open Return of a nightmare

[DustJacket 213]

"I'm just passing through."  Dukaans' voice boomed

Somewhere in the streets of New Aurastone, it seemed that the very city had one new arrival; the quite famous and youngest travel writer, Ink Drop along with his dragon assistant, Flarita. And it looked like the two were arguing on something.

"Wait?" Ink snapped suddenly, silencing Flarita's complaint, "You hear that? That, my dear is the sound of dragon..." he joked and a big grin appeared on his face but gave a bitter frown on Flarita's face.

"Oh... c'mon Inky don't try to cheer me up... and why do we have to do a research here, you said we were going to the Crystal Empire." Flarita continued to complain towards Ink Drop.

"Well, I'm upset as well." he replied calmly but as he turned his head towards Flarita who was giving her signature penance stare at him, he spoke the truth, "maybe just a little, I mean just look at this place, New Aurastone, it's like the new new new new... Aurastone." Ink continued apparently his out of words to describe his excitement on being at this place.

"Hrmph... first being chased around with Hajoons^[1] and now this." Flarita folded both of her hands together and grumbled as she walked along side Ink.

 

[1] Fictional cannibalistic zebra clan

[toby rogers 258]

diamond ran towards canter's room backwards waving with sparkles on her shoulder "have fun Geo, go look around town for awhile." she yelled happily as she turned around, Geo turned to everyone else "since my mare-friend left anyone want to show me around." he asked smiling.

[Frosty V 309]

Canter smiled a little awkwardly at the dragon. "Jeez he is so much larger up close." he thought when he heard his door open he turned to see Diamond and Sparkles. Blaze cooed with delight at the sight of his mother and flew over to nuzzle her. "Hey Diamond, what's up?" Canter asked still on the balcony

[DustJacket 213]

"Maybe we should talk to the pony in charge around here," Ink Drop stopped in his tracks after he saw something unusual in the skies, far east beyond the city.

"What? Are we lost?" said Flarita bitterly but soon her eyes were pointed directly at the unnatural condition of the skies, "Ooohh..." words couldn't describe what they both were seeing -- twirling around, like a wild vortex -- it was like a raging storm but it felt that it wasn't there at all. Then, in a split second, the skies turned back to normal and they both seemed to forget everything about it. 

"Did you..." Ink asked rather confused, "No, it's nothing." he acted somewhat that nothing had ever happened.

"Yep, nothing. Oh! Maybe that's the place where we could find somepony in charge." As well as Flarita.

"Okay then, not too shabby..." Flarita leaped on to Ink's back and the two went towards the palace.

-----

Upon reaching the gate of the palace, Ink hesitated to go through immediately since he spotted some guards.

"C'mon, let's go in, what are you waiting for?" Flarita whipped her tail to Ink's back

"Oof..." Ink flinched for a bit, "easy there, you see that guards."

"They're just guards, don't be a pussy." Flarita teased as she lowered herself and clenched Ink's mane with both of her claws and yelled, "Charge!"

"Wait... No, not the mane!" Ink suddenly sprinted with full speed passing the guards hence provoked a chase.

Edited September 10, 2013 by c45tl3

[Drago Ryder 641]

Cynthia smiled slightly and sighed. "I'll see you guys later." She said, before trotting into the palace. The unicorn still had a few things to do for that day, and she wanted to finish them as soon as possible. "I wonder what Cabter is up to?" She thought.

 

The pony smirked as he found the final crystal and teleported back to the cult's hideout. They then shot a beam of magic at the gathered crystals.

[Frosty V 309]

"Maybe we should talk to the pony in charge around here," Ink Drop stopped in his tracks after he saw something unusual in the skies, far east beyond the city.

"What? Are we lost?" said Flarita bitterly but soon her eyes were pointed directly at the unnatural condition of the skies, "Ooohh..." words couldn't describe what they both were seeing -- twirling around, like a wild vortex -- it was like a raging storm but it felt that it wasn't there at all. Then, in a split second, the skies turned back to normal and they both seemed to forget everything about it.

"Did you..." Ink asked rather confused, "No, it's nothing." he acted somewhat that nothing had ever happened.

"Yep, nothing. Oh! Maybe that's the place where we could find somepony in charge." As well as Flarita.

"Okay then, not too shabby..." Flarita leaped on to Ink's back and the two went towards the palace.

-----

Upon reaching the gate of the palace, Ink hesitated to go through immediately since he spotted some guards.

"C'mon, let's go in, what are you waiting for?" Flarita whipped her tail to Ink's back

"Oof..." Ink flinched for a bit, "easy there, you see that guards."

"They're just guards, don't be a pussy." Flarita teased as she lowered herself and clenched Ink's mane with both of her claws and yelled, "Charge!"

"Wait... No, not the mane!" Ink suddenly sprinted with full speed passing the guards hence provoked a chase.

Canter stopped and turned before Diamond could awnser. He ran back onto the balcony when he heard a crash and some of his guards yelling. He saw a Tallinn with a small dragon on his back. "Celestia sakes." he muttered as he vaulted over the balcony and fell about three stories before crashing into the ground in front of the running stallion. "Is there something wrong here?" he asked coldly seeming to almost tower over the stallion in his armor. Edited September 10, 2013 by Frosty V

[DustJacket 213]

Canter stopped and turned before Diamond could awnser. He ran back onto the balcony when he heard a crash and some of his guards yelling. He saw a Tallinn with a small dragon on his back. "Celestia sakes." he muttered as he vaulted over the balcony and fell about three stories before crashing into the ground in front of the running stallion. "Is there something wrong here?" he asked coldly seeming to almost tower over the stallion in his armor.

Ink looked up and saw a stallion clad in a gleaming armor, he replied back with a loud volume, "Ah, just the pony I needed to speak too... wait are you the pony in cha- "

"LOOK OUT!" Flarita released her grip over Ink's mane after the sight of a wall  was in front of her eyes.

"Wha- " when Ink realized that he was traveling straight through a wall, he had no time to change course and caused him to hit his head with a handful of momentum and force. A loud thud was heard after Ink's head hit the wall and rendered himself unconscious.

[Serious Sam 259]

Dukaan noticed Canter leave the balcony and decided it was time for him to go, with a beat of his powerful wings he lifted back high into the air and headed straight for well, anywhere really.  "Well that conversation was short lived." he said as he flew from the city and headed to a mountain top, a nice place to rest and watch over New Aurastone.

[Frosty V 309]

Ink looked up and saw a stallion clad in a gleaming armor, he replied back with a loud volume, "Ah, just the pony I needed to speak too... wait are you the pony in cha- "

"LOOK OUT!" Flarita released her grip over Ink's mane after the sight of a wall was in front of her eyes.

"Wha- " when Ink realized that he was traveling straight through a wall, he had no time to change course and caused him to hit his head with a handful of momentum and force. A loud thud was heard after Ink's head hit the wall and rendered himself unconscious.

Canter winced when the stallion hit the wall. He turned to the guards. "Move him to the infermary, I'll meet you there as he walked with them over to the crash sight. He assumed the small dragon was still conscious. "What the hay were you thinking." he hissed. "You wanted to find the pony in charge? Her I am, but you could have just asked.

[DustJacket 213]

Canter winced when the stallion hit the wall. He turned to the guards. "Move him to the infermary, I'll meet you there as he walked with them over to the crash sight. He assumed the small dragon was still conscious. "What the hay were you thinking." he hissed. "You wanted to find the pony in charge? Her I am, but you could have just asked.

"Well, Inky right here... oh his name is Ink Drop and I'm Flarita his assistant." Flarita introduced both of them to the kind stallion as the guards were moving Ink to the infirmary, "as I was saying, he was a bit shy to just go and barge in so I just gave him a bit of a push that's all." that eyes of her, she always does that every time just to show her innocence, worked almost every time but not to Ink Drop.  "You might want to talk to him instead of me, since he is him with his writer's mind."  

Edited September 10, 2013 by c45tl3

[Frosty V 309]

"Well, Inky right here... oh his name is Ink Drop and I'm Flarita his assistant." Flarita introduced both of them to the kind stallion as the guards were moving Ink to the infirmary, "as I was saying, he was a bit shy to just go and barge in so I just gave him a bit of a push that's all." that eyes of her, she always does that every time just to show her innocence, worked almost every time but not to Ink Drop. "You might want to talk to him instead of me, since he is him with his writer's mind."

Canter shook his head. "I think you gave him more than a little push." he groaned face hoofing, but looking back up after a few seconds he looked back at the small dragon. "Come on, you can give me your background for my report on the way to see your friend." he muttered starting to walk in the direction of the infermary

[toby rogers 258]

diamond had sparkles and blaze on her back while waited for canter to come back, she walked over to the balcony and saw a dragon fly off so that's who canter was talking to when i entered. she thought, Geo left the castle alone and decided to look for something to do, he got bored and went back to the castle "can you show me to canter please." he asked the first guard he saw.

[Frosty V 309]

diamond had sparkles and blaze on her back while waited for canter to come back, she walked over to the balcony and saw a dragon fly off so that's who canter was talking to when i entered. she thought, Geo left the castle alone and decided to look for something to do, he got bored and went back to the castle "can you show me to canter please." he asked the first guard he saw.

Before Canter entered the palace doors with the small dragon he heard his name. He turned to see Geo talking to a guard. He walked up and tapped the guard on the back. "Your free to go." he said as he turned his gaze to Geo. "Hey Geo. Diamonds up in my quarters. If you want you can accompany me to the infermary for an arrend of you want." he asked smiling

[toby rogers 258]

Geo turned to canter "yeah why not it'll be more fun then standing around." he said following canter, he looked at the small dragon "who's she and why is she following you." he asked turning back to canter, diamond sat on the balcony with sparkles and blaze laying next to her "that's so sweet, you two laying there." she said smiling, she looked up and decided she would sing "Beautiful dreamer, wake unto me, starlight and dewdrops are awaiting thee. Sounds of the rude world heard in the day, Led by the moonlight have all passed away. Beautiful dreamer, queen of my song, List while I woo the wi..." she stopped singing "wait was that." she said as she heard something, it was just talking so she went back to singing.

[Frosty V 309]

Canter smilied at Geo's question. "This little dragons name is Flarita." he said gesturing to the small dragon. "She ran her partner through the gates and into that walk over there." he scoffed. "We are going to see him now, I blevie his name is Ink Drop. I have a few questions for him." he finished looking toward as they walked.

[Serious Sam 259]

Dukaan was currently resting atop a mountain just watching over the aura civilization.  Nothing eventful was happening this day in particular, so he decided to see if his strength was anything like he though it was and to do that he needed a boulder...a very large boulder.  He got up on all four of his clawed feet and wandered around the mountain top for a little over a minute and finally found a boulder he thought was large enough, easily 700 pounds and about as bit as five of his thousands of scales.  He lugged the boulder up from the ground, causing his muscles to bulge to the half the size of the boulder itself, he positioned himself accordingly and with a heave-ho launched the boulder to a nearby mountain, to his surprise the boulder went an amazing distance, easily 1000 yards and heard it smash into the mountain side; and the sound resonated like an explosion in a mine but much more violent.  "Well...I wouldn't be surprised an avalanche happened in 6 seconds."

[DustJacket 213]

Canter shook his head. "I think you gave him more than a little push." he groaned face hoofing, but looking back up after a few seconds he looked back at the small dragon. "Come on, you can give me your background for my report on the way to see your friend." he muttered starting to walk in the direction of the infermary

"Well... we both - no he is a travel writer, it's his sort of thing to travel from places to places to find interesting stories and inspiration; or at least that what he said." Flarita explained to Canter on the way to the infirmary to meet with Ink Drop in person, "He is also an egg head... he knows a lot of everything." Flarita added.

 

 

Canter smilied at Geo's question. "This little dragons name is Flarita." he said gesturing to the small dragon. "She ran her partner through the gates and into that walk over there." he scoffed. "We are going to see him now, I blevie his name is Ink Drop. I have a few questions for him." he finished looking toward as they walked.

Upon reaching the infirmary, Ink Drop had regained consciousness, he was sitting on the infirmary bed rubbing his head in pain. 

"Gah..." he moaned as he constantly rubbed his head with his hoof, "Thanks for bringing me here, doc..." he said to the pony that had just treated him. He put down his hoof and looked up to see Flarita with Canter besides her that had just arrived through the door, "Flary? And... oh yeah, sorry for ramming my head to your wall..." he said as he shifted his view from Canter to Flarita with a face slightly outraged.

[Frosty V 309]

"Well... we both - no he is a travel writer, it's his sort of thing to travel from places to places to find interesting stories and inspiration; or at least that what he said." Flarita explained to Canter on the way to the infirmary to meet with Ink Drop in person, "He is also an egg head... he knows a lot of everything." Flarita added.

 

 

Upon reaching the infirmary, Ink Drop had regained consciousness, he was sitting on the infirmary bed rubbing his head in pain.

"Gah..." he moaned as he constantly rubbed his head with his hoof, "Thanks for bringing me here, doc..." he said to the pony that had just treated him. He put down his hoof and looked up to see Flarita with Canter besides her that had just arrived through the door, "Flary? And... oh yeah, sorry for ramming my head to your wall..." he said as he shifted his view from Canter to Flarita with a face slightly outraged.

Canter looked down at the stallion and waved the doctor out of the room. Once the doctor had left it was just Ink, Flarite, Canter, and Geo. Canter tryed to put on a smile. "So, you asked to see the pony in charge correct?" he said sitting in a chair he pulled up next to the bed. "That would be me, but I must say its unusual for a traveling writer to come here. New Aurastone is beautiful yes, but filled with the unknown. So, I applaud your bravery." he said giving a slow clap of his hoofs

[DustJacket 213]

Canter looked down at the stallion and waved the doctor out of the room. Once the doctor had left it was just Ink, Flarite, Canter, and Geo. Canter tryed to put on a smile. "So, you asked to see the pony in charge correct?" he said sitting in a chair he pulled up next to the bed. "That would be me, but I must say its unusual for a traveling writer to come here. New Aurastone is beautiful yes, but filled with the unknown. So, I applaud your bravery." he said giving a slow clap of his hoofs

"Oh yes! Yes indeed, the pony I would want to speak." Ink gave a cheerful smile and continued, "That is why we're here... anything that smells unknown, oh that is where the gold is." Ink talked with his usual accent, a Canterlot accent mixed with a slight Manehattan accent since he a descendant of two different pony. 

"sadly... everywhere we go either no gems to eat, or... being chased around by deadly things." Flarita stood beside Ink Drop and murmured quietly with both of her jaws clenched together. 

Ink nudged  her with his hind hoof for acting in such a way, well... that was rather expected since Flarita wasn't amused at all. 

"You see, my publisher wants a story, any kind of story but this one I might as well make a documentary over this one, still working on a title though." Ink Drop explained as he reached for his satchel, "and is there anything that I could do to earn my keep as long as I do my research around here, I don't like being treated like a full guest." Ink Drop handed over a permission license of research to Canter, it was written down by his own publishing company, "and I might need a place to stay, I'll pay." 

[Frosty V 309]

"Oh yes! Yes indeed, the pony I would want to speak." Ink gave a cheerful smile and continued, "That is why we're here... anything that smells unknown, oh that is where the gold is." Ink talked with his usual accent, a Canterlot accent mixed with a slight Manehattan accent since he a descendant of two different pony.

"sadly... everywhere we go either no gems to eat, or... being chased around by deadly things." Flarita stood beside Ink Drop and murmured quietly with both of her jaws clenched together.

Ink nudged her with his hind hoof for acting in such a way, well... that was rather expected since Flarita wasn't amused at all.

"You see, my publisher wants a story, any kind of story but this one I might as well make a documentary over this one, still working on a title though." Ink Drop explained as he reached for his satchel, "and is there anything that I could do to earn my keep as long as I do my research around here, I don't like being treated like a full guest." Ink Drop handed over a permission license of research to Canter, it was written down by his own publishing company, "and I might need a place to stay, I'll pay."

Canter took the license and looked it over thoroughly. He held it up to the light to confirm it. Once he handed back to Ink and stood up. "Well I can garuntee you that some wilderness here is still not fully explored, and I would not suggest starting there or going alone when you do go." he said with a straight face. "As for your upkeep here, well. None of the vendors here are in need of services, sooo....oh wait!" he said pulling out a book from his saddle bag and placing it in Ink,s hoofs. "I am in need of a couple of assistants, things can overflow with only one monarch you see. It comes with perks though: You can stay in the assistants quarters next to my room here in the palace, food, the pay is fair, but I must warn you. It is a difficult task, you have to be ready and flexable at a moments notice, nor can you be kind hearted all the time." he said tapping the book. "All you need to know is in this book, and it looks like you love to read, so I will be back later to hear your awnser." he replied walking out the door, waving for Geo to follow

[DustJacket 213]

Canter took the license and looked it over thoroughly. He held it up to the light to confirm it. Once he handed back to Ink and stood up. "Well I can garuntee you that some wilderness here is still not fully explored, and I would not suggest starting there or going alone when you do go." he said with a straight face. "As for your upkeep here, well. None of the vendors here are in need of services, sooo....oh wait!" he said pulling out a book from his saddle bag and placing it in Ink,s hoofs. "I am in need of a couple of assistants, things can overflow with only one monarch you see. It comes with perks though: You can stay in the assistants quarters next to my room here in the palace, food, the pay is fair, but I must warn you. It is a difficult task, you have to be ready and flexable at a moments notice, nor can you be kind hearted all the time." he said tapping the book. "All you need to know is in this book, and it looks like you love to read, so I will be back later to hear your awnser." he replied walking out the door, waving for Geo to follow

Ink Drop accepted the book and began to surf through the thick pages, "What kind of assistant? Strategy adviser, calculations, cartographer, linguist ... because I tend to be one of those 'sciency' kind of pony, while my assistant here could be a... well, cataloger or at least that what she does for me."

Upon hearing that, Flarita jumped up to the infirmary bed and pulled his ears down " I told you, better pick a hotel -- if there's any, and do the research quick..." Flarita whispered to Ink Drop's ears quietly making sure that Canter did hear anything as she wasn't prepared for things like this.

"You didn't tell me that... just look at the bright side and what are you worrying about, it's not like bad things could happen around here..." Ink Drop replied to his assistant with a rather audible voice.

[Frosty V 309]

Ink Drop accepted the book and began to surf through the thick pages, "What kind of assistant? Strategy adviser, calculations, cartographer, linguist ... because I tend to be one of those 'sciency' kind of pony, while my assistant here could be a... well, cataloger or at least that what she does for me."

Upon hearing that, Flarita jumped up to the infirmary bed and pulled his ears down " I told you, better pick a hotel -- if there's any, and do the research quick..." Flarita whispered to Ink Drop's ears quietly making sure that Canter did hear anything as she wasn't prepared for things like this.

"You didn't tell me that... just look at the bright side and what are you worrying about, it's not like bad things could happen around here..." Ink Drop replied to his assistant with a rather audible voice.

Canter stopped at the door and turned. "You will be helping me or Queen Cynthia with any tasks we are in able to do, or are to busy to take care of right away. As for your story, you can do your research when you are on your own time, and don't stray to far without protection, I don't want somepony to die, because I neglected to provide proper protection and guidance." he muttered

[DustJacket 213]

Canter stopped at the door and turned. "You will be helping me or Queen Cynthia with any tasks we are in able to do, or are to busy to take care of right away. As for your story, you can do your research when you are on your own time, and don't stray to far without protection, I don't want somepony to die, because I neglected to provide proper protection and guidance." he muttered

"Will do, sir." Ink replied

After Canter had left the infirmary, Ink Drop picked up his satchel and put the book that he had received from Canter in side it. Along with Flarita, part his ways with the doctor, "See later, doc." 

"So being an assistant to somepony else, that's new for you." Flarita said as the both of them opened up the door of the infirmary and headed up to the assistant's room.

"Well, I prefer on doing something to receiving hospitality each time. At least we'll be staying inside a palace; that counts as something right?" Ink attempted to cheer up Flarita 

[Frosty V 309]

"Will do, sir." Ink replied

After Canter had left the infirmary, Ink Drop picked up his satchel and put the book that he had received from Canter in side it. Along with Flarita, part his ways with the doctor, "See later, doc."

"So being an assistant to somepony else, that's new for you." Flarita said as the both of them opened up the door of the infirmary and headed up to the assistant's room.

"Well, I prefer on doing something to receiving hospitality each time. At least we'll be staying inside a palace; that counts as something right?" Ink attempted to cheer up Flarita

Canter opened the door to the assistants room. The first level was a living area with a almost full circle couch that sat in front of a television. Across the spacy floor behind the couch was a bar that lead to a modern looking kitchen. "This is the first level, my father designed it for him and my mother, and I whenever we stayed here, now let me show you the living quarters." he said leading them up a spiral staircase into a room that was a bit smaller than the living room, but housed two beds, a large desk, and all the walls were filled with books. "This is the sleeping area and study. Feel free to browse through the books, just, don't ruin them." he said walking back to the stair case. "Your food supply shall be refilled every morning by the chefs. Guards will be posted outside for any assistance you need. As for me, you can address me as Sir or Canter, I don't really care I awnser to both." he smilied walking out. "Enjoy your stay!" he called back walking out the door and closing it behind him. He turned to a guard and pulled him close. "Watch them closely, don't let them wander into the forest alone, understand." he whispered. The gaurd nodded and Canter went on his way.

[DustJacket 213]

Canter opened the door to the assistants room. The first level was a living area with a almost full circle couch that sat in front of a television. Across the spacy floor behind the couch was a bar that lead to a modern looking kitchen. "This is the first level, my father designed it for him and my mother, and I whenever we stayed here, now let me show you the living quarters." he said leading them up a spiral staircase into a room that was a bit smaller than the living room, but housed two beds, a large desk, and all the walls were filled with books. "This is the sleeping area and study. Feel free to browse through the books, just, don't ruin them." he said walking back to the stair case. "Your food supply shall be refilled every morning by the chefs. Guards will be posted outside for any assistance you need. As for me, you can address me as Sir or Canter, I don't really care I awnser to both." he smilied walking out. "Enjoy your stay!" he called back walking out the door and closing it behind him. He turned to a guard and pulled him close. "Watch them closely, don't let them wander into the forest alone, understand." he whispered. The gaurd nodded and Canter went on his way.

"Wow..." Flarita flapped both of her hands down looking at the towering wall mounted book cases filled with perhaps every book that had been written through out the history of books, "this reminds me of Twilight Sparkle's library..." 

Flarita was busy admiring the room where the both of them was going to stay while Ink Drop gave his thanks to Canter, "Thank you." he said down to Canter who had just reached the ground floor. He then turned to Flarita whom was standing in the middle of the room, "What... Do you miss Spike?" Ink said with a smug face of his.

"WHAT?!" Flarita replied with a surprised tone, "No... Maybe a little." she's always give that cute smile and put both her hands behind her back as she gives one red blush on her vermilion cheeks.

"Yes you do." Ink smirked, "Okay, looks like we have our general reference source among these books right here, so it saves us the time." Yet he felt something was rather off, either it was the pain on his head or the event that he just witnessed regarding the clouds which he and Flarita had instantly forgotten, "Do you know that feeling that something you witness, but you just can't place your tongue in it." Ink couldn't help but asked Flarita, and it seemed that the injury to his head had caused some buried memories to come up.

"Um... no... well, besides my tongue not tasting those amethyst crystal inside the crystal cave near the Crystal Empire." Flarita said plainly. Still, Ink Drop was certain that he had known about something he had forgotten, he decided to lay to rest for a while until he was most definitely certain about it, "Okay, let's unpack, shall we?"  

Edited September 11, 2013 by c45tl3