private The Tyranny of Princess Cadence

[00Pony 286]

@

 

Sanguine chuckles as he and his assassins trot towards the chariots, "In order to make it anywhere in life, one must face their fears someday. Consider this my first step in doing so," he says, before adding in a semi joking tone, "Though I would have appreciated the gesture."

 

He steps on to one of the chariots, "Besides, I have the anticipation of drawing blood flowing through me. I think I can pull through."

[Concord Discord 35]

Crimson grinned mischeviously at curse, "how would I keep them at bay you ask? Well.......would this be a bad time to mention that I lead an army sized pirate crew? I couldn't bring them with me for two reasons, one being there a freaking army of pirates! I can't bring them to this city on an assasination mission, two, their currently helping in celestias navy for the enevitable war with cadence, any other questions?" Asked crimson.

"Didn't you even hear me? Cadence's supporters are EVERYWHERE. You can't hold them all off at once. And how do you expect a ramshackle band of pirates to take down a disciplined, well-trained army? As much as it pains me to say it, we should listen to Acheron and make Cadence's followers doubt her, causing them to realise that she's not such a great leader."

 

Curse wrote on his piece of paper.

Edited June 10, 2013 by MinecraftBronyFTW

[Agent505 661]

Harmonic jumped into the front chariot, and his unicorns in the two behind him. "I thought we would have had a bigger force than this..." he grumbled. "Forward warriors, and fear not pain nor death!" he yelled, and immediately the pegasi leading his carriages began to run forward, quickly taking to the skies. 

 

(OoC: @@Ano170, @@00Pony, feel free to take off and control your vehicles freely in the air, but it's important not to land before me)

Edited June 10, 2013 by Creeping Dusk

[Ano170 162]

@@00Pony, @, 

 

(OOC: So, I thought I had better inform everyone just now that this friday evening I'm going to Paris for a week to help on a school trip for one of the younger classes. It is extremely unlikely I'll have a chance to go online at any point, so I'm afraid that I'll essentially be away from the forums until next friday. Sorry guys.  Sorry? She's shouting "So long suckers, hahaha!" In her head... Phe! ...Why do I type for you? Because you believe in freedom of speech, and this is my only opportunity for communication. ).

 

Arrow had left earlier to fetch his squad, before Sanguine and Harmonic began their conversation, and now he returned to the train station with his squad marching dutifully in formation behind him. Arrow felt uncomfortable, feeling their attentive eyes following his every step; it made his coat crawl.

 

Oh, we're taking chariots? Arrow felt a slight disappointment as he realised that he would not be getting the chance to ride in a train from the future after all. As he approached, the front chariot and the ones directly behind, carrying Harmonic and his ponies, took the air. Arrow broke into a quick canter, climbing into one of the carriages near the back of the formation which was still grounded. His squad followed suit, filling up some of the other carriages.

[THE WILD HUNT 213]

"Well then, have you all made up your minds on who to elect? If so, state it, and cast in your vote!"

Acheron paced around as he continued to wait for the ponies to decide. It had already been awhile, so he was anxious to see this finish and finally be able to begin planning.

[Agent505 661]

Cadence seldom left her tower these days, since her spiral into madness. She communicates with her contacts, both outside the palace and outside the city, by various means. Sometimes through notes attached to birds, others through regular civilians - who then mysteriously vanish without a trace, sometimes through palace guards, but rarely, she'll use her top commanders to deliver important notes to her allies. It seems however, that her enemies, now growing in number preferred much more open, and direct methods...

 

"Empress Cadence, ma'am!" Saluted one of the palace guards who had been summoned to the throne. "Reporting in as per your orders." 

"Guardspony, can you tell me something?" Cadence asked, casually leaning back in her throne as she spoke. "Why is there a message, stating somepony's obvious distast of my rule - wrote in blood in my own tower!" 

The guard shook and took a step back as Cadence jumped to her feet, landing mere inches away from the guard. "I...I...I have no idea ma'am...the palace is secure, there is no way in or out without us knowing your highness as p-" *Thump*

The guard fell back on his haunches as Cadence shoved him with both her front legs. "I expect nothing less than perfection in my palace, and peace in my empire! It's simply not acceptable knowing there are ponies out there who disagree with my way of running things around here, this is my empire, not theirs!" She began to yell louder and louder with each breath she took, before finally standing up right, and practicing her breathing. One hoof on her chest, slowly extended with her exhaling breath. "Fetch me my parchment and writing quill...I think it's time I asked her for a visit..."

The guards eyes instantly widened and his mouth dropped, before he quickly scrambled to his feet and with a quick salute, bolted out of the door. 

[Super Derpy 535]

God this is going to be a tough decision. I don't know how much I can trust any of them in the long run.

Crystal Dusk contemplates who to vote for a few minutes and finally makes her decision.

I think Crimson would be the best choice since I cannot vote for myself he seems to have more experience as a leader than the others.

Crystal writes down Crimsons name on her paper and puts it in the pile.

[00Pony 286]

@,@@Ano170,

 

Sanguine climbs into one of the chariots before it takes off, his subordinates following suit. As the chariots rise, he lies himself down near the front of the chariot, closing his eyes. One of the initiates snickers, whispering to another one, "I thought the Grand Master wasn't supposed to be afraid of anything," The stallion said, perhaps a bit to loud. Sanguine's eyes opened slowly, staring at the pony as he continued, "I think his age's getting to him."

 

Sanguine stepped over to the initiate, placing a hoof on his chest and staring him in the eyes, "Let me explain something to you, young one. You yourself stated that I am an elder to you, correct?" He pushed the pony, but kept a hold of his armor. The initiate dangled over the back edge of the chariot, staring, terror stricken, into Sanguine's eyes as the assassin chuckled, "I can't really focus to well when I see open expanses like the one beneath you..." he lets the unruly initiate slip a little before hauling him back up and returning to his place at the front of the chariot, "Next time you disrespect me... I will let you fall."

[RAGESTAR 479]

Crimson sighed, "whatever, that's your oppinion, but for the record, I never said we shouldn't go with acheron's plan, I just said I would take care of any remnants in the future, also, they may be a ramshsckle band of pirates, but trust me when I say, they have been through and seen more things than any grunt in cadences army!" Said crimson bitterly before walking over and picking up his piece of paper from before, before throwing it in the pile. "I'm still voting for crystal..." thought crimson.

[Justin ZW 396]

(OoC: Since the Crystal Empire Army is ready to go, I'm going to try to shorten this as much as possible. To this end, I will simply assume your characters follow Swordpoint off the train and stand by him while he speaks with Applejack.)

 

@~HistoricallyInaccurate~, @, @@Avolon, @@Pripyat Pony

The train slowly came to a halt in the Appleloosan station. Swordpoint stood and glanced through the window at the townsponies milling around casually. At the station, he could see Applejack waiting patiently. He entered the train car where Sanura sat reading her book. "We've arrived. Let us arouse the others and speak with Applejack." He walked ahead into the car where Phylomon, Golden Age, and Fiera were. "Come. Applejack is waiting."

 

Swordpoint stepped off of the train and Applejack approached him at once.

 

"Howdy, Swordpoint!" she called happily. "It's been a good long time since Ah saw ya last!"

 

Swordpoint returned her smile. "Indeed. I have been a busy stallion."

 

She smirked at him. "Heh. Ah bet you 'n Rainbow've been real busy."

 

Swordpoint nodded. "Yes, we have. I am still training the Equestrian military, and Rainbow is often occupied with her practice for the Wonderbolts and her weather duties."

 

Applejack frowned. "Uh, that's really not what Ah meant... Y'see... um, nevermind. Golly, yer still as thick as ever."

 

Swordpoint gave her a dull look. "Might we move on to more pressing matters?" He held his hoof out toward Sanura. "This is Sanura. The princess sent her along with me for this task. And they," he said, pointing to the soldiers standing behind him, "are Golden Age, Fiera, and Phylomon, three soldiers who are currently in training for a new assignment. Sanura and I agreed that this mission would be a perfect opportunity for some real experience in the field."

 

Applejack smiled wide again. "Well Ah'm right pleased to meetcha!"

Edited June 11, 2013 by Justin ZW

[Pripyat Pony 2,608]

@@Justin ZW,

 

Sanura nodded to Applejack. "Nice to meet you," she replied. She didn't think that Applejack would have any inborn prejudices about zebras; after all, she and her friends were good friends with Zecora, a purebred zebra. So she shouldn't mind a half zebra.

 

Sanura stood to one side politely while Swordpoint conversed with Applejack, looking around at Appleloosa.

[AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA 20]

@Justin_ZW

Phylomon trots up beside Swordpoint "Just wondering but why are we here? Is this some part of training or is this just a test to see how trained we are in combat? Sorry about all the questions but I have been burning up with them since you told us that you were going to be training us" Phylomon stops talking to take a breath "oh one more question what are we being trained for example magic or flying?"

Edited June 11, 2013 by Avolon

[The Original 571]

@@Justin ZW,@@Pripyat Pony, @@Avolon,

(Avolon, does Phylomon have bad memory or anything? Cause all of those questions you made him ask were already answered at the meeting in the statue garden)

 

Fiera gave a small nod towards Applejack. She always respected Applejack. She was hardworking and strong, unlike most mares.

 

Being here made Fiera a bit uneasy for some reason, but she brushed it off. 'There is nothing to worry about. This should be fairly easy'

[Agent505 661]

(@, so i'll wait for you to turn topside, or something, before I actually send the guard out. You can see him leave, so you might get an idea of how Cadence sends some messages. Just say he's wearing a different uniform, or something, that's how you know.)

 

As the guard returned to Cadence with her quill and parchment, she magically snatched them from his mouth and immediately began scribbling down a note. He writing was somewhat illegible, either due to fancy handwriting, or a royal encryption. It was safer that way to avoid being found out about anything. 

 

"Send it, now. She needs to be here soon if we are to root out this nuisance before it starts to become a problem."

"Yes, your highness" The guard saluted and cantered out the door, soon leaving the palace and heading out of the city. 

 

(Edit: "Yes, you're highness" Are you !*@^%$& serious?! What the *%^@ is that?!)

Edited June 12, 2013 by Creeping Dusk

[Justin ZW 396]

@,@@Avolon, @@Pripyat Pony,  @~HistoricallyInaccurate~

Swordpoint smiled at Applejack. "Well, I suppose you should show us the way to the trade route. I would like to find the caravan as soon as possible."

 

Applejack nodded. "Of course! Just follow me, y'all." She trotted down the dirt road, and Swordpoint followed.

 

After several minutes, they reached the trade road leading out of Appleloosa. "Well, this here's it," Applejack affirmed. "The caravan shoulda been through two days ago, but they still ain't here. Ah reckon bandits have taken 'em. If y'all can take back the supplies, it'll really help us out!"

 

Swordpoint nodded. "Yes, of course. We shall not disappoint, Applejack."

 

Applejack gave him a warm smile. "Aw, shucks, Swordpoint. Y'all never disappoint! Ah know you can take care of those bandits with yer hooves tied behind yer back!"

 

Swordpoint chuckled mildly. "Indeed, Applejack. We shall return with the supplies." He trotted down the road in search of any signs of the caravan. Applejack waved to him as he departed with Sanura and his soldiers.

[Agent505 661]

@@Katella Avenue,@@00Pony,@@Ano170, 

 

Harmonic's chariot landed first, a good way off from the town, over the hills so they couldn't see them land. The rest of the chariots landed shortly after, and Harmonic hopped off his, turning to face the rest. With a single stomp of his hoof, his unicorns formed up behind him as he began addressing his entourage. "Today...we make a statement. We will not stand for Celestia's oppression any longer...today, Appleloosa becomes the first of many victims of this coming uprising..." He turned to face the town, taking a few steps closer to the edge of the hill. "Arrow, will you do the honours? Enter the town first, find Mad Life, and tell her we're about to begin." 

[Ano170 162]

@,

@Katella Avenue,

 

(OOC: Hey, I just thought of something. What if the buffalo got involved? After all, they're allies of Appleloosa now aren't they?).

 

"Aye sir." Stepping out his own chariot, Arrow nodded to Harmonic and began trotting over the hill. The sound of hoofsteps behind him made him stop; turning, Arrow saw his squad following obediently behind him.

 

"Er..." Arrow frowned, not entirely sure how to address the ponies. "Wait here for the signal," he told them. One stallion raised a hoof.

 

"Sir! Permission to speak sir?"

 

Arrow sighed. Really? He wondered, but answer with a neutral "Granted."

 

"What is the signal, sir?" The stallion asked.

 

Arrow smiled grimly. "The sounds of death, destruction and panic, of course." It unsettled Arrow deeply to see the soldier stallion's eyes light up. Without another word, Arrow turned, climbed the summit of the hill, and beheld the first civilisation aside from the Crystal Empire that he had seen since being transported to the future.

 

Arrow was...well, a bit disappointed really. Appleloosa could just have easily been from his own time as it could have been from the future: all the buildings were made of wood; it was small enough that Arrow could easily see it spread out from the hill summit; and, as Arrow descended and began trotting through the town itself, ponies stopped to smile or even wave at him. It almost made Arrow homesick; his stomach churned as he thought of what The Empire come here to do.

 

This town will be a major strategic point if The Crystal Empire is to gain its freedom. He reminded himself firmly. Sacrifices must always be made to better the world.

 

"Well howdy there!" A young cream coloured stallion with an unruly golden mane jumped out at Arrow, stopping the latter in his tracks and interrupting his thoughts.

 

"Ah ain't seen ya 'round here before, stranger! Where ya from?" The stallion reached out, taking Arrow's hoof in his own and shaking it vigorously as he spoke. "Ah'm Golden Note, by the way."

 

Taking his hoof back, Arrow stared at the other pony. The expression on his face was one of friendliness and eager curiosity, but there was no suspicion. Glancing, Arrow saw that the pony's cutiemark was a semibreve - he was just a civilian; hay, he didn't look much older than a colt. Looking into his wide, unsuspecting eyes, Arrow couldn't help himself.

 

"Get inside," he murmured, low enough that only Golden could hear.

 

"Ah'm sorry?" The other stallion looked confused.

 

"Gather as many other civilians as you can." Arrow told him solemnly. "Get inside somewhere safe, as far away from the town center as you can help it. Don't come out for anything or anypony."

 

Golden frowned. "What in the hay-" he began, but Arrow had already walked away towards the tavern. Inside, he inquired as to what room Mad Life was staying in, and moved as slowly as he could to stand outside her door, knocking on it - whether she was in the military or not, Arrow had no intention of entering a mare's private chambers unannounced.

 

As he waited, Arrow prayed that he had done - that he was doing - the right thing.

Edited June 13, 2013 by Ano170

[00Pony 286]

@,

 

Sanguine steps out of his chariot, glad to feel solid earth beneath his hooves again. His assassins step down from their own, awaiting his command.

 

The stallion steps over to Harmonic, giving him a slight nod, "If it is alright with you, my assassins and I will infiltrate the town - unseen mind you - and take up positions in wait of your command," He looks towards the hill, beyond which is Appleloosa, "I'll be sure to locate the Element first." 

[Agent505 661]

@@00Pony,

 

"We need the mare alive...for now. Cadence wasn't specific on details either. As long as the town is ash before we leave, i'll be happy with the results." Harmonic looked over the edge of the hill again, but this time he noticed the train at the station. "Looks like company. What an unfortunate time to take a vacation..." his nose twitched, and he snarled a little, kicking up loose dirt with his hooves. "Go. Find honesty, she'll tell us what we need to know." He let out a sadistic chuckle. "When you're in position, you have 2 minutes, then we're coming in. Once you hear the blasts, that's your queue."

 

(I'm going to wait for Mad Life and Arrow to finish up before we lay waste, I think) 

[00Pony 286]

@,

 

"So we're going with what I originally suggested then?" Sanguine said with a slight chuckle, "Very well."

 

He turns his attention to his assassins, "moveri subsisto de occultis! (Move out, and stay hidden)" he said harshly before making his way into the town. The officers and initiates followed him, none of them making a sound.

 

 

Once inside the town, it wasn't long before Sanguine located Applejack. He kept himself hidden in nearby shadows, watching her as he awaited the signal.

 

(Sounds good)

Edited June 12, 2013 by 00Pony

[Katella Avenue 28]

@@Ano170,

 

Around the time the forces of the Crystal Empire arrived Mad Life had a feeling they were there. She had seen nothing, not especially with the limited vantage point her room's small window provided her. She just had a knack for noticing things out of place, the odd stray shadow crossing the sun which indicated that a storm would be developing. She had ordered another drink to be delivered to her room. Pineapple this time, and amazingly enough they'd actually had the ability to produce it for her. She did seem to enjoy her exotic fruit drinks. The glass was empty and sitting at her bedside when a knock came on her door. 

 

"Hello there." Mad Life recognized Arrow from the Empire. "Long way you've come, did you have a good journey? Something seems to be troubling you." It was the way the shadows crossed the eye, Mad Life could tell the stallion before her was in some form of internal conflict. She was merely being polite and offering her aid. 

[Pripyat Pony 2,608]

@,@@Avolon, @~HistoricallyInaccurate~

Swordpoint smiled at Applejack. "Well, I suppose you should show us the way to the trade route. I would like to find the caravan as soon as possible."

 

Applejack nodded. "Of course! Just follow me, y'all." She trotted down the dirt road, and Swordpoint followed.

 

After several minutes, they reached the trade road leading out of Appleloosa. "Well, this here's it," Applejack affirmed. "The caravan shoulda been through two days ago, but they still ain't here. Ah reckon bandits have taken 'em. If y'all can take back the supplies, it'll really help us out!"

 

Swordpoint nodded. "Yes, of course. We shall not disappoint, Applejack."

 

Applejack gave him a warm smile. "Aw, shucks, Swordpoint. Y'all never disappoint! Ah know you can take care of those bandits with yer hooves tied behind yer back!"

 

Swordpoint chuckled mildly. "Indeed, Applejack. We shall return with the supplies." He trotted down the road in search of any signs of the caravan. Applejack waved to him as he departed with Sanura and his soldiers.

Sanura had stood to one side while Swordpoint talked to Applejack. Once the conversation was concluded, she trotted alongside Swordpoint, looking about her for any signs of the caravan.

 

"When we find it, there might be bandits around, keeping watch," Sanura said to Swordpoint. "I could always go up to it and see how the land lies. If there is anypony keeping watch, I will deal with them and then you and the others can come up. Of course, I leave the final decision to you."

[Concord Discord 35]

"Well, it looks like that's everyone." Curse collected up the slips. "And the winner, not that there was much competition, is Crystal Dusk!"

I'm glad with this outcome, thought Curse, We actually have a competent leader. Not that show-off Acheron or the idiotic pirate.

[Super Derpy 535]

Crystal Dusk was satisfied.

I was expecting to be the leader. Now I must prove I was the right choice.

"Thank you for electing me! Now we must get down to business. We need to do something. Something that will get the attention of the entire Crystal Empire and let them know that we are capable of defeating Cadence and strike fear into their hearts. Any ideas?

[Concord Discord 35]

Crystal Dusk was satisfied.

I was expecting to be the leader. Now I must prove I was the right choice.

"Thank you for electing me! Now we must get down to business. We need to do something. Something that will get the attention of the entire Crystal Empire and let them know that we are capable of defeating Cadence and strike fear into their hearts. Any ideas?

 

"We create an imaginary enemy. An enemy that seems real, and very powerful, to everyone else, and an enemy that Cadence is utterly clueless about. Once everyone sees how powerless she is against it, she's sure to be doubted by even some of her most trusting followers."