open A Darker Fate: Beyond these Walls Chapter Two.

[Frosty V 309]

@@Snowy Storm

 

Frost Typhoon

 

Frost Turned his gaze to another mare he guessed had addressed her question towards him. He hesitated before speaking up "Yes....yes I'm looking for a cheap inn where I can stay the night. I only brought enough bits for a train ticket and some snacks....I didn't know my trai would be departing tomorrow morning." he said shyly

[Geek0zoid 1,468]

@@Frosty V,

Blast reached into his pocket and pulled out a quite plump bit wallet. He took out about fifteen extra bits and handed them to the stallion.
"You said you needed an inn until the morning. I'm pretty sure that's enough to get you a night's stay." Blast said, putting away his wallet. "Don't ask why. I'm just a generous soul." 

[Ihei 712]

Willow Starsinger

 

Willow smiled at her brother and followed Scribbler. "There should be a cafe nearby here.. shouldn't there?" Willow asked. She took another glance back at Orion to make sure he was staying: he too had a habit of wandering off.. and she noticed that Zintiik Tactic was talking to a mare. Somepony.. somepony probably from the other group. Feelings of jealousy and envy washed over her, but she pretended to ignore it. She also turned to glare at Mirror: she didn't want EVERYTHING taken away: especially, her brother.

 

"Umm.. here's one! Is that it?" Willow asked Scribbler, then looked up at a cafe that seems to be deserted. "You can go in first. I insist." Willow nudged Scribbler closer to the cafe, and stood about ten feet away from him. 

 

"I'm not going in there! What if there's something dangerous?!" 

 

Willow was suspicious of the ponies in this sector of Canterlot. It seems that this is where most shady ponies hang around. She felt eyes on her already and has seen three homeless ponies already. She would've donated bits but was too afraid to.. and besides, Orion told her not to wander off.

 

And she won't.

 

Aphrodite

 

She followed the group along until she found a recognizable pony: Blast. Last time he had seen her she was bold. Daring. Well, she wasn't that pony anymore. She sure hoped that he wouldn't see her. When he shot a look her way, she would make a beeline for a bush. That was her plan, anyway. She doubted she'd be quick enough to do it.

Edited December 3, 2013 by Shaymin

[Frosty V 309]

@Stevenearthpony

 

Frost Typhoon

 

Frost heard yet another pony speak, he was surprised at all the attention he was reviving, and being as timid as he was it kinda unsettled him. "T-thank you! This really helps a lot!" he exclaimed with joy in his tone. He honestly hadn't expected everyone to be soo kind.

[The Elusive Cinder 1,328]

Kingfisher.

 

@,

@@Frosty V,

@@Snowy Storm,

 

Rolling her eyes, the mare waved away the small party that had formed around her: Blast was one thing - but even with her recent revelations, she still wasn't entirely comfortable with spending any more time around others than was necessary - or spending time hanging around in the train station.

 

"I'll catch up. See the place across the street? Tell 'em your with Red - they'll knock down the price of a bed... least until they figure that your not." She instructed, adding as an afterthought: "Oh, and don't order any booze - Red says they water it down too much. Can believe it too: owners a shifty piece of work if you ever saw one, but he owes us."

 

Some quiet: that would suffice. It didn't even need to be much just... enough to think for a moment. Reflect: things were changing around her - that wasn't what she had signed on for and she didn't know how to react.

Edited December 2, 2013 by Cinderscribe

[SilverHeart 741]

@,

 

Mirror walked after Orion content with following his lead. "It's not a problem, I've been swept up in odd events before...I'm sure this won't be the last time. And no...we really haven't talked much. I was hoping that we could remedy that soon enough though." She said to him with a smile. She felt like he still didn't place much trust her. She had noticed earlier that he hadn't included her among the ponies that Willow could accompany and be safe. Not that she had wanted to play babysitter to a mare just a few years younger than her...but it still felt like she was being placed on the same level as Zintiik after he had lost his memories. "Well....feel free to ask whatever you want."

[Commander Tangent 861]

Icarus arrived at the train station, and took a look around. It was nearly empty, except for a few ponies that seemed to be approaching. He checked the Times for trains with the ticket booth. The answer he got was as the Mare had said earlier. Only one train in the morning.

 

Unfortunate, but it seems that that other group is going on that train as well. Hmm. Perhaps I can offer them my medical services on whatever it is their doing. Not like I have anything better to do, and it might make for an interesting experience.

 

Icarus looked out to the Canterlot citizens passing the station. A good amount of them seemed to be giving him strange looks. Not unusual, as the plague doctor garb he was wearing was usually seen as dark and a a sign of death. But that was of no bother to Icarus as he looked around the station, considering what to do next.

[The Elusive Cinder 1,328]

Orion Starsinger.

 

@@SilverHeart,

 

So far, so good. She was surprisingly talkative - all things considered. Either she was playing the same game as him, or he had misjudged her.

 

"You mentioned that you're a performer? Tell me more about that... It's a curious profession for nobility: there must be a story behind it?" He said conversationally - feigning interest in a couple of market stalls as they walked - confident in Scribblers capability of protecting Willow. "Ahem, that was a... bad choice of words, wasn't it? Ignore me - I've got about as much charisma as a lettuce these days..."

Edited December 2, 2013 by Cinderscribe

[Geek0zoid 1,468]

@@Frosty V,@, @,

 

Blast

Blast looked back over to Kingfisher.

"I'm just giving the poor soul a bit of money to get him by." Blast said to the mare. "Y'know, to help pay for the room, and perhaps some food, too." Blast then noticed something wrong. Somepony was missing from the group, and it was about as obvious as a piece missing from a jigsaw puzzle. "Has anypony seen Aphrodite?" He asked.

[Snowy Storm 57]

@,
"would that include me as well?" Icy said. Unsure what to think. -Did I also drag myself into something I'm going to regret?-  Still if it meant a cheap place to stay and rest for the night, before leaving tomorrow, she wasn't going to turn this down.
"Thank you" she said 

Edited December 3, 2013 by Snowy Storm

[SilverHeart 741]

Orion Starsinger.

 

@@SilverHeart,

 

So far, so good. She was surprisingly talkative - all things considered. Either she was playing the same game as him, or he had misjudged her.

 

"You mentioned that you're a performer? Tell me more about that... It's a curious profession for nobility: there must be a story behind it?" He said conversationally - feigning interest in a couple of market stalls as they walked - confident in Scribblers capability of protecting Willow. "Ahem, that was a... bad choice of words, wasn't it? Ignore me - I've got about as much charisma as a lettuce these days..."

Mirror Image remained silent. She hadn't been expecting to be mistaken for a noble, she couldn't even remember if either of her parents had come from wealthy families. All things considered it seemed like quite the compliment. Although it wasn't a question she had been expecting to answer so quickly. It had distracted her enough that she hadn't heard anything else Orion had said. She feigned a cough to clear her throat before speaking. "I became an illusionist to follow in the hoofsteps of my parents. I lost them when I was young. I studied it so that I could feel like I still had a connection to them besides a cape and mask."

[EcstaticWind 572]

Suspicious Pony

 

The stranger sat alone in a dark corner of a seedy tavern, with his mug of cider close by. Nopony could see his face under his hood, but nopony wanted to go near him anyway. They could tell he was no good, but what really unnerved them was his laugh. Normally laughter is something filled with joy, but his laugh was almost sorrowful.

 

A pirate decided to try being tough. "Yer in the wrong place, lad. Wearin' them foine clothes, and carryin' tha' fancy sword. Ya know how ta use a blade, laddie?"

 

The stranger spoke in a cold, bored and arrogant tone. "Get lost. I don't waste my time on trash like you."

 

The pirate drew his cutlass and siezed the stranger by his shirt collar. "You better apologize afore I cut yer tongue out, boy."

 

The stranger's eyes glowed in the dark, a pair of violet orbs in the shadows of his corner. "Apologize? To filth like you? I'd sooner drink Dragon's urine. Now, if you'd be so kind...die."

 

Next moment, the pirate had released the stranger and impaled himself on the cutlass. His friends got up and drew their own cutlasses. The stranger drew back his hood, and smiled.

 

"Well then, it seems I've angered the rats that make their filth-encrusted homes here. Artorias commands you all...DIE!"

 

A collective scream sounded, and blood stained the floor. Artorias drank down the last bit of cider. then left a bit on the table. He was wealthy before, and now he had more power than he expected. A single bit meant nothing to him.

 

"This place proved to be boring... Gwyn, we're leaving." Artorias said. A black wolf rose to it's feet and slunk out from under Artorias' table.

 

"I was enjoying my nap, you know. Noble, others will be waiting for you outside..." The wolf said, an indicator that it was not a natural creature.

 

Artorias scoffed. "Common trash. I could defeat them easily before, and I will still be able to defeat them without the Litany's power. They are no challenge at all..."

[Ihei 712]

@,

 

 Aphrodite

 

"Do not.. make.. a sound." 

 

Aphrodite prayed to herself that Blast wouldn't notice her. If he did, it would be the death of her! She did, well, she did admire him from afar. It was hard to say that she liked him before but.. well, it was going to be quite difficult to tell him in this state. Not like this. She was afraid of way more things now: for example, temples and labyrinths. And getting lost. And the dark.. but she'll have to pretend she was the old Aphrodite. Or hide. But then, something horrifying happened:

 

 She sneezed. "Fantastic."

Edited December 3, 2013 by Shaymin

[Icy Void 19]

Midnight Sky

 

Midnight had remained silent ever since they had entered Canterlot, especially once they had gotten to the seedier part of the city. He had no doubt that some of the more questionable figures were looking at him curiously, Midnight doubted fully armored nobles ever came to this part of Canterlot and that was exactly what he currently looked like. "Well while this is all fascinating about that inn, I have some restocking to do. I also have other arrangements for lodging, so I'll just meet you all tomorrow by the train. Come on Sunshine." Midnight said to Kingfisher, Sunshine and the others before heading off to refill his medical supplies.

 

"Oh all right Midnight. I'm coming." Sunshine replied in her usually cheerful voice before following Midnight. He was being very careful to keep an eye on his sister, this part of Canterlot was no place for a young mare like Sunshine. At least he hadn't had to lie to go somewhere else to lodge, during his last trip to Canterlot Midnight may not have had a very good time but what he learned was invaluable. Thanks to that trip he had something of a safe house underneath Canterlot and a few connections within the city if he ever needed supplies, like now. Thus his first stop will be to show Sunshine to the safe house and then to go purchase some herbs to replenish his burn salve and bandage supply. After that he might as well do some extra shopping now that he has a better idea of what they are up against. And looking over his armor it could probably use some repairs, between Splinterhoof and the Litany Temple it was pretty banged up.

[Commander Tangent 861]

Icarus exited the Station in search of an Inn, and something to eat if he could. He pulled out his map, before tossing it to the ground.

 

Blasted tourist map. All it seems to point out is land marks and fancy restaurants. Urrgh, damn, I'm going to have to ask another local aren't I ?

 

And with that Icarus searched the crowds of Canter lot for someone who looked like they wouldn't immediately freak out by his approach and questioning. It was then he saw a familiar pony. The red one whom the others had Identified as "Blast".

 

Ahh, to tartarus with it, might as well ask him another question.

 

@,

 

"Sorry to bother you again, my dear sir, but do you by chance know were I could find a cheap INN with proper accommodations?" Icarus asked in the same polite voice he had used before.

Edited December 3, 2013 by Commander Tangent

[Frosty V 309]

Frost Typhoon

Frost smiled and waved at the ponies as he walked away and towards the inn one of the mates had mentioned. "Thank you all for your help I'm grateful!" he called back at them in a joyfull sounding tone. He walked for about another five minutes before he finally reached his destination. He smirked and trotted throught the door and told the clerk that he was with Red as the mare had instructed, payed for his room, and went to find it.

[Geek0zoid 1,468]

@,@@Commander Tangent,

"Go west, Stallion. You'll find the inn there." Blast said to Icarus. He heard a faint sneeze coming from the... bushes? He then trotted to the nearest bush and saw a pinkish-purple tail sticking out from behind it. He then cleared the leaves out and saw Aphrodite hiding in there.

"Hey, Aphrodite. What's up?" He asked with a smile.

[Ihei 712]

@,

 

Aphrodite

 

"AGH!"

 

Aphrodite jumped out of the bush quickly, a blush quickly creeping onto her face. "Wh-what're you doing here?!" Aphrodite demanded, a tinge of nervousness in her voice. She was even more embarrassed to know that he found her in bushes. She never hid from anypony: she wasn't afraid of anything, she told herself. Well, it didn't work.

[Commander Tangent 861]

@Shaymin, @,

 

"Thank you" Icarus said, about to go, when he heard the faintest sneeze. He turned and watched as the red pony walked over to the nearby bushes, and uncovered a mare, wich had been identified as " Aphrodite". Icarus couldn't help but feel slightly amused, and turned to Blast

 

"A Friend of yours ?" He asked

[Umbreon 569]

Pavisa

 

Pavisa walked slowly down the streets of Canterlot, trying to figure out where the others had gone.  She knew they had gone in this general direction and she would find them eventually, but it left her time to brood with her thoughts.

 

Stupid, pig-headed stallion.  HE'S the reason guards have a bad name outside of Canterlot proper.  Well, him and all of the stuffed up idiots like him...  They're just as bad as the stuck-up upper class around here.

 

Thankfully the other ponies on the street kept a respectful distance.  She still looked like a guard at least, and until the word was spread out from the barracks nopony would even know she had quit.  Thanks to the distance and her helmet obscuring her expression, she looked just like any armored stallion out on patrol.

 

As she started nearing the seedier parts of town, she noticed a number of ponies duck out of sight as they saw her approaching.  Normally that would have made her suspicious, but she made herself take note that it wasn't her concern anymore.  Instead she turned her attention back to trying to find her friends.

 

 

Zintiik

 

@,

 

Zintiik was glancing around now, trying to think of a way to excuse himself from the pony's company.  His normal suspicion was nearing paranoia while being in Canterlot, the changeling's overactive imagination picturing armed ponies around every corner just waiting for him to slip up.

 

Luckily Zintiik had been lying through his fangs ever since he said his first words.  He could play a role no problem, even in Canterlot.  "A pawn that knows its place is still only a pawn," he replies in the bored monotone of Tactic Wind.  Where did the others go..?  I need an excuse to get out of here!

[Geek0zoid 1,468]

@,

Blast laughed a bit and noticed the blush.
"I'm here to help you guys with some unfinished business. Finding the Litany, to be more precise." Blast said, walking over to her. "You look a little surprised to see me here, Aphrodite." He speculated. "Is there something wrong?"

[Ihei 712]

@,@@Commander Tangent,

 

Aphrodite

 

"What?! That's not true!" Aphrodite scoffed. "Why would there be anything wrong?!"

 

"Well, everything IS wrong. But I'm not going to admit it to him now! That would make me look like a wimp!"

 

Aphrodite quickly brushed herself off. She was doing good so far on pretending to be all bold. "Where's the others?" Aphrodite asked, trying to change the subject. 

[Commander Tangent 861]

@, @Shaymin,

 

"Hmm, That is a question I would have reserved for later, but it seems to have been asked for me" Icarus looked to Blast "Do you know were the leader of your group is, I do believe I have something to ask him" He asked the red pony.

 

Might as well see if I can meet them tonight, would be a lot better than awkwardly asking on the train car...

Edited December 3, 2013 by Commander Tangent

[The Elusive Cinder 1,328]

Kingfisher.

Walking away, Kingfisher waved a hoof briefly in acknowledgement of the thanks without looking back.
 
Taking a deep breath, she wandered through the streets: it had been far too long since she had been able to just let her mind blank - between the ship and the forest: the waterfall and the Litany and the Alicorn... She never just slowed down any more.
 
The sailor made her way to the establishment that she frequented so much while Red was seeing to matters of his own: she never used to have matters of her own - never used to think for herself. She didn't resent him for it - it was her part of the bargain that he didn't ask about her past and he had kept silent without question. 
 
Now - since losing and subsequently recovering her memory - she was thinking more about... everything.

 

@,

 

Pavisa was wandering in the opposite direction: an odd sight in this part of town. The guard looked exactly as she expected her to: back in full uniform, patrolling the streets... back to work already.

 

Kingfisher ducked away into Rusty's as casually as she could - this wasn't a good time for tangling with the Canterlot guard. Or for facing up to a friend: she wasn't sure which seemed worse at that moment.
 
---------------

Orion Starsinger.

@@SilverHeart,

"... I see." Said Orion simply, halting a moment before bowing his head slightly. "I'm sorry - that was tactless of me."

Lost for words, he cast about for a distraction from the subject - aware that his attempt to deepen his understanding of the mare had been successful, and that he felt terrible for it.

 

"I was wondering if you'd teach me. Illusion magic, if we get chance - if you don't mind. Even before I found the Litany I was always interested in learning new spells and so on and now..." He shrugged. 'Now I'm just some regular unicorn with a bunch of ponies looking to me to make changes I don't have the power to make.'

[Geek0zoid 1,468]

@,@@Commander Tangent,

"Well, it seems like everypony is going their own separate ways for now; Red seems to be resting for a bit, Kingfisher seems to be going to a food joint, I think Pavisa is going back to her barracks, and everypony else... I guess is doing their own thing, too." Blast said, taking a deep breath after saying that mouthful. It seemed as if the only legitimate members left were himself and Aphrodite, with the exception of the other stallion.

"So... you wanna hang out, or something?" He asked the mare.