Legends of Equestria - Forum

Whispers circle around Celestia's court as a band of noble warriors, fearless adventurers, and unyielding explorers entered the vast council chamber of the royal sisters.

"Welcome, brave and noble heroes of Equestia," Celestia opens her address with, "It has come to my attention that a vile threat to Equestria now grows from within its most secure position, Tartarus!"

The whispers of wonder and rumor are instantly silenced by the mention of Equestria's most secure prison, and are replaced with gasps from several councilponies of fainter heart.

"Your mission is to go to Tartarus and return the great beasts within to their cages. I am afraid that mine and the powers harmonious are powerless their, and would only serve to feed those within," Celestia states to the gathered ponies, prompting the whispers to recommence. "My sister, princess Luna, is absent from this address due to her past personal involvement with the one believed to have started this rebellion."

Coming to end her speech, Celestia finishes her address off humbly, "Now, are there any questions before you depart?"

Only when Celestia had stopped speaking did Aurora rise from the bow she had been holding up. She kept her eyes trained ahead, blocking out the hushed whispers of Celestia's court. A million questions came to mind, but she didn't know how many were appropriate to ask in the prescence of the court. Aurora doubted even Celestia herself knew what the reaction be if they thought Aurora was at all mistrustful of their Princess. She resisted the urge to look around her at the other adventurers, wondering who would speak first. Eventually, the unicorn decided to speak up herself.

"I have no quetions, your majesty," she said, calmly. It wasn't an entire lie. There were a few things she wondered, but she would not ask. She didn't doubt that she and the rest of the team would find out these answers during their mission anyway.

//I don't know if things like 'Why the mane 6 can't be there' or 'How long ago the uprising started' have already been told to them in advance (such as in their summons or in some other briefing) so I'll just go with the most neutral path I can here

Shadow stays silent, but just a soft horizontal nod. He keeps a serious face to the princess to show his bravery and seriousness. In his mind he keeps focused for the mission he is about to embark with his squad, while also replaying the words that Princess Celestia gave to all. As much as he would accept to go to Tartarus for the dangerous mission, it boggles his mind as to what she meant by Luna's involvement with the one that started the rebellion. As much as he would like to know, he figures its classifid info. Other than that, he feels ready for whatever awaits him at Tartarus.

Melancholy raised herself from her bow once the Princess has finished speaking, she's still not used to bowing to royalty, but it was considered the right thing to do. She looks around at her companions and manages a small smile, though her legs wobble a bit as she feels anxiety settle heavy in her chest.

She swallows nervously and looks at the Princess. She takes a breath. "Um... I... I was... just wondering... why I'm here?" She then indicated to the other ponies with her. "I'm not exactly adventuring material..." She mumbles, her yellow eyes lowering to the ground. She wasn't the best flyer, not in the sky anyway; too much open space.

She rubs her left foreleg with her hoof and looks at her companions again, giving a small wave. She wasn't sure if that was the socially acceptable thing to do when in front of the court, but she does it anyway.

Celestia clears her throat in order to quite the Council's incescent bickering and allow her reply to Melancholia to be heard by all. "You are here, my little ponies, because you are the only ponies we can trust with a mission so crucial as this. Your individual talents combined with your fierce loyalty are exactly what this crusade will require. However, no journey is without its treacherous path; and so, we have arranged for a highly skilled guide to keep you safe on this journey. He will be waiting alongside a cart of supplies just outside of the city for when you are ready to leave."

The council once again erupts with hushed voices and worried whispers, but Princess Celestia seems to be ignoring them and providing the group with a reassuring smile.

Shadow overhears Melancholy and just slighly shifts his head to just focus on her with his blackish gray eyes. HE didn't show much emotion, but his voice had a different tone than his look, its like a mix of confidence, and satire.

Don't trip, toots. Pretty sure you'll do fine.

After Celestia finishes her response, and the bickering returns, he comes closer to Melancholy and puts a hoof on her shoulder.

I can tell you are new to this. You look confused, even unsure. Hehe you don't seem all that fearsome... I like it. We gonna get along juuust fine, my friend.

After he finishes, he takes off his hoof from her shoulder.

Aurora 's eyes had fallen to Melancholy as she spoke, and she gave a small nod in return to the other mare's timid wave. Her eyes fell back towards the Princess as she spoke. Once she was done, she wondered if they were free to move from where they were standing. Her legs were starting to ache from being locked into place for so long.

She looked over to Melancholy again and offered a reassuring smile

Melancholy blinks and is silent for a moment, startled by Shadow's touch. She's still not used to how tactile the ponies of Equestria are. She then smiles and offers him her hoof for a... what do they call it? A hoofshake? She still finds their customs odd.

"Hehehe... Yeah I'm not exactly a fighter... more a healer and support..." She chuckles. "I still find Equestria very strange to me, but I hope I can do some good here..." Her smile softens. "Anyway, my name is Melancholia... or just Melancholy..."

Once they shake hooves, she then turns to the stunningly white mare and nods her gratitude for her reassuring gesture.

Melancholy then looks at her companions. "So... um... shall we go meet this guide?" She pipes. She's secretly grateful at Celestia's mention of a guide as Melancholy's knowledge of Equestria and its lands are sketchy at best.

Shadow to Melancholy: I'll catch up with you. Gonna meet our other partner.

He gives a nod and turns to Aurora and approaches to her until they are only 3 feet from each other. He decides to give a strange waving hoof gesture before speaking.

I come in peace. So what tricks do you have for us on our  mission?

Aurora raised an eyebrow at the odd gesture, but thought not much more of it. His question, however, caused her mouth to twitch into a faint smirk. The mare shrugged, softly.

"Well, I suppose we'll find that out when the time comes," she said, calmly. She bowed her head, before introducing herself formally. She supposed if they were to be working together for- well, who knew how long- they might as well start off on good terms.

"Aroura, at your service," she lifted her head. "And you are?"

Call me Shadow, or Knight, or anything you like to call me its okay. I oike to see what surprise you have. Feeling up for the mission? Scared in any way?

Aurora gave a soft laugh. "I certainly feel ready for this. I expect you and- was it Melancholia she said her name was?- are too. Why would we have been chosen otherwise?" She smiled. She kept up an eir of ease. Although inside she felt nerous, she knew it was no use making light of it.

The unicorn looked over to the other mare and smiled. She made a mental note to introduce herself to her properly when she and Shadow had finished speaking.

Sitting down next to a line of ponies and behind Shadow and Aurora, listening to the bickering and holding a plush that looked like the element of generousity, Rariity was Virtuous Ire. He was wanting to say something but didnt seem to find the right words to say at the moment as it seemed that every question he wanted was already answered.

Out of nowhere, a handsome white Pegasus with a red mane and tail sat down next to Virtuous Ire, the newcomer getting comfortable and flexing his wings as he yawned a warm breath out through his jaws. The Pegasus then proceeded to look around curiously with cyan-blue eyes at the many ponies around him, his eyes stopping every so often to look at the occasional pony oddity. At some point, his eyes found this particularly beautiful unicorn with blonde mane and tail talking to another. He raised a brow at that. She looked just like his sister except a bit higher class. A few seconds passed before his eyes finally moved on from that pony and rested on the violet-eyed unicorn next to him, staring for awhile before looking forward towards the princess. Then, without much warning, Honest Truth slowly leaned in close to Virtuous Ire's right ear and said, "You look like you wanna say something, kid." And then he leaned back upright. "If you ask me, you should say it before we head off. It seems like the princess isn't going to say much else." Honest Truth smiled and his eyes yet again fell upon Virtuous Ire's.

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Cause we are the best. I'd expect the best. Hey... *whispering* I can tell you are nervous. I know all of us are, even me. My first time in a mission like this, so we stick together as a team, and we conquer, and we come home. Bring it all you got, and we'll be fine.

Shadow gives a vertical nod and a smile that doesn't look very convincing, but for those that know him, it is a friendly smile. He had two kinds of smiles, one that says buddy, and one that says "yea right". He gives one more wave before now turning away from Aurora to meet his next team member. He stopped when he realizes Virtuous was standing there looking like he wanted to say hi. He looks to Virtuous.

Don't be shy, just say hi. You are our teammate now. Hmm? What's with the plush? You gonna take the plushie with you on this mission?

Aurora gave a sigh- partly of relief from not having to hold up her act of 100% confidence, partly for embarrassment. She knew it was expected they would all be nervous, but it didn't stop her from wanting to be more confident about the mission. She shook her head lightly and relaxed, an easy smile setting in her face again.

She looked around the newcomers, supposing they would also be joining them if they were not amongst the crowd of Celestia's court. She decided she would introduce herself to them later; she still had to introduce herself to Melancholia. The unicorn trot over to the other mare, smiling sweetly.

"Hello," She dipped her head slightly in greeting, "I am Aurora, it's a pleasure to meet you."

Melancholy blinked at the other mare, then broke out into a genuine smile, she had to admit, she found unicorns fascinating. Their ability to harness magic with a thought was simply amazing.

She mirrored the other mare's small nod. "Melancholy..." She said. "And please, the pleasure is mine..." She then chewed on her lip, eyeing the mare's horn. She then met her turquoise eyes again. "What kind of magic do you specialize in?!" The words tumble out of her mouth before she can stop them, her curiosity getting the better of her, as it often did.

She blushed furiously and shifted on her hooves. "Its just... I might... have something here... that could, you know... boost it..." She mumbled quickly as she eased her saddlebag off her back, making the bottles inside clink together.

"Some of my potions can boost it... or I might have the right crystal here that can be more focused..." She was mumbling again, suddenly very anxious and embarrassed. She rummaged around in the bag and withdrew a piece of jet affixed to a small leather cord. She slipped it over her neck and immediately felt a gentle wave of calmness settle over her, making it easier to breathe. She smiled at Aurora.

"It's jet... good for anxieties..." She explained. "I have some more in here if you..." She looked around at the other ponies. "Or anyone else, need it..."

Honest's sudden interacting with the unicorn by ear was enough to cause him to flinch along with the fact that some of the attention was starting to shift to him. He didnt seem to know who to respond to first except Shadow who asked him last.

"[glow=purple,2,300]I er...um...y-yes.[/glow]" he said shrinking back a few inches from the stallion Honest who was too close.

Aurora 's eyes widened at the mare's outburst of curiosity and explanation. But her surprised expression quickly fell back into a smile, letting the mare talk. In fact Aurora found the idea of these potions and crystals rather fascinating. As for where she specialised in magic? Aurora wasn't entirely sure. She tried all sorts, but she supposed...

"I'd probably say my strongest area in magic is probably combat, but I know a number of spells in different areas," The mare said.

"These crystals and potions sounds interesting- is this what you do then?" She asked, making casual conversation.

Melancholy nodded with a grin. "It's my talent..." She said. "I mix potions for all kinds of things... and I collect and charge crystals to boost magical properties..." She rummaged around in her bag as she spoke. "You see there are lots of parts of Equestria that are focal points for particular magical energies... the north for example is best for charging water themed crystals like moonstone..." She then laughed softly. "I can't use magic myself, obviously... but if I threw a charged piece of rubellite, then it would make a nice little burst of fire..."

She the pulled out an intricately carved piece of amber attached to a cord. "This would be good for general offensive spells..." She mumbled before offering it to the mare. "You can use it if you want... I would like to offer something to everyone else too... Something strength based for the earth pony over there... I think I have red spinel in here somewhere..." She indicated to her saddlebags. "I'm not a fighter... or much of a flyer either... So this is how I'll benefit the team..."

She gave the amber to Aurora and then nodded to the other ponies. "Shall we go join them?" She said, slipping the saddlebags back on before trotting over to Shadow and Honest.

Celestia clears her throat again to gain the attention of the heroes, and says, "While it's all well and good that you are getting along, this is neither the time nor the place for introductions and pleasantries. You have a long road ahead of you. Please, take haste in your actions, time is of the essence."

Aurora was shocked when the mare handed her the crystal. She smiled and thanked her softly, and tucked it into her bag. She made a mental note to repay her later. The passionate way the young mare had spoken about her talent had been wondrous to hear. Aurora wondered if that's how she sounded when she got into talking about magic. She was about to follow Melancholy and greet her other team members, but froze when Celestia's spoke up. She nodded, and looked down.

"Yes, your majesty," She said softly. She lifted her head again and looked up, turning to the team. She trot over to them, and look amongst the members, noting those she hadn't met formally yet. She supposed they would have plenty of time to get to know each other on their journey.

"Ready?"

Quote from: LunarDusk on 2017 Feb 06, 04:22:58
Honest's sudden interacting with the unicorn by ear was enough to cause him to flinch along with the fact that some of the attention was starting to shift to him. He didnt seem to know who to respond to first except Shadow who asked him last.

"[glow=purple,2,300]I er...um...y-yes.[/glow]" he said shrinking back a few inches from the stallion Honest who was too close.

Keep hold of it. Don't wanna lose it. You don't seem liie the fighting type, but like that other pony, looks can de decei-

He hears Celestia's call for immediate departure to Tartarus, bringing him a bit of excitement to want to get going. He looks back to Virtuous.

Time to git goin. We'll learn more later.

He comes back out to the crowd and makes his voice heard by the others as he walks over to the guide.

Time to get going. All aboard, we're gonna take the Trail to Tartarus.

The smile that Honest Truth had faltered a little when Virtuous Ire scooted away. Although, instead of the smile disappearing, he just turned to look towards Celestia again -- but not before noticing that Melancholy was approaching in his direction. Of course, normally he would've said something in response to an aproaching pony such as her, but then Celestia spoke yet again.

After she spoke, Honest Truth heard Aurora say something to Celestia, but couldn't quite make out what she said. But then, he saw her turning to trot over to the group. When she arrived, she asked us all a simple question, "Ready?"

"I am," Honest Truth said in response. "I just need to fetch something from my house here in Canterlot, and I'll be set." Deciding not to waste anymore time than they already have, Honest Truth lifted himself up back onto his four hoofs with a flap of his wings. He then turned to the entrance and hoofed his red mane from the front upwards and downwards towards his back. "I'll catch you guys later at the guide," he said to them, before lowering his body, spreading his wings, and disappearing into a red and white streak leading out of the council room.

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Melancholy's ears went back at Celestia's words. She mumbled an apology and bowed to the Princess again before hurrying along with the rest of the group.

She grimaced as they went outside, holding up a wing to shield her eyes from the sun. She still wasn't used to sunlight, she preferred night time. Things were much quieter and calmer then.

She cleared her throat and looked to her companions, sans Honest, and gives a sheepish smile.

"So... what's Tartarus?" She asks them. She's never heard of it before, though her knowledge of Equestria is lacking. "Sorry if I sound... stupid..." She scratches at the floor with her left hoof. "I really don't know much about Equestria... I grew up believing it was a dead wasteland..."

Upon hearing Melancholy's question Virtuous took a few seconds of looking back and forth towards his annonymous and the others who were next to them. It seems that he would be the one to answer for them but he didn't speak up in a loud tone but more of a quieter volume.
"[glow=indigo,2,300]Uh, If I may...Tartarus is like...the underworld thats run with creatures like demons[/glow]"

Aurora's eyes followed the source of the sound- the stallion nearby. She nodded, agreeing that was probably the best description of Tartarus.

"It's a sort of... prison, I suppose, for the creatures who cannot be contained by a normal cell," She added, once the stallion finished speaking. Aurora had never expected to go there herself. She was aware of it, and had read briefly about it somewhere, but had never learned as much as she now wished. However she had never expected to go anywhere near it herself.

"Do not worry about sounding stupid though, I do not know all that much about it myself," she said. It wasn't a place written about often, let alone one people read about.

Melancholy's frown only deepened. "A prison?" She quickly regretted saying that and wished she new more about Equestria. "So... we've got to go there... and take any escaped creatures back to their cells... Alright..." She mused softly.

She cast a wary yellow eye over their still silent guide and cleared her throat.

"At least you guys look like you can take care of yourselves... I'm not a coward, or anything... I'm just... not the fighting type..." She chuckled grimly. "But I promise I'll do my best to support everypony..."

She looked away. "So I guess we just wait for... Honest, I think his name was? Then we can get going..."

She fluttered her wings nervously before tucking them tightly against her body.

Just when it seemed like they were going to wait awhile for Honest to arrive, the pegasus appeared, flying over the castle walls towards the cart and guide.

And soon, in bright silver and red, Honest landed heavily by the cart, decked out in some sort of silver and red armor, resembling that of the royal guards', only differences being the red crest on the helm and the silver color of the metal. "So," he said as he turned to look at everypony, "let's get moving guys." He flashed a quick smile to them all, before turning to the guide with a serious expression on his face.

He said to the pony, whom he barely looked at, "You going to guide us or what?"

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The pony by the cart was a large Eathpony stallion with burgandy coat, brown sun bleached hair, and deep emerald eyes, wearing a brown cowboy hat and leaning unamusedly against the cart's wooden frame.

"I'd expect a little more respect from one of Celestia's 'heroes'. At least the Royal Guard know how to make small talk and apologies while they ransack your house."

"Well, I'm not the Royal Guard." Honest said, quickly. "Not anymore, anyways." His expression relaxed as he said that, his gaze shifting over to the wooden cart, before falling onto the stallion once again.

"So, I ask again," Honest said, getting a little irritated, "are you guiding us, or are you not? Simple question, really." Honest said, before turning to the cart, wondering what 'supplies' they actually had. He put his two front hoofs over to the cart's edge. "'Cause if somehow you're some random pony standing around outside the city... Well," He looked at him again, this time looking him up from the top of his hat, down to the bottom of his hoofs, "you look like a pony who'd just stand out here staring at the city." Honest grinned lopsidedly at his joke as he hefted himself up to look over into the cart, his wings assisting in his efforts, holding himself up just enough to have get a glimpse of the contents.

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Aurora raised an eyebrow as Honest spoke, but didn't say anything until he was done. She sighed softly, and shook her head.

"I think what our team mate is trying to say is we have been advised to go as soon as possible, and we are ready to begin whenever you are, sir," Aurora said calmly. She held herself back from shooting a light glare in Honest 's direction. If this stallion was to guide them then they had to be polite. She didn't want their guide to get fed up with them and leave them to find their own way.

Melancholy nodded in agreement with Aurora before flashing the stallion a smile. "Yes... and thank you for being our guide... I'm sure a trip to Tartarus must be full of danger..." She then peeked over at the cart. "I assume you have food stores and bedding in there?" She asked.

She then looked at Honest. The fellow Pegasus was a bit brash and bold, it weirdly reminded her of her adoptive brother and made her laugh softly.

"Well I'm ready... as ready as I'll ever be..." She muttered, adjusting her saddlebags, making the potions inside clink together musically. 

The stallion listens quietly to the group's separate ways of addressing him, and huffs a sigh after they've finished. Turning away from the group he gives the cart a mighty kick, causing the metallics in the supplies to clang against each other as the cart's harness rises up and lands on the stallions back.

"The road is dangerous!? You don't know the half of it," he begins with a sneer, "and we're traveling light. Food in the cart is to cover the parts of the journey where foraging is impossible, so don't get any ideas about eating it."

The stallion begins trotting down the road, expecting the other ponies to either follow or stay behind.

Honest only hovered in the air as he rubbed his muzzle with a foreleg, no longer grinning, but glaring in the general direction of the stallion. "Darn earth pony," he muttered, as he rubbed his hurt face with a hoof. "Worse than the friendship express!" He said, under his breath.

Once he felt like the front of his face wasn't​ going to throb-splode anymore, he looked at the foreleg he used. After that, he glanced over at the rest of the group behind him before looking back at their supposed 'guide'.

Honest only sighed and retracted his glare as he lowered himself from the air to the ground. Then, with reluctant vigor, he trotted after the earth pony with light steps.

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Shadow trotted along with the group next to the cart, fully prepared and ready to take on the trip. Though he never ventured into Tartarus, he is willing to take on the unknown, and with his past trainings he feels confident of his abilities. He trots a bit ahead to meet with the stallion pulling the cart.

Yo! You seem like the pony to have gone everywhere, even through Hades and back. Care to give a biography lesson?

"A biography lesson? Kid, if you wanted a professor you should turn around and trot yourself to the academy.  Celestia's just lucky that I owe her a favor, otherwise you'd be taking less than conventional means of transportation, believe me," the guide replies to peacekeeper in a condescending tone, especially since he wouldn't seem to be too much older than the rest of them despite appearances.

Virtuous made sure that he stayed close to Shadow as means to prevent getting lost or getting stuck with someone he doesnt know much. Even up to the head of the pack, he hasn't said a word yet to the earth pony. But, after hearing his kurt response, he'd possibly get an earfull if he did.

*-It's Shadow Knight x3

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Woah hey.... oh nutz.

Shadow said to himself now realizing his words. He took a slap at himself in the face for his dumb use of words. He took a moment to regain his composure and speaks again to the guide.

My bad. Meant to say autobiography. Just came to know you more, ya know?

Aurora trot to keep up with the cart, her curly mane bouncing with each step. She chose to stay quiet for now, but her mind began to wander, and she wondered what their quest would entail. She shook the negative thoughts of her head, reminding herself everyone would be fine. If they couldn't do this then they wouldn't have been chosen.

She took a deep breath, and continued with a determined look on her face.

"You know, you look a lot more like my sister than I thought." Honest said, his face suddenly only inches away from Aurora's, his cyan-blue eyes staring at her from her left as he trotted beside her. "Looking pretty and serious at the same time." He smiled his lopsided smile. "Don't know how you guys do it. You mind telling me?" he asked (almost) sincerely.

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Melancholy stayed close to the group, she wandered closer to Virtuous and gave the unicorn a small smile.

"Hey... so what kind of skills are you bringing to this expedition?" She spoke softly, aware of how reserved the stallion had been so far. "Just wondering so i can see if I've got anything that could help you out if we find ourselves in a spot of trouble..." She glanced over at their Earth pony guide and stayed quiet. She hoped he would tell them more about their journey to Tartarus and about what dangers they faced.

Her yellow eyes then slid over to watch Shadow chat with Aurora, while Honest seemed to be at the head of the group; the pegasus made her chuckle.

"A bit hot headed that one, wouldn't you say?" She grinned.

"[glow=indigo,2,300]...Dark magic[/glow]" he said in a flat tone

Aurora raised an eyebrow. She wasn't sure how to take that. She hoped for her sake- and for Honest's sister's sake- that it was a compliment.

"Uhh... thank you?" she frowned slightly. She looked the stallion up and down briefly.

Aurora wasn't sure how to respond to the second half of what he'd said. She wasn't even sure if he was being serious or not, so she said nothing, just shrugged lightly and continued trotting along a few paces behind their guide. She realiesd that starting a conversation by comparing her to his sister was an... odd way to first greet her.

"What's your name?" she asked, trying to make her tone more friendly. Like she had told herself earlier, if she was to be working with this group for who knew how long, she might as well at least try to start off on the right hoof with them.

*Sorry, uses to your other characters*

"Blazing Legend's the name, and advanced exploratory and archeological cartography's the game," Blaze smirks at Shadow, as his own grandiose title amuses him.

"Honest Truth," honest said. "And you?"  He trotted along beside her, looking forward to where the hatted Earth pony was speaking to the not-hatted earth pony.

"Aurora," She introduced herself calmly. She gave the stallion another once over,  noting his armour. It was not the the royal guards' armour
She wondered where it was from.

"So am I right in assuming you're the, well, 'tank' in this mission?" She asked .

Advanced, eh? He he.

He was somewhat surprised of his specialties. He had a feeling he would be best fit for the job to help guide, so he already felt confident, and gained a bit more, with the pony by the name of Blazing Legend. Shadow Continues.

I doubt I can top that. I just fot hired for this mission for the heck of it. The name's Shadow... Shadow Knight.

"Well Shadow Knight, keep your wits about you. This trip is nit for the faint of heart nor the weak in resolve."

Honest raised a brow in her direction with a smile, "I suppose you can call me that. And you're supposed to be..." He looked at her horn and... "The pretty mare in our group?", he said, now grinning.

Aurora raised an eyebrow, then rolled her eyes.

"I don't know, just... whatever we need magic for. Fighting, shields, healing, whatever," The mare sighed. Her magic was by far strongest in fighting, and she was fine with her shields. Her healing wasn't as strong as her other areas, she often got worried as the tiniest mistake could have massive consequences in something so delicate as healing. She cursed herseslf for not practicing it more, now. Hopefully the others in their group were more adept at it, and less worried about making a mistake.

The group had been making good progress for being on hoof, and by the marching drum of the rattling cart wheels Canterlot slowly sunk beneath the rolling green hills.

Melancholy grinned again, "Dark magic? Well I think I've got some bloodstone in this bag somewhere... it should give you a little more of an edge..." She chuckled. Her yellow gaze went to her companions as Canterlot grew further and further away. She shivered a little and was grateful for the jet that hung around her neck.

"So... um... Blazing Legend? What exactly has escaped from Tartarus? I'm afraid I'm not familiar with its... inhabitants..." Even with the calming properties of the stone she wore, her voice still trembled a little.

In all honesty,she was more afraid of the open spaces around her than whatever beasts they had yet to face.

"Okay." His brows furrowed a little. "Well..." He looked to her once again. "You afraid that you won't be able to do enough, Aurora?" His eyes looked straight into her own.

"[glow=indigo,2,300]A bloodstone?...What does that do?[/glow]" Virtuous asked

Aurora's proud nature took over, and she became defensive quickly.

"No, I'm fine. I'm just... wondering what we should expect when we get to Tartarus," she looked away from the stallion, pursing her lips.

Hehe right you are.

So enough about me, let's talk Tartarus. What should we expect once we get there?

"I don't know. Even Celestia's premonitions can only confer so much information," Blazing accounts with a boredom to the question before growing grim, "but whatever it is, it ain't good."

"Well, I'm sure we'll be fine." Honest reassured. "After all, Celestia wouldn't have chosen us if we weren't fully capable, would she?" He threw another smile at Aurora, before his eyes fell on their guide again. "Oh, but if you're really wondering about it," he gestured to their guide with his head as he spoke, "maybe you should ask our guide over there."

Hmm!?

He tilts his head up as he made the sound. He nods horizontally a little bit before returning his head back down to earth.

So we pretty much entering in the unknown. All a bit more fun, I suppose. whatever the surprise, we'll be ready. You can count on us.

Melancholy looked at the quiet pony and flexed her wings a little. "Bloodstone is good for making dark magic more potent... I've only seen it be used once...but it's effective..." She looked to their companions.

"Well I think we have a pretty strong team here... lots of varied skills..." She mused.

Honest was actually a little worried about their mission. There weren't many details given to them before they left. Of course, he would have asked Celestia a few questions concerning their mission, but with the mention of a guide, his questions subsided to be asked for later. And now that they were finally on their way, the guide just a few hoofs ahead of him, they've rose to the forefront of his mind once more.

"Actually," he said, his cyan-blue eyes on their guide, "Aurora, I think, I've got a few questions for our guide over there," before, with a flap of his wings, he launched into the air -- but not for long, as he didn't flap much more than a second time before he dropped onto the ground next to Blazing Glory, parallel to the wooden cart (opposite to the side which Shadow Knight presently is at) back onto his hoofs again.

He turned his head to face Blazing, and without much delay, "Hey," his face as serious ( as he was) as a guard on duty, investigating a suspect for the first time.

"What is it now," Blazing Legend asks Honest with disdain.

"I need a hug. I was uh..." He looked at Blazing and scratched a hoof behind his back. "Wondering if you could breif me on Tartarus... And stuff." Honest inquired, cheesing a little bit at the end of that sentence.

Aurora decided rather than ask their guide more questions that would probably just be repeating what her team mates had already asked, she would just listen now. She sped up a little until she was cloe enough to hear the answers Blazing Legend gave.

"What's to be said about Tartarus? It's a repurposed volcanic cave surrounded by nothing but wastelands and holding some of Equestria's greatest villains," the guide says rather unamusedly and somewhat sarcastically, "So really it's a great place all around."

"Well, when you put it like that, it doesn't sound so bad." Honest smiled happily. "Nevermind then. Or, actually, how come you know so much about Tartarus? You ever been there?" He asked.

"I've been everywhere, kid," Blaze says looking straight at honest. He turns his gaze back to the road and says, "Now lets keep moving, I want to make forest by nightfall."

Off in the distance, a green thicket of trees begins to rise from the horizon as if growing before their eyes.

Shadow can see the forest coming up ahead. Interestingly this is his first time going into a forest as he never went very far from his town in Ponyville. This will be his first experience, but fun to him nonetheless as he always wanted to explore the outside. Even so, he still feels serious on the mission so he keeps a mind of being... a little jokester to the situation in their journey.

I suppose we will be skipping the campfire stories, eh? well least it beats scaring some ponies senseless to want to run home and cry to mama. Would be entertaining if we have timberwolves to help us out hehe. Could use a bit of warming up.

Honest was tempted to continue on assailing him with questions, but with how quick he put up a metaphorical wall between them already, he just looked towards the forest, anxiously thinking about what exactly may lay ahead.

Honest looked behind him to see Aurora trotting close behind, along with the rest of the group trotting behind them. He smiled at Aurora, despite his chest in turmoil, before turning back to look ahead, (inadvertently) ignoring what Shadow Knight just said.

Melancholy moved a little closer to their guide as they walked through the forest, she found the massive trees to be very... claustrophobic.

She cleared her throat. "So you've been all over Equestria?" The question was aimed at their guide. "Um... maybe.. when we;ve been to Tartarus and... you know... saved all of Equestria... you could tell me more about it's lands? Like... if you've ever written a book or anything then..." She trailed off and blushed a little. "Well actually... if you've written a book... you uh... might have to... read it to me..." She gulped and looked away as heat continued to rise in her cheeks. "I... actually can't read..." The admission spilled from her.

She glanced briefly at her companions, hoping they didn't think less of her for her inability to read... she had never been taught, there had been no need in her ancient home.

Honest Truth grinned widely and felt like bursting out of his armor. "You can't read!?" He exclaimed loudly at her admittance. "What?!" He had the sudden feeling to roll into his back, laughing hard and well, but when he looked at Melancholia's poor face, he immediately felt like a... You know. And suddenly, he felt very akward. "Uh... I'm gonna stretch my wings. Yeah." Before he opened his wings and took off hastily, flying over the group in the sky above them (and perhaps the forest now too).

//Sorry for my disappearance, I got pretty sick for a few days but I'm recovering now and can actually do things instead of just sleeping it off haha

Aurora's eyes widened at Honest's outburst. She narrowed her eyes and her ears turned back. But as he flew off, she shook her head and sighed. She turned to Melancholy, making sure she was okay as they continued journeying into the forest.

Not seeming to acknowledge Melencholy, Blaze stops his movements and looks to the sky. "Luna's watch is going to start soon, we should rest here for the night." 

Okay, chief.

Shadow stops and looks around where he is at. All he can see is black trees and twinkling stars. Shadow didn't really have a tent or sleeping bag, but wasn't much to him to sleep barebones. Only problem is that he isn't tired yet thanks to him staying up late most of the time. He knows that in a mission like this, he will need to rest soon to be able to get up early to catch up. He looks around for a spot and finds a tree branch on a tree. The branch looks thick enough for him to lay on comfortable and decides to climb up to the tree to the branch. It was only about 3 meters from the ground, which isn't too high of a danger, in fact low enough to easily jump off of. As he is on, he gets himself comfortable trying to lay on the tree branch to prepare to sleep.

As shadow goes off on his own, Blaze pulls the cart off to the side of the road and retrieves several tents, lumping them onto the ground in a small pile.

"Alright, you ponies can start on constructing a campsite, I'm going out to gather some dinner."

Not waiting for the group to react, the guide heads off headstrong onto the ever-darkening woods.

Aurora didn't hesitate to lift one of the tents with her magic and get to work. She started setting up the tent. The sooner they had the tents up the sooner they could rest, and the sooner they could continue with their quest. She used the light of her magic as a torch as she set up one tent. She wanted to get it done quickly so she could help the others with their tents, or with starting a fire.

Honest could hear the gentle flapping of his own wings as he flew through Luna's silent night, a cool breeze upon the unarmored parts of his fur. He'd been flying for awhile now, his face a mixture of embarrassment, anger, and sighs, appearing in chronological order. Only after his last sigh, many minutes after the first did he think to look down to see where the others were, and only a few seconds passed after that before he saw emerald light reflecting off the trees to his left. He banked towards it without hesitation, and before long he hovered right over the source of the light before lowering himself down to the road. When he landed, he looked about curiously, as the light seemed to have been from Aurora, the unicorn seemingly already having set up a tent, already working on another. Using her light, he looked around their chosen campsite and noticed a lack of earth ponies around. He also realized that the camp still lacked a warm fire to keep them warm. Without a word said, he turned and trotted into the already dark forest for that.

The umbra of the forest's canopy sucked away all but the few rays of moonlight that shine through the cracks. These woods weren't infamous for housing wild and pure nature, like that found in the Everfree, but few still could be asked to traverse outside its paths during dusk.

Around the campsite, the sounds of the free-roaming animals begin their nighttime symphony to Luna. The hoots of the owls, the chips of the crickets, and the howling of far off canines beginning their evening prowls. 

Melancholy had to admit, she preferred the night instead of the day, the darkness settled around them and brought a sense of comfort to the Pegasus...it reminded her of home and the creatures who had raised her.

She trotted over to one of the unpitched tents and a blank look crossed her face. She had tried not to look put out that Blazing had ignored her question and how Honest had looked like he was going to publicly laugh at her inability to read. She had been raised to be more polite and not to retaliate when others were hurtful,intentional or otherwise.

The tent was tricky to get up by herself, her saddlebags lay on the ground a few feet away. She tried to focus on getting the tent up but her yellow eyes, which seemed to glow a little in the darkness, were drawn to the unfamiliar flora around them.

"Um... Aurora? Could you lend me a hoof?" She looked at the unicorn, admiring the ease she had with her magic.

Aurora had just finished setting up her first tent when she heard her name called. Her ears pricked and she turned to the sound, and smiled warmly when she found Melancholy was the one who called her name.

"Of course," she said, trotting over. She looked over the tent parts, then began lifting a few pieces and putting them together. She was grateful now for all the camping she'd been dragged into in her youth. She never thought knowing how to build a tent would be so useful.
She glanced to Melancholy. She wanted to help, but she wasn't sure if Melancholy wanted her to take over completely. She decided to play it safe and not build the tent too quickly, so if the pegasus was still going to work on the same tent she had the chance. But, Aurora realised now would be a good time to talk to her more too.

"So, Melancholy, are you from close by?" Aurora asked, casually. She figured that was good enough small talk. She wasn't sure though. After her years of pouring herself into her study, socialising wasn't a strong point of her's. She'd tried to become more sociable as she got older, but he still found herself to be- or at least feel- awkward in many situations.

Just then, Honest trotted out of the two bushes to their left, both of his wings holding many sticks, branches, and pieces of wood under them.

Non-chalantly, as if he didn't just suddenly appear from between two bushes, he sauntered over to the center of the campsite, and dropped his load of sticks onto the ground with audible clunks, regardless of Melancholy's and Aurora's coversation. He then bent his legs slightly before shooting up into the night sky with a single flap of his wings, where he drop-kicked a cloud that was (conviently) floating right above him, eliciting a sudden and loud thunder-clap along with lightning, lighting the camping area up in a bright flash, setting the sticks and twigs below afire with bright orange flame that lit up the night.

Then, Honest, with the same non-chalant face he wore whilst entering the camp, flew down to the fire, where he promptly layed down, his blue eyes reflecting the orange light, and promptly died fell asleep with all of his silvery armor still donned, 'cause tired. Or perhaps because his armor has very comfortable padding inside.

Melancholy blinked at Aurora's question. "Close by? Oh um... well it's a bit hard to explain... I-" Her words were cut short as the flash of lighting illuminated the campsite, making Melancholy cry out in fear and pain as she jumped back, covering her eyes with her wings. The sudden leap backwards knocked over the half pitched tent they'd been sorting and Melancholy continued to whimper softly at the pain in her head. It took a good minute for her sight to return and she grumbled softly, a blush rising in her cheeks.

"S-sorry... my eyes are... very sensitive to light..." She mumbled, rubbing at her eyes. She squinted at Aurora. "My home is... well it's underneath Equestria..." She rubbed her eyes again. "There's an enormous Labyrinth there... as big as Equestria... I was taken in by a tribe of Minotaurs that have been there for thousands of years..." She then chuckled softly. "Their ancestors found it during the war between Princess Celestia, a princess Luna and Discord... they believed that the world would be destroyed and The Labyrinth seemed to call to them...giving them a safe and secure home... for generations after they all believed that there was nothing left on the surface... then they found me...abandoned there as a newborn foal... They raised me, and treated me as one of their own..." A very wistful smile crossed her face. "When I grew up I wanted to see the surface for myself... no Minotaur from the tribe had ever had a need to leave... I came to the surface and found so much life...it scared me..." She blushed again. "Princess Celestia didn't even know about the Labyrinth... but my alchemical skills helped me get a name for myself here..." She looked over to where Honest was sleeping by the fire. "My people... my tribe... they didn't write down their history... they told it through stories and paintings along the Labyrinth walls... that's why I don't know how to read or write..."

She realised she'd been rambling and muttered several apologies before looking at the crumpled tent she'd knocked over.

Shadow woke up from the bang of thunder with a small jump. He slowly gets up and slowly opens his eyes to look around and see what caused it. He only sees 3 ponies at a campfire and calls out from the low, thick branch.

'Ey. Did ya guys made a boom?

"[glow=indigo,2,300]eeeEEEAAAAAAAAaaaaaah!![/glow]  D:"
From the east direction of the campsite after the sound of thunder was screaming of someone sounding as if they had been in front of something grotesque. But at the same time blowing through the bushes and a few tree in a straight line narrowly missing the tent was a black colored fist measuring about 8 x 6 ft covered in purple mist which collided with the larger tree west of the campisite. After a few seconds it dissipated but following the line it traveled to the source through teared and scorched bushes was the stallion Virtuous who was crouched down while shivering violently with tears in his eyes. It seems he must've gotten separated from the pack and gotten tramatized from the lightning strike.

An apple flies out from the darkness and whacks Virtouse on the head before landing on his lap. The origin of the apple is revealed as a very disappointed Blazing Legend steps into Virtouse's view.

*looks up at Blazing*
"  :([glow=indigo,2,300]...?!...[/glow] "

(Is there a sign up page that I can sign up on? If so, could I be a prisoner that was redeemed?)

// Yes you can check it in that thread

Aurora jumped at the crash and flash of light, but composed herself quickly. She also reassured Melancholy that it was alright, and began putting the tent back into place as she listened. She eventually stopped, becoming far mroe interested in the story than anything else.

"That sounds... incredible," Aurora breathed. She then blinked, and bluhed lightly beneath her pale coat. "I mean- well, it's so wonderful that you were taken in, and the minotaur's world sounds... fantastic. And recording their history through art you would walk through every day and hearing incredible tales- I could never imagine what it must be like," Aurora chuckled and shook her head. "I assume it is very rare for the minotaurs- or anyone who grew up there- to leave. I've never heard about it before."

She decided to risk it and ask more about it. If Melancholy didn't want to answer she didn't have to, but Aurora was curious, and figured she may as well ask. She wouldn't hear about it anywhere else, afterall.

"What was it like growing up there? I imagine it's very different from how our society functions," she spoke softly, trying to put more attention back to the tent.

Blazing leaves Virtouse, entering the campsite where the rest of the ponies were gathered.

"I found some apples and berries, so be glad that this area has such gratious provisions."

A small sack filled with fruit thuds against the ground as Blazing moves to the pile of supplies, taking only a blanket and retiring to a clear patch on the ground where he lay facing the stars.

Honest Truth is now snoring incredibly loud, nickering every now and then every time he breathed out another breath. It was so loud, in fact, that, if a cup of water were placed only a hoof away from his body, the water would vibrate due to the volume of the sound.

But, aside from that, Honest was sleeping quite peacefully, if not outright deeply. He was laying on his side, his four hoofs towards the fire, his chest rising up and down, slowly, although his armor didn't really show it. His pearly (now somewhat dirty coat) and armor were warmly lit up by the fire, applying an amber glow onto it that reflected off of the mirror-like surface of the metal. The shine also revealed engravings of sorts, comparable to the kinds that the Royal Guard have. However, the only truly noticeable thing about the armor, besides the colors, is the red, heart-shaped emblem in front of his chest, instead of the star-shaped ones of the Guard.

Also, by the way, he didn't react to any of that screaming, shouting, and destroying of trees whatsoever. The closest thing to a reaction that was given was a small kick with one of his hind-legs, and the unconcious flicker of an ear.

Melancholy only blushed even more. "Well I'm the first one to leave ever since the tribes ancestors settled there... and it was incredible... The tribe separated into five groups, each for a different part of the Labyrinth... there's the central tribe, it has the largest population, a northern tribe, southern tribe, eastern and western tribes... They all live at a point in the Labyrinth where there is the most magical energy... the northern tribe live underneath the Crystal empire... That has the best magical energy for water... they have a spring there that never runs out... they provide all the water for the other tribes. The southern tribe live somewhere underneath the Badlands..." She was glad she'd seen a map of Equestria recently so she could pinpoint where each magical focal point was. "The southern tribe specialize in their element of fire... they use the magical energy to charge up chunks of citrine and that's used to power sconces along the routes to the other tribes..." She then chuckled softly. "Though there is also glowing lichen along some walls too... but it's still very dark down there which is why my eyes struggle in the light... and I think why my sclera are like this..." She indicated to her black sclera. "I think I just... adapted, you know?"

She looked over to the bag of food that Blazing had brought, her stomach growled loudly and her mouth watered.

"Something I do love about Equestria is the massive variety of food you have... the food back home is pretty bland... no matter what herbs you use..." She chuckled.

She then tilted her head at the mare's question. "Yeah... Life there is very different... we don't have a monetary system there... everything is traded between tribe members... if you want a new tool, you trade if for something that the other wants..." She laughed again. "I had no idea what "bits" were when I first made my way to the surface!"

Aurora chuckled. "Yes, it must have taken you a while to start getting used to how things are around here."

She paused, and looked over to the fire. "Would you like to get something to eat? It's been a long day already, and we'll be no use working on an empty stomach," The unicorn said. She punctuated her words by nodding towards the bag of food Blazing had dropped on the ground.

The dark grey mare chuckled. "Yeah... honestly I think my skills in alchemy really helped me find a place here in Equestria... and to be fair, my main role in the Labyrinth was an alchemist... my fellow tribesmen weren't as resilient to the flora down there..." She then indicated to her bag. "Some of the things I have in that bag are from the Labyrinth... and it's incredibly adaptable... back home it stopped being a reliable food source for the minotaurs by adjusting its chemical properties and quickly made them sick... the samples I carry have adjusted to the digestion of ponies, since I've been up here, all except for mine.. I seem to be gifted with an immunity to them..."

The Pegasus then wandered over to the food and rummaged around before picking out some wild berries, her nose wrinkled and she quickly tossed them aside before removing all of the remaining type of berry; she looked to their guide.

"Sorry, I don't mean to come off as rude... but this particular berry..." She nodded to the discarded pile of unnamed berries. "Well, they're actually a red herring... they look like blackberries, but they'll actually make a pony more inclined to make rash and dangerous decisions..." She flushed again. "I-I just thought it could be dangerous if we ate them... everything else in here is fine..." to illustrate her point, she ate an apple, retrieved from the bag, and smiled sheepishly at their guide.

As if in response to Melancholy's explanation thing, Honest somehow roared snored even louder than before as he breathed in a single breath, before he let it out and rolled his body over with a push of his left wing on the ground, flopping over, his armored hoofs making making audible thunks as they clacked against each other, pointing his hoofs now away from the fire before continuing his snroaring snoring, his chest gently breathing as he did before.

///OOC: Just wanted to say: Loving how this RP's going so far, guys, and now I'm loving it even more now that I know a dragon's going to be joining us soon!  :nod: Gonna be some interesting, interesting story coming in the coming (chapters?) pages! I can't wait!  ovO

Blaze rolls his eyes from his laying position, signaling his silent protest to anything he picked being remotely dangerous.

Aa Honest drifts unto sleep, his dreams seem much more vivid than usual, much more real. No matter the dreams content, a rising shadow appears from some convenient location, rising into the form of Luna, princess of the night.

Honest seemed to be back home in Canterlot, the stone walls of the home he lived in for years seeming to fold themselves into reality, the couches, chairs, paintings, stairs, and chandeliers of his foalhood appearing right before his eyes, from transparent ghosts to solid objects within only a few seconds. The sounds of unicorn magic floated throughout the familiar house as they echoed from the kitchen, the smells of delicious food oozing out of it just like they did so many years ago, the mere fact giving Honest a warm fuzzy feeling in his chest, one he hadn't felt in years. Strangely, his sister was here too, sitting on the velvet-lined chair to his left, facing the lit-up fireplace in their living-room, the grey-coated unicorn studiously reading from left to right an old tome through old, worn-out glasses, a smile upon her lips. The sight of this familiar home and family made Honest itching to fly across the warm room to hug the adorable mare, and bask in the warmth that this house brought.

But, before any action was taken, Honest suddenly realized, there was the strange sensation that there was another mare in the room.

Luna appeared before Honest in all her glory, standing just a few hoofs away from him, seemingly come out of the ground.

Honest just raised a brow in confusion as he stared at his apparent moon goddess.

(So... Do I join in? Also, I'm adding a few things to my character)

After a few minutes and finally regaining his composure Virtuous started to rise back up on his feet. he strapped the plush to his front right leg and made his way by the tent at the campsite.

Taking note of what Melancholy had said, Aurora simply lifted one of the apples to eat. She sat herself down near the fire as she ate, watcing the flame flicker and dance. She felt sleep begin to beckon, and decided she should turn in soon. She knew she would be no use to the team and their mission if she was too tired to do anything. She finished her apple and stayed still for a minute, enjoying the warmth of the fire. She decided she was a safe enogh distance from the fire and let her eyes fall shut. Her head nodded a few times, as she drifted in some sort of sleep-limbo.

Melancholy looked away when she saw Blazing roll his eyes and she bit her tongue. She gathered up the discarded berries and then placed them in a small pouch retrieved from her saddlebags. As petty as it sounded she was half tempted to just leave the berries for their guide to eat, but such a thought had her shaking her head slightly. Instead she could mix the berries into a potion that they could use to disorient any threat to them. So she stored the berries in her saddlebags.

She knew deep down that she was right about the berries, just looking at them sent a warning clench in her guts. She'd been unfortunate enough to experience the effects of the berries firsthoof, when she'd first found herself lost in Equestria. She'd then found herself unwillingly wandering into dangerous situations and being a fool, like trying to jump over a crevasse when flying would have been the smart option, or when she'd purposefully disturbed a sleeping pack of Timberwolves by throwing stones at them.

She ate another apple in silence before noticing that just about every pony was asleep and then wandered closer to the fire. She rummaged in her bag and withdrew a small, jagged red stone that visibly glowed with the magical energy stored inside and she tossed it carefully into the fire. There was a dull roar and the flames briefly turned light blue, casting an eerie glow on the campsite. It then returned to its usual orange hue and crackle merrily. She glanced at their guide.

"That will keep it burning for the night...no need to worry about collecting more firewood..." she stated simply before plopping herself down very ungraciously and quickly drifting off to sleep, one wing curled protectively around her saddlebags.

As the rest of the party falls asleep, they all apear in the collective dream. All except their guide, Blazing Legend.

"Now that you're all present," Luna begins her address, "what business has my sister sent you on that is so important that she'd neglect to mention it to me?"

Aurora blinked in shock and confusion. It took her a moment to process that before her stood the princess of the night. She looked stunning so close, just like her sister. But then Aurora remembered what Celestia's had said about Luna's involvement, and she frowned. She didn't say a word, and looked to her team members.

She wasn't even sure if this was real, but she'd heard rumours of the princess being a dream walker. She didn't know whether this was just her imagination dreaming away, or if the Princess- or her teammates were really there.

Shadow is amuzed to see the group are present in a single dream with the Princess of the Night herself. After she asked the question, Shadow feels she knows where the group was being sent, and may want to be comfirmed. He speaks out to asnwer.

The business was for us to go to Tartarus.

//OOC: Shadow's... A mare?  lol Even more surprising than when I realized Melancholia's a pegasus. Oh, wait...

Honest jumped a little in surprise when Shadow spoke. When Luna addressed the group, he hadn't yet realized that the others were there in the first place. He turned his head to see them all standing before him in his house, before turning back to Luna, the biggest question mark upon his face.

"Uh..." Honest audibly dumbed. He didn't really know what to say. He wasn't expecting this to happen, but her outward appearance was undeniable. However, he'd never met Princess Luna before. So what's he supposed to do? Politely greet her? "Princess..!" 'Course, he already forgot what she said. "You're... What?"  She asked a question? Wait, how'd she get into his old house? "Princess...!" He attempted again, his mind trying to work a mile-a-minute. "Why...?" He tried to sound out something of a question, a foreleg of his gesturing to the surroundings, his eyes looking at them, brows raised, before he pointed with that same fore-hoof to the ponies from the group (minus the earth pony with a hat). His eyes then widened slightly in realization.

What in Equestria were they all doing in his old house?

He looked back to Luna, his fore-hoof now pointed to her.

All he remembered before this was himself falling asleep before a campfire, staring into it before his eyes drooped to dreamland.

This couldn't be changelings again, couldn't it? Maybe one of the escaped prisoners of Tartarus?

His wings opened slightly at his thoughts.

He asked again, this time with suspicion, his body ever so slightly bending, his mind trained on remembering everyone's position in the household, his facial expression that of extreme caution. "Princess...?" He said, blue-cyan eyes trained on her. "What are we doing here? You are princess Luna, right?"

Melancholy froze at the sight of Princess Luna, her dreams had never been invaded by the Alicorn before, in the Labyrinth, their dreams were all protected, impenetrable.

She quickly bowed a little to the Princess, remembering that was the expected thing to do amongst Equestria natives.

"Um... Princess Celestia sent us to... bring the escaped prisoners back to Tartarus..." She looked around at the group. "I-I'm sure she meant no offence, Princess... I think the matter was just so dire, she had to rush to get us... on our way..."

The words tumbled from her like water, she felt very uncomfortable at this invasion. Her dreams were private, though she was glad to see they were somewhere unfamiliar, probably one of her companions dreams.

"Tartarus?" The princess questions in disbelief, "What business does my sister have sending ponies such as yourselves to Tartarus!?" Luna's expression twists with anger, shock, and worry as she barks her question with supreme authority.

Honest flinched at her outburst, but remained silent as he couldn't decide whether or not she was truly their princess.

But with what he saw with Shadow and Melancholia, he sighed defeatedly, and he decided to answer Luna's question. "We don't really know, princess. But the fact is, your sister sent us to lock up the beasts of Tartarus back into their cages." Honest then plopped onto the dream couch behind him, his back enjoying that sweet velvet once again.

Huh. Just like he remembered.

"I think she also said something along the lines of, 'I think my sister shouldn't have anything to do with this because of an old enemy.'" Honest mimicked incacurately with a few waves of his hoof, before shifting over to his sister whilst still on his back.

"You wouldn't know anything about that, would you?" He asked, seemingly asking the question to the grey unicorn on the chair beside him.

"My sister excluded me from an event THIS important over... ARHG!" The Lunarc shouts in frustration, turning away from the group while she does so.

A moment of silence is broken when she turns about and readdresses the group. "Please forgive me for this outburst. Things have grown tense between me and my sister over events that I cannot discuss. However, it seems that you are rather poorly equip for such a venture as that which my sister has sent you, no offense. So I will be sending a pupil of mine who experienced with Tartarus in order to aid you. And for all our sakes, do not let Celestia know what I am doing for you."

Then, just as quickly as the dream had started, it ends, and each pony jolts awake to a dawning sun that pushes the night-time to its rest.

In the darkness, eyes glared at the ponies, as they started to awaken.
"Heh heh, looks like her job is done, and my mine is getting started.." It said. One of its claws step out, showing the claw of a dragon.

(And I thought we were already well-prepared with what we already was supplied. This should get more interesting.)

Shadow thought in his head before speaking.

Thank you princess, and my lips are sealed. Glad to have extra help on our quest. *gives a bow*

Hearing from Luna that she is having a dispute with her sister, perhaps there is something in between them more than just the mission they are being sent out to. Shadow feels more intrigued as to know how this dispute started among the sisters, which prisoners did they came into contact with, and what words were exchanged.

He'll figure it out later as their dream now ends with the rising light. He opens his eyes, seeing the small rays of light shining above the trees but fail to reach the ground. The forest is now illuminated enough to be seen clearly. He lays up on the trunk of the tree, stretching around and sitting on the branch looking around for the ponies to wake up.

--------------------

*-Made an edit. Removed final question with small narrative of Shadow waking up.

Honest awoke to a burnt out fireplace, its red hot embers long since died out. He felt absolutely sore from sleeping in such a strange position last night, but he was exhausted from yesterday's work. He hadn't had a bit of rest since forever; He couldn't help it.

Yet, somehow, he was able to go on that last stretch without much of a sweat. Really, he thought, he worked too hard sometimes to be fit for battle. Too much of an old habit, he supposed.

He grunted as he rolled over onto his forelegs, feeling his left wing was mistreated last night due to him sleeping on it, and he yawned as he mulled over what transpired over the night.

Yet, really, all he could really think about was the fact that Princess Luna said that they were ill prepared for their mission. Honest was more than ready. After all, it's not like he hasn't dealt his fair share of dangerous pony-eating monsters. Literally, and figuratively. He was sure that the princess was just saying that in the spur of the moment. But...

He couldn't help but feel a little undermined when she said that. Well, that's what he gets for living a secret life.

His stomach suddenly made a request to be acknowledged.

He realized he didn't eat yesterday night.

He stood up, stretching his wings and forelegs as he did so, his many joints popping every now and then as he moved them.

He looked about casually about the campsite for any signs of food, before his eyes landed on a pile of berries and... Whatever those were before deciding on just asking if there was any food.

But wait, what did the princess mean by her desciple? She couldn't have sent someone for us, could she have? She'd ended it so abruptly, there was no time to ask any questions pertaining to her information.

Bah. He'll figure out after breakfast.

"Hey! Uh..." Woops. Is everyone even awake? He looked about but didn't notice much movement yet. "Everyone awake?"

Aurora bowed as the dream ended, then awoke abruptly. She blinked her eyes open, and lifted her head. She stood and stretched, shaking her head lightly to move her mane aside. Once she was relaxed,  she went back over the dream. She would've thought that someone would have noticed they were ill prepared. Celestia's should have known, and their guide was sharp, she would have expected something from him.

Her mind wandered, and she remembered what Luna had said about her student. She wondered when they would meet this student. Would they meet them on the journey? When they arrived? And they still knew little to nothing about the cause of this or the Princess' involvement.

The unicorn sighed, and wandered over to her saddlebags. She gave them a quick once over to make sure everything was still as it should be, then removed a few hair ties from the bag, and pulled her long mane up and out of her eyes.

"Well, looks like most of you are awake." A voice said, in the shadows. "Might as well reveal myself to you guys." Suddenly, a dragon appeared.

Upon watching the others wake up from behind the tent due to not sleeping, a bloodshot eye'd Virtuous could only turn around in response to the voice to a dragon showing itself before everyone. Although it would seem like an odd hybrid, it didn't take that long for it to sink in for the unicorn considering the environment they were in.
"[glow=black,2,300]Um...[/glow]"

The dragon waited for others to react, but was impatient.
"Hello, I am Illusion." She said. "Some of you may know me as Luna's Pupil. Ring any bells?"

"Uh..." Honest stared at the dragon's dark form. His wings twitched. His left eye twitched. He stood stock-still.

Twice in a row now, he has to take the word of his companions and said other pony. Twice, including believing that that princess they spoke to last night was truly theirs.

No, not this time.

"Alrighty." Honest raised an armored hoof and stomped it hard into the ground. "I'm going to need some proof that you're who you are, otherwise, I'm attacking the dragon who dared pop up unexpectedly into this camp." Honest growled dangerously. His head lowered, his wings flared open, and he pawed the ground slowly. "You have ten seconds."

While Honest was being understandably wary of the dragon, Melancholy's reaction was quite the opposite... she hastily rubbed the sleep from her eyes and a massive grin spread across her features.

"Oh wow! A dragon!!!" She squealed excitedly, darting over to their new companion and circling them with a slight bounce in her step as she gently inspected the strangers leather wings.

"So can all dragons breathe fire, or can some breathe different elements? Oh! And do you shed your scales, if so could I have some? The magical potential could be wonderful for my experiments!" The words were spoken a bit quickly, her bouncing never ceased, nor did her excitement wane.

"Oohs imagine what interesting things could happen if I used dragonfire when I brew potions..." She mused.

She'd had a fascination about dragons ever since she'd been told about them. She even had plans to use magically charged stones and other reagents to hatch a dragon egg of her own, despite not being a unicorn herself, it would make her the first Pegasus to accomplish such a feat. She just had to convince Princess Celestia of her abilities, and then she might be granted permission to try, that was her reason for coming on this expedition, to prove she was capable.

Honest couldn't even hear what Melancholia was asking as he fought long and hard to look as threatening as possible while she jovially bounced around the dragon, but in eventuality, like in another recent time, he sighed again in defeat as he relaxed his body posture, knowing that if he did anything drastic now, it would be pointless. He then said aloud to everyone, not caring who heard it, "You're all going to get me eaten, burned, maimed, or brainwashed somehow. You all know that right?" He didn't even bother for a reply before he about faced and marched off into the direction of the cart, looking for their cowpony guide 'cause food.

Illusion was confused and hurt by what the two ponies said. After the pegasus said that sentence, she yelled, "IM NO LONGER EVIL, SO DONT JUDGE PONIES JUST BECAUSE OF HOW THEY LOOK(couldn't think of anything else that signaled that she was once a prisoner from Tarturus)!!!" Tears started to form, but were quickly wiped away. "Um.. I mean.. The princess, Luna, talked to you in your dreams, she told you to tell no pony else what happened, and that I, Illusion the dragon, will help you in your quest to retrieve the prisoners of Tarturus." She quickly said, hoping no one noticed what she said.

*- I am kinda good on how it is, but I do get what you are going with this. There are situations to where we were to take turns posting, but we would have to improvise on our approach to the situation as the story already is progressing. I been in 2 dilemmas in RPs: This one, where we all would post in turns, but miss out an opportunity, and the other being all of us posting at once to one certain thing, making a traffic jam of responses. I think it is good we can make a discussion of this so we plan things out.

-----------------------------------

Shadow flinches as the dragon known as Illusion screams with a roaring sound. He can make out the words of Illusion and watches from the branch as she tells the group her offer to help out.

So you must be the help Luna was talking about. The one with Tartarus experience. Will be a great help to have someone like you. Just try not to do any funny business. Not to say I don't trust you, frankly I hardly trust anyone, but we will need all the help we can get if we are to succeed in returning the prisoners to Tartarus.

"Alright, as long as none of you make me mad. Also, don't tell your guide about this, just say, um, that I wanted to help you, which I do." Illusion said.
(If you want me to edit that part out, I will.)

((I tend to wait until there's been three or four other replies before Inreply myself, so you guys get a chance to post XD but I'm pretty flexible.))

_____________


Melancholy was still studying the dragon excitedly and she glanced in the direction of their guide, Blazing before biting her lip.

"Soooo.... can I have any scales you shed?" She asked hopefully. "Alchemy is kind of the only thing I'm good at, and any rare ingredients are incredibly useful floor my research and experiments..."

Her yellow eyes moved to her saddlebags,which were still next to the, now dead, fire. Some of the things she carried with her had the potential to be catastrophic when mixed with certain reagents, which was why she kept some ingredients separate.

"Um.. I don't shed often.. Only once a year." Illusion said.

Rustling shrubbery signals the return of the guide as the burgundy stallion emerges with saddlebags once again filled with nature's bounty.

//my replies depend on how long it's been since I've replied to this rp and any others, really. And I'll only add anything when I feel it's at least a little bit of a contribution. I'm alright with how things are going.

Aurora had been watching wuth some caution since the dragon had stepped out, but they seemed nice enough.  They hadn't attacked, or done anything else. As their guide reappeared, her attention turned to him. She nodded in greeting.

///OOC: Good to know that most of you are fine with it all. Guess I'll delete that post then. But after I get LunarDusk's input.

"Oh thank Celestia." Honest finally sees their guide as he enters the camp, and, with a quick wing flap, he flies over to the cowpony, armor clinking a little as he touched the ground beside the stallion. "So..." Honest began without haste, "Do you know where I can get some breakfast or..." Honest noticed that the stallion's saddlebags were full of something, but didn't say anything about it. Instead, he looked to the stallions forest-green eyes for a response with a smile.

Illusion spotted the guide. She walked up to him, but not to close, and said, "Hiya! I'm Illusion! I overheard that ya were looking for escapees. Mind if I join in on the fun?" Her accent changed a bit to avoide suspension.

Honest's smile turned upside down when Illusion spoke to Blazing, and he nearly glared at her before remembering his manners. He then cleared his throat before he said with an unnaturally polite sounding tone, his expression that of a typical nose-up noble's when speaking to commoners, "Excuse me Illusion, but I'm currently talking to this pony right now, not you. So why don't you wait your turn"--He looked over to one of the fallen trees to his left.--"somewhere over there, yeah?" before he turned back to Blazing. "So, about that breakfast."

Illusion stepped back, then said, "Why, who put ya in charge, here? Pretty sure the guide is in charge." She then glared at him, as if saying, "You don't want to make me mad..."

Whatever Blazing Legend was going to say about breakfast, the appearance of a new hero (and a dragon one at that) had him more than a little upset. "What on Gia's sweet earth is a dragon doing here!?"

Quote from: Irroro on 2017 Mar 11, 23:23:36
///OOC: Good to know that most of you are fine with it all. Guess I'll delete that post then. But after I get LunarDusk's input.

"Oh thank Celestia." Honest finally sees their guide as he enters the camp, and, with a quick wing flap, he flies over to the cowpony, armor clinking a little as he touched the ground beside the stallion. "So..." Honest began without haste, "Do you know where I can get some breakfast or..." Honest noticed that the stallion's saddlebags were full of something, but didn't say anything about it. Instead, he looked to the stallions forest-green eyes for a response with a smile.

//Meh I've kinda been overlooked/ignored for most of the time since the trip started so whatever you go through with is your call  :]


"[glow=indigo,2,300]...Its tartarus[/glow]" Virtuous said in a slightly snark manner.

//We haven't overlooked you or ignored you. I believe that we all in acknowledgement of what your character has done so far. We just haven't done so directly. Yet. 'Cept me.  ;)

"I could say the same to you!" Honest said, losing the nobleness, completely ignoring Blazing and missing the warning. "Here you are in our campsite, uninvited, acting friendly and all while I'm just trying to get some food! So I'd say that this warrants more than just 'getting mad'." Honest's wings flared wide open and his body lowered for battle once again as he glared dangerously at the dragon. "So, do you want to go, scaly? 'Cause I'm feeling like I want to." He let out a snort and pawed the ground in front of her, just begging her to attack.

"Trust me, you wouldn't want me to." Illusion said, brushing back her scales. "Just 'cause I'm a gal, doesn't mean I can't kick your flank." She continued.

One of Honest's eyes twitched at her smugness as it reminded him of all the mares he'd come across in his life that he didn't like. His face slowly contorted to one of anger and pain as he glared at Illusion, seeing all of their faces on her as if she wasn't a dragon. It made his blood boil, his teeth grind. If she'd just backed down, he wasn't going to do what he was going to do next.

He yelled into the sky.

And then he yelled some more.

And then he stopped, panting, before his eyes returned to Illusion, the anger from before gone, replaced now by something of a sad look, though subtle, until finally, "Blazing..." He said between his pants, not looking away from her. "Food... Please." He turned to look back at Blazing, and then to the stallion's saddlebags. "Please."

Melancholy looked at the distressed Pegasus, then to the irate dragon and back again, her fur stuck up and her ears back. She then sighed softly and pulled herself together. Now was not the time for her to get anxious. She instead turned to her saddlebags and began rooting around inside.

"I'm sure I had some.. hmm... where-?" She then grinned and pulled out a piece of smooth obsidian with some kind of symbol carved into it,a symbol which seemed to glow and wisps of white smoke emanated from it.

She then looked at Illusion. "Do you think you could hold this for me?" She then lowered her voice, so Blazing wouldn't hear. "It's a kind of rune for tracking... it picks up on more...subtle energies...the kind that you'd pick up from a place of potent negative energy...like Tartarus..." she looked away. "If you hold it, it should glow blue and it'll glow brighter the closer we are to one of the escaped prisoners...essentially you'll be our beacon..."

She smiled again before placing the rune in the dragons claws and trotting over to their other companions.

"So... what's for breakfast?" She chirped.

Illusion was confused by what the pegasus did, and sorta stood there. Her confusion stopped when she was handed the stone, which started to glow when she touched it. Illusion wasn't really hungry herself, so she said, "I'll fly above to look for the escapees." She then flew up high into the sky. She scanned the area. She had met some of these prisoners before, some of them a tensy bit nicer then others.
(Just wondering, what kind of creatures are we looking for?)

Blaze facehoofs as Illusion flies off, commenting, "Can somepony please tell me that she's not gonna try following us?" Obviously the guide was disgruntled about a sudden addition to the group unannounced and unintroduced. "Celestia, what have you gotten me into this time?"

His saddlebags drop from his side, splashing some of their contents onto the ground, as if Blaze had heard Honest's pleas and carried through even through his obvious torment.

Well... Sorry to break you the bad news Blazing, but...

Shadow hops down from the branch and lands on the ground with a roll, getting up on 4 hooves and continues.

She wants to help us. I know you don't wanna hear that. Surprised all of us.

He takes a fruit, looks like a melon, and knockes the fruit on a log to break open. He continues, looking to the rest as well.

I'm not an all-trusting pony. Not sure how everypony feels about it having her as a surprise partner. She claims she is reformed, and part of me says she's telling the truth. More allies means better odds in our favor to accomplish. Its a risk for sure if you willing to trust her.

He begins to take bites on the fruit.

Tears were forming around Honest's eyes as he leaned down to pick up a thing fruit that rolled over to his hoofs. He stared at it for a moment before taking a bite out of it, tears now streaming down his face as his prayers hunger has finally been answered. "'Hanks so 'uch." He said with a mouthful of fruit to no one in particular. He sobbed a little every time he took a bite, promising that he'll never willingly miss dinner ever again, and before long, it was gone. And then he took another.

"Seriously guys!? We're going on a top secret mission into the heart of all evil, and you pick up drifters for the way!" Blaze shouts in frustration. "I am NOT being compensated enough for this!"

Quote from: Aqua Fire on 2017 Mar 13, 19:52:39
Her confusion stopped when she was handed the stone, which started to glow when she touched it.

Illusion started to grow hungry, so she flew down, and asked the guide, "Do ya have any apples?" The stone in her claw still glowing bright.

//Wait, what's it mean when it's glowing a bright white?

Honest looked up and saw Illusion land as he grabbed another fruit, wiping away the tears from his eyes with a (somewhat) dirty foreleg, no longer sobbing. He noticed that there was something glowing in Illusion's claw, and he squinted his eyes under his helmet at the thing. Then, his eyes suddenly opened wide as he realized something. He didn't know what the heck that was, and, frankly, he didn't really care. He was not going to warn everybody again just to be ignored. He'd rather they find this stuff out themselves. Though, he thought silently, he was going to pay a little attention to the thing and the dragon. He was still part of this mission, after all, and it would be stupid (and regrettable) if he let anything happen to his companions or himself.

(You know what, I'm just gonna edit it out.. I have no idea why it's glowing white, maybe just to show she's reformed?)


Illusion turned, and saw the pegasus staring at her. She then turned her attention back to the guide, and asked for apples again, the stone still glowing.

Shadow sees the dragon known as Illusion return. He continues to eat the melon fruit and says to Blazing to finish his posiibly-rhetorical question

Dont ask me. I didnt recruit her. She wanted to help us, seeing she's already aware and familiar with Tartarus.

He looks to Illusion as he finds a spot on a log to lounge

He's all yours.

"There are apples 5.862 miles away 5.89972 degrees southeast from where I am standing. Fetch," Blazing states with no lack if disdain, continuing his opposition to the inclusion of new members without any word from celestia, ir at all really. He's been annoyed by this trip the whole time, and adding to the "problem" isn't making him any happier

"Oh, alright.. I guess I'll have.." Illusion said, looking around. She spotted a grape vine, and said, "Grapes. I'll have grapes." Illusion walked up to the vine, and plucked 50 grapes off of it. She ate 10 of them. She put the rest in a sattlebag that she hid in the bushes. The stone was still in her claw, still glowing.

Aurora had been off to the side, eating a piece of the fruit collected. She had been staying quiet, in an attempt to keep herself out of the argument. She doubted she would have been any help in cooling either side down, so she kept to herself. But now that things seemed to be cooling off, she decided to speak up before another started.

"It's always good to have an extra pair of hooves- or, well, claws in some cases. When do we start heading off again?" the white mare piped up, having finished her breafast.

Illusion put on her saddlebag, ready to go. The stone was still glowing.

The pony moves silently from the group and begins packing up his things. He mumbles incoherently to himself about "never working for Celestia again" and "wishing she'd just do her job for once and not be so cryptic". Nonetheless he is no longer activity opposing the glowy-stone dragon.

Honest Truth was glowing too felt increasingly anxious about that stone in Illusion's claws, as it seems that his teammates have absolutely no danger sense at all, none of them paying any attention to the possibly fatal stone. He's been staring at it and the dragon non-stop, shifting his weight on his hoofs constantly as he hoped at least one other pony would notice. Stressed, he sighed loudly for the third time since he joined in on this misson, and he looked between the dragon and all of his companions before, finally, "What in Tartarus is that stone in that dragon's claws?" He said, voice raised. "And why haven't any of you noticed?" He began to walk about the campsite, looking at each and every one of his companions individually. "You'd think that the ponies Celestia hired to do this mission would be competant enough to notice that stone in that dragon's claws since it began glowing!" he glared between all of them, especially Illusion. "But no. None of you have done that, because it seems that none of you are ready for this royally messed up mission to Tartarus. You all seem content with being friendly to random dragons and total strangers who could possibly eat us all in a matter of seconds!" He huffed. "So, unless you all get serious, we're not going to survive for very long out here. I'm not going to survive for very long!" He picked up another fruit with a wing as he walked back to Blaxing's saddlebags. "And when in time did Equestrians get so friendly with dragons, anyways? They used to eat ponies!" His his wing tossed the fruit into high into the air. "They still do!" It looked as if the fruit was just going to hit the ground before, deftly, Honest caught near effortlessly with his teeth and chomped a bite out of it, emphasizing his point.

Melancholy looked at Honest and then huffed slightly, ruffling her wings and straightening herself to a more dignified pose.

"It's not a stone...it's an enchanted rune I gave her that will help us find the escaped prisoners..." She then glanced at the dragon. "I gave it to her because, frankly, she's the only one of us who could hold it, and still be able to travel..." The lie rolled off her tongue with ease, she didn't want to betray Illusion's secret to their guide.

She then huffed again. "And I'm not an Equestrian... I don't know your customs... or your prejudices against other races, but where I'm from, we're taught to judge others on their own personal actions and not the actions of others."

She then sniffed and trotted over to Illusion and whispered. "It might be a good idea for you to scout around the forest... the rune will glow blue when you're within a hundred meters or so... if that happens, come straight back and then lead us to it..." She smiled.

"I don't eat ponies. I never did. I like fruit, and stuff like that." Illusion said. She noticed the rune she held was glowing, and quickly put it away. A pony went up to her and whispered something.
"Alright." Illusion whispered back, and flew into the sky.

Honest just watched as the two whispered something between themselves, before Illusion flew off into the sky. His eyes then fell on Melancholia's own eyes before he walked off into the forest without another word.

Now fully packed, Blaze tosses his things onto the cart and hooks himself on. "Well? We going to the most dangerous place in equestria or what?"

"I'm ready to go!" Illusion said. She looked around, expecting to find and capture things like bugbears and stuff.

Ready as I'll ever be. Hehe... gotta love the anxiety.

Shadow said in scarcasm as he finished the melon fruit and shakes himself awake to gain full awareness. He stands by next to Blazing and others ready to venture on to Tartarus.

A heavy thud makes known the silver-armored pegasus on Blazing's wooden cart, the anger in the pegasus's sky-blue eyes now turned dull since he went out into the forest. He looked at them all, pausing at Melancholia and Illusion before sitting his armored flanks down inside the cart. "You guys owe me for caring about you all."

Illusion tilted her head, not knowing what the pegasus did for the group to owe him. She decided to fly low, next to the pegases who gave her rune. She figured that since she knew more about the rune, and since she was the only one who liked her.

Taking care not to get separated again Virtuous clung onto Shadow as the others had prepared to set off.

"Once we clear the woods we'll be leaving the area where the royal guard do regular patrols. Things will get more dangerous from there," the guide announces to the group. His finishing action before taking off was bucking the cart and laughing the Pegasus off of it.

The Pegasus backflipped through the air after getting bucked off the cart, 'till he opened his wings wide to stop himself, mid-air. He growled at the earth pony, giving him his hardest glare yet, before he hovered to the ground, following the cart and muttering, "Swear. If you weren't our guide..."

"[glow=black,2,300]You'd slay him?[/glow] o.O" Virtuous finished

Hmm?

Shadow heard Virtuous something about slaying and gives a puzzled face.

What you mean by slay him?

Illusion landed, getting tired of flying. She took a few grapes from her sattlebag, and ate them.

Melancholy felt guilty about her little outburst at Honest. She cringed as she thought of what her mother would say and decided to stretch her wings and clear her head. She secured her saddlebags and with one strong beat of her wings, she was in the air and flying a bit ahead of the rest of the group, not wanting to go to far lest she find herself lost in the forest.

Blazing yellow eyes scoured the trees and her ears flicked at every sound of their surroundings, from the morning birds singing, to the soft buzz of the bees around patches of wildflowers. She had to admit, the view from the air was breathtaking and she thanked her innate curiosity for urging her to the surface.

She glanced down at the group and chuckled softly; they really were a ragtag group and she hoped their combined skills, no matter how odd, could save this beautiful world she was growing to love.

"Hey! Um how exactly are we going to get these creatures back to Tartarus? I mean... I assume they'll be pretty tough..." She called down to them all.

It was then, as she looked at the group, that her keen eye caught the unmistakable blue glow coming from Illusions bag... it would seem they were in the vicinity of one of the escaped prisoners...

(Actually, the rune is in her saddlebag, but it's glow is illuminating out of it.)
"Also, what are we looking for, exactly? We aren't just going to attack every strange creature that we could me across and guess there from Tarturus. Even some dragons could be a prisoner!" Illusion added.

Would be good to have a wanted list for things like this. My guess we either tie them up or knock them unconscious and haul their booty back to their cages. I like the second approach in my opinion.

The guide rolls his head and eyes at the chatter about capturing the prisoners. Though, after he does so, a sudden burst of surprise and fear overtakes him as he asks, "what ate diamond dogs doing out here!?"

Then, just as he had finished his sentence, three mounds of dirt erupted from the ground as their creators burst forth to attack the group. All three of them are of brutish physique, displaying large amounts of muscle in addition to their larger-than-pony height.

Wasting no time, Blazing Legend shoots forward, taking advantage of the forward opening created by the dogs only attacking from the sides, and apparently narrowly missing a fourth dog that burrowed from the ground to fill that hole.

As soon as the dogs appeared, Illusion quickly shot fireballs at them. She looked at the rune, thinking that's what there after, and closed the sattlebag tight.

Standing in the rear, Virtuous whispered a few words that he was chanting with his eyes shut. Soon after a giant armored fist was summoned in the air  above one of the diamond dogs. In about 5 seconds he swung his hoof downward and simultaneously the fist crashed directly into the ground above on of the dogs sending a shock-wave of blue colored flames from the impact.

Honest, on the other hoof, launched into the air as soon as he sensed trouble, and he was looking down towards where Blazing was, blazing through the diamond dogs like some super-pony warrior as Honest just hovered there in there air not too far above them, staring down at the encounter under his silver helmet, seemingly just observing.

A couple of the diamond dogs scampered back into their holes from the fires being flung around, and some of the local shrubbery begins to smolder where it wasn't scorched from existence.

Meanwhile, more diamond dogs appear up the road in pursuit of the guide and his cart, a few diving back into their holes for another go while the remaining either pursue on foot or wait to stall the other ponies. Blazing seems clairvoyant when it comes to the dogs, as his movements and narrow misses with dogs would indicate him knowing where they were under the ground.

Shadow comes behind to try to help the guide with a couple dogs. He jumps on one of them clogging by the neck in a sleeper hold. He knows the dog will have back-up and looks at one more coming good way.

Y'all are big muscles. Lets see if there is any brain in you.

Putting one diamond dog into a state of unconscious.sleep he confronts the other dog, seeing him wildly flailing fists or paws and dodging them with little effort.

Guess not.

Shadow sees another punch and grabs it. He tosses the dog with a judo toss on top of another dog who happened to be running at Shadow at the same time.

Aurora quickly raised a bubble-shield around the cart. It seemed that the diamond dogs were after their supplies, and on such a mission there was no way she was going to let them just take what could save their lives later. She then turned back to the battle, as it had become, and watched to see where she could jump in- if she was needed.

Illusion saw some of the dogs were heading towards the cart.
"Oh no ya don't." Illusion said, as she flew towards the cart, protecting it. She scratched some of them, which only made them angrier. She had an idea, but decided to wait until she absolutely needed to.

As the party draws closer to the guide and his cart, the dogs begin to pile up, no longer needing to spread their forces to catch everyone. "Stop them, before they get away with it," one if them calls out, pointing towards the cart.

Blaze seems to be fully concentrated in his running, paying the other ponies no heed. However, those who would look at his face will see that he he running and dodging with his eyes closed.

Shadow alerts to everyone.

New plan. Let's just get out the forest. Can't have them take our equipment.

He comes to run to aid Blazing once again, with the dogs following and making a jump. Shadow gives shoulder tackles to bump them away from the cart. He isn't sure where they are running and decides to come up to Blaze. He realizes something in his face and rewrites his initial question.

How can you run without seeing? Do you even know where you are going?

"Be Quiet, I'm concen-" the guide begins to say before being so rudely interrupted by a clawed hand grabbing his ankle from below. "Gah!" he ends with, falling to the ground as he is being pulled into the hole. The rest of the diamond dogs now begin to catch up with the stopped cart.

Honest, having waited for a moment like this, dived towards the fallen Blaze, aiming for the head of the diamond dog who grabbed him, swiftly planting the dog's head into the ground with the full weight of his armored body and hooves, leaving only the back of the dog's head and ears visible from the surface. Honest then quickly thrust himself off the dog, pushing the dog's head further into the hard ground, back into the relative safety of the air.

(If I may, as I want this to be a more structured RP, I would much prefer that attacks and the like be declared without a given outcome, as I am the acting Game Master and would like to control this.)

The diamond dog had a grip like iron, taking Blaze further into the hole when Honest hammered it like a nail. The cart's limbs begin to squeak under the pressure of Blaze's and his captor's  weight against that of the many layers of cargo.

((No problemo. I was actually wondering when you were going to put down the law. :] ))

---

Post Merge

---

Honest saw this, and he quickly turned about in the air, and dived for the dog again, this time, pulling his hoof in for a punch and throwing it at the dogs snout once he got within range.

THEY ARE TAKING THE GUIDE!

He shouted as they are taking Blaze underground. Seeing Honest already attempting to try to save Blaze, Shadow decides he should take out the remaining dogs trying to take the equipment. He took to a more serious emotion than his rather confidence self. He hopped onto a dog near the cart and attempts to take out as many dogs as he can getting within the cart, doing any kind of moves such as body slams, strikes, or a combination of the two.

Blazing doesn't seem to be sinking any further, as both the cart and Blaze's arms found solid ground, leaving the pony to dangle while whatever lurks beneath him struggle to pull him deeper.

Peace's assault on the dogs doesn't go unheeded, as several of the biggest mutts turn to face their challenger. Valiantly slamming into the first dog, the unicorn feels as if he had just ran into a brick wall.

Nearby dogs begin to flock on the cart, sending the protective tarp flying to the wind and supply bags scattered on the ground. Whatever they are looking for they, haven't found it yet.

Sent from my SM-G920W8 using Tapatalk

Honest Truth's sky-blue eyes widened when he saw the sheer amount of diamond dogs they faced. They were like a horde of zomponies risen from the dead by some vengeful necromancer coming out of the ground like they did. He stared at each of his companions as he realized that it seems they were going to lose the cart no matter how skilled they all were. He had to make a choice.

"Guide!" He yelled down at the cart, hovering above, just out of the dogs' reach. "I don't think your life is worth losing for whatever's in that cart!" He moved to the side as the tarp flew past him, the dogs' realizing they were good throwings. "I can try and get you off of that thing if you want!"

Illusion kept the stone in her saddlebag well hidden, in case that was what they are looking for, but it does show sneak glimpses of it as she flys. She shoots three fireballs at the diamond dogs pulling Blaze down, for she believed in the motto, "No Pony left behind."

"Save the cart, you fouls. They are after the device!" Blaze yells as he continues to try and scramble his way out of the hole. Finally, he unclipped his harness and fell into the hole.

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Honest swore as he saw this, and he just stared as three more fireballs impacted the ground. He looked to his other companions, wondering what they were going to do, before, "Ugh!" He dove for the diamond dogs on top of the cart, landing on top of it before he attempted a kicksweep at the nearest one, getting reading to shoot him into his digging companions with a hind hoof kick, which, if successful, should cause the dogs on the cart to stumble off.

What device?

Shadow asked wondering what it is and taking the order from Blaze to protect the cart, he accepts and decides to protect the cart at all costs despite a risk of losing the guide. Its a bitter pill to take, but if he feels the cart is more important than him, then perhaps it holds more of value to the mission than Blazing. He takes a deep breath taking in his bitter decision and takes out the dogs on the cart. As a dog tries to pull out an equipment, he happens to grab a long staff, basically a long pole, as the dog tries to pull it out. Shadow hooks his front fetlocks onto the pole properly and starts to take a short swing on the dog, knocking his head like a ruler until it lets go. He now swings the stick like a baseball bat and knocks the dog off the cart. Still using the stick, he now attempts to take out the rest of the dogs, whipping them with the stick, and using it as a way to intimidate them from coming up, defending the device that is in the cart.

These dogs don't give up at all, even from a butt-whoopin. Was thinking at least one of you try to help save the guide. Me and the rest will keep these dogs out of the kart.

He makes a few swings of the stick making the dogs back away from getting beat by the staff.

Illusion looked at the hole, then the cart, then back again. She then quickly flew towards the cart. She threw a fireball at one of the diamond dogs, but it dodged.

One of the diamond dogs grabs hold of an ornate vase-looking object made of gold and bearing inscribed marking that are difficult to make out from the distance. "WE HAS IT!" He yells triumphantly.

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Illusion swipes down with her death grip claws, that have been known to fail a lot of times, and attempts to get the base back.

Illusion grabs hold of the device, but the dog isn't letting go. Soon, the whole pile of dogs are holding on to one another to keep illusion grounded.

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Virtuous was starting to take notice of the dogs in the hole and started to take a deep breath after he had caught up and ran towards the hole. As he exhaled he blew a burst of flames at the dogs.

The flames scare off a few of the front most dogs, but the bearer of the device yells out to stop any more. "No, we must get the shiny!"

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Aurora grit her teeth, and began attempting to lift the dogs that hadn't backed off with her magic to keep them away. However, they were heavy creatures, and she could only lift so many.

(There's one thing I want to do, but just in case it isn't approved, I'll do two scenarios.)






(Btw, one is the one I want to do.)

Illusion's true form comes into being, its immense size and weight wholy overcoming the diamond dog pile. Yapping and whimpering, the cowardly creatures retreat into their holes, leaving whatever the object is firmly withing Illusions' grasp. The victory isn't wuthout fault though, as nearby brush was burned, beaten, and crushed by the fighting, and embers still rise from various smoldering trees. The weight of a full dragon is also proving to be a strain on the thoroughly burrowed ground, causing illusion to begin to deflate the ground beneath her.

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Illusion quickly went back to normal form, and collapsed. She hated being in that form, for it stretched her scales(got that from a book I read a long time ago), and it brought back memories..

Shadow stopped as he sees the dogs retreating away failing to take away the device they were so desperately wanting to steal. Finally that the ordeal is over, he realizes immediately looking around at all his partners, especially at Illusion who seemed to have a pretty intimidating transformation. It worked really well so that is a great skill to have. Seeing her fall to the ground, he comes over to help her up, even though she is pretty large, he could do his best to be a support. As he does his best to help her out, he looks around and realizes something... someone.

Wait a sec... we are missing our guide! He must be still  buried underground.

A few meters down the road, one of the dogs' tunnels becomes active again, with sounds and dirt escaping its darkened depths

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Honest shivered a good bit under his armor, right before he moved his stoic, somewhat teary eyes from Shadow and Illusion when he heard the sounds of earth being thrown about again. His eyes scanned the ground, up until he saw the dirt flying out of one of the tunnels, and he quickly took off into the air, off of the cart, to hover right beside the reactive tunnel. He glared at the tunnel then as he softly landed on the ground beside it, and he gave a quick glance over to the other members of the group, before looking back at it again, his legs bent, alabaster wings opened wide.

Shadow sees the activity going on. Seeing Honest already on the move to the tunnel he asks with him.

That may be our guide being dragged away. We gotta get our guide back. You seem eager for a battle. I am one the same. I'ma go.

"I'll block the other tunnels with rocks, and keep an eye on this one just in case." Illusion said, starting to lift heavy rocks onto the holes(not the active one)

Honest looked Shadow in the eye, a his right brow raised. "Good luck."

From the active hole crawls the guide, his movements slow and aching. Dirt coats him like rain, and visible injuries make it obvious that he was in a scrap.

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Aurora scans around her, then hurries over to the guide and offers her hoof in assisstance. Her ears are near flat against her head, and she is still on edge, still expecting more dogs to jump out at the group.

After moving the the last rock, Illusion turns to face the guide, and helps him up.
"You alright?" She asked.

Blaze doesn't take the assistance, preferring to get out of the hole by himself. To Illusion he asks forcefully, "Do you still have it?"

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Illusions looked in her bag, taking out the device, which has a few scratches.
"This?" She asked.

"Exactly that. Now put it back in the cart and load up. We have to leave before the Dogs resurface."

"Um.. Alright." Illusion said. She flew to the cart, and put the device down. She then blocked up the remaining hole.

Lets all move on the double. Can't stay around and get jumped like that.

He gets hast to get along moving around like an impatient junkyard dog ready to munch on anything that moves.

Honest said nothing as he scanned the trees and holes one last time before he took off into the air, waiting for the cart to begin moving once more.

Illusion flew around, keeping an eye on the holes. If one started moving, she would secure it.

The land is still, for now, and the sounds of combat subside and the sounds of the woods return.

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Shadow takes in all the nature around him. Things have been rather quiet activitywise. He walks a bit on the nose of the group looking around in alert. Feeling clear in their vicinity, he breaks the natural silence with low voice equivalent intensity of the nature.

Ey all. Not bad for our first battle in the jourmey.
What do you all do or did for a living?

Illusion scratched her head. "I.. Don't really like to talk about it.."

Fair enough. First time meeting someone like you in my life, but we have thin relationships.
 Oh how we all mistrust on the unknown and justify ones action to represent the population.