private Need for Heroes!

[Nightfall 3,950]

"Oh, I'm so stupid!" she moaned, "Mares are supposed to love colts. What is wrong with me? But she's soooooo hot! Ohhh, I would trade her for all of my- myiaiai! Mmmmm mmm mm mmmmm!" Shut up shut up shut up! You're mouth is going to ruin any chance you've got! Come on, Sapphire, put your mouth away!

 

Speedy blushed even more. Maybe Sapphire was speaking out loud on purpose, or maybe she spoke aloud almost all of the time. But she said that out loud. She just stood there, holding Sapphire's head to her chest, her cheeks deep red.

 

Nightfall slammed his hoof down.

"Buck it! Wits is right. Police protocol: never follow the criminal's exact plans. And if you think I'm going to let a 15 year old into this because it's part of his plan, you're downright out of your little mind. No, no, no! He isn't going, and that's final!"

[Octavia's Bow 2,035]

Sapphire blushed but kept her head against Speedy's chest. "Do you hate me?" She asked, blushing profusely and trying very hard not to show it.

 

Den was sitting in the break room drinking coffee. And when he finished one drag off coffee, he refilled. Kinda like he was trying to drown his anxiety over this with coffee.

[Literally Snails 2,307]

"

 

 

Speedy blushed even more. Maybe Sapphire was speaking out loud on purpose, or maybe she spoke aloud almost all of the time. But she said that out loud. She just stood there, holding Sapphire's head to her chest, her cheeks deep red.

 

Nightfall slammed his hoof down.

"Buck it! Wits is right. Police protocol: never follow the criminal's exact plans. And if you think I'm going to let a 15 year old into this because it's part of his plan, you're downright out of your little mind. No, no, no! He isn't going, and that's final!"

 

"This isn't as simple as you want it to be. If Karasu wanted, he could blow this entire city to pieces without giving it a second thought! Play by the police rules and you'll be pulled down with them! You're putting Patches life in more danger by not taking him!" The unicorn peered at Nightfall with one eye showing through his wraps. "Dimwit!"

[InfinityWhale 771]

Wits thought about this. "I have an idea, but it will need Nightfall's approval. First, we play this as though its a hostage situation. We honor his demands as far as we can until we can kill him. But, you are going in Patches' place. You are obviously important to him, and with this degree of sociopathy we can expect a little variation in his 'rules'. Next, we will have explosive technicians set up a bomb system above the mine. Should it become clear that things are going bad, I will hold the line, activate the charges, and teleport out before anything can happen. Finally, I want a full police force outside the mine just in case something goes wrong, with fully loaded arcane shots to rip Karasu to pieces."

 

He sat back. "I think this it the most intelligent option available. He'll think we following what he wants, but given the chance, we blow him to bits."

[Octavia's Bow 2,035]

When Den came back, he had a stone cinder block. He looked grim, but resigned, "It's not your decision Wits. Acording to the law, it's mine. In crisis situations, parent or guardian of the foal in question can temporarily aleave minor status. And Patches isn't a foal. I took that from him as much as the cursed doctor. Here is the signed document. That means it's Patches' decision on weather or not to do this. But first," he turned to Patches and set the cinder block down in front of him, saying, "Grizzly Claw this please."

[InfinityWhale 771]

 

"Then Celestia can send the law straight to the moon!" Wits said. "I don't care if he's twice as powerful as Karasu and invincible to boot, he. is. a. CHILD. And I will NOT let any children be harmed while I yet breathe, ESPECIALLY, by my own action. My plan is reasonable and intelligent, and you have no grounds to deny it," he gave a steely gaze.

 

((Wits is taking controooool. I have no say in this.))

[Cherry Blossom 864]

Cherry Blossom finished filling out the resignation forms and got up and go to everypony. She frowned at Den and gave him a serious look, "Den, you are talking about sending our own son, Patches to some criminal's game? This karasu pony has no right to do this."

[Octavia's Bow 2,035]

"No, I don't like it. But with hid name on that list I like it a hellofalot better than leaving him at home. I could watch him, keep him safe myself while 6 of the strongest ponies around are here to defend him," he sighed. "And I can say that he is strong minded, and survived having his back smashed and torn out."

[Cherry Blossom 864]

Cherry Blossom became speechless. She wanted to say something to oppose that, but she just couldn't spill out any words out of her mouth. "He's still only 15! We just can't let Patches go like this! I just want to make sure that he'll be safe, but who is this pony?"

[Nightfall 3,950]

Sapphire blushed but kept her head against Speedy's chest. "Do you hate me?" She asked, blushing profusely and trying very hard not to show it.

 

Den was sitting in the break room drinking coffee. And when he finished one drag off coffee, he refilled. Kinda like he was trying to drown his anxiety over this with coffee.

 

"No.. No, Sapphire. I don't hate you.. How could anypony hate such a mare as you..?"

 

When Den came back, he had a stone cinder block. He looked grim, but resigned, "It's not your decision Wits. Acording to the law, it's mine. In crisis situations, parent or guardian of the foal in question can temporarily aleave minor status. And Patches isn't a foal. I took that from him as much as the cursed doctor. Here is the signed document. That means it's Patches' decision on weather or not to do this. But first," he turned to Patches and set the cinder block down in front of him, saying, "Grizzly Claw this please."

 

"Buck that, I'm your commander, and thus it is actually MY decision. And I saw I'm not letting a fifteen year old get caught up in this. Even if he can handle himself and even if you want him to and even if he has his name on a bit list, he is not going. The end."

Nightfall stared down at Den.

[Literally Snails 2,307]

"I have to go!" said patches, "You heard him! If I don't come with you, ponies will die! Im tired of seeing ponies die because of me! Aren't I responsible for enough death already? I don't want to cause more because you think I'm weak! I'm not weak any more!" He was beginning to get angry. He wasn't a child any more, but nobody believed him.

[Octavia's Bow 2,035]

Maven said, "This pony is a dangerous ex-vigilante who saw something that was terrible. It made him lose his faith in life. He's searching for it by testing groups of people; the tests are ussualy deadly. Fail the test, and your city dies. Refuse the tests and your city dies. And when I say your city dies, I mean he kills every pony." She sighed, "As I understand it at least."

 

Den subtly nudged the cinder block he'd told Patches to Grizzly Claw closer.

Edited October 8, 2012 by Dawnpath

[Nightfall 3,950]

"I have to go!" said patches, "You heard him! If I don't come with you, ponies will die! Im tired of seeing ponies die because of me! Aren't I responsible for enough death already? I don't want to cause more because you think I'm weak! I'm not weak any more!" He was beginning to get angry. He wasn't a child any more, but nobody believed him.

 

Maven said, "This pony is a dangerous ex-vigilante who saw something that was terrible. It made him lose his faith in life. He's searching for it by testing groups of people; the tests are ussualy deadly. Fail the test, and your city dies. Refuse the tests and your city dies. And when I say your city dies, I mean he kills every pony." She sighed, "As I understang it at least."

 

"Forget it, Patches! I know you aren't a child, but I don't want an innocent life lost in this! You aren't going!"

Nightfall swung around.

"Maven, please..."

He couldn't be rude to her.

"Forget it all. Forget this."

He strode out of the room, a bit downcast and pissed.

"I'm out before I break something or kill somepony."

[InfinityWhale 771]

"The duty of the police is to protect and serve," Wits said. "This young pony is not a police officer, he is a civilian. It is thus our duty to protect him and the rest of the city. The rest of us are trained officials and vigilantes. We can take the pressure, and we have sworn oaths. He's not old enough to be a police officer or to get a vigilante license. We cannot in good conscience allow him to go. I don't care if it means a slightly increased danger for the rest of us. We are a highly skilled group and we can take him. And my back up plan will get rid of Karasu PERIOD. We can do this. We pretend to play his games, then subvert them at the last moment. Its textbook, its perfect. We can do this." Wits said, his voice inspirational and full of optimism.

[Literally Snails 2,307]

"The duty of the police is to protect and serve," Wits said. "This young pony is not a police officer, he is a civilian. It is thus our duty to protect him and the rest of the city. The rest of us are trained officials and vigilantes. We can take the pressure, and we have sworn oaths. He's not old enough to be a police officer or to get a vigilante license. We cannot in good conscience allow him to go. I don't care if it means a slightly increased danger for the rest of us. We are a highly skilled group and we can take him. And my back up plan will get rid of Karasu PERIOD. We can do this. We pretend to play his games, then subvert them at the last moment. Its textbook, its perfect. We can do this." Wits said, his voice inspirational and full of optimism.

 

"Think about what you're saying!" the unicorn demanded, "If you think Patches is in danger now. How much more danger will he be in once you throw the entire Police force on a mission they can't win! How do you think that this is smart? I thought you knew better than this!" he turned to Nightfall. "Dimwit!"

[Nightfall 3,950]

"Think about what you're saying!" the unicorn demanded, "If you think Patches is in danger now. How much more danger will he be in once you throw the entire Police force on a mission they can't win! How do you think that this is smart? I thought you knew better than this!" he turned to Nightfall. "Dimwit!"

 

Nightfall popped his head back in the room.

"Jack, please. Now you aren't fooling anypony. Remove the disguise and meet me in my office. Maven, you too."

He walked out. He was a bit more pissed because if the pony really was Jack, than why would he disguise himself?

[Octavia's Bow 2,035]

(Need a Speedy post, Nightfall. I posted 2 pages back I think)

 

Maven nodded, following Nightfall. She looked tired, and if she wasn't mistaken, the pony in the headwrap was a mare, which would mean that it probably wasn't Jack, unless he'd has recent sex-changing surgery, or prefermed some sort of magic that removed his manhood. She supposed it was possible, but still unlikely.

 

(Excuse me, my bad) Sapphire looked her in the eyes, "Really? You don't hate me?" You'd have thought it was christmas and Speedy showed up with a mountain of brownies. Sapphire tackle hugged her, which wasn't very effective and she ended with her hooves around her neck, "Oh thankyouthankyouTHANKyou!"

[Nightfall 3,950]

(Need a Speedy post, Nightfall. I posted 2 pages back I think)

 

Maven nodded, following Nightfall. She looked tired, and if she wasn't mistaken, the pony in the headwrap was a mare, which would mean that it probably wasn't Jack, unless he'd has recent sex-changing surgery, or prefermed some sort of magic that removed his manhood. She supposed it was possible, but still unlikely.

 

(Excuse me, my bad) Sapphire looked her in the eyes, "Really? You don't hate me?" You'd have thought it was christmas and Speedy showed up with a mountain of brownies. Sapphire tackle hugged her, which wasn't very effective and she ended with her hooves around her neck, "Oh thankyouthankyouTHANKyou!"

 

"Oh! Um.. Thanks.. Thanks very much.. And your welcome yourself.."

Speedy herself was blushing profusely. She decided to hug Sapphire back. She didn't quite know what she had done.

"Sapphire, of course I don't hate you. I mean... Maybe I, um..."

She was very red in the cheeks right now.

[Cherry Blossom 864]

Cherry Blossom faced her head to the side and just sighed. "What does this Karasu pony even want anyway? What is the point of this 'game' he is talking about and why force us specifically to go? I all just doesn't add up to me, but what are we going to do and where are we going to go?"

[Octavia's Bow 2,035]

Sapphire gasped, "*Intake of breath* Doyoumaybelovemetoo?" Then she loked down at her hooves, her cheeks becoming flushed again, and she moved her hoof in the dirt. It unconsciously started becoming a heart-sketch, and she began humming again; a song Nightfall would recognize.

[Nightfall 3,950]

Sapphire gasped, "*Intake of breath* Doyoumaybelovemetoo?" Then she loked down at her hooves, her cheeks becoming flushed again, and she moved her hoof in the dirt. It unconsciously started becoming a heart-sketch, and she began humming again; a song Nightfall would recognize.

 

Speedy's ears perked up at the song. And she noticed Sapphire's drawing was becoming a heart. And when she heard Sapphire, she felt like she shouldn't blush more. The song was starting to make her feel like she needed to do something.

"Um... Maybe..."

"No, don't lie to her."

"Um.. Yes. Yes, I do..."

Edited October 8, 2012 by Nightfall

[InfinityWhale 771]

((Octavinyl, can you review my character request in OOC? I want to get Sunburn working here.))

 

Wits called Sapphire and Speedy on the radio.

 

"Sapphire? Speedy? We're getting ready for a raid. We need you back at headquarters ASAP. Sapphire will be in the line, but Speedy will be guarding HQ. She will be allowed machine guns briefly." That ought to keep her happy. "How soon can you be back?"

 

((Cliffhanger time.))

[Cherry Blossom 864]

((OOC: I've already put your OC Sunburn in.))

 

Cherry Blossom handed over the resignation forms to Wits and removed herself of the police uniform and gear. "I have to thank you all, but I'll have to come with you guys on this one as well," she smiled as she turned to Den and frowned, "We can't bring Patches okay? He's only 15 and that won't be good for him."

[Octavia's Bow 2,035]

Sapphire looked at Speedy, and seemed like she was about to kiss her, when an ill timed, annoying, unplanned, unwelcome radio call came in. She let out a frustrated stamp and magically disassembled the radio, sending Wits a magigram stating now was an extremely bad time.

 

Den turned to Cherry, "That is no kind of logic. You're 17. I'm 19. At 15, most of the doctors in the hospital knew my name, I'd been rejected by so many mares infinity isn't a big enough number, and been in twice as many honor-fights. At 15 I attempted suicide for the second time. At 15, my older brother tryed to steal all of my bits, and I defended it in a court of law. Age does not determine maturity; experience does," he said quietly, staring at his hooves, "I like it about as much as walking on burning coals; did that to save my brother after the first apartment burned down. If I thought Wits's plan would work, I'd make sure you BOTH didn't go. But Wits can't guarantee it to me, can you Wits? And if we fail we all die anyways. I stand with Patches' decision."

Edited October 8, 2012 by Dawnpath

[InfinityWhale 771]

"Do you know why most empires fall? Pride.

 

Some cocksure crime boss is so full of himself he needs to send messages. He needs to prove that he is better than everypony else on the streets. He wants his criminals to be better than everyone else's, his thugs to be superior. Somebody beats him, he doesn't want him dead, he wants them crucified, lifted up for every other schmuck to see. They want to have a name, they want everypony in the city to see them. They want to be worshipped and revered. Their empire has to be beautiful.

 

I don't have pride. I don't need to know that I'm better. I just need for everypony in my way to be shot. That's why I hire ponies like you, who are supposed to be throwaways. I pay you, an enemy dies. No fuss, no mess, no publicity. Just a small bullet and suddenly one more piece of my opposition is gone. But when ponies like you fail, that's when things get messy. For me, mostly. I need to pay off press, rearrange for a death, make sure this sort of thing doesn't get out. The less anyone hears about my operation, the better. So when ponies like you fail, I can't take it lightly."

 

The Burning King reached into his desk. "Consider this a bureaucratic action. Effective immediately you are fired. Doesn't sound so bad, does it? You don't have a job, but hey, you've got skills. You can always find another job, right? Probably even go to another town, avoid any messy politics. Got you're whole life ahead of you, especially with the skills you learned here."

 

"You forgot something important. You are not part of my group. You are not under my protection." A pistol came out of the desk, it was carefully aimed. "You are nothing." A shot rang out, and a corpse hit the floor.

 

"And I am everything." Two ponies came in and pulled out the assassin. There would be no loud declaration of his failure or death. There would be one more corpse at the bottom of Manehattan's biggest river. And Sunburn, the Burning King of the Flame, Manehattan's best criminal organization, would continue to grow in power and prestige.

 

That's how it worked. In this business, he won.

 

---------

 

Wits looked at the magigram and sighed. "Look, I don't care if you're chasing a criminal or whatever, I need you back now. This is serious business, and the entire city is at risk here. Get your flank back in 20."