private Saddle Arabian Nights

[Mephala 2,633]

OoC

 

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@@Pripyat Pony @@Pinkie Paranoia @@Alex Kennedy @@Scribblegroove @ @ @ @

 

 

---

 

 

Cadence shut her eyes and pressed her hooves to the side of her head to block out the cacophony outside the palace. She knew, as a Princess of the Empire, that she was supposed to go out there and comfort her people as well as those new ones that had arrived...but she found herself slamming the curtains instead.

She had no time to deal with wild subjects, her aching heart be damned; right now, their safety was more important than their thirst for knowledge and need to hear that things would be all right.

After all, it wasn't every day that the rulers of the country went missing.

She was already unhappy she had commanded her husband north to check on the Windigoes, but it was a necessary evil, though his frank advice had always helped her out in a jiffy. Closing her eyes and turning from the brightly patterned cloth before her, she resumed her seat, still filling out the paperwork in front of her and reminding herself that she was now High Queen until Celestia returned.

High Queen. The responsibility in the name even hurt.

However, the offense of the Saddle Arabians, who were both excellent trading partners and incredible warriors, was important, and she needed to be down there as soon as possible to clear the issue with their own King.

The door opened quietly and Cadence didn't even look up, just gave an irritable "yes?"

"My Lady," said the sparkling crystal pony with a small bow, sounding meek, and the Princess knew right away there was bad news. "The Lord Shining Armour has returned."

Bad news mixed with excellent, she thought, and she gave the servant a brief smile before sweeping out of the study to her private chambers.

He was not there, and her heart sank. Normally, Shining made a point to greet her first, even in dire circumstances like the last manticore raid - this could only mean the situation was far worse than she had previously anticipated. Ignoring her dignity, she galloped to the last place she wanted to go - the cold confines of their War Room.

Shining was talking animatedly with a handsome stallion with poisonously green eyes, who was listening with an almost amused expression. Cadence felt anger rise in the back of her throat; she did so hate the unicorn who only referred to himself as Slaes, but his tactical skills were renowned...if you were the highest bidder.

Shining looked up at her, and she saw that he was mildly wounded; a long scratch across his eye had been poorly bandaged, and she frowned in chagrin at the fact that he had not gone straight to the doctor. As if sensing her worry, he waved his hoof.

"It's not important, Cadence, seeing as I lost two good stallions," he said, and before she could open her mouth his own tightened as his eyes blazed.

"They're back."

"Who's back?" asked Cadence, though she knew the answer perfectly well and didn't want to hear it-

"Windigoes."

As if to accent his words, the harsh cry filled the sky, and Cadence heard the screams of her people as it echoed. She couldn't leave them now, not in their greatest hour of need.

"I'm staying here," she said, and Shining shook his head, then winced.

"We need you down there," he said, but Cadence straightened with a determined look.

"No, my ponies need me, Shining," she said firmly, "and I do not have time for such political nonsense."

"I can't do it, I need to head the guard," said Shining weakly, and Cadence's eyes blazed.

"You might not be able to do it," she said, "but I know who can."

And with that, the first hail of the Windigoes began to fall.

 

---

 

Many leagues away in the city of Canterlot, all was fine, and even more so with the pale pink pony who relaxed in the warm summer sun, enjoying its tickle on her back. Her last client had just left, and she could still see the dancing gold coins in front of her, mingled with the look of absolute happiness on the stupid stallions face. The stupider, the richer.

Summoning a servant to bring her a drink, Loveless opened her eyes, flat and red as rubies, and she stared around her sizable lot, pleased with her hard work over the years. "The Mare" still reigned supreme, and her Manehattan visits had only been getting more popular as the days grew long. Who knew a simple girl from Trottingham could get so far with a few harsh words and a whip?

The cool drink now in her hoof, Loveless reclined once more, then added some more sun cream to her delicate muzzle, reminding herself that her complexion was very important. Now with the Princesses gone, security was even easier to bribe, and she was getting away with bigger profits and bigger gambles every day. Soon, she would be able to start alluring more clients from Saddle Arabia (the oil barons were ever so rich), and business would only keep booming.

However, something seemed wrong with this picture, and Loveless tipped her sunshades down slightly to see someone hurrying towards her; an old client, one who was very much a politics man, and she grinned, quickly conjuring a mirror to examine her appearance. Flawless, as ever, she pushed her shades back up and positioned herself causally across the chair, backside up, cocking up a single leg in a flirty way as she flicked open her book.

"Madame," he said, with a little bow, and she glanced at him coyly.

"I haven't seen you in a while," she said in a voice that seemed husky for her frame, but suited her clients quite well; she could almost see his knees collapsing as he stared at her, evidently forgetting whatever he had come for. Chucking him under the chin, she smiled lazily. "I was beginning to think you had forgotten about poor, little old me," she simpered, the smile instantly giving way to a pout, and she lifted up her other leg. "I certainly didn't forget you..."

"Er..." said the stallion, staring at her, and Loveless inwardly laughed at his stupid expression, looking forwards to what was probably another marriage proposal.

"So, darling, do tell, what are you here to say?" she said, sliding onto her side now and staring up at him. When he stammered some more, she sighed. "Oh, dear, I'm going to get all strangely tanned on one side and we don't want that, do we?"

"Uhm, no," he finally choked out, and she smiled and touched his cheek this time.

"Then let's get on with it, darling," she said, and he swallowed, then finally continued.

"The Princesses...have gone...er, missing," he began, and Loveless removed her hoof and rolled her eyes, flopping over.

"Any old twit could have told me that, love, old goss," she said boredly, but he shook his head and widened his eyes.

"Er, well, the other Princess...er...Cadence...well...uh...she wants to see you," he said, and Loveless shot up.

"Me?" she exclaimed, and he nodded as she rose and shoved him aside, striding towards the house. "When does she expect me?" she called back, and he turned, trying to catch up.

"Tomorrow afternoon...five o'clock...she's booked you a train for noon," he said, and Loveless roughly pushed him.

"Out," she snapped, and he stared after her in awe as she delicately negotiated the steps into her large home.

"Mille, darling!" she yelled as she got in. "Do get my best suitcase, shall you? It appears we are dining with royalty!"

Millie's pretty face leaned over the banister with an impish grin. "About time, Madame," she said. "Will you only be dining?"

"Oh, Millie!" exulted Loveless with an airy laugh. "Who knows? But we only have a day to pack! Let's get moving, shall we? Doesn't look good for the real queen of this land to be late, now, does it...?

[The Elusive Cinder 1,328]

Bardic Knowledge (Kazamde)
 

http://mlpforums.com/page/roleplay-characters/_/bardic-knowledge-kazemde-r4072
 
A brief visit.
 
That was the intention at least: before he had lost his friend and guide from this land. It had been unnerving at first, but words and language weren't just a strength to him - they were practically his life. After a few short days Bardic was confidently conversing with ponies in a language now as familiar to him as his own. One thing had led to another and...
 
Three weeks.
 
Three weeks he had been in this city... watching and learning about the culture and (surprisingly) enjoying himself considerably. Not the learning part - that was nothing new. No, the suprising part was his willingness to actually associate with others. Perhaps it was their 'otherness'... or perhaps the ponies here were just more friendly than back home.
 
Regardless, the usually isolated Bardic Knowledge was openly seeking out ponies to speak with and learn from, and loving every moment of it.
 
'I would have liked to inform Al-ahmar before departing...' He thought to himself as he wandered down the notably regal road in a state of thoughtful obliviousness - Saddlebags laden with notes as a quill and pad of paper hovered lazily ahead of him. '...but in his absence I shall find my own way. There must be ships of some kind besides his?'
 
Truthfully, he hadn't given it much thought. One day, maybe two. There was plenty of time: he was sure to be able to convince somepony with a boat to take him on the return journey: he still had enough money that they might, even without his gift of persuasion.
 
The quill scribbled something onto the notepad as the Bard squinted, nodded and continued. The first week had been the worst - he couldn't focus and take notes at the same time and naturally he found himself colliding with other ponies more often than not. He was getting better...

 

... Canterlot was a still busy place to be wandering around without looking ahead though.

[Alex Kennedy 1,228]

((I have a paralyzing fear that I'm either about to get ninja'd or will end up doing it to someone else. Oh well, here goes nothing.)

 

He couldn't believe it had already been another year. It seemed like all the days since the death of the only mare he had ever loved just blended together. But today was a rare exception, seeing that it would have been her birthday today. And like always, he took the same sad, lonely trip to the cemetery in Canterlot, leaving at her grave one of the wildflowers she had loved so much. It was times like these when he tended to get lost in thought. Appropriate perhaps, given his name was Lost Knowledge. But the streets of Canterlot were a poor place to be walking when you're preoccupied and not really looking where you're going. Which might explain why he felt himself crashing into somepony instead of simply stepping aside as might have normally.

 

@,

 

He slowly got up, embarrassed. "I'm terribly sorry, friend I'm just not quite myself today." 

[Pinkie Paranoia 43]

(((D: I was about to run into him! XD)))

 

Artemis was sitting on the top of a cafe in Canterlot, staring up at the sky, letting his thoughts roam free, doing what they wish. It was something he constantly did, hoping that a stray thought might trigger a repressed memory, allowing his conscious to regain part of what was missing. As the minutes dragged on, he decided not to become too lost in his own mind, and began reeling in the strayed thoughts, regaining his composure, and standing upon the rooftop. He was about to turn and make his way back down, when he heard a small commotion coming from the street ahead of him. Looking down the lip of the building, he saw two stallions talking. From the looks of things, they had collided into each other.

 

Artemis wouldn't have given the two a second thought, had he not noticed the garb of one of them. Not knowing his past had led him to spend hour after hour in the Canterlot library, searching for answers. As such, he'd acquired knowledge a more average pony would never learn. He knew the second of the two was not from Equestria. He dropped down from the building, landing a few meters away from the duo. Immediately, and without introduction, he turned to the foreigner. "You're not from here. I know the dress of a Saddle Arabian dignitary. What brings you to Equestria? The missing Princesses?"

[Strong Copper 126]

~Myopia Oncler~

 

The business trip to Canterlot had not been a good one for the CEO of Theed Co. Despite their position as a fashion company, they had recently managed to secure the rights to reopen some of the gem mines located under the city of Canterlot a couple of weeks beforehoof but Myopia's visit had been caused by more... recent concerns.

 

He gave a small sigh as he turned to look at his old friend One Eye as they both sat in the carriage, heading towards the train station since they had no further business in Canterlot after correcting Theed Co's administration. Part of the reason they were taking a carriage in the first place was due to the fact that One Eye was a diamond dog and as such would draw attention to himself in the 'prim and proper' city of Canterlot.

 

He was about to say something to his often silent friend when something slammed into the side of the carriage. The carriage came to a sudden stop as One Eye let out a small growl as he flexed his large paws while Myopia carefully withdrew a deadly looking crossbow from under the cushions on the seat next to him. Nodding to his friend and bodyguard, One Eye flung open the door, reached out and grabbed something beyond the unicorn's sight and pulled it in as the carriage door slammed shut. 

 

Dazed and confused in the Diamond Dog's paws was a gray pegasus mare with bubbles of all things for a cutie mark and a mail bag hanging from her. The crossbow vanished back into its hiding place as Myopia let a small smile cross his face. "I'm terribly sorry Ms, but my friend here is rather protective and you gave us both a bit of a fright. One Eye, could you please put her down gently?" 

 

One Eye grunted but did as he was politely requested, carefully putting the mail mare down on the floor of the carriage and letting her go. The wall eyed gray mare, to her credit, only took a moment to regain her breath before silently searching through her mail bag for a moment and pulled out a letter in her mouth, which she offered to Myopia with a smile on her face. Seeing that the letter was addressed to him, Myopia took it before reaching into his bit bag and giving the mare a pretty good tip before saying "Thank you Ms." and opening the door with his magic long enough for the mare to give him a good natured salute before leaving his sight.

 

Taking a few moments to read over the letter, the CEO couldn't help but chuckle a little as he looked to his old friend. "Well then, it seems that we have a date with royalty. How do you feel about going to the Crystal Empire?"

 

One Eye's response was a series of low growls and grunts that would have been impossible for most ponies to understand, but Myopia took a moment to think about the question. "Honestly I don't know, but just on the safe side try not to take a bite out of the crystal ponies. We would get into some real trouble if you do that."  

[The Elusive Cinder 1,328]

@@Alex Kennedy,

@@Pinkie Paranoia,

 

Bardic blinked as he recovered from the impact: certainly his hight might have suggested strength but in contrast to any average pony he was possessed very little. Assessing the other pony, he carefully lifted the pad and quill into the air and into his cotton saddlebag.

 

"My deepest apologies, the fault lies with me." He said in a thoughtful tone - making sure the words he used were the correct ones after already possibly causing offence with his absent wandering. "Are you inju..."

 

He paused - interrupted. Of course, the ponies here were quite sociable: he understood, but still couldn't quite grasp their customs. Looking from one to the other, he briefly looked towards the new pony.

 

"I am simply visiting for research - to see your cities with my own eyes. They are very grand." He explained steadily before turning his attention towards the first pony again: the one he had collided with.

 

"My name is Kazamde... or Bardic, if you favour." He introduced himself (which seemed to be a shared custom) and bowed (which didn't, but felt polite). "Please, accept my deepest apologies for my lack of... awareness?"

 

Words... there were always one or two that still sounded too foreign to sound correct. Was 'awareness' correct? He believed it was.

[Alex Kennedy 1,228]

@,

 

Lost nodded. "Don't worry about it. I wasn't really paying attention either. I'm Lost Knowledge. Doctor Lost Knowledge if you're feeling formal. And as a matter of fact, if you're here for research, perhaps it's fortunate that we bumped into each other. I'm something of a historian and archaeologist, and I could probably answer any questions you might have about or country's history or culture or anything like that."

[Chickey 383]

Hypno wandered around Ponyville for a while in his unfamiliar settings before he finally found what he was looking for, the train station. He never figured such a simple task would be so hard, but after so much time away from cities and civilization, finding his way around started becoming a much harder task.

 

He sighed and pulled out the letter he had gotten and re-read it. He had arrived just in the nick of time before he missed the train. How the letter reached his house out in the woods confused him to no end, the fact they were able to get a letter to him in the first place was enough to get him interested on the meeting in the first place. He put on a pair of sunglasses to cover his eyes and boarded the train, with his hat and coat, they gave him a rather militaristic look. 

 

He sat down in his seat in a row that was still empty, he just hoped that the venture would start before anyone sits next to him. "I suppose it is a long time since I've seen royalty, might be good to see some politics or something again." He whispered to himself.

[Pripyat Pony 2,608]

Glory wandered the streets of Canterlot, seemingly aimlessly, but in reality with a sense of purpose. She could hardly believe that only half a day before, she had been in her temple of nature situated in between the towns of Ponyville and Trottingham. Glory was a priestess; she welcomed the wild creatures into her temple and offered healing to any pony who happened by, but that didn't happen too often, so she generally lived a life of peace and comfort. The lavender pony trotted on, thinking over the letter that she had received, delivered to the temple by a bird who Glory had given food and water to, and allowed to rest a while, before allowing him to fly back. It was understandable that such a means of conveyance would be chosen to deliver the letter, as the temple had no address and Glory had not received any mail ever since she had first set it up.

 

The mare had chosen this life as she felt misplaced among other ponies and for very good reason. Glory was a pegacorn, which was a very rare result of a mating between a unicorn and a pegasus. Normally, offspring of a union were either one or the other, but somehow, Glory had become a pegacorn. She had both wings and a horn, but as she walked, her wings were covered by the white dress and matching cloak that she wore. This was far easier and caused less embarrassment than ponies mistaking her for an alicorn. The very idea made Glory blush. The letter had asked her for her help in finding the missing Princesses, who were actual alicorns, and such a plea she could not refuse, so she had left her temple in the care of a friend and had immediately set out for Canterlot.

 

Now that she was here, she felt rather lost and confused. The city was just so big!

 

@@Alex Kennedy,

@,

@@Pinkie Paranoia,

 

Glory walked around a corner, and stopped as she saw three stallions together. One looked very strange, as tho he was not from around this area. Perhaps these stallions were also of the group asked for help? There was only one way to find out. The priestess took a deep breath, and walked towards the group.

[The Elusive Cinder 1,328]

@@Alex Kennedy,

 

Bardic nodded carefully in acknowledgement as he spoke again.

 

"A pleasure, Lost Knowledge. I appreciate the offer: there is only so much I have been able to learn from books." He explained before rather abruptly changing the topic. "What knowledge is lost? I am a... a seeker of knowledge? Yes..."

 

It wasn't simply a flight of fancy that caused him to ask: Bardic had searched for far too many years to uncover a certain type of knowledge - and even if seemingly unrelated he had a passion for stories: particuay those old, forgotten legends which masked hidden truths. Names in Equestrian were often symbolic, and so this pony may well know some such information.

 

"... my apologies, friend. I believe that our attention my be required elswhere for a moment."

 

@@Pripyat Pony,

 

He had caught sight of a third pony behind the doctor: a mare looking somewhat lost - exactly how he had felt in his early days in the city. It was only polite to offer help when it was within ones ability - that was how he had been brought up and he would do so. Besides - interruption seemed commonplace here.

 

"Good afternoon Amisi, may we be of assistance?" He greeted her in the same calm, firm voice - radiating a confidence in it that his awkward body language didn't quite match.

[Mephala 2,633]

Loveless handed the chauffeur a few coins as she and Millie stepped out, the latter going behind the carriage to fetch the bags as Loveless preened for the benefit of those before her. Most eyed her appreciatively, but she ignored them after a few moments as three massive suitcases were placed in front of her one at a time.

"Give my best to those poor dears who had to have their appointments cancelled, Millie, would you?" said Loveless, her accent getting her a few more looks as she kissed both the pegasus' cheeks. "And don't forget to keep the rest of the house tidy, I do so hate returning to a messy one."

Blushing (for Loveless didn't only serve her clients), Millie nodded and re-entered the carriage, waving goodbye to her master as the pink unicorn turned, already shoving her boring servant out of her mind, making a signal to get a luggage pony to assist her with her suitcases, each pure white and stamped with "The Mare". However, someone else came to her assistance; a grey unicorn with green eyes that were the colour of acid.

"Slaes!" squealed Loveless, and she hugged him around his neck, and he smiled and kissed her hoof, but rather than affectionate, both seemed to move in a very coy way, observing the others reactions past the face they had on.

"Madame Loveless," he said smoothly, smiling in a cold sort of way. "It has been quite a while since we last met, hasn't it?"

"Seeing as you don't even have the whip marks any longer, one could say," she replied, as she hooked one leg with eyes, looking up at him. "Now, do tell, why are you in such a place? I would imagine you were off conning innocent ponies with your...sweet little tongue." She eyed his mouth suggestively, and he laughed slightly.

"Oh, that's exactly what I'm up to," he said. "I hear you had a royal summons?"

"Indeed, I did." Loveless nodded daintily, but she had a wicked gleam in her eye. "I had heard the Princess had been chained up when that simply ghastly monster queen tried to take over, but I didn't know she had since acquired a taste for it."

"Charming as ever," chuckled Slaes, and Loveless batted her eyelashes.

"I did bring my best crop," she said, unabashed, and he shook his head.

"Exciting as that may be, I'm not sure you'll get the opportunity to use it," he said, slightly more serious. "And that is where I come in - I'm here to take you there." Glancing at her cases, he grinned. "I'm glad you packed well, Madame - you're going on a trip."

 

---

 

Loveless swept forwards, now Slaes-less; he had told them he would be meeting them on the train. Flicking the gauzy pale green gown out so it fell about her in the most attractive way she could make it, she put on her most alluring smiled and started towards the station.

However, a large group seemed to be congregating right in her path, and though she kept the smile up she felt a bite of irritation. She refused to walk around them and instead strode right up to them, the stallion carrying her luggage staggering behind her with a frown.

@@Alex Kennedy @ @@Pinkie Paranoia @@Pripyat Pony

"Excuse me," she demurred, making her smile wider and brighter, "but some of us do so have important appointments with, oh, I don't know, royalty, and we poor dears should be able to access the train station. However, you are blocking my way, and as I would like to get on the train before I miss it, I would so appreciate you moving to the side." She stood, waiting, and tilted her head slightly. They all had a rather stupid look about them, and she was sure a few smiles and blinks would get them out of the way fast.

[Alex Kennedy 1,228]

@, 

 

Lost chuckled a bit. "What is lost? Far too much, friend, far too much. The secrets of our past, of all kinds of ancient magic, of strange and wondrous creatures the likes of which no longer exist. Any number of things that have been forgotten as time passes. If I can find just a little of that, my life was a good one."

 

@,

 

Lost rolled his eyes. "If you're in such a hurry, perhaps you should just keep walking instead of stopping to talk to everyone who happens to be standing in your way. I think you can manage a detour of a few steps around us without being late."

 

He looked the mare over. While he had to admit there was a certain... allure to her, he didn't like the way she carried herself.

[Pinkie Paranoia 43]

 

Artemis heard a honeyed voice to his right, and turned to look at the new arrival of the already growing group, opening his muzzle to respond to her words. When his eyes fell onto the mare, however, his skin paled, more so than it already was, and he grew speechless. In the back of his mind, a single, but strong thought pushed it's way to the forefront of his mind, propelled by the remnants of his forgotten past. He saw, in his mind, a younger version of the mare in front of him. In his mind, she spoke to him, but her words were lost among the other thoughts raging through his mind.

 

Artemis flashed back into reality, the color of his mane slowly returning to normal. He swayed slightly, but regained his composure quickly. He looked at the mare once more. 'I.... I know her.', he thought, before silently checking to see if anyone had noticed his subtle trip to his slowly regressing mind.

[Mephala 2,633]

@@Alex Kennedy

"I do this for the benefit of these other harried souls," she said calmly, waving an arm vaguely about her. "However, that nasty little eyeroll of yours really was so uncalled for, especially for a stallion of your age; I was trying to be polite. It's unfortunate that you can't see that past those thick lenses of yours, or your thicker brain."

 

(OoC: #revenge)

 

She continued to sweep past him now, deciding she didn't have time to argue with such common folk as him; it was ten to noon, and she had a train to catch.

@@Pinkie Paranoia

One of the ponies seemed to pale slightly at her appearance, and she gave him a slightly curious eye; while he seemed vaguely familiar, it obviously wasn't important enough to jog a memory.

 

Entering the station, she commanded the stallion to drop her bags, tossed him a few bits, and watched with a sort of vindictive happiness as he missed and had to pick them up off the ground; she loved watching fools grovel like farm animals. After he had collected them and scurried off with a last gawp at her, she sat down to wait for the train, wondering where Slaes had gone to.

[Scribblegroove 565]

"There was a stallion... On a dark, scorched plain. All around him were demons... Monsters... Spirits of embers and flame. The plains below him began to glow. The dark slowly became red, then orange, then yellow. The stallion was surrounded... Nothing that he could do. But the stallion in the middle was not a regular stallion. This was a tamer of flames and steel! He raised his hammer above his head and screamed...


"STRIKE THE EARTH"

The hammer hit the ground, a clear, humming noise could be heard from all di
rections. The sound of metal hitting metal in its purity. The ground under the stallion changed. It began to form tall statues of brave knights around him, protecting him from the monstrous demons."


Runedawn Earthstriker saw this vision as he struck the red hot metal that lay on his anvil. Yet again the metal changed shape, twisting, squirming and fighting against the forced deformation. Another hit with the hammer, another humming clang and again the metal changed shape. Slowly, Runedawn tamed the metal into the shape he wanted it to be. A true creator sees his work as a living being, and Runedawn took that saying very seriously. He tamed the steel, and then forced it into the glowing inferno of his ovens, braving the tremendous heat that came off it. As soon as the metal shimmered red again, he put it back on his anvil and started hammering away at it again. Slowly but surely, a hammer head began to take shape. It was a strange hammer, and it was supposed to be. He made it look exactly like the hammer on his cutie mark.

Hours of work by forgelight had been spent on this particular piece. Weeks of experimenting with metals for the perfect alloy. Years of practice in the arts of forging. It had all led up to this. The hammerhead was fished, and it fit like a glove on the poplar handle that he had made for it. There was a knob on the other end that balanced the weight of it perfectly, so that it was an extent of himself. The metal shimmered slightly red and purple on the edges. Runedawn picked a chisel and a hammer from his shelf and started to inscribe runes into the hammer. Beautifully, with the delicacy of a painter, yet quickly and accurate, like the smith he was.
Runedawn kept going until he was absolutely certain that he was content with the result of his work. He did not even notice the mailmare dropping off a letter in his mailbox. The forge-lit room turned awfully cozy, and Runedawn realised he was getting sleepy. He sat up straight and looked at his work from a distance... "Wonderful, it looks perfect" He thought. He picked it up and felt how it swinged in his hand. He fought the air in different styles in quick succession. First like a musketeer with his rapier, then like a barbarian, swinging his axe with both hooves, and then like a knight, stabbing and slicing away with his broadsword. The swing worked perfectly. The handle was perfectly the right size. He looked at the hammer for a minute, checking if there were any imperfections. When he was sure there weren't, he swung it above his head with two hooves and struck his anvil with the hammer. The humming noise from this hammer was different. It could be heard longer, and it was a clear, perfect pitched A note. Unlike the usual clanging of metal, that sounded more like shrieking then singing, this sound was pleasant to listen to. "Perfect! I have truly outmatched myself this time!".

Runedawn grinned. He couldn't keep his joy in so he laughed. It was a rough, old man's laugh, filled the weight of age. Yet it didn't sound weak, like a real old man's voice would. It was a strong, powerful voice still full of life... Runedawn stroke his braided beard. It was a habit that he had picked up over the years. He always did it when he felt proud of himself, or when he was particularly happy of flattered.
Then he noticed the letter, and then he noticed the time. "Oh geez, what's this" He said. He read the letter... then read it again... then read it again. Then he stroke his beard AGAIN. "So finally even the royals respect the ancient bloodline of the earthstrikers. Acknowledgment... after centuries! Better not keep 'em waitin' then..." Runedawn immediately packed his regular stuff. Maybe he wouldn't be away for too long, but he'd always take his hammer and runes, and a tiny pack of magical metal powders that he combines with steel to create his own special alloys ("Ne'er leave without me toys!"). Alongside that he packed a few of the normal necessities (a beard grooming kit, a bit of food and some bits) and he left for the ponyville station.

He walked all from his secluded smithy at the edge of the everfree, to the station where'd the train to the crystal empire would arrive. When he saw that the train was already there, he upped his pace to a little trot. As always the mechanical works of it interested him immediately, yet he was quickly disappointed, everything on the train was manufactured industrially. So was most of the station. "No passion for this kind of art I see..." he thought while looking at the hammer that he had strapped to his saddlebags (which was, by the way, nearly as long as the full length of his torso...). He stepped onto the train and looked for a seat. He nearly hit his head when he was trying to enter the compartment. "What's this, a train for ants?" He asked himself, loud enough for a few ponies around to hear, which looked up at the giant of a stallion.

@

He sat down next to a strange looking pony. He didn't really mind it though, he was actually kind of interested in what he was reading... He knew it wasn't polite to look at other people's letters, but he couldn't keep himself from reading it. When he saw the signature, he was surprised. "You got a royal summon too I see? Are those a collectible thing nowadays, they don't seem very rare to me now..." He laughed. "What's yer name boy? You don't look like any of the other ponies 'round here"

((AND THAT, ladies and gentlemen, was my epic introduction of epicness... I hope it fit in and that you liked it... I'll fix any mistakes later, please notify me if you find some...))

Edited January 8, 2014 by Scribblegroove

[The Elusive Cinder 1,328]

@,

@@Alex Kennedy,

@@Pripyat Pony,

 

Watching the mare pass with an expression of nothing more than mild curiosity, the Bard paused for a moment and shrugged. Honeyed words and a forceful demeanour alongside a royal summons... perhaps she was a diplomat of sorts? Certainly she looked the part, though he had never seen her back home. Perhaps she specialised in other regions - colder climates, perhaps?

 

"Salam." He stated quietly and politely as the other mare disappeared into the station. "It is busy here today: more than yesterday. Is this because of your missing princess perhaps?" He asked - more to absentmindedly voice his idle thoughts than as an actual question.

Edited January 7, 2014 by Cinderscribe

[Pripyat Pony 2,608]

@, Glory's breath was quite taken away by the sight of the pink mare. This mare seemed to be a world away from Glory's simple priestess life, and for a moment, she was not able to answer the kind stallion who had spoken to her. Once the stranger had gone, she took a deep breath and replied.

 

"Thank you for asking," she said. "My name is Glory, and I am a nature priestess. I received a rather unusual letter asking me to come to a meeting with Princess Cadance. I don't know why she'd ask me..."

[Stormbringer 346]

Stormwing, experienced shopkeeper and, well, moreso experienced con-pony had received the letter earlier that morning in his little corner shop. There were trinkets and whatnot on his shelves, and other, more rich items that were not as-legally obtained.

 

He may or may not have just took them when nopony was looking.

 

Though having gotten the letter through the mail slot earlier, he just now noticed it in the box meant to keep his mail from being trod upon by the ponies of Canterlot. Coming out from the counter of his shop which showcased and protected the more pricier things from any grubby hooves, he trotted lightly over to the small tray. Taking the letter in his mouth, he went back to his sitting post, but not after flipping the sign in the window from "Open" to "Closed". Taking his seat, he used a silver letter opener to slice open the sealed letter. He flipped his mane out of his eyes as he read over the introduction.

"Dear Stormwing..."

 

He smiled as he read the reasons for his inclusion to the group. "You may be needed for your knowledge of artifacts and perhaps items of great monetary value." The smile turned into a smirk. "Seems like I'm well-known." With that, he made note of the train's arrival and departure time. He could easily make it.

 

In order to seem as presentable as possible, he figured he'd pack his nicest suit, one that cost him easily three thousand bits, which were the result of selling some old earring he polished up and passed off as 'ancient' and as 'lost treasure'. Some stallion who seemed in need of am anniversary present had seen it and bought it right up.

 

About halfway through packing his suit into his single suitcase, which was jet black, he decided to wear it. He figured there'd be others who were invited as well, so he might as well look nice. He put on the blue shirt, which matched his mane. On top of that, he put on a crisp white suit jacket. He made sure he looked alright in the mirror, and then went on to pack his other belongings.

 

Among these were a knife, 'cause you never know who's gonna ambush you around a corner.

 

When all of these things were packed, he set out the stairs (He lived above his shop. He liked to keep an eye on his potential moneybags.) He came into view of the others shortly after he left and locked the shop up. He had a few minutes yet until the train showed up.

[Alex Kennedy 1,228]

@@Pripyat Pony,

 

The mare's words caught Lost's attention. "Is that so? As a matter of fact I'm on my way to a meeting with her as well. I only stopped in Canterlot at all to... well, I just had something that needed to be taken care of. Anyway, I wonder if we were summoned for the same thing? I can't imagine what I would have done to get the attention of royalty." 

[The Elusive Cinder 1,328]

@@Alex Kennedy, 

 

This was a fortunate turn of events: if he was to be traveling with a pony who had offered to answer some questions it would break up the tedium of the journey: doubly so with the quiet one as well. He might also speak with the diplomat, should a chance arise.

 

"Princess Cadence... of the Crystal Empire. yes? I will be departing in the same direction as you then: the docks there are the best chance I have to locate transportation home." Bardic noted. "There are few books mentioning her that I have read: they tend to favor the Sun and Moon sisters instead."

 

@@Pripyat Pony,

 

He smiled warmly at the priestess - now identified as 'Glory' - and thought for the briefest of moments before continuing

 

"Perhaps you underestimate yourself Amisi? Certainly your ruler must see a great value within your heart to summon you? And matters of the heart are more her domain than any other, I am led to believe."

[Chickey 383]

"Why couldn't it of been a mare. Or at least somepony a bit smaller. Then again I suppose most would be scared to sit next to me." He thought to himself before he replied. "So you got a summon too, eh? I suppose we might end up working together then." He said as he extended his hoof out for a shake. "Except for the eyes, this look would be pretty normal if you too grew up in the Hallow Shades. Names Hypno, pleased to me ya." He said as he tipped his hat.

[Pripyat Pony 2,608]

@@Alex Kennedy, "I too wonder that," Glory replied. "What I do, I do for the sake of the wild creatures and the ponies who ask for my help, not for personal gain."

 

@, Glory smiled at Bardic. What a kind stallion he was. "Perhaps," she replied. "I perform my task as nature priestess purely out of kindness of heart, so maybe that is why she has asked to see me. I am a bit nervous about the meeting, as I haven't been outside of my temple for a long time."

[Scribblegroove 565]

"Well then Hypno, my name is Runedawn Earthstriker. I'm a smith that dares call himself gifted." He pointed to his new hammer and nodded. "I made that." Runedawn looked at Hypno's cutie mark. "Well, yer mark doesn't give away much... What be your purpose in this world Hypno! Tell me 'bout the Shades, and yer eyes as well. You have sparked my curuosity!" Runedawn looked into the ponies strange eyes... Strange...

Edited January 8, 2014 by Scribblegroove

[Pinkie Paranoia 43]

Throughout the conversation going on between the ponies in front of him, Artemis had slowly begun to ease away from the group, towards an alleyway not too far away. Making sure nopony would notice his disappearance, he quickly turned and walked away, ducking into the alleyway as soon as he neared it.

 

"That mare...." he began, talking under his breath, attempting to sort through what he had seen and heard. "I've seen her before. I wish I knew where." As he spoke, he exited the alleyway, from the other end, and began to head towards a staircase that lead to the second floor of a seemingly abandoned inn. His words became thoughts as he moved through other ponies, so as to not draw attention. 'She said she had a meeting with royalty, as did a few of the others. It couldn't have been coincidental, the meeting of the group.'

 

Artemis reached the stairs, swiftly climbing to the door, lifting the false lock from it's place. He entered, replacing the false lock, and shut the door silently behind him. He crossed to a room at the far end of the hall, entering it in much the same way. He began to talk to himself again, feeling more secure inside his home and hideout. "I'm absolutely certain that dignitary is involved in all this somehow. Someone as important as him wouldn't be simply 'visiting' a country, especially not without a guard of some sort."

 

He walked to a chest in the far corner of the room, opening a compartment on the side, allowing easy access to the hollow chamber beneath the false bottom. From the chamber he extracted three items: A spring loaded katar, a dirk with an emerald embedded in the hilt, attached to a leather belt, and a dark, hooded cloak that shrouded nearly all of his body. He strapped the katar to his left front hoof, pushing the blade back against his coat, locking it in place; secured the belt around his stomach, just before his rear legs; and threw the cloak over his body, easily concealing his newly equipped weaponry.

 

He would have loved to take his bow as well, but it was not as easily concealed as his other weapons, and tended to be too cumbersome to use in certain situations. He closed the compartment, securely shutting it, and left the room. Heading down the inside stairs, he left through the front door, quickly cutting through the crowds back to the alleyway he had come from.

 

'I'll follow them from a distance,' He decided, thinking to himself as he walked. 'See where they go, what they do. Maybe they'll bring me to the mare from earlier, and I can find out more of my past.'

[Chickey 383]

Hypno leaned back in his seat, getting comfortable for the long trip. "Well, the Hallow Shades themselves are the home of the Bat Ponies, Luna's guard. It's a town that's mostly covered by trees and vegatation, blocks out the sun most of the time, making it nice and dark. At the time however, I didn't make the cut for the guard. So I ended up just being a psychiatrist, I can't say it's too boring though. And the mark came rather late in my life, not too long after I got the job. I was rather good at.... lets just say 'hypnotizing' the patients." He explained, his mind going blank from talking about so many subjects at once. "Though it's been a long time since I've had that job. The eyes I have make it rather hard to be out in public too much. I got them In what could be called a magical spell gone awry."

Edited January 8, 2014 by Pumkin