open Tears of Virtue

[Colt 555]

"I might not be the smartest pony around, but if some of you take Fortune to  Ponyville and the rest go to Canterlot, that makes two groups and we can all help more ponies."

 

“Indeed we need to save the most we can and check about the tears on that tower” Colt said to the group before they start walking their ways. He still was anxious about their friends and going back to Canterlot was for sure a way to ease those worries.

 

“I’ll go with Solar Flicker, if that is ok with you” he said to the pegasus thinking on the reaction the mare had before, when she saw him for the first time. And made a call on the research team “Be sure to warn them about all of this on we don’t know how far this “gray” forces are going to move” he advised to the ponies walking away.

 

“What about you Star? What is your call?” Colt asked to the young mare worried about leaving her alone. @@MagicalStarRain,

Edited February 18, 2013 by Colt

[MagicalStarRain 599]

 “Indeed we need to save the most we can and check about the tears on that tower” Colt said to the group before they start walking their ways. He still was anxious about their friends and going back to Canterlot was for sure a way to ease those worries.“I’ll go with Solar Flicker, if that is ok with you” he said to the pegasus thinking on the reaction the mare had before, when she saw him for the first time. And made a call on the research team “Be sure to warn them about all of this on we don’t know how far this “gray” forces are going to move” he advised to the ponies walking away.“What about you Star? What is your call?” Colt asked to the young mare worried about leaving her alone. @@MagicalStarRain,

"I'll go to Ponyville with Pondah and Colt," Star Rain said after minutes of deep thought. "See ya later," she said, rushing off to join Pondah.

In hushed tones, Pondah told Colt. "I don't think that the Dragon and Star Rain like me. I reckon they're fed up of me and that I'm weak link in the group. I think that Amber can only just tolerate me due to that "incident" earlier." Pondah turned to the other ponies and shouted, "Last chance! Hurry if you're coming!"

"What was that?" Star Rain asked Pondah. She had caught up to them just in time to hear her name being mentioned by one of them

[Flicker 141]

 

“Indeed we need to save the most we can and check about the tears on that tower” Colt said to the group before they start walking their ways. He still was anxious about their friends and going back to Canterlot was for sure a way to ease those worries.

 

“I’ll go with Solar Flicker, if that is ok with you” he said to the pegasus thinking on the reaction the mare had before, when she saw him for the first time. . @@MagicalStarRain,

"Sounds like a plan." Solar Flicker nodded, her mane flopping around a bit. "I'll go with Colt, and we'll do what we can in Canterlot. Star Rain, Pondoh, and Fortune will go to Ponyville. I can't really think of anything we can do to stay in touch, so assume that Colt and I are okay. Whatever the Grey One throws at us, I know we can take it down." 

[Addem Up 246]

Far away, among the roiling stormclouds, Amber's image is projected on a round sheet of crystal. Changelings and other twisted creatures listen as she speaks.

 

"Whatever the Grey One throws at us, I know we can take it down." 

 

 

A deep, guttural voice rolls through the cloud. "Challenge accepted."

 

(You done messed up, Amber.)

[qqq 218]

"What I was saying was who I thought would go to Canterlot. Being the ones that are skilled in battle, I thought you would go to retrieve the Tears. But anyway, let's go!"

 

Pondah and the group began the trip south to Ponyville. Nothing happened immediately, giving Pondah some time to think.

 

[Definitely writing some sort of Adventure Log. If I go to the Ponyville Library, I'll be able to get some information on this Grey Guy and have a quiet place to write it. Genius.]

[Hex 17]

 Whisper Woods paced back and forth on the road to Canterlot. She could her the din of chaos echoing in the city.

 

"I must be crude...if this is how they celebrate...then I should not judge" she spoke to herself. Finding resolve, she shook her tail  and trotted back into the city.  Prancing around piles of debris and fallen ponies, Whisper made way towards the castle, which she took to be the apex of the celebration.

 

"Excuse me madam...sorry sir...wonderful day isn't it?" she told the ponies as she passed by. She looked up at the horizon and took note of the gray mass in the distance. "Hmmm..."she thought. It gave her horns strange tingles.

 

  Whisper went up to a pony in armor, taking him to be of some importance she said "Well hello,, I'm not very familiar with your customs but this celebration...seems fun! You do this every year?"

[Addem Up 246]

The pony blinks, seemingly stunned by the sight of the deer. A grin slowly spread over his face as he replied, "Why yes. Yes we do. And I believe we've found just the creature to be the crux of our celebration." He paused, pouting slightly. "You WILL agree to aid us, will you not? We haven't had such a stunning centerpiece for as long as I can remember."

[Hex 17]

  "I would be delighted!" Whisper hopped up in excitement. Already she had been accepted by the ponies, something she had feared when travelling into this land. Whisper Woods was going to help them in thier celebration! A centerpiece at that!

 

"Centerpiece...? I'm sorry I do not understand..."she leaned her head down, crystal blue eyes furrowed in confusion.

[Addem Up 246]

The armored stallion chuckled, shaking his head. "Now, I'm not allowed to reveal everything. It's a tradition, you understand. But I can tell you that you'd play a very important role in continuing our celebrations." He smiled, gently folding one of his wings around the deer.

[Hex 17]

 She smiled sweetly and nodded her head.

 

"Of course I understand and I'm more than happy to assist you in any way" she said. Whisper quietly studied his wing in great curiousity, having never encountered a pegasus before, with this she knew that the Pegasi still existed. As she went along with the pegasus, Whisper looked around Canterlot. The castle was beautiful, so was the surrounding plaza but she bet that it had seen better, calmer days.

[qqq 218]

"Hey, in the distance! We are almost in Ponyville!" For the first time since starting his adventure, Pondah felt a sort of relaxation. He was still on edge though, he was not yet in the safety of Ponyville.

 

"So then, Colt, once you have recovered, set about gathering a troupe together to take back Canterlot. Meanwhile, I'll get on the case of research into "The Grey One" and "The Champion". Star Rain, what will you do?"

[MagicalStarRain 599]

"Hey, in the distance! We are almost in Ponyville!" For the first time since starting his adventure, Pondah felt a sort of relaxation. He was still on edge though, he was not yet in the safety of Ponyville.

 

"So then, Colt, once you have recovered, set about gathering a troupe together to take back Canterlot. Meanwhile, I'll get on the case of research into "The Grey One" and "The Champion". Star Rain, what will you do?"

"Research of course! That was my intention when I came here with you two," Star Rain replied. "We can check out the library here of course, and maybe question some ponies while we're at it. Especially the ones who look like they've been around for a long time," she added.

[qqq 218]

"You have better people skills than I do so I think you should go around asking ponies if they know anything. But on a slightly more urgent note, we have two more problems. We have nowhere to stay and no money unless you two have anything."

 

After a few more minutes, the trio reached Ponyville.

 

"Here at last. First, I'll get Colt to the hospital. Then, me and Star Rain will get a day to learn the area and find accommodation. We'll begin research tomorrow."

[qqq 218]

Colt, being the brave soul he is, went off to the hospital and Star Rain went of to give other ponies a grilling about "The Grey One" and "The Champion".

 

(OOC: I had permission to do that.)

 

"You know what, I'm going to get down to research and that adventure log as soon as possible."

 

Before he went to the library for research, Pondah went into a shop and ,as quickly as possible, bought a book of blank paper, a quill and some ink.

 

[i've got everything I need. Let's do this.]

 

Pondah ran off towards the library and without being seen by anypony, made his way to the door. He took a few deep breaths to calm himself and gave a triple knock on the library door, waiting to see if he was allowed in.

[Addem Up 246]

An older mare opens the library door, frowning at Pondah. "Who are you? Have you come to take out a book?" She fumbles around in her saddlebag, then pulls out a pair of glasses. Placing them on her nose, she peers at Pondah. "You're not from around here, are you? "

Edited February 28, 2013 by Addem Up

[qqq 218]

"I'm Pondah. I was wondering if I could come in and look at the books. I'm not taking anything out. How did you know I wasn't from round here though?"

 

Pondah took a step into the library. His jaw hit the floor at the sight of how many books there were.

 

"This is a lot of books! What I'm looking for must be in here somewhere."

Edited February 28, 2013 by Coffee123

[Addem Up 246]

The librarian trotted after him, curiously staring at him. "You don't speak like someone from around here." She watched him as he scanned the shelves, then asked, "What exactly are you looking for? I'm sure I can help you find it." She chuckled slightly. "It is my job, after all."

Edited February 28, 2013 by Addem Up

[qqq 218]

"I'm after information on something that goes by the name of "The Grey One". I don't know much more beyond that."

 

[Like we always said, you don't know much. You can't do sports and you don't know much. A failure in general.]

 

Pondah rubbed his forehead with one of his forehooves and continued scanning the library.

 

[Must be something here, with this many books, it's most likely harder not to find a book on any given subject.]

 

"Come on, there must be something here. This is important."

Edited February 28, 2013 by Coffee123

[Addem Up 246]

The older pony chuckled, shaking her head. "The Gray One? You'll want the fantasy section." She points down the aisle to a dusty series of books, a small, hand-painted sign proclaiming "Fantasy". "Although I don't see what's so important. It's just a myth, after all."

Edited February 28, 2013 by Addem Up

[qqq 218]

"I just get a bit paranoid over things like this. I'll be onto "Mare in the Moon" later."

 

Pondah gave a chuckle and wandered over to the fantasy section. He scanned through this smaller section of the library and eventually came across the only book with any mention of "The Grey One" in it.

 

[The bumper book of bedtime stories. Doesn't seem helpful at first but I have no clue what's inside.]

 

Pondah walked over to a darker corner of the library where he could feel as if he was at home, reading in the dim light.

 

[Friends risking their lives for the cause and you are here reading books for little fillies, claiming to be helping. Pathetic and useless, like we always said you were.]

[Addem Up 246]

The book releases a puff of dust as you open it and begin reading.

 

The legend of the Gray One

 

Long ago, before Equestria and the Princesses, there was the Gray One. While he ruled Equestria, the kingdom was a twisted wreck; abominations and horrors walked the streets, and ponykind suffered. All was not lost, however. For in those days, there was the Watcher. The Watcher saw all that happened for what it truly was, and knew the monstrosity that existed in Equestria. Using magics unknown, she forged seven gemstones out of her sorrow for the land and its ponies. Each gem held great magics within them; the toprerghvj... The text here is licked with curls of soot, as if somepony had attempted to burn the book. It's utterly indecipherable until the words and thus the pegasus went forwards to drive back the Gray One. What became of him, nopony knows, but the darkness receded back into the abyss from whence it came. It is said that even know it slumbers, waiting to retake its empire. 

[qqq 218]

[Hm... There could be some use for Canterlot Team. I have to ask about that huge burn though.]

 

Pondah got up walked over to the librarian with the burnt book in one of his forehooves.

 

"How come this part of the book is burnt off?" Pondah gestured towards the burn mark. "Have you noticed this before?"

 

[The pegasus went forwards to drive back The Grey One. Is the champion a pegasus?]

 

"I'm going to try to tell some of my team members what I have found."

[Addem Up 246]

She frowns at the book, peering closely at it. "I hadn't noticed that. It's been so long since anypony went to check this out... I can't imagine how it got burned." She shrugged, then said, "I could try to restore it, if you'd like. It might take a while though, and it wouldn't be perfect."

[qqq 218]

"It would be great if you could. I won't mind if it isn't perfect, any info I can get is good news. It's getting late as well. I need to think about heading hom..."

 

[Oh shit. I didn't think about that. I have no money and no house. Guess I'm on the streets.]

 

"Heading to bed. That's what I was going to say. Good night."

 

Pondah walked out of the library and onto the street.

 

"Guess I'm going to have to hope there isn't any crime round here."

 

Pondah found a clean spot in a area outside of a bakery.

 

[see, what did we say! We said you would have no house and no money and look where you are. No one hires you for knowing pi to 30 places. You have no skill, that's why you are Blank.]

 

A single tear rolled down Pondah's face. There was no leaving the past behind.

 

(OOC: Still alive I see Star Rain.)

Edited March 1, 2013 by Coffee123

[MagicalStarRain 599]

Star Rain arrived at the retirement place and casually walked inside. She tried to make herself look taller and older instead of a teen who, in a sense, ran away from home. And I don't regret one bit. She walked up to the front desk and, trying to keep her voice steady and free of stuttering, said,"Um, excuse me. Is there a pony here who has been around for a very long time and knows old myths and stuff?"

Edited March 1, 2013 by MagicalStarRain