splinter said while cocking an eyebrow. ''I don't even know.. But since she's a party animal. She must be in some club..'' Cameron said. ''Erm.. Okay.'' Splinter said. ''Hey.. Are we coming up on Ponyvile?'' Ryan said while seeing Ponyvile in the distance. ''Not that place again! Last time we went I was banned from 3 gun shops!'' Splinter said. ''Because you thought the gun dealers were robbers.. And you tried to kill them.'' Cameron said while rolling his eyes.''No! I just thought that.. Never mind. We should probably stay at an inn again..'' Splinter said. Splinter remembered their entire year.

It began okay. But it became shit. He was banned from 3 gun shops, 2 clubs, and had been going possibly more insane than he already is.. But he still managed to live. They arrived in the middle of Ponyvile. ''Okay.. No one draw any attenti-'' Splinter said before being cut off by Ryan. ''WOOHOO! I'M GONNA GO GET SOME TACOS!'' Ryan yelled while running for a nearby food vendor. ''We should have left him with the wolves too..'' Splinter said while face hoofing. ''Well.. I'm going to go check out the library. See ya!'' Cameron said while running off. ''Time to go back to memory lane.. Not really.'' Splinter said while trotting to Sugarcube Corner.

[HigurSan 195]

Maybe the point to instanity was that it had no point. Though true insanity was hard to come by, it often showed up right where you would expect: shoving a knife in your back. Such was the stallion's thoughts as he went to the market to see if there was any food to come by. In a manner of speaking there always was, but many ponies could no longer eat normal grass after generations of eating other vegetables and fruits. What he found in the town square was a jolt into his brain. A small unit of Celestial Peacekeepers were beating a colt. The small pony did all he could to curl into a ball and avoid the worst blows, but he was steadily acquiring a number of foul bruises and cuts.

 

For a moment the stallion did nothing, his mouth agape. Without further thought towards the matter, he unleashed a wave of magical force, striking the Peacekeepers from their hooves. They rounded upon him with a range of snarls and curses, charging their assailant en masse. What followed was a short and brutal brawl between one stallion and seven guards. When the dust settled, not one of them remained standing within view, though one of them was nowhere to be seen. The majority of those that remained were to busy groaning and gnashing their teeth to take notice of the stallion anymore. The colt, for obvious reasons, had long fled the scene. Sighing to himself, the stallion looked up to see a number of cautious stares peering out from alleys and windows. Surely he must have been some sort of lunatic, fighting the Peacekeepers and winning.

 

Before he could even move a large basket of assorted food was placed in front of him and everypony promptly hid themselves for their own safety. The food itself was shriveled and not of good quality, but in current conditions it was positively a feast. Though the stallion was conflicted by what to do with it, he eventually picked up the basket and headed towards home. As he did so, three characters from a cloudy past arrived in front of him. From the forest a tired brown stallion with a huge rifle flopped down on the grass. A dark beuatiful mare was unconcious on the cobblestones, and an ever-masked mercenary arrived after shouting at his companions.

 

He was inexplicably drawn towards the mare, but the sense of foreboding in his chest made him wary of approaching her. Looking at the mercenary, he spoke up. "Hey... you. Can you help the pony with the weapon over there? I'm going to get the mare. They need help and my place is the only safe residence I can think of." Cautiously, he approached the mare and kneeled down. Somehow he thought he knew her, and she certainly was gorgeous. He easily lifted her onto his back, spreading her legs on either side of him.

[null123456 759]

''Do I know you from somewhere..?'' Splinter said while cocking an eyebrow. ''Nah. But I'll help you anyways.'' Splinter said while beginning to drag the brown pony. Edited August 26, 2012 by Splinter

[Nothing&NoOne 695]

Ebony felt herself be lifted off the ground. She kept her eyes closed, feeling that she'd finally been caught. She opened her eyes for a few seconds, struggling to use her teleportation spell, but collapsed against the stallion holding her, exhausted. She moaned quietly to herself. 'What would your father think? Ashamed as to how you give up so easily. ' she heard her grandfather's voice echo in her head. She looked up and saw an apparition of him standing where she had been lying on the ground, despite him being dead long before her parents. I'm sorry.." she breathed, looking into his cold eyes with her own wide delusional ones.

Edited August 26, 2012 by Princess Nightingale

[HigurSan 195]

As they travelled the distance to the stallion's house, he was thinking heavily. He was positive that he knew who the trio accompanying him were, but their faces and names remained foggy in his mind. Wherever they had come from or who they had been, he was still determined to help them. Once they were inside of his house, he laid the mare upon a couch and when to shut the house down. Windows, doors, and hatches were shut in a rapid succesion of clicks and groans. Arriving back at the living room where he had left the mare, he looked at her softly. Indicating a chair for the brown pony with the gun, he headed for her.

 

As he approached his horn glowed slightly without his notice. It would become slightly brighter as he stood next to her, and he smiled softly. For one moment inbetween blinks he thought he recognized her, but it was gone as soon as it came. Kneeling to her, he arranged some of her mane and pulled a thin blanket over her. "You must be careful ma'am. I do not know what is going on in this land, but I think that it would be best if you got some rest. I'll get you some water and a snack." He said this matter-of-factly, echoeing of soemthing familiar. As he neared the counter, he stopped dead. To his eyes there was a large alicorn quite similar to him watching through the window. The stallion blinked and the vision was gone, but he was unsettled. Fetching the mug of water and an apple, he headed back to Ebony.

[Nothing&NoOne 695]

Ebony opened her eyes again as she was placed on the soft couch. The stallion seemed nice, but it was suspicious as well. Her mind was flooded with thoughts, mostly negative scenarios. She put a hoof is the side of her head; whenever she thought too hard her head would start hurting. She quietly accepted the water and apple from the stallion, levitating them with her red magic. She sipped the water and sighed. She was a sight to see; tangled mane, scratches and cuts, wide and tired eyes. She hadn't been able to sleep peacefully since she'd woken from her coma. She didn't feel safe without Stonewall; she was terrified of the dark. She couldn't sleep in it, and she couldn't stay awake in it either. She looked the stallion in the eyes, and gasped quietly. "You.." she winced and looked away, rubbing her head.

[HigurSan 195]

The stallion looked at her wide eyes curiously, wondering what she meant. When she looked away he grimaced. He was curious about her but he didn't want to be rude. Fetching a few other miscellaneous objects from around the house and bringing them to her, he laid them out on a nearby table. Lifting a small hairbrush with his magic, he carefully levitated it to her hair and swept it through a few times. Though undoubtedly she still looked savage, her hair was back in place for the most part. Next he brought out a medical kit, applying some salves to her various cuts and wounds. Every once in a while he would stop and brush her hair again. It was like he was trying to get something correct, but eventually he gave up and combed her tail aswell. Now she was more presentable though she was still rather jumpy. Looking at Splinter, he cocked an eyebrow.

[Nothing&NoOne 695]

Ebony stared straight ahead as he worked away on her. It all felt so...familiar, though she couldn't place why. She sighed and closed her eyes, then sang a few quiet song notes. She hesitated then looked up at the stallion. "...Why are you helping me?" she asked in a broken voice. She had her arms crossed in front of her, her one eye hidden behind her mane. Her red eye searched his, ignoring the slight pain in her head.

[HigurSan 195]

He looked at her eye, blushing slightly. Blinking softly he scratched his jaw and set the brush down again. As he looked at her a small glint appeared in his eye, only to be quickly snuffed out. His eyes would appear to flicker for a moment, like there were two of him occupying the same space. Then it was gone again and his spoke. "I do it because its a part of me I suppose. Seeing anypony in need drives me to do something for them. You though, I don't know. Just like I don't know where I am, or why I'm here. Only recently I woke up in the middle of nowhere. So many things are strange here. It's like I know them, but they have twisted out of recognition." His brow furrowed. "I have no memory of a family, friends, or home. So I just try to do the best with what I do have."

[Nothing&NoOne 695]

Ebony bowed her head slightly, then looked back up at him. "Do you remember your name, at least?" she asked, her voice quiet. He looked so familiar, it almost hurt. Well, it was hurting. Her head was throbbing, but she couldn't look away from him. She felt like how she did when she woke from her coma; she didn't know anyone anymore.

[HigurSan 195]

"No I do not. Just about everypony around here has avoided me like I am a plague or a foul insect," He said this in his matter-of-fact manner, looking at her. With a sigh he got to his feet and glanced at the kitchen window, still seeing no Alicorn. Looking back at her a soft gasp passed his lips, due to what he saw for a small moment. It was Ebony, but in much more splendour perhaps it was a memory. She was looking in a mirror while a pony he thought was himself brushed her hair and fiddled with a ballroom dress she had on. As soon as the image had entered his head, it flew away again. However, he was determined to not loose this one too. Clamping his eyes shut, his mind grapsed the fleeing image, catching it just as it was to fade away. Pulling it back, he corraled it in a pin of sorts for later inspection. But where had it come from, and what did it mean? Opening his eyes after the breif second of concentration, he smiled softly at her. "My name doesn't really matter in the end I suppose. After all I'm just doing my..." He thought slowly, checking the word in his head several times. "My... job." He hadn't the faintest idea why he had said it like that, and there were many more suitable phrases that came to mind.

[Nothing&NoOne 695]

Ebony got off the couch and took a few hesitant steps towards him. "...A name is an identifying trait of a pony. Let's you know who they are. What they've done. " she looked down, then back up at him. She studied him for a second, then bowed her head and curtsied slightly. "Princess Ebony Nightingale. At your service. " she sat on the ground and signed. "Although I don't think it means anything anymore. I'm as good as dead. " her voice broke on the last word and she hung her head, he eyes squeezed shut.

[null123456 759]

''Hey red stripes! Can we leave yet? I'm getting hungry!'' Splinter interrupted while frowning. ''Bad move, Splinter.'' Cameron whispered. ''What? It's not like he some kind of psych- wait.. Did he say he was on the run?'' Splinter said while his eyes widened. ''Actually.. I'm not very hungry anymore.'' Splinter said. Crap. Edited August 26, 2012 by Splinter

[null123456 759]

Splinter dropped down on his knees. He took a deep breath. ''Okay, I'm back with the 'princess', The Drill Sargent, And The Magic Stallion.'' Splinter said while his left eye twitched. ''WHY GOD, WHY?! WHY?! WHY?! WHY?! WHYYYYYYYYY!?'' Splinter yelled while nearly ripping his right ear off.

[Nothing&NoOne 695]

Ebony looked over at the pegasus. She raised an eyebrow at him and stood up, walking over to him and standing a few inches from his face. "...Fine Tune?" Her face lit up and she hugged him tightly suddenly. "I thought you guys were gone.." She closed her eyes and gripped onto Fine Tune, glad to have finally found ponies who weren't out for her head. She pulled back and looked up at him. "Where's Artemisia? They didn't get her did they?"

[Nothing&NoOne 695]

Ebony bowed her head slightly. She saw a slight flash of light to her left and looked over, seeing the apparation of her grandfather, which only she could see. Her eyes went slightly wild when she saw him. He seemed to bring out her insanity.

 

'Hello Granddaughter.' He said in a disgusted way. 'Is this what your parents would have wanted? You running from your fate?'

 

Ebony looked into his eyes and the other ponies melted away from her mind. "I don't.."

 

The ghost's eyes flashed green for a second. 'What would your mother think? They accepted their fate. You shouldn't bother running. You're putting stress on everyone around you.'

 

The green light from his eyes stayed illuminated in Ebony's. She stared into his eyes, head tilted slightly, her mind going back into the dark water it was in when she was locked in a coma.

 

'Go see the good doctor who woke you up. I'm sure she can help you.'

[null123456 759]

''Hello? Ebony? Have you finally gone insane? Don't worry, you MIGHT get used to it in a few days.'' Splinter said while cocking an eyebrow. He looked over at Fine Tune. ''Wanna play charades or somethin'?'' Splinter said while holding back laughter. I remember his screams.. He sounded like a damn monkey.

[HigurSan 195]

The stallion now apparently identified as Stonewall looked with confusion at the ponies around him. He felt that some point the sanity has left the room as quietly as possible in order to not wake whatever lurked in the dark. Now left alone that darkness had swallowed everyone around him. At least in metaphor, he seemed to be an island in a sea of crazy ponies. With his brow creased, eyes flicking to each of them, eventually he spoke. "Creator knows what you are calling me that for. I am..." His eyes went unfocused, a mechanical edge coming to his tone. "Second Lieutenant Lance Gatekeeper of the C.A.N.S." Blinking, he seemed to be unaware of the previous change, or know what it meant. Though Lance Gatekeeper was infamous in the region for his cruelty and absolute loyalty to the doctrines of the Celestial Army regardless of what stood in his way, he had no knowledge of this. Upon a moment of self-observation, his brow knitted into a steel bar.

 

"So. We have a wayward princess: Insane, A mechanic with large guns: Also Insane, A mercenary that I don't even need to comment on the state of his mind, and myself. What it all means is beyond me. Though...." His eyes went unfocused for a moment and gained a light green light. His horn flashed and a small chest appeared in front of him. Returning to his body, he looked at the chest curiously and opened it. Inside was a small necklace, made of preserved Cinderblooms and a small ebony crystal. Taking the necklace, he grimaced to himself. "Though I'm sure it's important, whoever I actually am. Can you two with actual weapons sort yourselves and take stock of what you do and don't have? I never saw a battle won with no ammo."

 

Softly, he turned to Ebony, unsure of who she was talking to. His horn flared again, and touched hers.The intended affect was to bring her back to current events through sheer will-power, though he would use some other methods if needed. His fore-hooves wrapped around her neck, and he pressed his nose to hers.

[Nothing&NoOne 695]

The apparation shook with anger and his eyes flared green again, then he disappeared.

 

The light from Ebony's eyes faded and she shivered. She blinked a few times, finding herself looking into the eyes of the stallion who'd saved her in the first place. She blinked again, slowly, and stared into his eyes. She put a hoof on one of the arms that was around her neck. 'So familliar..' She thought, the dull ache returning to her mind. "..Don't I know you?" She mused, her horn lighting up with magic.

[HigurSan 195]

Stonewall blinked at her as she set a hoof on his leg. His eyes settled on hers for a second, before he woefully shook his head. "It's hard to describe really. It's like I might know you, and these others. In a way I know you but do not. at the same time. The best imagery I can give is a gate wrought of iron and flame. It burns me if I come too close, but I could hardly atain the other side and the knowledge it holds even if the flames didn't sear my mind. Perhaps I may find the key for it at some point, but for now I remain out of the loop, boundary, or what have you. Even this necklace, Cinder and Ebony, means something to me. Regardless I have no idea what it means, or how to find out." He left his forehooves on her for a moment longer before pulling away. "All I know is that somehow, I ended up in the military that seems to oppress this land. Maybe answers will be found there. I certainl intend to try as soon as they have taken stock of themselves."

[Nothing&NoOne 695]

Ebony closed her eyes and looked away from him. "You're painfully familiar." She rubbed the side of her head and looked at him again. She sighed and half smiled. "And I don't know what to do. I feel like I'm burdening you by staying here. I don't really know where I'd go though.." She trailed off, looking away.

[null123456 759]

''You'd go live in a coma.'' Splinter said while rolling his eyes. He looked at Fine Tune and smirked. ''Your looking for ammunition? Out of all the places, Man..'' Splinter said. He's looking for ammunition in Stonewall's so I quote, House? He must be really stumped.

[null123456 759]

''Sure..'' Splinter said grabbing a broken shard of glass. ''Did you know I used to be a mailman? But I got fired on my first day for delivering Celestia's awkward love letters to random mares and stallions. Did you know she sent her number to Scootaloo? I mean.. Scootaloo!' Splinter said while shuddering.