private Crystal Requiem: The Rise of King Sombra

[Icy Void 19]

"Yeah, families can be real tricky sometimes. As for my house, well the time it took me make it livable was about a month, but as I said I haven't quite stopped adding to it yet. And I probably could have done it quicker too, but I wanted to be careful so that I didn't make the walls too thin. A house made of rock and metal is no good if it collapses on you after all." Midnight said to Bright Eyes. 'And all the while, the more I add to my home, the more it looks like a castle! Funny how I left my family to get away from the royal life, yet here I am recreating it.' Midnight Sky added to himself.

[IridscentNionios 1,422]

@@Gloomfury, Selune blushed a bit. She never expected that compliment from him... was he? Naaah.... that would be too quick to assume. She coughed up a bit to clear her throat, while in truth she was doing to it to shake off her embarassment.

"Well... guess i'll see you later. Take care!!!"

@@Windbreaker,@Cinderscribe,@Icy Void, She attempted to join back with the rest of the ponies and Kine aiding with the food and the tents. She wasn't an expert cook but she knew enough not to starve. After she was done...

"Am i interrupting anything? Sorry about before... i kind wanted to talk to mister Gloomfury a bit. Turns out there is a heart under this warrior... i have found something really interesting about him."

[The Elusive Cinder 1,328]

@@Windbreaker,
 
"So be it: I shall remember that 'Mud Pony' is a viable term for a captain of the guard to use. I am certain there will be no issues raised within the castle should I refer to the diplomats and emissaries as such."
 
He stared ahead, refusing to break eye contact but finally gave up on his aggressive stance as reason won out over honor.
 
"If it was not malicious then you allowed the traitor to get the better of you, psychologically. Ask yourself, do you wish to become like him? Perhaps it was indeed only a slip of the tongue - just understand that others might not take it as such."

[EcstaticWind 573]

@@Icy Void,

 Bright Eyes stared open-mouthed at Midnight for a moment. “That’s impressive, though that may just be me. I’ve been told that sometimes I find the most mundane things to be wondrous. Anyway, one month? You must have been working non-stop.”

 

 

@,

“It’s quite alright, Miss Darkeye,” Kinetic said. “I asked the Captain about gathering everypony, but he has been waylaid talking to Eclipse. Could you be a dear and get the others?”

 

“You’re not going to tell her what you just told me?” Poppy asked.

 

“Dinner must be close to ready by now, and the others will likely wish to know as well. So, we gather them all here and tell them then,” Kinetic said.

 

Poppy shrugged. “Well, it saves us having to tell the story three or four times. By the way, Miss Darkeye, we shall have to get to know one another sometime,” Poppy said.

 

 

@,

Aegis’ cool exterior broke down as he let his true emotions show. “I never said it was a viable term. It’s a hateful and disgusting slur, and I hate myself for saying it, and I hate myself for being like Gloomfury. I’ve been where he is, and I’ve spent years of my life trying to overcome it.”

 

“From the time My marefriend left me until a few years ago, I was Gloomfury, so to speak. I was rude, disrespectful and angry. One day it changed and I went berserk. I don’t remember anything that happened that day, only that the last thing I heard was a muffled slur. I woke up in hospital, screaming in pain. And nopony cared. Except Kine. From that day, I swore I would repay his kindness and change my ways. And today, I failed him. I failed all of you,” Aegis said in a melancholy tone.

[Icy Void 19]

"Oh trust me, I was impressed too. I had never dreamed I could hollow out something so quickly! But let me tell you, living in the Everfree with just a couple of branches as shelter is not pleasant, so worked almost constantly. The only breaks I got were for my two hours devoted to food and rest, and anytime the local creatures, such as the timberwolves, attacked and forced me to raise and maintain a force field until they left. Thankfully I did have the extra incentive of wanting to protect my sister, so I managed to pull through. And once I finished I think I slept for at least two days." Midnight said, ending with a laugh. He couldn't help but laugh at the memory, Midnight couldn't think of a single instance where he had worked anywhere near as hard to do something as when he was creating his home. He still remembered how his little sister screamed at him for hours after he woke up from his first rest in their house about how he should've taken more breaks, and Midnight couldn't help but smile at the memory. 'Funny, I get comfortable around a pony and suddenly I can't shut up about my past. Well, the good parts anyway.' he thought with an inward smile.

[IridscentNionios 1,422]

@@Windbreaker, "It's time for dinner huh? Well... not that i mind getting them all. But would you mind just mentioning the names of those you wish... so i can make a mental list?" 

She was hungry herself... she didn't realise that after so much walking and cold weather. It's like the rotting of the food in the cold... it is slowed with the lower temperature.
 

[The Elusive Cinder 1,328]

@@Windbreaker,

 

"Pull yourself together!"

 

Commanded the Unicorn despite having no real authority to do so.

 

"Nothing done or said today cannot be undone. The only true failure I see is a noble pony before me giving into doubt and self loathing: and it is not too late to prevent that. Leave what you were in the past and look to who you are now!"

 

It wasn't that he wasn't sympathetic: by all means, he simply didn't know how to express it. It wasn't often that working in close proximity to the princess gave him cause to. As a result, his words were the kind of things he would tell himself in such an occasion - reassuring yet taunting enough to draw him back: hopefully the same effect might be reached.

[EcstaticWind 573]

@@Icy Void,

 “Sounds like some hard work. Wish I could see it. I’m real jealous of you guys, y’know. You’ve all got interesting and wonderful stories to tell. Still, I’m sure we’ll all have one amazing story to tell after this.” Bright Eyes smiled to himself as he remembered the time he first met everypony at the Research Division. How they’d all welcomed him warmly and especially Captain Aegis. He was always kind and encouraging to others.

 

 

@,

“Let’s see...” Kinetic said, bringing to mind all of the members of the team. “There’s Gloomy, Midnight Sky, Bright Eyes, Agent Snowy, and Bolt Action. Eclipse and Miss Silver Heart already know. Fairly certain I haven’t missed anypony.” He gave a small smile. A sincere, if a little sinister, smile.

 

 

 

@,

Aegis was taken aback by Eclipse’s words. His initial instinct was to reprimand the Guardspony for insubordination, but Aegis realized that he was in no position to do so, regardless of the law. He also realized that he didn’t know how to respond to Eclipse, given that he would have said something similar.

 

“Noble? Me? First time I’ve been called that,” He said, having thought of nothing else to say.

[Icy Void 19]

"Oh trust me, if I could have lived a simpler life without all the crazy disasters happening in it, then I would be just fine. Though I'm sure this expedition will make a fine story once it's over, whether the story will be good or bad is still in the works though." Midnight said, his voice sounding a bit ominous even to himself. 'And yet I am jealous of you Bright Eyes. You can claim that, at least relatively, you've led a quiet life. Not troubled by major catastrophes.' Midnight thought to himself.

[IridscentNionios 1,422]

@@Windbreaker,

"Alright... got it!" 

@@Th3 Chaos Theory,  Selune nodded and got to work seeking Bolt Action. She started asking questions around and eventually bumped into the right pony, although she didn't know that.

"Excuse me... are you Mister Bolt Action?" 

Gee that would be embarrassing but there was no time for being embarrassed.

[The Elusive Cinder 1,328]

@@Windbreaker,

 

"In that case, prove me correct and perhaps it will not be the last." Eclipse said with a slight inflection in his tone and the trace of a shrug: a habit long subdued in the presence of royalty starting to creep back into use now that he was once again out on what was shaping to become a long journey.

 

There was something else of importance too. "Now, without further dispute, onto more pressing matters. You mentioned tea..."

[Gloomfury 243]

@@Windbreaker,

 After a while of thinking and little bit of beef jerky. Gloomfury thought he should apologize to  Kinetic Energy for pulling a knife on him and threatening to eat his liver. He walks out of his tent and heads over to Kinetic. He taps his shoulder. "Look Kinetic I came over here to apologize for pulling my knife on you. You kinda brought up some dark memories that I don't want to visit anymore and I lost my cool. And I shouldn't have acted that way, plus my ma taught me better then that so, I'm sorry." He says in a sincere way.

[EcstaticWind 573]

@@Icy Void,

"Ooh, scary. That's the adventurer's life, I guess. I'm just an awkward pony from Ponyville with smaller than average wings. I can't even fly properly. Not like Captain Aegis can..." Bright Eyes said, sounding somewhat melancholy as he spoke and pondered his ‘chicken wings’ as his cousin had called them once.

 

“You could say I wanted to be like the Captain, but now… I guess I’m still trying to figure out what would make a pony as easy-going and laid-back as the Captain just snap. I bet Doctor Kinetic knows, though. He’s always hanging around the Captain.”

 

 

@,

“Yes indeed, good sir. Given the weather, I’d say we need it.” Aegis said with a large grin on his face. ‘How am I gonna stop that going to my head? Who I am now, he said… I should try to strike a balance between being carefree and being serious.’ He thought to himself. He pointed towards Kinetic and Poppy in what he guessed was the center point of the camp. “Right over there.”

 

 

@@Gloomfury,

“You think that after what you pulled-” Poppy began, but Kinetic stopped her and shook his head.

 

“It’s quite alright. We all have that dark place we want to forget about. It’s just a part of life, and I don’t hold anything against you. I accept your apology,” Kinetic said with a smile. He poured a cup of tea and offered it to Gloomfury. “I’ve heard that offering tea to other ponies when they’re upset puts them in a good mood, and it will help stave off the cold weather. And you can call me ‘Kine’.”

 

Poppy watched the two, ready to jump in if a fight broke out despite her non-existant combat skills. ‘What would I do if he flips out himself? I can’t just give him an order like I can with Captain Aegis and he’d probably kill me in a real fight.’

[Icy Void 19]

"I'd guess that it's just the way he is, every pony handles things differently. And you may be right, though I haven't been around the two of them long enough to make that conclusion, but it does seem that Kinetic and Aegis spend a good bit of time together." Midnight said to Bright Eyes. He hadn't noticed Bright's wings before, but from his description they must not be as strong as other pegasus ponies'. Midnight couldn't quite relate, he'd never had any problems like that, but he sympathized for Bright irregardless.

[Gloomfury 243]

@Gloomfury, “You think that after what you pulled-” Poppy began, but Kinetic stopped her and shook his head.   “It’s quite alright. We all have that dark place we want to forget about. It’s just a part of life, and I don’t hold anything against you. I accept your apology,” Kinetic said with a smile. He poured a cup of tea and offered it to Gloomfury. “I’ve heard that offering tea to other ponies when they’re upset puts them in a good mood, and it will help stave off the cold weather. And you can call me ‘Kine’.”   Poppy watched the two, ready to jump in if a fight broke out despite her non-existant combat skills. ‘What would I do if he flips out himself? I can’t just give him an order like I can with Captain Aegis and he’d probably kill me in a real fight.’

 

Gloomfury takes the cup with a nod of thanks. "Thank you, and I'm glad you accept my apology. And you can just call me  Gloom or Fury, hearing my full name gets annoying sometimes. Also back home, when you shear a dink with someone it's a sign of forgiveness, respect and friendship." He takes a sip of the tea. "But it's usually done with a pint but this works to, hehe." He chuckles. He then look toward Poppy."And miss, I apologize to you as well for my actions earlier. And you're right. For what I pulled I shouldn't be forgiven, but it's a good thing that Kine here is a bigger pony then I thought he was. And I hope that you accept mine as well, but if you don't. I'll understand." He takes another drink of tea.

Edited October 26, 2013 by Gloomfury

[IridscentNionios 1,422]

@@Windbreaker, "I am sorry i am not the guy you are looking for..."

((OOC:I am going to assume  @Th3 Chaos Theory isn't here.))

Trotting around the camp Selune kept asking.

"Have you seen Mister Bright eyes?" She was luck to be directed to him by another stallion. Thanking him Selune found him, wanting to make sure once again she asked

"Excuse me... are you Mister Bright Eyes?"

Edited October 26, 2013 by nioniosbbbb

[The Elusive Cinder 1,328]

@@Windbreaker,

 

"Very good: I must take my leave then: there are many passions I am willing to forgo in the name of duty - but tea is not one of them." Eclipse said with a very slight hint of a smile, before managing to subdue the outrageous display of emotion and salute smartly as he should have.

 

"I can ward the area before we sleep if you require - provide some warning should anything seek to disturb our slumber. Let me know if you require it."

[EcstaticWind 573]

@@Icy Void, 

“That’s true, but he’s never done anything like this before. Well, nothing I know of, anyway. But he and Doctor Kinetic seem to be really close. Like, closer than just co-workers or friends.” Bright Eyes said.

 

Their conversation was interrupted by Selune calling for Bright Eyes.  “Yes. I’m Bright Eyes. Oh, it’s you, Miss Darkeye. Do you need me for something?”

 

 

@@Gloomfury,

 Poppy breathed a sigh of relief. “Well, it won’t help anypony if we’re all carrying grudges. We’re supposed to be a team, after all. Apology accepted,” She said in a warm tone. “If you’d like to sit and talk for a while, dinner will be ready in just a minute or two.”

 

“I remember visiting a Gryphon city once on a research venture. We were assisting the local archaeology team with their dig, and we found some wonderful pieces of finely-crafted metalwork. They had sculpted dragons, and a crown from the ancient Gryphon kingdoms. Even Princess Celestia’s crown pales in comparison to their craft,” Kinetic said, fondly remembering that trip, though Poppy suspected it wasn’t because of the artwork.

 

 

@,

 “That would be appreciated. Thank you,” Aegis said, saluting in return. “Let’s get some tea, then we can work on defending the perimeter. By the way, it’s good to see you smile. I doubt you do that often while guarding the Princesses.”

[Gloomfury 243]

@@Windbreaker, 

Gloomfury gives polite nod. "Thank you miss, and I would like that." He says with a grateful a smile. He then turns pack to Kinetic after he mention the Griffin Kingdom. "Really? I think I heard of something like that. My ma was really into history, so she use to tell me stories all the time.

She said that before there was piece between Equestria and the Griffin Kingdom, there was a King who hated the sisters and Equestria. So he never wanted to hear anything they had to say about piece. Not even his son could get through to him. One point in time the king died in battle and his son took over as king. And it was said that he had one of the best craftsmen in the kingdom to make the princesses royal attire including Celestia’s crown as a sigh of good faith. Thus opening a chance of piece between nations." He takes another drink of tea.

Edited October 28, 2013 by Gloomfury

[IridscentNionios 1,422]

@@Windbreaker, @Icy Void, "Well... yes... we're actually gathering for dinner and i wondered if you could join me. Forgive me but we haven't had time to speak with all of you. Maybe we can do so during dinner?" She was at least curious about knowing those ponies... this was imperative to success in the mission. The mission... no... she WANTED friends... she seeked them, and perhaps something more?

[The Elusive Cinder 1,328]

@@Windbreaker,

 

 

Wow, apologies, I must have missed this in the cascade of notifications in getting recently...

 

 

"You would think so, would you not? It brings me fulfilment, enjoyment and accomplishment - it is natural to smile on occasion."

 

He snorted and shook his head in distinctly improved humour as he made his may over to the place where the tea was boiling.

 

"Though I suppose the definition of 'smile' is a wide one... I do not act the fool, if that is what you imply." He chuckled under his breath.

[EcstaticWind 573]

@@Gloomfury,

“It’s not just your mother. I don’t know if it’s true for every part of the Gryphon Kingdoms, but they place great value on their history. The worst insult one can give to a Gryphon is to forget their name, as the Captain discovered the hard way. Fortunately, the situation was resolved amicably and the Captain learned some of their customs,” Kinetic said. “It was quite the experience.”

 

Poppy inspected the bubbling pot in front of her. “The others have about 5 minutes before it’s ready. And the Captain will have to give out an apology to Mister Gloomfury. There are plenty of ways he could of handled the situation aside from delivering an unwarranted assault. If we were back in Canterlot, he’d be in serious trouble,” She said.

 

“He’s lucky we’re not in Canterlot, then,” Kinetic said, half-grinning at the thought.

 

@,

“Um…sure. I haven’t gotten to know anypony besides Midnight, so…” Bright Eyes said, voice trailing off as his awkwardness returned full force. He looked down at his hooves and silently berated himself.

 

@,

“Somepony’s gotta be the serious one. Ponies think I’m a complete fool because of the way I act. I bet you can guess why I act that way, can’t you?” Aegis asked, waiting to see how Eclipse would answer. He glanced towards the firepit where everypony was to gather. ‘And there’s Gloomy. Well, better to bury the hatchet sooner rather than later, but I’ll see how he reacts to my presence first.’ 

[IridscentNionios 1,422]

@@Windbreaker, @@Icy Void, "Maybe you'll get the chance to meet more ponies this way. Don't worry... now... if you two will start moving i will get to gathering the rest if you wish. If you wish to talk to me you can do so there. I will come soon enough." 

@@SilverHeart, ((OOC:Agent Snowy is yours right? Its a "HE" right? allow me to retcon if it isn't)) Leaving those two she set out to find Agent Snowy... wouldn't be so hard to find. Talked to them before he had... and he was the most serious looking pony. Trying to get his attention she coughed twice... "Excuse me... Agent Snowy?"

[Gloomfury 243]

@@Windbreaker,

 "Aye, this is true. I may not be a griffin but I do hold great pride of where I'm from and of my ma. And the thing about remembering a griffins name is also true and I feel the same way. A griffin takes great pride in their name, case it's the one thing that sticks with them forever, in life and in death.  So if you forget a griffins name it's like you thank they don't exist or saying that they're not worth remembering. So I hold pride in my name and of the griffin who gave it to me." He looks over to Poppy.

 

"And miss, even if the 'Captain' dose apologize to me. I hope you'll understand that I wont be too keen to forgive him. Cause what he did be almost worst then pissing on my mas grave as I watch." He says with a dead serious face.

[SilverHeart 741]

@, 

 

(OOC: Haha yeah, Snowy is a guy. Was the name too feminine? With names like "Star Swirl" I didn't think it mattered too much.)

 

Snowy Fields stood watch over the camp, looking out at the barren wastes surrounding their makeshift camp. The sound of a mare coughing caused him to look behind him. "Yes? Is there something you need?"