open Tears of Virtue

[Addem Up 246]

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?"

 

The pony behind the desk chuckled lightly. "You've just described half the home, my dear. If you're looking to hear a story, try room 104. Celestia knows, Mr. Berry needs the companionship. He doesn't get around much anymore, the poor thing." She shakes her head sadly, then points down the hall. "Last door on the left."

[MagicalStarRain 599]

@@Addem Up,

 

"Ok, thanks. I appreciate it," Star Rain replied, nodding her head in thanks. She followed her directions and went down the hall. That was easier than I thought. Waaaayyyy more easier than I thought she thought with surprise and slight disbelief. She eventually came to the last door on the left and knocked on the door. 

[Addem Up 246]

@@Addem Up,

 

"Ok, thanks. I appreciate it," Star Rain replied, nodding her head in thanks. She followed her directions and went down the hall. That was easier than I thought. Waaaayyyy more easier than I thought she thought with surprise and slight disbelief. She eventually came to the last door on the left and knocked on the door. 

 

An old, cracked voice warbled from behind the door. "Hello? Who is it? Come in..."

 

(On a side note, good to have you back. Shall I try to rustle up the older members and see if we can get this going again, or wait until everypony's gathered back together before I do?)

[MagicalStarRain 599]

@@Addem Up,

 

(OOC: I'd go with the first option.)

 

Star Rain opened the door and walked right in. She wasn't surprised to see an elderly stallion, but she was a little taken aback by his voice. Was he a singer before he retired and came to live here? Thought aside, she said,"Hello, my name is Star Rain. I hope I'm not disturbing you or anything but... there are some questions I'd like to ask.

[Addem Up 246]

@@Addem Up,

 

(OOC: I'd go with the first option.)

 

Star Rain opened the door and walked right in. She wasn't surprised to see an elderly stallion, but she was a little taken aback by his voice. Was he a singer before he retired and came to live here? Thought aside, she said,"Hello, my name is Star Rain. I hope I'm not disturbing you or anything but... there are some questions I'd like to ask.

 

He smiled, leaning back in his chair and nodding. "Questions? By all means. I'm happy to help with whatever you need." He gestured to the blanket over his back legs, which was oddly misshapen. "It's not like I'm going anywhere, after all. So what did you come here to ask?

[MagicalStarRain 599]

@@Addem Up,

 

Star Rain closed the door behind her and turned back toward the elderly stallion. "Good. Anyways, do you happen to know about this thing known as 'The Grey One'? Or another pony called 'The Champion'?" she asked slowly and distinctively. She was tempted to ask more questions, but decided not to.

[Addem Up 246]

@@Addem Up,

 

Star Rain closed the door behind her and turned back toward the elderly stallion. "Good. Anyways, do you happen to know about this thing known as 'The Grey One'? Or another pony called 'The Champion'?" she asked slowly and distinctively. She was tempted to ask more questions, but decided not to.

 

He frowned, his watery eyes fixed on her. "Now who told you about the Gray One? Ain't nopony that knows about it anymore, save Violet. And she's not the kind to go telling ponies. I doubt she believes me, anyways." He nods, then says, "The Gray One's said to be a storybook character, a demon from out of Equestria." He shook his head. "He's real enough. Goddess knows where he's been all these years. Biding his time, probably, waiting to strike. He's a cunning devil, so the stories say. Powerful too. As fer your champion, that's supposed to be the only pony that kin stop him."

[MagicalStarRain 599]

@@Addem Up,

 

And I know about 70% of that already... Star Rain kept a straight face on as she pressed for more answers. "Well, do you have a physical description of 'The Grey One' and 'The Champion'?" she asked steadily with no facial expressions for the one of slight disappointment and fascination.  

[Addem Up 246]

He shakes his head, frowning. "Ahh, see, that's where I'm spotty. The Gray One... I'm assuming he's gray." He gives her a small smile, then continues. "He was a shapeshifter. Nopony knew who he was, or what exactly. As for the champion... he was a unicorn. Big, strong, with powerful magic."

[MagicalStarRain 599]

@@Addem Up,

 

Unicorn, male, must be very talented with magic... And the 'Grey One' was a shapeshifter... Star Rain was very excited at this new information, but she had two more questions. "A few more things. Do you know any methods that were employed against 'The Grey One'?" she asked. She then added,"And do you know about the Tears of Virtue?" 

Edited March 2, 2013 by MagicalStarRain

[Addem Up 246]

@@Addem Up,

 

Unicorn, male, must be very talented with magic... And the 'Grey One' was a shapeshifter... Star Rain was very excited at this new information, but she had two more questions. "A few more things. Do you know any methods that were employed against 'The Grey One'?" she asked. She then added,"And do you know about the Tears of Virtue?" 

 

He smiles, chuckling. "One and the same, my dear. The Tears were said to be the only thing that could stop him. They were magical artifacts, gemstones, I believe. Each held its own magical power, and each was bound to a certain virtue needed to stop the Gray One. Let me see... one was faith... and strength... and joy... there was luck and hope, those two were tied strongly to each other... and peace... And the last was honor." He coughed, then swallowed and said, "You're rather curious about these."

[MagicalStarRain 599]

@@Addem Up,

 

Ok, nothing real new there. But luck and hope are tied strongly to each other? Satisfied, Star Rain nodded and gave a small smile. "Right, that's all I needed to know. Thanks," she said. She was about to say goodbye, when a possibility loomed in her head. "Hey by the way, if anypony comes in here to question you on what we talked about, can you tell them nothing?" she asked. Without waiting for a reply, she bid him farewell and left. 

[qqq 218]

(OOC: Star Rain, have you read the telepathy broadcast Pondah sent to everyone?)

 

It was a restless night for Pondah. Despite sleeping next to a bakery, there was a chill to the air which nipped and sliced across Pondah's body. Thoughts scattered and raced around his mind. Thoughts of The Grey One, the Champion and the earlier incident with the Changeling.

 

But there was something new.

 

There was thoughts of worry in his head. Worry for Canterlot team, risking their lives to save Equestria.

 

[Rather than reading Fairy Tales. We should have called you Tabby to show how much of a pussy you are.]

 

This dug deep into Pondah and hit a raw nerve. He curled into a ball and started to quietly sob and shake. It took almost an hour to escape into sleep.

[MagicalStarRain 599]

@,

 

(OOC: What telepathy broadcast?)

 

Star Rain stepped out into the streets and looked around in the dark. Hmmm, wonder where everypony is now? Wait, is that crying? She thought the sound she heard was familiar, so she followed it until she was outside a bakery. She turned a corner and found Pondah already asleep. Whew, at least nothing bad happened... or not? Deciding it wasn't important now, she laid down and went to sleep half an hour later.

[qqq 218]

(OOC: In the OOC thread, I send a message to everyone via Telepathy.)

 

Pondah was asleep. He tossed (not an innuendo) and turned in the night but was still un-able to completely rest. His traditional bedtime dream was kicking in and Pondah was defenceless in his sleep.

 

[You're right Pondah, it's not your fault. It's your filthy scum of a Grandma. A pegasus marrying and living with an Earth-Pony. It should be banned. Pegasi are special. They have something special about them. Earth Ponies are pathetic. You can't fly and can't do magic. Nothing special. The murky failure of the gene pool. Your mother, your poor mother, stuck with the chance of having a failure for a child. And lo and behold, that's exactly what she ended up with.]

 

Sun peeked over the hills and woke Pondah with its heat. Sometimes, Pondah hated having such good memory. It is hell remembering every part of a dream, especially such a negative one.

[MagicalStarRain 599]

@,

 

Star Rain woke up in response to Pondah's awakening. She yawned and then said,"Good morning Pondah." She then felt sore and saw that she had slept on her saddlebags. Her side had a large, book-sized imprint on it. Great, I hope no changelings come here... She then toward Pondah, who seemed to have suffered in his sleep. "Anything wrong?" she asked. 

[qqq 218]

"Nope, nothing wrong here. No sir, no hint of sadness here. Absolutely perfect, tip top condition."

 

Pondah felt a strange, sick feeling in his stomach. He was used to lying but this seemed different.

 

[urgh. What is this feeling? I've never felt like this before.]

 

Pondah checked his saddlebags to see if anything was missing. Nothing was.

 

"I need to go somewhere so I can do something."

 

Pondah walked off into the village square. He was looking for somewhere with tables so he could write the adventure log. He eventually came across a bakery.

 

"Sugarcube Corner. Seems like a nice place."

 

He knocked on the door and waited for an answer.

[Addem Up 246]

A young earth pony answered the door, pushing the oversized hat on his head out of his eyes. "Hello? How may I help you?" He seemed somewhat nervous as he said, "We've got, um... f-fresh baked blueberry pie, if you're interested..." He paused, then said, "I haven't seen you around here. Are you a traveller?"

[qqq 218]

"Seems I've got breakfast sorted. Two blueberry pies please."

 

Pondah went into the bakery and into the warmth, shutting the door behind him.

 

"I'm sort of a traveller. I'm on an adventure at the moment and need on of the table so I can do some writing."

 

The smell of pie assaulted Pondah's nostrils and invade his nose bringing a smell of delight to him.

 

"Mmm. Smells good."

[MagicalStarRain 599]

Now that I think about it, I think Pondah got a highly unreliable information source. Then again, I could be wrong too... Star Rain thought, pondering the message she got from Pondah and the knowledge she gained from the elder yesterday. She followed Pondah into the bakery, breathing in the sweet, unfamiliar scents. She waited beside him, waiting for the chance to share what she knows.

[qqq 218]

"What is this feeling? I've lied before but never felt like this. Is it..." Pondah murmured.

 

Pondah noticed Star Rain next to him and snapped out of his murmuring and tried to look cool and collected.

 

"Hey, Star Rain. Get any good bits on "The Grey Guy" or the Champion. We should have some pie coming in a moment. I've paid for it using my last few bits."

 

Suddenly, something dawned on Pondah. He was broke and had no house nearby. He was, in effect, a tramp.

 

[Crap, no money, no house, no written adventure log and sick feeling in my stomach.]

 

Pondah gave a sigh and said quietly to himself "Seems they were right all along."

[MagicalStarRain 599]

"What is this feeling? I've lied before but never felt like this. Is it..." Pondah murmured.

 

Pondah noticed Star Rain next to him and snapped out of his murmuring and tried to look cool and collected.

 

"Hey, Star Rain. Get any good bits on "The Grey Guy" or the Champion. We should have some pie coming in a moment. I've paid for it using my last few bits."

 

Suddenly, something dawned on Pondah. He was broke and had no house nearby. He was, in effect, a tramp.

 

[Crap, no money, no house, no written adventure log and sick feeling in my stomach.]

 

Pondah gave a sigh and said quietly to himself "Seems they were right all along."

Yum! Pie! Yaaaaayyyyyyy!!!!!!!!! Star Rain silently thought with great joy at the thought of something so sweet. Remembering what she had gathered yesterday though, she kept her calm composure. "I found that the Grey One is a sly shapeshifter and that the Champion is a unicorn stallion," she tossed her two bits of information in, knowing that Pondah was going to counter with his own information.

[qqq 218]

"The info I got said that the Champion was a Pegasus and that the Grey Guy was a unicorn. Two problems with my info though, it came from a story book and that very book has caught fire. I asked the if she could do her best to restore the book. I might check later to see if I can speed things up and try to get a few bits."

 

[Yeah, that's right. You go and hide in the library and pray you can make money there rather than getting an actual job. The fact you slept outside pretty much sealed fate. I believe the term is Hobo. You should learn a thing or two from this mare. Skilled at at least one thing. You should wouldn't let her family down. You do and you have, every single day since you were born. Blank flank.]

 

Pondah thought hard to his composure but this time things too much handle. Pondah went say down, his eyes watering like a fountain and faced away from Star Rain. A single tear drop could be heard in the awkward silence.

[Addem Up 246]

Angry voices erupt from above the two ponies. A pair of pegasi are hovering, one pointing across the horizon.

 

"I thought I told you to get rid of that cloud!"

 

The other pegasus shook her head.  "I tried. It's not going away, no matter what I do."

 

The first sighed, then shook his head as well. "Whatever. One storm cloud's not going to ruin everything."

[qqq 218]

"Hey, lay off of him. Hundreds of others have been to try and get rid of that cloud and you are just picking on this one. Rather than criticising, try actually doing something about it rather than making others feel small and useless." Pondah said to the bossy pegasus of the pair, trying not to raise his voice lest an argument form as a result.

 

A rumble came from Pondah's belly.

 

[Where's that pie? I'm pretty hungry now.]