>>434661 Towering above the land of Equestria, perched on a lone peak, sat Canterlot Castle, its white walls and glittering spires reflecting the majesty of the setting sun. The light shone through the stained glass windows and into the throne room illuminating the inside of the castle with all the colors of the rainbow. A young princess stood there and watched the bright display in silence. The light of a low hanging sun almost caused the beautiful artwork of the windows to come to life.
The history of Equestria was recorded here from the ancient cold days before warmth and harmony to the time of the young princess's own adventures with her best friends. The way the light illuminated the chronicles was a reminder of her own important position in history, which made her slightly nervous. She looked closer at the windows displaying the ancient past. Most of the events depicted she had read about in her books, although some she did not recognized from her studies.
"Twilight…..why aren't you with your friends?" The majestic princess of the day said softly as she joined Twilight in the throne room. "Pinkie Pie had informed me that she had planned a spectacular post-coronation party. You don't want to miss it do you?"
"No of course not Princess. I was just looking at the windows, they are amazing at this time of day." Celestia smiled as Twilight continued to speak. "I…was wondering though. There are some events that i'm not familiar with." She said pointing to a window that depicted five characters she was not familiar with. "I'm not surprised Twilight, much history from that time has been lost. Nopony remains that remembers……save for two." (Continued)
>>434662 Twilight looked up at the princess "You?" "Yes…and Luna, we were all witness to the Genesis of Harmony.", Celestia replied. Twilight looked at the windows and realized that she could not see the story of the Elements. "Princess……I thought that you and Luna were the first ones to use the elements." Celestia chuckled, "Well yes….but not exactly. You'd probably be surprised to hear that you and your friends were not the first bearers of the Elements."
The young princess was slightly dumbfounded, she thought she had read and re-read the history of Equestria several times over. Why was there no mention of this? "You look confused Twilight….maybe I should tell you the story. Or most of what I remember after I banged my head." The princess chuckled again. "This was….over one thousand years ago so I must have a moment to collect my thoughts. I will only tell you the first part so not to delay Miss Pie's party any longer." Celestia paused for a moment
"Do you remember the story of the first founding of Equestria?" The young student nodded and spoke, "Yes! And the kingdom lasted for nearly a century before tragedy struck. The Platinum dynasty fell into darkness and disappeared. Legends says the fall was because of a misused Love Potion." Celestia beamed "Very good, Professor Felix would be proud! Now the kingdom fell into a period of disharmony….and that is where my story begins……or at least what I can remember. Like I said I bumped my head pretty hard…." (Continued)
One century after the founding of Equestria the once united land was once again divided. Twenty years ago the last queen of the Platinum Dynasty disappeared with her entire court. Now the land has fallen to disharmony, with the three pony tribes in perpetual conflict for a crown that no longer exists. The old Canterlot Castle looms over the fractured land, the once glorious shining capital of Equestria sitting neglected on its lonely mountaintop. No pony dares go near that place for it is rumored to be haunted by dark vengeful spirits.
One night on the outskirts of a small village named Hooves Run near the Canterlot foothills five ponies with no particular connection look up at the night sky and see two shooting stars cross the sky. >Vigilance And Imminent “Emmy” Glow Are walking down the road to Hooves Run when they see the meteors light up the sky. >Double Action and Cinnamon Blossom Are walking into the local saloon when they notice the streaks of light. No one else seems to give it a second thought. >Lily the Deer Is walking through the peaceful forest on the outskirts of the pony village when she sees the shooting stars cross the sky above the trees. (You may begin)
>>434664 "Wow! A shooting star!" I say, my eyes are instantly filled with wonder. "Master Aldan said, that when you see a shooting star, you should make a wish." I stamp around, marveling at the thing. "Its just a legend told to children, but…" I close my eyes tightly. "I wish, just once, I could do something big, that'll help everypony, everyone!"
I shake my head.
"It'll never come true, of course. But, its fun to dream!"
I continue walking towards the pony village.
"I wonder if I'll meet anyone there… Oooo… this is so daunting… Maybe I'll make a friend, but… going to a village…"
(Remember we have dice here) >>434665 Normally you cannot chase a shooting star but strangely in this case one of them seems to be HEADING RIGHT TOWARDS YOU. >>434666 >>434669 As you walk along you notice the shooting stars don't simply fade away but are HEADING RIGHT TOWARDS YOU >>434667 (name) You waddle in the saloon and take your seat at the bar. There is a shadowy figure sitting a stool across from you. >>434668 You hear the sound of your master Aldan in the distance "Lilly! Come quick!" you can hear the sounds of a scuffle in the woods ahead
>>434671 She giggles. "You think too much," she quips. >>434670 She looks back up at the sky. "They look like they're getting bigger…" She then jumps in suprise as she notices why. "RUN!" she yells as she gallops away.
>>434672 You see your master sparing with an young armored teen dragon your master looks at you as you arrive "Lily Ru-!" The moment of distraction upon seeing you allows the dragon to maul him with his claws. Your master falls to your feet mangled and bloody and mortally wounded. The dragon wipes the blood from his claws and stares at you. You see a phoenix egg laying at his feet. >>434673 >>434675 >>434676 Vigilance tackles Glow to the ground as the nearby ground explodes causing you both to be catapulted away several feet. You are both knocked helpless immediately. (default to get up) >>434674 The Meteor streaks by you as if actively dodging you and flies over your head and plowing into a grain silo ahead. The Silo is now ablaze and lights are coming on. >>434677 Inside the bar a distant thud is heard but most people continue on drinking as if nothing had happened. The bartender slides you a whiskey bottle and a glass of ice. "On the house. Courtesy of that gentlecolt over there." he motions to the shadowy figure across from you who nods slightly.
>>434678 "*hic* Thanks Mr.Free Booze!" I slur at the shadowy figure before turning my attention to my free drink. I attempt to pour the whiskey in the glass but miss spilling half the bottle over the bar. I then try to lift up the glass (Which I think is full) to take a sip only to drop it spilling ice all over me.
>>434679 >>434681 (meteor….only one hit you can tell) You stand up there is a smoking crater next to you. >>434681 "That fool was trying to take my egg I saw it fi-" You cut him off mid sentence with a powerful thwak that knocks him to the ground helpless. >>434680 A grubby looking pony that looks like he was squatting in the silo runs out with half his mane on fire "Oi! I think ders a filly trapped in thar!" Ponies are starting to open windows and doorways. >>434683 The figure leans over to you and says in a velvety smooth voice. "Miss….pardon me……but I was wondering if you would be interested in some work. There could be more where that came from." Pointing to the half empty bottle. "With the kind of bits you would make."
>>434684 I tighten my hat and I button up my duster I toss my saddlebag (Full of ammo and alcohol) and my holster to the pony "Now sir ahm placin a lotta trust in ya so ah can save that filly… dont let me down ya hear?" I run into the silo and look for any filly shaped silhouettes.
>>434684 I stare at the spilled booze like a little filly would stare at the corpse of her beloved pet that some homeless pony had just set on fire and pissed on it to put it out to keep it from burning his cardboard home to ash. I quickly turn my attention to the figure snapping out of it "What kind *hic* work are ye talking bout?"
>>434686 He struggles to his feet "Y-You'll rue this day mark my words doe. You're gonna be my dinner before you know it! No one makes a fool of Stryfe Redtooth!" He flies off in a rage leaving you alone with your dying master and the phoenix egg. "Lily…come closer…." >>434685 >>434691 >>434688 >>434689 You look over the edge of the crater and see a bruised solid white pony filly with a pink mane laying in the center of the smoldering crater. She's a unicorn no wait…a pegasus…..both? She appears unconscious. >>434687 As you enter the silo you see a dark blue filly crying loudly amidst the burning debris. You can't get a good look at her through all the smoke and fire. >>434692 "Tonight is a special night…there were some deliveries let's call them. Two young fillies who are very important to my benefactor. Here is what i need done. Find these two fillies, they should be nearby, round up a team that is capable of defending said fillies, and then bring them to the Old Arcanium in Phillydelphia. You do that for me and you my young mare friend will be set for life."
>>434693 I rush up to the filly and grab her "Woah nelly little girl… lets get you outta here!" I place her on my back and get her to safety >Toughness Racial
>>434693 I rush next to him. "I can heal you! Just stay still." I knell down, and get close to him.
My fur goes golden brown.
Nature Elemental: automatic, recharge 8; your connection to the natural world is complete, allowing your body to reflect the natural cycles. The transformation lasts for the next 3 turns, and you may perform any action that you normally can. You can choose 1 of 3 forms whenever you transform: Life: young buds and sprouts flow from you, passively healing an ally (but not yourself) for two hits or one wound each turn
"Don't you die on me now…" I say, hold him in my hooves, letting my buds do there work.
>>434693 "Okay wutever you say Mr.Freedrinks" I try floating the half empty bottle towards me but it slips out of my magicks at shatters against the floor. I give a disappointed look at the spilled booze and make my way out of the tavern grumbling over the wasted whiskey.
>>434700 As she grabs the "god"'s shoulder, she again pokes, "As I said, you think too much," then continues grunting and pulling the filly out of the crater.
>>434694 >>434697 >>434702 "unnn….." she moans reassuring you that she is indeed alive but appears wounded. You walk down and pull her out of the crater. "Good to see she arrived safety." You hear a gravely voice behind you as two hooded figures approach wearing strange random and patchy robes . "Now if you would kindly hand the filly over to us…no one needs to get hurt." They appear to be diamond dogs. >>434695 You heft her on your back getting a better look at her. She has silvery blue-white hair and appears to posses both a unicorn horn and a pair of pegasus wings. As you are amazed by this sight suddenly a burning piece of timber drops down and blocks your exit. >>434696 "It's too late…….Lily….." You notice that the dragon in his attack has completely eviscerated him he does not have much time left. "Lily…..listen to me……the egg….." >>434701 "Very well then…..it looks like one of our guests has arrive nearby…if you did not hear that thud outside a moment ago. Maybe you can start there." He says this and gets up walking away and vanishing into the crowd. Suddenly someone busts into the saloon and yells "Fire! There's a fire at the grain silo!"
>>434703 "Just mah luck…" I quip a bit sarcastically "Anypony outside step back! Imma clear the door the only way ah know how!" I set the strange filly down somewhere safe as I buck the timber in half.
>>434703 Using my super awesome drunken detective skills I go outside and look for any signs of the young filly that the shady figure was talking about.
>>434703 "A being falls from the sky matching the sigil on the royal banner, and a few diamond dogs in robes show up and threaten us because they want it, at at time when Equestria has no Ruler."
"Now I don't read THAT much fiction, but that sounds a little villainous, don't you think?"
>>434704 "A vison.*cough*…..find the two sisters from the stars….t-they have arrived..this night! find them *cough*….the phoenix in that egg…..well help return harmony……………..Phi..lo.mena….." his eyes glaze over with the palour of death >>434705 Your attack misses as the fire begins to spread the filly is still crying loudly >>434706 "That does not matter, she belongs to us." >>434709 "Are we going to have to do this the hard way?" The diamond dog looks under his hood at you and growls. >>434708 You run to the Silo which ponies are now trying in vain to put out as the fire begins to spread. "Somepony went in there!" one mare exclaims
>>434711 I scoop her up again and hold her tightly under my duster "Damnit we dont have time for this! Ahm not lettin ya be turned into barbecue filly…" I hold her with one hoof as I do a 3 legged charge and burst through the burning timber head first, my heavy clothing protecting me
>>434711 The tears well up in my eyes… I rest my head on his chest, crying. "Master Aldan…" I sob. "You were the only one I had… and now, I'm all alone…" I sit there sobbing, while the tears stream down from my face, and onto my master's lifeless body.
Eventually, I stand up, and pick up his body and the egg, carrying him on my back.
>>434712 "Your funeral"…suddenly both diamond dogs spontaneously sprout wings one with dragon wings and one with vulture wings. They fly into the air and begin to circle around you each of them barking and howling loudly at you. >>434716 You summon your weapons >>434713 You charge right through the burning block of wood and…. >>434714 crash into a cream colored unicorn at the entrance to the silo. Both of you are helpless and the blue filly continues to cry loudly. >>434715 You do so carrying your master's body and the egg with you. You can hear the sound of barking and howling in the distance.
>>434718 I get up and dust the embers off my duster and tip my hat to Cinnamon "My apologies maam… but to be fair ah did tell everyone to clear out from the door… at least ah didnt buck it out like ah planned… that woulda hurt a lot more…" I pick Luna in my forehooves and begin rocking her softly while humming her a small tune >rolling to appease princess of the night
>>434719 Still carrying your masters body and the egg you begin make it to the edge of the forest. You can see two winged hooded figures circling around two other figures on the road in the distance. >>434722 He dodges your shot "Too slow!" he shrieks as he dives for you [1d10] >>434723 (who's luna lel?) The filly stops crying immediately. >>434721 You and Double Action stand outside of the burning silo which the townsponies have given up stopping and now seek only to contain it to keep it from spreading to more buildings.
>>434728 Realizing my way is blocked, unless something happens, I summon my Anima.
Anima: once per combat; your spirit animal appears as a minion til combat ends, while it remains you have a +1 bonus to recover from helplessness and navigate rough natural terrain
>>434732 Putting two and two together my eyes turn into dollar signs as I guess this must be the filly thats worth lotso bits! I attempt to telekineticly lift the filly off his back and run away with it.
>>434729 >>434730 One attack manages to strike him as he yelps in suprise. >>434731 He goes down immediately twitching. The other diamond dog laughs and shoots a bolt of magic at you [1d10] >>434732 You find your stuff intact and the little filly goes to sleep in your back. The fire seems mostly contained as the silo burns to the ground. >>434733 Your spirit pheonix emerges as bright and brilliant as ever. You remember when you first learned from your master how to summon the spirits from the aether. He told you what the pheonix represented. The everlating cycle of birth, life, and death. He told you that nothing ever truly dies, all life is eternal and ever changing. Just like the pheonix. >>434734 You manage to try manage to lift the fily a few inches but she immediately begins to cry loudly again causing you too loose your already bad concentration and fall on your flank helpless. Double Action sees this happen.
>>434735 >>434736 I smile at Cinnamon warmly "Aww if you wanted to hold her ya shoulda just asked… but ya gotta help me find her momma first, prolly has the same wings and horn… well shoot ill be damned if ah said ah ever saw a thing like that again…"
I repeat the process of cradling her and humming her a different lullaby >rolling childcare
>>434735 At this brief point in time where she can not attack, she conjures armor for herself, and her body is surrounded by glowing magic as metal plates cover her. >rolling for armor conjuring
>>434738 The flying dog hovers above Vigilance "Yer gonna pay for th- ow ow hey hey hey! stop that you crazy bi- ooof!" The phoenix spirit pecks the shit out of the flying diamond dog and then tackles him out of the sky. (Both dogs are helpless) >>434737 You shoot straight but your shot hits air as a spirit pheonix emerges from the edge of the forest and tackles the dog out of the sky. >>434739 The little filly goes back to sleep softly on your back. You see in the distance what looks to be fight on the outskirts of town. A fiery phoenix is lighting up the night sky. >>434740 You flail madly for a minute and then get back up. Most ponies in the town are fighting the fire and not paying attention to events. >>434741 Your armor is summoned. You can hear the little white filly moan nearby "uhhhh..my…..sister…..where's Luna.?"
The first dog scrambles to his feet. [1d10] wait for roll
>>434743 >>434745 I stare at the fight and shake my head, looking for her parents. I start first with the pony that was in the silo then question them one by one. I head back to Cinnamon (being one of the few people not busy) "You seen any parents with horns an wings around these her parts maam?"
>>434751 "Well shoot, it looks like these townsfolk have the fire under control, how bout you help me lo-" I remember seeing the pheonix in the sky "I think ah got a good hunch where they are…" I gallop off to the area where the pheonix is
>>434746 The dragon winged dog takes a large amount of damage and appears to be bleeding heavily. >>434748 The dog goes limp. Suddenly the ground nearby his body seems to be………boiling. >>434749 You go around the whole town (which is quite small) and do not find a single pony that is or knows this little fillies parents. Finally you catch the homeless pony who is missing half of his mane. "Nah buddy….that lil filly right there fell outta the sky…..I know cause she crashed into the roof uh dat silo i was wot sleepin in. I don think she belongs here mate." >>434751 You see the Cowpony carrying the little filly ask around town about the little one's parents. You can see a fight in the distance on the road into town. >>434752 Her eyes snap open and she looks at you in horror…….she begins scooting away as if very afraid. >>434753 You run edge of town you can see a firey pheonix attacking a downed diamond dog with….wings? that's strange. Also present is another diamond dog, this one dressed as an equestrian knight, and a unicorn wearing ethereal armor who isn't paying attention to the battle but to something on the ground nearby.
The dragon winged dog attempts to get up and fly away. [1d10]
>>434755 She backs off hastily, not wanting to frighten the little filly, then pays her attention to the strangely boiling ground. "Um, what's happening there?" she asks with her hoof pointing to "there."
>>434755 I look at the scene and the various people confused. >>434758 I look at Lily "Hey freaky lil buffalo miss… Ah don spose ya seen this little filly's parents around have ya? The townsfolk said she fell from the sky!"
>>434757 Fails the dog rolls away and attempts to spring to his feet >>434758 You head to the town, You see a unicorn mare, and an earth pony stallion carrying a strange little filly who possess both wings and a horn pass you on the road. >>434759 As you say that the diamond dogs body literally sinks into a boiling puddle of what looks and smells like boiling chocolate. The filly just stays there quivering having backed up to a boulder. >>434762 Yeah you see the deer passing by (guess i didn't have to tell you…)
>>434768 As I get to town, I sit down and take a short break…
"Ok… I got to town…" I say, breathing heavily… I look over at my master. "This isn't right… You deserve a proper burial…" I remember seeing a Diamond Dog back there and that Diamond Dogs are exceptionally good diggers.
>>434769 I look at her worriedly then look back at the armored dog, then the ground and drag a hoof across the ground contemplating "Well shoot guess some family is better den no family…"
>>434775 "Only that they showed up on the Royal Banner. Thats about it. They appear to have the wings of a pegasus and the horn of a unicorn. I don't know what they're doing here, but being that this is Equestria is twenty years without an heir, I can take a guess."
>>434769 He grabs your paw and pulls you to the ground (helplesss) attempting to use the momentum to get up himself [1d10] >>434770 Misses >>434771 Ponies are looking at you kinda strange, not many deer visit the town, and the dead deer on your back does not help . >>434772 >>434774 You suddenly take notice that the little white pink maned filly is looking at you(Double Action)….her horn and eyes is glowing. "My sister! GIVE ME MY SISTER!" her voice booms unnaturally. The blue filly on your back starts to cry
>>434767 I take a sip of whiskey wondering how im supposed to steal these fillys and get them all the way to Fillydelphia wherever that is to collect muh bits.
>>434777 "Now hush now little missy… I was getting to dat…" One more time I cradle Luna and hum her a lullaby >rolling childcare >applying adaptable to impress sunbutt
>>434783 The crying filly getting on my nerves I waddle up to Double Action and slur "Your doing it *hic* wrong the things prolly thirsty or sumthing!" I try to float my bottle of whiskey up to moonbutts mouth.
>>434777 Fails >>434778 Drinking helps you remember one of the things the mysterious job giver said "Round up a team that is capable of defending said fillies" >>434780 >>434781 Your second attack strikes true and you end the diamond dog's life. Killing is not something that you are used to, and the deed sends reverberations through your conscious. It's not the first time and somehow you feel it won't be the last. >>434782 You stand up shaking of the corpse that begins to puff up and turn white oddly. >>434783 These efforts fail the little blue filly screams her first words to you. "TIA TIA WHERES TIA?" "I'm…here Luna…." The white filly says, this time more patiently. Everyone sensitive enough can feel the sheer magic emanating from the two fillys. >>434784 This act causes you to be hurled backwards telekineticly by a force greater than your own but you land softly taking no damage. >>434779 The local undertaker walks up to you. An old grey stallion. "Give him to me miss. I'll make sure he's properly laid to rest."
>>434786 She pauses as her sai is still impaled in the diamond dogs body, then pulls it out. She unsummons them, while the fillies have their reunion, but she pays no heed, and instead is consumed by her action of killing.
>>434787 He smiles warmly "I will take good care of him don't you worry. We will have a small ceremony for him at dawn. What was his name?" >>434788 The white filly lifts the blue one from your arms magically and into her hooves "Tia!" "Luna!" they both embrace. The magic field dissipates rapidly and both fillies collapse unconscious from the weight of their wounds sustained in the night's ordeal. >>434789 No answer as all you see in front of you are two sleeping fillies fallen from the stars. The white one might need medical attention. >>434790 The diamond dog corpse is now a giant burnt marshmellow wut? , there is also still a bubbling pool of what seems to be chocolate nearby. >>434792 >>434791 Two adorable sleeping fillies. As a unicorn you felt the sheer weight of the magic that emanated from both little ponies. They are powerful, dangerously so even.
>>434793 "Well shoot thats a might cute… but…" I turn to Vigil "I assume those scoundrels back ther wanted their paws on the big un eh? Pretty rare kinda pony…" I shake my head in contemplation "That aint good one bit… not good at all"
>>434795 "If I had to take a guess, they probably are Rulers of some form. I mean the strange biology, the powerful magic, falling from the sky, in the days without a King? These beings may be the salvation of all Equestria."
"Then again I might just be being dramatic and they might be hideous steller daemons in disguise waiting for us to turn our backs so they can tear out our souls and feat on our livers. You never can tell with these things, at least not easily."
>>434794 "Well I promise you miss the Aldan here will have a proper funeral." He offers to take the deer's body off your hooves. >>434795 >>434796 The white filly has a nasty gash on her head.
>>434797 "Hehe well its settled for me… Ah aint lettin the future salvation of ponykind get foalnapped…" I extend a hoof and a friendly smile "Names Double Action… judging by your looks you aint to fond of leavin these two alone either eh?"
>>434799 "Well they're either superbeings, in which case i'm stuck babysitting, or they're demons and I'll be fighting them at some point."
"I am Brother Vigilance, ex-Knight of the Round Trough, sadly disbanded when the days of the King ended, and a Platinum Queen stopped sitting on the throne of Canterlot. And this is Imminent Glow, we met on our way to Hooves Run."
>>434802 "If you say so…" >>434801 I shake his paw and turn to Glow and tip my hat "Pleased to meet ya miss Glow… if ya don mind what do you do fer a living?"
>>434799 >>434800 >>434801 >>434802 The fillies wounds are healed after taking some time, it is some time past midnight now. >>434803 He takes him from you and nods "Just come back in a few hours and I'll be ready."
>>434807 "I have to be strong… Aldan said this egg had was really important…something about the fate of the world… I wonder… Wait a minute, did someone say something about god fillies?" I head out of town, to the where the others where.
>>434809 You head out of town and can see the group of four + two standing in the road near a crater, a pool of boiling chocolate, and a diamond dog shaped marshmellow.
>>434814 "I suppose I'm in much the same line of work, though I prefer to aim for a bit bigger targets. Lesser devils, Innucubi, Imps, Fiends, Shades, Liches, Necromancers, Witches, Timber Wolves, rogue Dragons and roaring sea serpents."
"Takes a lot longer for each fight, usually have to gather a team for each hunt, but it keeps the Kingdom safe. Or whats left of it anyway."
>>434808 "Heh what I meant to say was I still hope I get my bits for taking these two fillys to Fillydelp- I mean uhh handing them over to a strange pon wait no hehe-" I just shove my hoof in my mouth to keep myself from spilling anymore of my secrets.
>>434817 "Not even slightly. Most of it goes to maintaining my equipment, and even then public charity is needed to make ends meet. I had been just running around heaping up the dead since order started breaking down past the local level, but if these beings really are prophesied leaders, they might be able to help end this conflict."
>>434818 I take out my flask again and wave it at her offering her some "Well shoot, now come now maam… you can trust me! Were all friends here right?" >>434820 "Sounds like a plan… so do we just get em to the old Canterlot castle and wait some till theyr all nice and big like or…?"
>>434822 "No, there's a method to this madness. Spirits are weird, fickle creatures, but they aren't inherently irrational. At least not most of them. No whats likely to happen is either were going to be attacked by something, and we'll be stuck guarding them, some evil cult or organization or noble is going to try and stop them because they're a threat, or we're going to be charged to complete a series of seemingly pointless but actually crucial quests with the aid of the sleeping companions over there. Happened all the time when I was still in Canterlot."
>>434826 "Aint mystics sposed ta be all ominous and such? And whats a deer? Is that lika buffalo tribe or somethin?" >deers are relatively uncommon and mostly unknown to many
>>434822 I drink every last drop of whatever was in the flask before sluring. "Some strange very nice pony who bought me a drink wants me and some other schlubs to take these fillys to some Arcaniawatsit in Fillydelphia for a large amount of bits."
>>434826 I consider what my master said very carefully. I take out the egg from my bag of holding. "The two sisters from the stars have arrived this night. The phoenix, inside this egg, Philomena, will help them return harmony."
>>434827 "Is an obscure forest dwelling race. And no, "mystics" are a plague. Magic isn't some weird hidden force, its an exact science. The Arcane Academies back in Canterlot were actually quite rigid on this point."
>>434829 "Called it! How will this phoenix egg help?"
>>434839 "Sure. Though ah aint really tired, but I don mind headin back ta town…" I carefully try to pick up the larger pretty princess pony and lay her on my back >Toughness Passive
>>434839 "There might be an inn in town you can stay at. If you need me, I will be paying my respects." I head back into town, towards the Funereal Home
>>434846 >>434847 >>434848 You walk into town, Lily separates from you all and walks to the graveyard. >>434849 He has prepared the body and a grave. "I'm sorry it was somewhat short notice….I can make him a proper headstone later." >>434850 >>434851 (no posting ooc please)
"So? What happened next?" The young princess said excited. "Those five were the first element bearers?" "Correct." "But there are six elements…" Celestia smiled "Yes and the story is not over yet my faithful student. But for now I think you better go to your friends. I can hear the music starting already." Twilight Sparkle nodded and smiled "Thank you princess!" and flew (somewhat awkwardly on new wings) out of the throne room leaving the lone Princess of the day looking at the five figures depicted on the window.
Twilight Sparkle looked up at the sky watching the stars as the twinkled in the moonlight. It had been several hours after her and Princess Celestia’s talk. The celebration downstairs had finally died down. Twilight was exhausted from her recent ordeals and was looking forward to getting some rest. Tomorrow her friends would go back to Ponyville while Twilight would stay behind for another week to get herself acquainted with her new royal duties. She had promised her friends she would return soon though, Pinkie Pie had promised to throw a party twice as big on her return.
A twinkle appeared on the face of the moon and then a dark silhouette.. “Princess Luna?” The graceful princess of the night flew across the face of the full moon and landed next to Twilight on the balcony. Luna nodded “Greetings Princess Sparkle, a beautiful night is it not?.”, “Erhm you can still call me Twilight and yes it’s a wonderful night.” the young alicorn shifted her hooves nervously. Luna smiled and nodded “Very well Twilight, what keeps you up at this late hour?”
Twilight watched a small shooting star cross the sky, “The Princess told me about the first bearers of the Elements. How you both first met them after falling from the sky. But there are only five ponies in the story?” “Seven counting my sister and I.”, Luna corrected. “Right seven…..So who were they? How did they represent the six elements of Harmony?” Twilight asked excitedly
Luna smiled “Well Twilight, I don’t think my sister would mind if I presume to pick up where she left off……….”
====In the distant past====
Tired from travel and recent developments, the five new acquaintances make their way into the town. Lily the deer traveled to the graveyard while the rest of the group went to procure a room at the Inn. >Lily At the graveyard with the undertaker who is ready to perform last rites >Vigilance,Cinnamon, Emmy, and Double Action Outside the the bar and inn carrying two unconscious fillies fallen from the stars
>>437757 "So these two little fillies are gon need ta share a room with somepony babysittin… I doubt the rooms can hold mor than 4 a us at a time…" I look at the others "Who wants ta sleep with tha girls? Ah don need much rest so I can patrol town or guard the door or somethin…"
>>437760 "Ah think ya and Emmy should do it, last time that young miss over there tried ta give the poor blue foal alcohol…" I say more shocked than admonishing
>>437765 >>437766 >>437767 >>437768 The bar is mostly empty, a sleepy looking donkey is behind the bar. >>437771 "I would never leave you Lilly……" The ghostly visage of Aldan barley forms out of the morning mist, "You are never alone…."
>>437772 I walk up to the donkey full of energy despite the lateness "Howdy thar sir! Me an mah friends would like to git two rooms if ya don mind" I say with a smile
>>437773 >>437774 >>437775 "Sure thing." The donkey yawns. "That'll be twenty bits for each room." >>437776 "You have a connection to the spirit world not many possess Lilly. And my spirit lingers because my duty to you has not yet be fulfilled." He smiles warmly
>>437781 "Those two fillies….You must watch over them, teach them what I have taught you. Teach them kindness, compassion, duty. Teach them the magic of friendship for they will do wonders with it one day. Burn bright as a shining beacon of hope just like the phoenix." >>437780 >>437781 >>437782 >>437783 >>437784 The little filly on Vigilance's head says something like "momma" in her sleep. The donkey bartender just looks at you all sleepy eyed/
>>437786 "There's an old statue of an ancient and great pony some distance from here……go there with your friends…..pay your respects…..and maybe she will hear your voice, and you will hear her's. Remember I will be with you….always……" With that your old master fades into the mist leaving you there alone again. >>437787 >>437788 >>437789 >>437790 >>437791 "Yeah one window each……" He hands you room keys "Both upstairs on the right."
>>437795 >>437796 >>437797 >>437798 >>437800 >>437801 You all pass out. The two fillies share a bed in the room with Emmy and Vigil with, Double Action and Cinnamon sharing a room next door. After only about an hour and half of sleep you are all awakened by a cry of shocked surprised followed by zap sound. Vigil and Emmy are hanging upside down looking down at a pair of frightened fillies. The white one is holding Emmy and Vigil upside down with telekensis, and the blue one has started sobbing. >>437799 These events take about an hour and a half, you are starting to get a bit sleepy. As you head back into town you notice smoke on the horizon that was not there earlier in the morning.
>>437802 I rush into the room guns at the ready "Whatisit?! Bandi- oh… thats a problem…" I turn to Celestia and give her a friendly smile "Umm excuse me little missy… mind puttin mah friends down?"
>>437803 The white one looks at you determined "Don't come any closer! Who are you! What have you done with us!?" "WHERE'S MY MOMMA?!" the smaller one cries. >>437805 >>437806 You are still floating above the ground. >>437807 You travel through the forest and down the road. You can see a small army of armored boars lead by a robed diamond dog marching down the highway towards the town. They do not see you yet. The diamond dog is wearing similar robes to the diamond dogs who you fought earlier.
>>437808 I stand still and try to reassure her "Now now… I donno bout you little missy, but I found your sister in a burnin farm silo… Take what of it what you will but after that little show back ther we didnt want ta split ya but we didnt want ya ta catch a cold or get foalnapped by some scumbags… make o mah words what ya will but im tellin the truth…"
>>437808 "WefoundyoufallfromtheskyandweprotectedyoufromsomediamonddogswhoalsowantedtocaptureyouandwetookyoutothisinntosleepandPUTUSDOWN!" she says, quite long winded and shocked by this sudden situation.
>>437804 You manage to sleep through all this. >>437809 >>437810 >>437811 The white filly doesn't look like she is buying it but suddenly she looses concentrations and holds her forehead groaning in pain. The spell is lifted and Vigilance and Emmy are dropped on to the bed landing unceremoniously on the floor. The small blue filly is still sobbing. >>437812 You make it to the outskirts of the village. They look like they should arrive in about an hour.
>>437813 I ignore them then immediately run to check up on Emmy and Vigil, after making sure theyre okay I scoop up Luna and try to comefort her "Im sorry little filly, but ah looked everywher for yer parents… not a single soul knew where they were… tha townsfolk said ya came from the sky!" I point out the window to the sky "But id be willan to help ya look… but please stop frettin little filly, it aint no use to cry"
>>437814 You enter the inn although you do not know which room they are staying at. >>437815 >>437816 she looks fine physically but she shakes her head still groaning. "Please…..you have to let us go……." >>437817 The little blue one stops crying but clams up avoiding your gaze.
>>437819 >>437820 >>437824 "It doesn't matter…..we have a job to do…….it has to be done….." She stops holding her head and looks at you sadly >>437821 >>437822 The donkey points up at the two rooms upstairs on the right. >>437823 You snore loud enough to wake Cthulhu
>>437827 You are standing outside the first room door. The door is locked. >>437826 >>437828 >>437829 "I…..can't remember!…….My head is so foggy." She holds it again.
"Tia……..M-momma told us that we have to find the elements of harmony so that the big bad goat man will stop hurting people." The little blue one chimes in abruptly.
The white filly looks stunned "M-momma? I can't even remember………….." tears are welling up in her eyes.
>>437830 "Dont you fret none lil fillies… its a shame ta see kids cry… howsabout we help ya look for em… Iffen you trust us that is…" I say with a warm smile
>>437830 "Probably just temporary amnesia from shifting dimensions or some such. You probably shouldn't have traveled if you knew that was the side effect. In the meanwhile, what are the Elements of Harmony?"
>>437831 >>437832 >>437834 "…this is our job we have to do it ourselves…" The little white one looks conflicted. The blue one is silent. >>437833 You knock on the door with everyone inside. >>437835 You jump out of the window. Everyone inside the next room can see you escaping down the street.
>>437838 "I thought making a small joke would ease the tension. I'm sure we're all very confused about the recent turn of events, and I might have a clue on what to do next." I say, in a cool voice.
"However, that must be put on hold. There is a small army of boars led by a diamond dog, in similar garb to the one earlier, heading this way."
>>437841 No but you see ponies running around in a panic. "Everyone get to the shelters! There's a warband of hogs coming!" You can hear screams and frantic cries as villagers are in complete panic
>>437836 She stays silent, trying to be understanding. >>437840 She turns to the deer. "What? Now?" She turns to everyone else. "We better go-" Then she remembers. It's still night outside.
>>437850 "If we defeat him in combat, the warband might splinter and scatter. Most primitive armies do. For the meanwhile, I need someone in charge of getting the villagers to safety, and someone else to come with me to to meet the army."
>>437855 "I'm going to go and challenge the leader of the army to single combat. And if he refuses I'm going to have Double Action shoot him to ribbons."
>>437856 >>437857 Despite the fact that plan is utterly ridiculous, and he's probably going to die, I nod. "Very well. However, there's still the matter on what to do about those Sky-fillies…
They should probably go with whoever is evacuating."
>>437861 She slowly walks towards them, and hunkers down to meet them at eye level. "I'm Imminent Glow, you can call me Emmy," she says in the gentlest voice possible.
>>437862 They both look very nervous. You can tell that they both have been through alot. >>437865 "….." She pauses and then smiles nervously "I-it's nice to meet you Emmy….." She stutters
>>437866 "I can understand you're probably nervous right now. That is alright. You've been through a lot. But, we're going to help you through this." I pull out the phoenix egg and show them it. "My master gave me this, and told me I needed to find you, and help restore harmony. That's what you're trying to do right? Restore harmony? He said this might help." I hold the egg in front of them, inviting them to take it.
"Philomena…." Celestia repeats as she and Luna look on in wonder at the miracle of life, "Y-your master told you this baby birdie would help us?" The white filly says.
>>437873 "She's a phoenix. A fire bird. When she becomes old, and frail, she will burn, till she is nothing but ashes.. But, she will be reborn from those ashes. 'Nothing truly ever dies'"
>>437861 "Its a pleasure to meet ya both… Names double action… friends call me double A, lazy friends call me D.A." >>437863 I check my guns and follow "Ready when you are boss…"
>>437875 They both look on in amazement as the little bird frees herself from her egg chirping happily. >>437877 >>437863 You both walk outside, the army has stopped just short of the town's outskirts. The streets look all but deserted.
“Hogs?” Twilight asked confused.”You mean pigs right?” “Wild Boars to be exact.” Luna corrected “This one a brutish warrior tribe that lived in the nearby forests and hills. However for all of their aggression and violent tendencies. they were they did not bother the pony folk normally. Something….no……someone had swayed them to that place.”
“Who?” Twilight wondered aloud “An agent of disharmony…….” replied Luna with a serious look.
====In the distant past==== The party after getting but a few hours of have awoken to find the town of Hooves Run has come under siege by a warband of wild hogs lead by a strange robed diamond dog. The party decided to split with one side taking the fillies and helping the townsponies get to safety while the other two traveled to meet the army outside of town. >Vigilance and Double Action On the road leading out of town. The army has stopped in the far outskirts. >Cinnamon Blossom Lying in the gutter watching as Vigilance and Double Action walk by >Emmy Glow and Lilly with Celestia, Luna, and hatching Philomena Running to the center of town where everyone seems to be fleeing to.
>>439025 You stand there in the road as Vigilance walks on ahead >>439026 As you walk down the road you can see the army has noticed the lone traveler and is beginning to circle around you. "Oi Boss wez got us a mutt wif a flag but eh ain one uf us! Wan we should bash es skull en?"
"Brilliant deduction, now shut up!" The diamond dog says as he begins to stroll to you. "The nation that flag represents is no more, why do you display it brother?"
You're suddenly get the sense that you are becoming surrounded. >>439028 She doesn't say anything, still looking very scared. >>439027 There's an earth pony everyone has gathered around who looks like the mayor of the town. He appears completely bombarded by the frantic townsponies. "They cut off the water supply!" "Where do we go!" "The apple orchards on fire!" "We're gonna die!"
The mayor with beads of sweat running down his face appears dumbstruck and helpless to console the scared townsponies. "I.I….I….I don't know! I DON'T KNOW!"
>>439029 You can see the frantic townsponies gather in the center of town on one side and the army in the distance which seems to be closing around Vigilance.
>>439030 I tighten my duster around me and lean on a wall, guns at the ready. I take my flask of whiskey and look on the scene ready to shoot vigil an exit if needed.
>>439030 "Two comets have fallen from the sky, and with them two alicorns, like those of legend, printed upon this flag. The interrex may soon be over. Soon again begins the days of Monarchs in this land. Why have you brought this great host here, all in arms? The hogs are not a people prone to attacking without warning."
>>439033 Your words do not seem to help the frantic townsponies. >>439034 "I…..we were not prepared for this…..the army is blocking our only escape route to safety! The only other places to escape to are the canterlot hills which are haunted by v-vengeful spirits….or the Everfree Forest! Do you really want to send these ponies into the EVERFREE?" He pants our of breath from the rant. >>439035 He laughs "Wots eh yakkin about boss?" One of the bigger hogs says "Ah nothing you need to worry your little brain about,………..now………." turning back to Vigilance "Yeah i head about your little pony pups that arrived last night. You might have seen my two brothers the night before? It was unwise to deny us the fillies. So i'm gonna ask you again…..give you a chance to preserve your life and the lives of the ponies in that town back there. Hand over the two alicorns." >>439036 You stealthly sneak through a gap in the ranks of the hog army and are crawling under their hooves [spoler] solid snake style withing close distance to Vigilance. You are hiding under one of the big guys. >>439032 You see Cinnamon disappear into the ranks of the army.
>>439037 I look at the diamond dog before me, and the army surrounding me. I lower my head to the ground, looking at the dust for a second, before looking up at the robed dog and shouting.
>>439041 "LOCKED AND LOADED BOSS!" >>439037 I draw my revolvers from my distance and start shooting I fire five shots sending 5 diamond dogs to the ground >rolling Rapid Barrage (With Knockout) >+1 from talent
>>439039 Your voice breaks and is drowned out by the frantic ponies. They are starting to run around in despair. >>439040 "But where! We have to choose between certain death…..certain death, and CERTAIN DEATH?!" >>439041 He eyes you strangely and the Hogs just look on apparently bored. >>439046 You hit the diamond dog and 4 of the hogs knocking them helpless. >>439047 You miss and one of the boars grazes you with a spear thrust. >>439045 You spring on the back of the hog you were under (which just hit Vigilance) "Oi gerrof me hoers!" he bucks you [1d10]
"CHARGE! FORGET THE KNIGHT, I WILL DEAL WITH HIM!" the downed dog shrieks.
>>439053 "Calm down! We will protect the town, but we must now go to the Everfree Forest!" she once again says, slightly frustrated by the mayor's stupidity.
>>439055 You words while loud do not calm the fears and ponies are still running around scared. >>439056 "The everfree?!" "Horrible monsters live in there!" "We'll be killed!" "Nowhere is safe!" "We're doomed!" The townsponies aren't buying it. >>439059 "Wudarya doin! Gerrof me yah dumb hoers!" You steer him into the path of the charging hogs and cause some of them to smash into the big one tripping over each other. >>439058 As you go to shoot you are tackled by one of the hogs charging in. (helpless) >>439057 You wound him as he springs back to his feet. "You're gonna regret that!" his eyes begin to glow [1d10+1]
>>439068 You knock him off and are back on your hooves infront of a wobbly angry boar. >>439069 >>439072 (spell fails but makes a sound and visible light) The towns ponies are beginning to gather around you and Emmy. "Yes! I think we should listen to the two…..the deer might even know her way through the forest!" The mayor says. >>439070 You graze him with your and jumps back he holds his paw up to his wound [1d10+1] The 4 boars that were downed have gotten back up and now surround you both. >>439073 You fail to control him and he attempts to buck you off again [1d10]
Emmy feels little Celestia tug at her mane. "Miss Emmy? What's gonna happen to us?"
>>439079 Emmy looks to what's tugging her mane. Aw, it's wittle Cewestia. "Don't worry, you're gonna be safe. We just need to go to the Everfree Forest," she reassures her. She announces to the now submissive crowd, "Let's go, then!" with a motion to the forest.
>>439079 I point both my guns at him and give him a friendly smile "Bang." I fire both shots on his hooves hopefully knocking him to the ground. >Rolling Trickshot K.O.
>>439081 They begin to gather around you seemly ready to follow. Luna is on your back, she still looks frightened as she looks at the dark forest. >>439082 You fail to control his direction and he tries to buck you off again. [1d10] >>439084 You pepper the hog attacking you with rounds. He won't be getting up for awhile. You can see the hogs are starting to ransack the village. >>439085 Grazing him again with your longsword he just looks at you eye's glowing again. [1d10+1] >>439083 "That forest looks scary though……" she says You start heading into the forest as you see the hogs begin to enter the town. Fires are being set and you can hear some of the ponies wailing. Also you know three of your friends are still back there.
>>439087 I begin shooting up some hogs, targeting the most destructive ones in hopes to gather their attention >rolling dual attack on 2 targets [1d10+1] [1d10+1]
Roll #1 3 + 1 = 4 / Roll #2 5 + 1 = 6 / Roll #3 8 + 1 = 9
>>439090 I float out my other bottle of whiskey pouring 1/3 of it down my throat and then slurring "Ish time fer sum hog wrasslin" I attempt to tackle the large hog that I just fell off of.
>>439087 She hopes they're okay. >>439088 At hearing Cewestia's fright, she pats her longbow, saying, "I can take care of them, and with your magic, we can take on anything!"
>>439088 She still appears nervous…but she smiles when you tell her that. >>439091 He dodges you blow and catches you in the jaw with a right hook. -1 hits. (4/5) "What do you hope to accomplish by denying us. Don't you see you're only making it worse for yourself?" >>439093 Your first attack misses but your second manages to graze one hog who stops pillaging and is now charging you. [1d10] >>439094 "Wot?" the hog slips out of your drunken hold and pins you. (helpless) 0/5 >>439095 You begin to head into the forest, the town vanishing behind the trees. "They're following us!" one pony exclaims. And you can hear the boars charging through the forest after you.
>>439105 He sidesteps you attack and jumps back eyes glowing again. [1d10+1] >>439106 Celestia ducks behind your mane. "W-what are they?" You can see a few boars filtering through the trees "Find dos fillies! Stomp da rest!" >>439109 You manage to slip out of the pin like a greased up deaf guy. "Ey!! Where'd id go?" The boar says looking under him >>439107 The townsponies follow you deeper into the forest. Luna suddenly shrieks on your back "Tia! TIA!" Suddenly you feel lighter as you see the little blue filly has taken flight. She starts fluttering away and into the forest after Emmy and Celestia. >>439108 You knock one down and helpless and another takes a shot to the side. He huffs and charges you raging. [1d10] The other one who hit you is coming back around.
>>439112 >>439114 "Yeah," she yells back, still aiming at the boars. She gets down to allow Celestia out. "Celestia, go with Lilly, I need to protect you from the boars." She then lets fly an arrow at one of them.
>>439117 You slice him once as he grunts and jumps back eye's glowing again. [1d10+1] >>439118 "O-oka- MISS EMMY!" as you go to draw your bowstring back a boar's javelin pierces your side rendering you helpless with -1 wound. Celestia is standing looking on in horror as you collapse. >>439119 You lock hooves and grapple with him but fail to pin him down. "Yer a wiry ickle hoers!" >>439120 The shot misses the other boar comes around to charge you. [1d10] >>439114 Luna has disappeared into the forest and you hear little Celestia cry out. "MISS EMMY!"
>>439126 "Gah!" She holds her wound as she lays on the ground in pain. "Go, Celestia, I'll be okay!" she says to the little concerned filly as she tries to get up >rolling to get up
>>439126 I finish prepping my guns and look at Vigil locked into combat with the leader. "Ey! Tell yer men to fallback cause in the next 30 seconds you aint gon be standin so you might as well do one last good thing before ah send ya to the afterlife…." I fire both my guns into him >rolling dual attack [1d10+1]
>>439128 He ducks your swipe and knees you in the groin -2 hits (2/5) "You are foolish to fight…..don't you see you cannot win?" >>439133 You fail but remain grappled. You and the big boar struggle with each other on nearly equal footing even though he is many time larger than you. The other boars a watching this in awe as you both fail to gain the advantage. >>439137 You line up a shot with the leader but suddenly you are tackled by one of the Boars you struck before. (helpless) >>439132 You run into the woods and can see her fluttering around lost crying "Tia! Tia! Where's Tia?!" >>439130 You fail to get up "N-no…..i'm not gonna leave you here!" She tries to help you up. [1d10-1]
>>439142 She gets up with the help of Celestia. She huffs, still felling a bit of pain, then says, "Thanks, now go!" She then aims with her horn for a large tree in between her and the boars, and fires a bolt of magic at it. >tl;dr magic bolt at tree
>>439142 I empower my weapon again [recharge finally up], and hold my longsword into the air as light shines from it. I drop my shield, lunging forward to stab the bastard through the heart.
>>439145 "Tia?!" She starts following you fluttering beside you. You can see Emmy and Celestia through the trees >>439146 You put the boar in a leg lock dealing damage. He struggles out of the lock and you both resume grappling. The other hogs looking on are starting to place bets "I bet Gurzog stomps her in 'bout 15 secunds." "I dunno lookit dat face on her. She's foaming at da mouf." >>439149 The bolt only manages to sluff off some bark "But what about you?!" The boar the thre the javelin has arrived "OI! AND OVAR DAT FILLY!" >>439150 You get up >>439151 He sidesteps and punches you in the gut -1 hits (1/5) "Please stop….you're embarrassing yourself. His eyes glow again [1d10+1}
You spell fails and the boar swipes at you dealing -4 hits (1/4)
>>439158 The rock bounces off of him and he angrily charges at you [1d10] "Tia!" Luna is flying into the middle of the engagement towards her sister. "NO LUNA! FLY AWAY" >>439160 A good amount of the army has now stopped to watch you and this boar duke it out. There are now fight breaking out IN the army over who's going to win this match. You are unable to pin him >>439163 The dog yells at his army "WHAT ARE YOU DOING YOU FOOLS ATTA- oof!" Your fist explodes in his face with the righteous fury of the sun knocking him on his ass (helpless) >>439166 He takes a bullet to the side as he goes down. One boar tries to tackle you [1d10]
>>439167 "Agh!" "Don't worry about me!" she tells Celestia. Running out of options, she attempts to use her telekenesis on the tree to stop the boars. >rolling advanced telekenesis
>>439169 You pick your sword up still warm from the spell and go to impale him, he dodges the stab but the side of his head gets sliced. >>439170 Two bullets riddle the dog who is on the ground. His eyes glow [1d10+1] >>439171 You actually manage to tire him out long enough to pin him (helpless) The other nearby hogs are now clapping (and fighting each other) >>439175 You down the tree you hit earlier and it blocks the path of the other charging boars, but two have made it through. one charges at you and the other at Celestia [2d10] >>439178 You smack the one Charging at Celestia
>>439181 I turn around smiling "Well howdy! Thanks fer makin aimin that much easier! Sit boy!" I fire one bullet hitting him in the leg knocking him down to the ground again >rolling trick shot knockout
>>439183 You lift the 230+ lb boar over your head but then you suddenly remember that you are a little pony and have no business lifting this kind of weight. At that moment your knees give way and you are crushed under Gurzog the Hog. (helpless) >>439184 Your shot misses him even at point blank and he grins at you eye's glowing [1d10+1] >>439185 You hurl your sword across the battlefield but no where in the direction of your target. >>439186 You throw the Boar off of Emmy as she struggles up to her hooves. Celestia and Luna are holding each other screaming as the other boar is bearing down on them. >>439182 You are up from helpless
>>439194 He swipes you dealing -1 hits (3/5) >>439195 You throw it but it goes sailing over his head and into the distance. >>439196 You fail to lift him up but you clamber out from under him and back to your hooves. He tries to get up as well [1d10] >>439198 You strike the boar that is bearing down on the fillies and he falls down helpless. >>439201 Double Action manages to back kick the diamond dog in the chin and create some distance between them
>>439202 I float out my bottle of whiskey and down the last of it smashing the bottle on my forehead I attempt to lift and throw Gurzog one last time. (+1 from cutie mark)
>>439205 You miss the shot >>439206 You knock that boar helpless as well. Both are helpless, you can hear the other ones trying to bash down the big tree trunk. "KEEP BASHIN IT!" "Uh why don we go round it?" "TOO SLOW! BASH DIS LOG DOWN!" >>439209 You put another bullet in his and he goes down clutching his side helpless. The second attack misses. >>439211 Your attack misses. Maybe you hesitated, or maybe the boar rolled away in time….you can't tell. >>439208 You somehow hoist him over our head "Well i'll be zogged." one watching boar comments as they see Gurzog lifted up. You then throw him landing on his back and still helpless with the wind knocked out of him.
>>439216 The follow you to the clearing where you left the townponies >>439218 This shot misses, you can see the majority of the boars have stopped ransacking the town to watch Cinnamon and Gurzog rasslin >>439219 You must not have it in you. Or maybe he's just too hard to hit. Regardless you see Lilly and the fillies run into the woods leaving you alone with the boars. >>439221 You end him……..suddenly his bosy starts bubbling and popping?
"Oi! Da boss got dead! Whaduwe do now?" "I dunno about you but im watching dis here fight!" >>439222 He attempts to get up [1d10]
>>439224 "Ok, now. Good news, the boars have been slowed down." I tell the towns people. "But, if we don't get moving now, they'll catch up any minute! So let's move out!" I say, rallying the towns folk. I/We continue through the forest.
>>439224 I grit my teeth seeing the swine still all around us "YER NOT LEAVIN YET?!" I then start firing on 5 random boars to show them what the situation is. >rolling Rapid Barrage
>>439229 You come to the clearing where you left the townsponies…….they're gone…….without a trace. >>439233 You fall down and suddenly it dawns on you that the fillies that you were charged to look after are……well you have no idea where they are actually. >>439234 You knock some of the boars down with your gun "Ey! Doya mind we're trying to watch dis fight here!" But the fights over…..da horse wun." "Yeah and boss is dead……might as well call it a day……ALRIGHT YOU HOGZ LISTEN UP. WE GETTING OUTTA DIS MUCKIN PLACE YA HEAR?" They begin gathering up the wounded and making for the forest. The big hog Gurzog walks away rubbing his head "Dat was a strong pony…" >>439230 You walk over to the corpse of the Dog, it has now exploded into…..popcorn. A giant pile of popcorn.
>>439237 I walk up to the 'corpse' and take a piece and put it in my duster pocket "Now id be lyan if ah sed I knew what this meant… I wonder why food keeps on tryan to take dem lil fillies…"
>>439239 You can find no tracks the suggest they were captured by boars…..they must have been taken by something else. You can't tell what…..but clearly it didn't leave tracks on the ground. >>439240 >>439241 >>439244 >>439245 You can tell the boars followed the villagers into the forest. You follow the tracks until you meet up with Lilly, Emmy(AFK), Celestia and Luna
>>439246 I look to the two sisters giving them a bright friendly smile "Well hay der Celestia, Luna… glad ta see ya two are still safe…" I look to Lily and Emmy "Thanks ta you two ah reckon. Me an baws cleared da town so ya can bring em folk back to der homes now…"
>>439247 "Gone. Vanished, without a trace. One of the fillies ran off, you see, and I went to go look for her. And well,…" I look around nervously… "I don't know what happened…" I suddenly feel great remorse and regret for my mistake.
>>439250 "Now dont you fret now lil missy… everyone makes mistakes, its how we fix things that matters…" >>459252 "Sure thing ba- I mean erm… Vigil? Odd name doncha think hehe"
>>439252 "I agree. I was only gone for a second…" 'What if… no. No. They're fine. I promised them I'd get them through this…and I'll do it… right?' >>439254 I smile, faintly. "Oh, great phoenix flames, how I hope you're right…"
>>439256 "Alright then… How bout Lance…? Ah Tartarus, forget it. Vigil's right les go find us some townsfolk!" >>439258 "Oh by the way, Ms. Lily? That dere mutt turned inta popcorn when ah shot em. Now correct me if ahm wrong but that aint what ya call normal, any ideas about why he did that?" I showcase the popcorn I took to her
“So lemme guess, this is where we have to end the story tonight?” Twilight said disappointed. “Yes" "But what happened to the villagers!?
"I would continue but I’m afraid I would talk you until sunrise.” Luna chuckled and smiled Twilight sighed but then looked at the clock and yawned….it was far past time for sleep, and she had a big day ahead tomorrow.
“Sleep well Twilight Sparkle….our tale will continue.” and with that the Princess of the Night spread her wings and took to the moonlit sky. Twilight smiled and took one last look at the sky before going back downstair and drifting off to sleep in her soft bed with dreams of legendary tales of ponies and magic carrying her on through the night.
Twilight Sparkle trotted down the street and up the main avenue to the Royal Palace. She had reluctantly said goodbye to her friends at the train station promising to see them again soon. While she looked forward to seeing them again, Twilight also was also anticipating more story about the first bearers of the Elements. Her trot broke into a gallop and then into flight as she hurried to the palace in her excitement.
The excited young alicorn landed in the throne room and ran up to Celestia who was observing another stained glass window. “Princess! I know we have important lessons today but I was wondering if we could finis-” The princess held up a hoof, “Twilight…you’ll be happy to know….that is todays lesson.” “It is?” Twilight inquired “Indeed it is….and while we are at it….I would like you to accompany on a trip I have been wanting us to take for quite some time.” Celestia walked up the stairs to the observatory beckoning Twilight to follow.
Twilight had been here before and remembered it well. This was the highest spire of Canterlot where the Princess could watch over the Equestrian day as was her duty. Twilight sighed looking at the magnificent site and back at the princess who simply smiled. “Twilight let us fly together.” she said spreading her majestic wings and taking to the air. The young alicorn raised her own brand new wings and carefully took off. “Good….getting used to them I see.” “Rainbow Dash told me that it’s just like running except without using your legs!” Twilight nodded and smiled “Good then follow me, I have something to show you.”
Celestia soared high and through the clouds over the castle with Twilight carefully flying behind. The majestic spires of Canterlot receded behind as they both flew off towards the Everfree. (continued)
>>445243 ====In the distant past==== While Vigilance and Double Action dispatched the mysterious leader of the warband, Cinnamon Blossom entertained the hog army long enough for them to get bored with pillaging, while Lilly and Emmy lead the villagers into the forest.
The five friends and two alicorn fillies now stand in the middle of the Everfree as the afternoon turns to evening. They had managed to save both the two fillies and the town from further damage, however the villagers they had rescued are nowhere to be found.
>>445249 >>445254 >>445256 >>445257 It's a getting to dark for you to see (need to eat more carrots) >>445252 The area where Lilly left them is strewn with several dropped belongings.The tracks show that some were standing still when they dropped their things while other tracks start to run from where they were standing and then suddenly disappear. Other places you can find clear signs of a struggle. Broken tree branches, a small smear of blood.
The day has turned to night…..and quicker than you expected. Maybe you have lost track of time in the excitement.
>>445274 "Ah aint tired, but da night can be a might deadlier than tha day…" >>445275 "Gosh darn, it don feel right takin shelter in the town what with all the townfolk gone like that, but thatd be the best place to stay…"
Entire Team >Find the out what happened to Hoove's Run villagers Cinnamon Blossom >get team and two fillies to Fillydelphia safety Lilly >Find the old statue
>>445285 Her ear perks up at this certain sound. She turns her head to where the voice came from, and takes a step in that direction. She hesitates, still frightened by the coming night, but goes to offer help.
>>445299 "Wait what are you doing noaaa!" You buck that tree with some serious drunken power. >>445300 The Mayor of Hoove's Run falls into your deer arms. You can recognize him by his Mayor Hat.
>>445308 "I……no…..there are no others…..I climbed the tree you see when i heard the wings approaching………I errr…….clung to the branches and prayed to the sun for dear life…….by the time i opened my eyes……everyone was gone." He is clearly shaken.
>>445312 As the hearing of the word "sun," she returns her attention to the fact that there is now barely any. "Um, let's go back to the city, we'll look for them tomorrow…" she says as shaken as the mayor.
>>445324 You see Luna flutter down from behind where you were in the tree next to you she says softly. "That place is scary……." >>445326 "I….I don't know….I had heard rumors of old ruins in the Everfree…….only old tales……they say this forest is older than the rest of the world. Pony folk around here are mighty wary of this place.
>>445330 >>445332 Celestia says, "We have to rescue those ponies….it's because of us that they were taken." >>445334 The night has indeed come although it seems strange as you feel like the day should have been longer. Luna sees you getting nervous and in turn lands and starts visibly shaking as well. "A-are you afraid?"
>>445341 "Well, let's just say I've had a bad experience during one…" >>445343 her eyes drift over to Luna's, and she responds, "Yeah…" She brightens up, and says, "But at least we're together!" and hugs her.
>>445349 She seems a bit relieved as you say that and accepts the embrace, you manage to hide your fear. >>445353 Everyone is hiking through the woods >y/n (will novel next post.)
>>445354 She hesitantly follows. "Well… I got lost in this forest, and…" Her voice cracks at the last word, and she pauses. "I don't really want to talk about it…" she says, turning her head away bashfully.
>>445355 >y I begin checking my gear looking back at the group every now and then. >>445359 "Thats okay Emmy, if ya don wanna talk about it thats fine… but yer gonna have to face yer past one day…"
>>445361 >>445362 "Yeah, it's just the night…" She pauses to get the words to explain her condition. "Makes me feel anxious…" Looking at Luna, she says, "Don't worry, I'll be fine."
>>445367 "The night is nothing to be afraid of. All you have to fear is horrible creatures from the darkest corners of reality rising from below the earth to devour you and all you hold dear……"
>>445355 >>445359 >>445354 >>445353 >>445362 You come upon a dreary looking castle after crossing a river and a spooky forest and a dangerous rope bridge mostly without incident. Tired from the long hike you are reduced by -1 hits
Ahead lies a ruined causeway you can enter the structure from. >Cinnamon 4/5 >Vigilance 5/5 >Double Action 5/6 >Emmy 4/5 >Lilly 4/5
>>445376 "Now doncha worry none Emmy, whatever yer afraid of I bet my bottom bit I can riddle it fulla holes before it can even think of tryin somethin" I say giving her a confident smile "Vigil can help too…"
>>445376 "Point is, you can be attacked, assaulted, oppressed, poisoned, stabbed, torn to pieces, eaten alive, flayed by barbarians, burned by heathens, and ripped mentally apart at any time, in any place. SO if you want to live long, the only cure is to be strong as you can be, and face the world with broad shoulders, puffed out chest, and a stiff upper lip."
>>445383 >>445385 >>445387 >>445391 You follow inside the castle……………as you walk past the threshold the ancient doors shut behind you. >>445388 You are too afraid to summon your armor.
>>445403 your fear is preventing you from summoning your bow from the aether. Celestia is standing next to you. "Wait….it's alright…I can light out path…" She concentrates and her horn glows producing a small yellow light. >>445401 >>445405 >>445406 >>445411 Making your way across to the ruin citadel you come to the ancient wooden doors of an old forgotten palace….the doors are ajar and you can hear music coming from inside.
>>445412 I follow DA trying to mimic the music by whistling but being tone deaf and not knowing how to whistle doesn't help so I just end up puckering my lips and spitting all over the place.
>>445413 >>445415 >>445414 You come into the room and you see an empty throne room with a white pony with dragonfly wings sitting in the throne room. >pic related Vigil and Emmy recognizes this pony……she used to be the former queen of equestria……..but for some odd reason you can't place her name. Besides that however you are absolutely certain this is her. The magic dragonfly wings and everything.
Double Action can tell that you all are not completely alone in here, there are several shadowy guards standing just out of sight in this throne room.
The dragonfly winged unicorn puts down the instrument she was playing. ""I've been waiting on you all……" She smiles "I wanted to see it for myself."
>>445424 "Well howdy maam… err ah take it yer royalty?" I say looking at her tiny cute little crown "Should ah call ya yer highness?… Anyways were lookin fer some lost townsfolk, yah know where they mightve been?" I say glancing every now and then to the sillhouttes of the totally non-insectoid guards
>>445428 "I was dead Brother Vigilance……and reborn…" She looks at you strangely not the same little new queen you remember before you left on our journeys. There's a hunger in her eyes. >>445429 "Something like that…..we all have a purpose mine is to my subjects. They are my children." >>445437 "It's a shame no one remembers really…" She says flatly. >>445434 You see Luna has a very angry sour look on her face and Celestia doesn't look all to happy either. >>445438 >>445439 She ignores you and stands up fluttering over to Celestia lifting up her chin and examining her face
"I can't scarcely believe it…..It's just like the prophecy so many years ago….from the time of Platinum……"
"On a certain day, to uncertain parents, incarnate Moon and Sun are born. Neither blight nor age can harm them, the Curse-of-Hate before them flees. In caverns dark Love's pure eye sees, and makes to shine the Moon and Sun. A scholar's voice unites the ponies, Three tribes call her Princess A warrior's hand unites the Equestrians……………..stop me if you've heard this before."
>>445443 "Cant say that ah have…" I say as i look at her strangely, then the 'guards' >>445437 "Ah donno, just roll with it" I whisper back >>445443 "So then who are yer subjects… cause I know Equestria aint got nopony seated on the throne…"
>>445444 "That these fillies are supposed to be the future rulers of Equestria…." she says looking into the white one's eyes strunching her cheeks together. "They just don't know it yet…." She walks away and strolls back to her throne >>445446 "The most loyal of my court of course! What is a Queen without a retinue of hosts? My subjects are loyal enough to follow their queen into the deepest darkness!" She sighs."But my kingdom is lost……..A queen without a kingdom………A queen usurped…" she says the last words venomously looking at the two white fillies.
>>445443 I shove my hoof in my mouth after realizing she heard me. I think to myself "I wonder if she can read thoughts? OH GOD I BET SHE CAN READ THOUGHTS! Shes gonna banish me or lock me up if she knows abou- No gotta not think about it gotta not think about it totally not thinking about it" Looking extremely panicked my eyes dart around the room in search of a window or something I can use to make a quick escape encase she can actually read my thoughts.
>>445454 I stare at her expression wide-eyed and give her a nervous smile "well then yer highness if ye can point us to where tha townsfolk went we can just be on our way and get out of yer mane…"
>>445457 "Oh the towns folk right……" She says bored "Don't worry we will get to that first I want to a test of sorts…." >>445461 She twitches. "My rules was taken from me…..not by war, or intrigue, but by a curse. My claim is as legitimate as ever, what do these two have to offer?" >>445455 You did whisper out loud she might have heard you that…but you probably haven't rationalized that yet. There are not escape routes except the throne room door which is closed. The Mayor stands there infront of it watching the events quietly
>>445471 I fall down flat on the ground crying loudly "I swear I didn't know it was an orphanage! It only happened onc- twice! I promise ill never play with fire again just don't take away my whiskey or banish me!" I whimper to the princess thing covering my face with my hat and sobbing loudly.
>>445473 >>445475 "A line of questioning that is inadvisable Brother Vigilance…..the answers only lead to hatred, pain, and despair……unless." She looks at you in a strange sultry way "That is something you enjoy….." >>445474 "I want to see how well you can own up on your promises of protecting those fillies. I want to test you in the only real way to test a mortal's soul…..through mortal combat." She grins devilishly. >>445476 The phoenix gives a loud cry that echoes throughout the chamber. The Queen holds her head in pain and Cinnamon notices the Mayor does too. . A green flash of light later and standing where the White Queen used to be is a black and decrepit looking pony with ragged teal hair and a small black crown. >pic very much related.
"A-a Phoenix! Unexpected…..but I matters not….." She begins fluttering towards a hole in the ceiling. "My subjects……do your duty and die well for your queen!"
You watch helplessly as she escapes the buiding (Far Range) as you are surrounded by five smaller armored ponies that look just as decrepit as the former Queen. Solid colored almond eyes, fangs, very insect like. Oh yeah the guy who you thought was the Mayor….he's one of them too, still standing guarding the door.
>>445483 I look at the insects surrounding us "Itll take more than that to corner THIS pony!" I shoot the 5 changeling guards with my guns >rapid barrage + trick shot
>>445483 "Wait a minute your not equestrian law enforcement!…And that means I can smash you schmucks heads into the floor!" I regain my composure quickly and smash the nearest schmucks head into the floor. >Earthen Strike: spell; a melee attack against a single enemy using an earth-covered limb, crits on 8+ and crit fails on 3-
>>445486 You stab into one guard and green blood splatters he is still standing.
"Oh no!" Celestia cries >>445488 You smack one of them upside the head and he staggers backwards from the blow. >>445489 One of the strange ponies zaps you with a painful beam from it's bettle like horn. -4 hits Luna starts screaming. >>445492 You punch one of the strange beasts in the head and he looks back at you and smirks. >>445495 You instantly summon your bow >>445499 Before you can get the arrow notch one of the insectoid ponies run up to you and kicks you in the side. -3 hits >Cinnamon 4/5 >Vigilance 5/5 >Double Action 1/6 >Emmy 1/5 >Lilly 4/5
>>445503 I rear up and point my left hoofgun at the 'pony' that zapped me "Trust me… this hurts a lot more…" I fire a shot at his horn >trick shot knock out
>>445503 I dropkick the smug look of that bug sonuvabitches face. >Earthen Strike: spell; a melee attack against a single enemy using an earth-covered limb, crits on 8+ and crit fails on 3-
>>445506 He grunts and hits the ground clutching his head. "No! DON'T KILL THEM PLEASE! Stop fighting!" Celestia pleads >>445507 He sidesteps you easily and elbows you hard in the back of the head knocking you down on the ground and helpless. -1 wound >>445508 The stab is true and he break off the attack clutching the arrow in his side. Luna is still screaming. >>445511 You force yourself between one of the guards…you can tell there are other's behind you. "P-please….no more hurting each other..!" You hear Luna cry from under your hooves.
>>445515 I put my guns away and look at Celestia then wink at her. I pull out my lastle and hogtie the changeling. "Yeehaw! One non-lethal flank whoppin comin right up little missy!"
>>445515 He rolls out of the way in time, Suddenly you are caught square in the chest by a green bolt and fall helpless. -1 wound (you are atill bolstered from before. AND THE ONLY ONE WHO IS STILL BOLSTERED.) >Cinnamon 0/4 >Vigilance 0/4 >Double Action 5/6 >Emmy 4/5 >Lilly 4/5
>>445517 You pick them up and begin to flee. The insectoid you thought was the Mayor is blocking your. "Can't let you do that missy." He says in a perfect imitation of the Mayor's voice. >>445518 You fail to hog tie him and rolls away still clutching his horn. A glancing bolt zaps you for -1 hit >>445520 You get up like a beast ready to rumble with the bugies >>445521 You stand up, there's a smoking hole in your cloak and a big singe on your armor. >>445525 You fire an arrow at one of them and he safely dodges it only to return a magic bolt in kind that glances off your shoulder. >Cinnamon 5/4 >Vigilance 6/4 >Double Action 4/6 >Emmy 3/5 >Lilly 4/5
>>445532 You thwonk him good in the thorax with a powerful punch. But he does not move. >>445533 He lets go of his horn and looks at you with a firey hatred. As you go to tie him up he springs up and pounces on you roaring like a feral beast. "YOu'll PAY FOR THAT!" He says in a chirpy sounding rendition of poniglish. He bites you dealing -1 wound >>445534 You manage to knock him down and off of Double (not Flag) he looks like he is seriously wounded (and helpless). "NO…Mister Vigilance….you're not gonna kill him are you!?' You hear the white filly pleads over the sound of the battle >>445536 That same insectoid pony dodges and fires another bolt at you. You fall down with a burning hole in your side. >>445538 You head butt him and pin him to the wall with your unicorn horn drawing green blood. He slumps down helpless. >>445532 You hit him once and he looks back at you angry. "You shouldn't have done that…." >Cinnamon 5/4 >Vigilance 6/4 >Double Action 0/5 >Emmy 0/4 >Lilly 4/5
>>445550 You get back on to your hooves. >>445552 He dodges you and upercuts your chin. -1 hits >>445554 You manage to do so causing one bug to miss a bolt aimed at Emmy >>445557 You try and get up but one magic bolt strikes you in the side rendering you helpless again -1 wound >>445555 (I have been informed that that is not the target you chose as that's the one that is dying already.) "WAIT N-" She stops as you switch targets and smack the changeling that has been shooting bolts everywhere down to the ground >Cinnamon 5/4 >Vigilance 6/4 >Double Action 0/4 >Emmy 5/4 >Lilly 3/5
>>445563 >>445564 >>445565 Emmy manages to lift you up. >>445566 You run over and head butt him to which he falls to the ground helpless. >>445570 You knock him out cold. Another blow would kill him. >>445567 You stumble around and realize all the guards are helpless. >Cinnamon 5/4 >Vigilance 6/4 >Double Action 6/4 >Emmy 5/4 >Lilly 3/5
All the changelings are defeated. Luna and Celestia are holding each other apparently very frightened.
>>445572 After lifting up sexy Braeburn, she looks around, seeing the corpses of those insectoid ponies. She then looks to the fillies, and says, "Don't worry, it's over, now…"
>>445572 "I…..just……thank you…..for not killing them…..I….I don't want anyone to die because of us…" The white filly says in a half sob >>445577 He is out like a light. There are some moaning conscious ones though nearby >>445581 All the insectoid things are still alive >>445588 "She's a big meanie!" little Luna says
>>445596 Night was beginning to fall as the two princesses were joined by the third over the trees of the Everfree. Twilight was starting to tire from the long distance flight when Princess Luna chimed in. “We are here.” Finally they begin to descend landing deep in the forest. Twilight landed happily rolling on her back in the soft underbrush, “Ahh….good to be back on the ground.” “Come Twilight we are near…..” Celestia said passing her by walking through a thicket of dark trees. “Wait a moment” Twlight pondered the oddly familiar surroundings when she saw the Castle looming in the distance, unchanged since when she had last visited nearly three years ago. “You mean? This?….”
“Yes Twlight and there is more….” The two elder princesses strolled up the ancient causeway followed by the puzzled young alicorn.
The three princesses stood in the old throne room of the ancient forest citadel. This wasn’t the first time Twilight had explored this crumbling old castle. She had been here previously. Back when she had first visited the everfree that fateful night she had confronted Nightmare Moon. Twilight looked up at her mentor, “Isn’t this the castle you and Princess Luna once lived in?” Celestia chuckled, “Is that what they say about this place? Well no Twilight not exactly. This place is far far older than that.” She pointed to nearby the wall that were obscured in darkness.
Twilight walked over to the wall and looked back at Celestia and Luna. Celestia nodded to her encouragingly. After a moment of hesitation the young alicorn created a small light which immediately illuminated. Twilight suddenly gasped when she finally could make out the etched surface. ====In the distant past====
The five friends travelled through foreboding the Everfree Forest attempting to track down the lost villagers. They came upon an old ruined castle which was near the site from where the villagers disappeared. Coming upon an ancient throne room they met a strange pony who claimed and appeared to be the spiteful former Queen of Equestria The queen revealed herself to be not as she once was, transformed into a hideous creature. She left the castle after ordering her guardians to test the skills of the five friends in combat. After dealing with the strange insectoid ponies, the party stands in the throne room with the two alicorn fillies and five unconscious guardians.
>>459304 "Just a minute, gotta know if all them townsfolk were fake or none. Ah hava hunch they gotta be here somewhere, otherwise they woulda just kidnapped Lunablue over there when it was easy…"
>>459302 He doesn't reply although he appears to be barley conscious. >>459303 Luna flies over one of the unconscious guards with a curious look on her face. Celestia just seems frightened of something as she watches the interrogation. >>459304 Celestia blurts out "Yes! Please…….don't hurt them." Luna still hovering above the unconscious changeling say "But what about the other ponies Tia?" >>459305 Something on the walls catches your eyes as you stand there watching. >>459306 There is a moldy bookshelf in a corner nearby containing some ruined books. But you see no quils or inkpots.
>>459309 Extremely disappointed that I couldn't find anything to draw naughty things on the unconscious guards faces with I search the bookshelf for books with lots of colorful pictures in them to amuse myself with.
>>459309 "Well shoot, ah dont wanna hurt em anymore than whats already done, ah just think that they know where the kidnapped townsfolk is is all…" I look at the changeling with a sympathetic look "Yea yea, getting beat sucks… mind doin us a favor an a good deed an tell us where all them innocent pony types are? Iffin theyre really innocent pony types anyways…" I say rubbing my snout on my sleeve
>>459310 You see a wall of glyphs written in the ancient equestrian style. It depicts the story of the Platinum dynasty. You recognize the scenes from the founding of Equestria. Princess Platinum is there with the six other founders representing the genesis of Harmony between Ponykind that ended the Everwinter. In the next scene the six founders stand before Starswirl the Bearded who proclaims a new age of Equestria and crowns Platinum Queen. The next few panels depict the history of Equestria, wars with both the Dragon Hordes and the fabled Crystal Empire, and times of Peace and prosperity. The last few scenes depict something you are not all too familiar with. (continue reading?) >>459311 >>459312 "They're here….they have to be!" >>459313 You pick out a random book……..and suddenly the bookshelf swings away revealing a secret door. >>459314 >>459315 The changeling weakly holds up his hoof and points at the door that just opened.
>>459316 Barely able to grasp the concept of a regular door I stare at the door/bookshelf amazed then push it back in place just so I can open it again.
>>459316 She admires the rich history. >>459317 Then she is mildly suprised by Vigilance's sudden comment. She turns to him and validates his thought, "Oh, yes." She turns back to the wall as she continues, "It's amazing to see how the land we live in came into being…" >>459316 Suddenly, a secret door. She turns her head to it, and walks over to it. "What's this?"
>>459317 >>459320 The final scenes depict recent years with some events clearly recognizable such as the razing of the East by the great Red Dragon and his horde. The story of the lost Queen (…….you still can't quite place her name.) is shown. The queen meets a prince whose face and name have been scratched out. She courts this prince be he rejects her advances. The Queen uses a dark magic to concoct a love potion. She uses it on the Prince……….(Continue reading?) >>459319 You close and open the bookshelf again. It is indeed real. >>459318 The look up at you and nod. Celestia says "Be careful…." >>459321 You open the back panel revealing a staircase that goes downwards into darkness.
>>459326 "alright. I need to take a breather anyways… Maybe study some history from these walls…" she stares at the walls, not exactly examining them, letting her mind drift elsewhere…. She thinks to herself "Aldan… Why did you want me to visit that statue…"
>>459327 Even more amusing the second time I continue opening and closing the secret door gradually doing it faster each time with a look of amusement and wonder on my face.
>>459329 >>459331 The prince falls head over heals in love with the Queen. For a time the whole of Equestria and beyond reflects the joy of the Queen and her Prince. But it does not last. The Queen had come to rely on the love potion in entangling her prince, but her heart's desire was not truly fulfilled. She broke the enchantment, thinking the prince would have truly fallen in love with her. The Cold Prince however returned to his former senses. In his anger he cursed the Queen. Forever she and her followers would hunger for love that wasn't there's.
The two fillies shake their heads but suddenly Celestia says "Wait……that's." She points to the image of a red maned white alicorn looking down on the events with a sadness in here eyes. "Mother!" Luna exclaims. >>459334 After a few times of doing this you break the old door off the hinges. >>459335 >fails >>459328 >>459330 You pass through the now doorless entrance into a downward spiraling stone stairs. At the bottom of the steps you notice two things. #1 the dungeon is completely dark. #2 There is green slim covering the walls.
>>459336 She has a confused look on her face as the magic fades away revealing no weapons. She tries once more to summon some weapons, specifically a pair of sai. [1d10] When she reaches the bottom of the staircase, she lights her horn to be able to see what is down here. >default?
>>459336 I pull out my oil lantern from my saddlebag and light up the area. "Shtay closh… Dark plashes are perfect fer ambushes…" I say with the lantern in my teeth
>>459337 >>459339 "That's…..that's our Momma!" Luna repeats Celestia looks up at the picture wide eyed. >>459338 Your fear of the night is getting to you, After a few tries you finally manage to summon some worn looking sais. (-1 quality) You do not manage to light your horn. >>459340 You light up the area. This looks like a dungeon. One of your buddies told you about getting locked up in one of these things for a fortnight. He talked about some ponies in there that were half bone they had been there so long. This place seems strange because green slime covers the walls in all directions. You are currently in what seems to be a hallway with several doorways on either side going down until the end. >>459341 You bump into Double Action when you make it downstairs. [1d10]
>>459342 She unsommons her sai, they're useless. >>459340 Then she consents and gets close to Double Action, almost cowering. She looks around and says, "It's a bit, um," she pauses to gulp, "creepy in here…"
>>459345 Luna beams "Momma's real sweet! She tells us stories all the time, though some don't get finished……" She looks sad for a moment. >>459344 Celestia is still wide eyed. She closes her eyes and shakes her head.. "I…….I don't remember…" >>459348 You only mange to get more goo on you. >>459347 You yank miss Blossom out of the green icky stuff and set her on her hooves. >>459346 You could have sword you heard something. >>459350 It tastes like your moms old cooking……if it had been left out in the sun for 7 days, and puked on by a dog.
>>459352 Celestia is still looking blank Luna looks like she is trying to remember "It was the one about the old wizard. He made a bunch of spells but never any friends. And his last spell never got finished because of that!" >>459356 "I…….I-It's all a blank spot……….I don't know what to say….." She holds her head in the spot where she hit it a day ago. >>459356 You only manage to get more in your mouth. It is now a party in your mouth, and everyone is throwing up. >>459354 There is no door here just what appears to be several large insect cocoons hanging off the ceiling of the cell.
>>459358 I gently kiss the spot on her forehead, like a mother would to her child "it'll come back to you soon enough… Would you like to hear a story my master told me while we wait?"
>>459360 You try and silence your mind…….but you can't hear anything else. However you cannot shake the feeling that you are being watched. >>459361 She smiles "I love stories!" >>459362 It works. but there's still a nasty aftertaste in your mouth. But that's okay you are now drunker. >>459363 She closes her eyes as you do this and then opens them again. "…….No…….It's all still a blur. I can only remember……her face." >>459364 You manage to free all of the cocoons attached tot he ceiling in this room. Some start to squirm when they hit the ground.
>>459365 I check out one of the closest cacoons catiously. Remembering the first time we trusted 'the mayor' that this could all be a trap. "Em, Cinn… dont yall ladies go too far now… this place gives me tha creeps!" I shout back into the hallway
>>459365 She is creeped out by this unshakable feeling, but tries to shake it off in vain. She sees Double Action roping the cocoons, and gasps as she sees some of them move. "Is there somep0ny in there?!" She rushes to one and examines it.
>>459366 The look at you in anticipation for a story. >>459368 There's pony in there. You can tell because of the hooves. "Mrrrrphrhrprhrrprhrrh!" you hear muffles cries. (Do you free him?) >>459369 You tear it open revealing an unconscious unicorn.
>>459366 >>459367 (hue) "once there was a fierce dragon who plagued the land. He was tall, mighty and as big as an entire mass of land! where ever he went, he brought death and destruction to all the land. Many tried to defeat the massive harbinger, but they all met the same fate. But one stallion, who ventured on a quest of great importance, even to go as far into Tartarus and back, found an enchanted sword, that was said to be strong enough to defeat the dragon. With sword in hoof, he challenged the dragon to combat that lasted days and night! One day, the ponys strength was ebbing, and the dragon gained the upper hoof."
>>459373 "but then, suddenly, a miracle happened… The ponies all over Equestria prayed for the stallion to be victorious, and then, his blade began to glow, fueling him with renewed vigor! He threw his blade at the beast and it flew true, and cut off the dragons head! And like that, he was vanquished! But it was too late… The dragon had already scoured the land. It was barren… A wasteland… But then, the sky was set ablaze by a massive fire bird, the the earth opened up! From the earth, rose a pedastle….".
>>459376 The firebird perched itself on the pedastle, and burst into flames! But these were not flames of destruction! It was from these flames that life was returned to Equestria. You see, these were the flames of the Phoenix! Life was restored to the lands and Equestria was once again, at peace…" (da end)
>>459373 "OH! A dragon!…………what's a dragon?" Luna asks. >>459375 The unicorn is clearly unconscious and does not reply. >>459377 You free what appears to be the mayor of Hooves Run from a cocoon.
>>459379 "Oh great… another one…" I say sighing "Alright mayor…. errr… can ya tell me somethin thatll prove yer not an insect?" I say looking at him skeptically
>>459378 "What happened to the stallion that stopped the dragon?" Celestia asks >>459382 "Sounds scary!" Luna exclaims. >>459380 You free the female unicorn from the cocoon. She is still unconscious.
>>459383 "Thank you Thank you THANK YOU For freeiin-! I err……what now? What do you mean insect?" >>459386 Celestia looks down "Oh…." >>459387 "Yeah a great story!" Luna says.
>>459384 She huffs as she finishes freeing the unicorn, then tells Double, "Come on, we've gotta free them!" She summons a scythe to aid her in her prisoner freeing plan. [1d10]
>>459386 >>459387 >>459388 (I haven't done anything like that since Charons backstory) I smile at celestia "do not worry, according to legend, he found peace and paradise in the afterlife." I look at Luna and smile "I am glad you liked it
>>459388 "Nevermind… ya wanna help us free yer townsfolk?"
I say working on the next caccoon
"Theres tons o other cells like this one with prolly just as much of these goosacks in em… course I reckon youd best stick within eyesight, might have one er two spies lyin around…"
>>459390 "Well……atleast he found happiness." Celestia says >>459381 >>459393 You puke todays meal all over the floor. You have somehow managed to create an even worse smell and taste, >>459389 You summon a worn scythe but it's good enough to get the job done. You free the rest of the ponies. After a few more minutes of work you free several dozen cocoons all containing residents of Hoove's Run. >>459391 He helps you and you are joined by more and more residents of the old town. Some are unconscious and being carried on other ponies backs.
>>459394 I look toward the mayor "Ya think yall can get back ta town in one piece? Its pretty dark out there an ah dont want yall to get kidnapped again by another group of bugs…"
>>459396 Celestia ponders that for a moment. Luna says "Even if it isn't true it's still a good story!" >>459395 You stand in the middle of a crowded dungeon with the freed residents of Hoove's Run reuniting. You still can't shake that feeling of being watched. >>459397 "Oh my yes! Ermmmmm could you show us the way out of the forest?"
[Objective Complete!] Current Objectives
Entire Team >Find the out what happened to Hoove's Run villagers(COMPLETE) >Escort the villagers out of the forest Cinnamon Blossom >get team and two fillies to Fillydelphia safety Lilly >Find the old statue
>>459398 She gets a ghastly chill up her spine. She walks over to Double Action, and asks, "Hey, Double, do you ever get the feeling that you're being watched?" while looking around paranoid.
>>459398 "Well we di'ent come this far only ta leave the job half done did we?" I say smiling at him "well normally I suggest a bit of rest for the rest of em ponies to get their bearings and maybe get a little shut eye… least till dawn breaks" I shudder "but this here place gives me tha creeps, and I bet it does to yall too… so whenever yall are ready ill call up the other guys up top lookin at that fancy wall paintin and well take yall home." >>459401 I rub my chin then look at her smirking "well shoot of course ah do! we done saved a buncha townsponies an they dont even know who we are! dont be too offended if they start starin now…"
“I never imagined…..”, said Twilight dumbstruck. “A bit of history not in the books….for sure.” Said Luna flatly. Twilight looked closer at the sad story depicted in the faded glyphs. She felt pity for the poor queen who would later on become a dark figure in her own life.
Celestia looked up at the open hole in the ceiling and spread her wings, “Alright Twilight I believe you understand now, come let us continue….the night is young……right sister?” Luna smiled and and nodded as both princesses began to fly out of the castle, followed by the awkwardly flying Twilight.