The tall, white faced form of the Tall One crashes through the portal, into an attic located in Canterlot. Slamming into some detritus on it's way in, it comes to a stop against the far wall, before instantly rising to it's feet and scanning the room for Umbra, sending out a thought wave of a mental image of Umbra.

>>40460174
Umbra suddenly pops into existence, and slams into the same wall, banging her head. Swaying a bit, as she gets up, she frowns, and thinks about how much she hates appearing like this. I'm here.

>>40460178
He lays a protective hand on her shoulder, sending her an image of a wounded Umbra, with a red X over it.

>>40460182
She smiles gently, and nods, looking around the room. Do you have any idea to as where we are? It looks a bit... Dingy, truth be told.

>>40460194
It shakes it's head. It sends her an image of the lab, then an image of the room they're in, a red arrow connecting the two before being crossed out.

>>40460202
Sighing, and looking for a better clue to as where they are, Umbra attempts to take a step forward, and ends up leaning against a dry, splintery wall. This isn't good... I'm rather dizzy. She grins weakly at the Tall One, and motions with her hands for help.

It didn't show up automatically. My name. And e-mail.

>>40460208
The Tall One picks her up gently, finding a staircase and walking them both downstairs into a ramshackle kitchen. Looking around briefly to make sure it's safe, it puts her down next to the oven. It quickly sends her an image of a wounded Umbra, with a picture of a whole bunch of medical supplies next to it, each with a question mark.

She merely shakes her head, and runs a hand though her hair, attempting to the search the surroundings for items that could help them. I'm afraid I don't have any medical supplies. I'm sorry. It's probably a small concussion. I'll be fine soon.

>>40460218
He sends the image again, but with a plus between the medical supplies and Umbra.

Reapo was just walking around, minding his own business, playing with Mister Mugwuggles, when all of a sudden, he fell through a hole! It was a weird hole. The cloud place never had holes. It was all boring and the same. Kinda puffy, but boring and the same.
Anyway, here he was, sitting on his rump, which now slightly ached from the fall, in a dusty old cupboard it looked like! Now, Reapo wouldn't stand for this! He put mister Mugwuggles down, and took out his scythe, slicing the lock open. Reapo put his scythe away again, and opening it up to reveal a kitchen with a stove right next to the cupboard. Quiet as a mouse, he crept out, looking around and seeing nothing. He crept out of the kitchen into a main hallway, opening the door to view the outside street with it's ramshackle buildings and faded facades. He looks both ways, and happily skips out of the house down the road to the left, heading down the hill because walking up the hill is hard.

Last edited at Tue, May 6th, 2014 21:45

>>40460429
Poor little Reapo would find himself in Hell it would appear. Ash falls like snowflakes across the wasted land before him, and though there don't appear to be any monsters present at just that moment, they could be heard in the distance quite clearly along with an occasional scream of agony.

All along the broken cobbled streets and decimated buildings, Reapo can see souls. Countless numbers of them.

Though many of them seemed to take the form of equine creatures, some were of the bipedal form that he may have been more used to. They all wondered the streets in a perpetual form of agony. Many still wore the screams of terror from when they had first been slain, while some seemed angered beyond reason, and others merely confused-brought down so fast and violently that they had no time to register what was happening.

Yes, every corner that Reapo would turn, every street he would walk down, there they would be. One after another, filling the ruins of the city like locusts.

>>40461239
Reapo hugs mister Mugwuggles tighter, and starts making his way further down the hill, making occasional noises of terror at the sight of a new scary ghost.

Stupid mare. Stupid bucking mares.

He was cursing quietly to himself for about the millionth time that day. No, for the past three days. How could she send him a letter like that? Was she really that stupid? Thinking back on it, yes, yes she bucking was.

"Buckin expect me to just stay put...

'Take care of my mom'" he quotes in a high pitch, sarcastic sort of way.

"Ya, great Ella. You and I both know how bucking well that was going to go over...uuugh, buck it all.."

His voice was quiet, of that he was always careful. After the first day of fighting, he had gotten a pretty good idea of at least SOME of the monstrosities he would have to face, and how good some of their senses could be.

Taking a few careful steps over some broken glass, he stops just at the end of the alley to look out into the street. With nothing in his immediate sight, he then turns his attention to the sky. A few stray ravens flew, but besides the normal wildlife, nothing of threat looked to be near him, so he took a moment to adjust his equipment.

The rope he had been carrying around his neck and under his arm was really starting rub some nasty blisters into his skin, and his saddle bags were doing the same to his sides. With a heavy sigh, he stops to pull one of his shirts out of his pack and lays it on the ground before slipping all his gear off and putting the dark shirt on. He didn't want to wear the damn thing cause it was so hot around this part of town with all the fires raging. The wind only helped to carry the searing heat and smell of decay with it and he hated it all the more.

With his shirt now providing an extra layer of protection, he slips the rope back around his neck and adjusts his bags before pulling out his canteen and taking a few swigs.

>>40461389
If Reapo continues along his path, he will come across a single pony standing amongst thousands. One that is still vibrant, breathing, living. His fur is covered in ash, but between smudges of gray there appears to be a gold color, like rye. His mane, which was a bit longer than most colts short and cropped cuts, tail (also a bit longer than most), snout, and socks are all a dark raven black and if Reapo dares to approach close enough, he would notice his eyes match well with his mane.

All his equipment and clothing were black as well, including the wore out, very old looking cowboy hat he had placed neatly between his ears and out of the way of his eyes.

This guy just seems to love black, don't he?

>>40461421
Reapo smiles like it's christmas, waddling towards him fast, making a happy sound of discovering something not creepy and ghostly. He's reaching out his arms to give whoever it is a hug when he gets there, still holding onto mister Mugwuggles in his left hand.

>>40461427
Toby damn near chokes on his water when he sees the strange little thing. Not because it scared him, the past few days had toughened him up a bit, but because he almost laughs at this monster. Was it really so stupid to think that it could trick him with such a simple minded act? Acting friendly?

Wait what if that's not the whole act? What if this lil bastards trying to throw me off? Distract me while somethin bigger gets a nice bite out of my rear? Nice try you little bucker.

Without taking his eyes off the approaching creature, Toby caps his canteen and puts it away as he finds himself a nice solid wall to put his back to. Once he knew nothing could approach him from behind, he pulls out a corn sickle from his saddle bag. It was a similar instrument to the scythe, only much shorter and meant to be held in the hoof.

Along with it he unravels his rope, which he has already prepared a loop at the end, and begins swinging it above his head.

"Well come on little doggy, I ain't got all day now!"

Last edited at Thu, May 8th, 2014 09:56

>>40461757
Reapo cocks his head to one side, making an adorable confused sound. He waddles forward again, reaching out to hug Toby once her reaches him.

>>40462002
He wouldn't get close enough for a loving embrace unfortunately, because the rope Toby had been swinging about his head now flies out and wraps itself around Reapo before tightening painfully around his midsection. Toby begins to yank him forward using the rope and his mouth, and with one hoof picks up the sickle and gets ready to attack.

>>40462026
Reapo stumbles, dropping his small pink rabbit. He makes a sounds of surprise and wanting, trying to reach him past the ropes, but not being able to. He jumps up and down the tiny bit that he can, pointing desperately to Mister Mugwuggles, making sad sounds.

>>40462029
>>40461757
(Fuck me I forgot to add name on this new computer >.<)

>>40462029
And right when he was about to bring his weapon down on the little bucker he hesitates. He just..couldn't bring himself to do it.

No, this is a trick. Snap out of it, this thing ain't from this world, it's probably messing with your head. Come on pull it together.

He brings his arm up once more, but, again, he can't swing. He stares at the little creature in it's futile attempt to get it's pink stuffy back and something about it just makes his hard cowpony heart ache.

With a sigh, he lowers the sickle, though he doesn't let go of it just yet. Instead, he lets the rope drop and loosen it's grip on Reapo so that he could go and get his toy.

>>40462063
The instant Toby loosens the rope, Reapo runs over and picks up the small bunny, hugging it tightly. He looks over at Toby, looking kinda spooked by him.

>>40462065
He takes a look around his surrounding, making sure to check the sky as well, before focusing his attention back on the little creature. This was just too weird for him

"Just what the buck are you?...Why didn't you try and attack me?"

>>40462067
Reapo makes a confused noise, cocking his head to one side.

>>40462068
Still rather confused himself, Toby simply shakes his head and starts walking away.

"You uh..just stay ther' little fella. I got business to take care of, uh, gonna run along now."

He makes sure to take a path that he can keep a clear view of the little creature until he feels he is safely out of it's range.

>>40462076
Reapo makes an exclamationary noise, running after Tonu, hugging the small rabbit, waddling towards him.

>>40462078
"No!"

He puts a hoof up in a defensive 'stop' motion. He wasn't exactly mad that it was following him, but rather scared that it had ran towards him. He still didn't trust anything around that wasn't a pony. Though even the ponies he had a hard time trusting.

"You uh..you gotta go little guy. I told you I got business. You understand? Things I gotta do, you can't follow me. Too dangerous. Now get."

>>40462083
He makes another confused noise, stopping. After a second, he starts walking towards Toby again.

>>40462085
"Didn't I say get? What, you don't understand me? Of course why would you."

He picks up a piece of concrete and hurls it at the little creature, hoping to scare it off like he would a dog.

>>40462093
Reapo ducks down, looking at Toby with a 'why would you hurt me' look, making a sad noise, and running towards Toby again.

>>40462100
>Tobys face when

He can't bring himself to even stop the little guy this time, knowing full damn well this thing was probably about to latch onto a limb and try and tear it off.

>>40462116
He runs up, hugging Toby's leg and making a happy sound, looking up and smiling at him.

>>40462119
Having the thing this close to him gave him a better look at it and it sent a chill up his spine.

"What the buck are you?" he asks again.

"You...you don't have any skin! Hey, get off. Off I said!"

He tries to shake the little monster off his leg.

>>40462134
Reapo lets go, falling onto his bum. He looks hurtedly up at Toby again, standing up and reaching out to hug him again, waiting for Toby's move.

>>40462135
He sighs once more as he rubs his forehead with a hoof, finally deciding to put away his weapon.

"Ah colt, I don't got no time to be babysitting little...baby monsters. How do I know you aren't going to eat me in my sleep, huh?

No. No, you need to go. I already wasted enough time playing with you."

He starts walking off again, this time picking up his pace to a light trot.

>>40462144
Reapo waddles after him as fast as he can, making exclamationary noises at Toby.

>>40462150
He tries his best to ignore him.

>>40462161
He continues making noises, not dissimilar to a dog's whine when his owner is in a store, but in Reapo's adorable little voice.

>>40462167
His ears lower and he starts grumbling, something about 'why me?'

"ALRIGHT FINE!" he says in the quietest shout he can muster as he comes to an abrupt stop.

"You come come if you just shut up! Luna help me, you are annoying! Get on my back and be quiet before you get us both killed you little bucker."

Reapo smiles up at Toby, hugging his leg quickly. He stands next to him, looking up at him with a broad smile.

>>40462178
"Well hurry up! If you can't keep up with me even trotting then your going to have to ride on my back. Can't have you slowin me down."

He jerks his chin towards his back to further his meaning.

>>40462216
Reapo makes an adorable noise of understanding, jumping up to try and get up onto his back but repeatedly falling back down. He points to himself and then Toby's back, moving his hand apart and shaking his head.

>>40462218
"Oh for Lunas sake!"

He reaches over and grabs Reaper by the collar of his coat and lifts him up onto his back. He then gathers up his rope, which he had slung over his back, and coils it properly before putting it over his neck and under his arm where he had it before.

"Ok now listen here. I ain't got time to keep stopping and picking you up, so grab onto that rope and hold on. If you fall off I ain't comin back to get ya. Understand?"

>>40462227
He grabs onto the rope because it's put back to him, and makes a happy sound, hugging Toby's neck.

>>40462229
He grumbles and starts off at a trot again.

What the buck have I gotten myself into now?

Last edited at Thu, May 8th, 2014 15:37

>>40460129
A strange door appears out of nowhere and opens to show a middle aged mas with a three piece business suit that was black with red pinstripes, he was wearing a fedora and tie with identical pattern and had a crimson red wood cane that was masterfully polished, he walked around the building curiously, snapping his fingers and dismissing the door "Let's see how this world is doing..." his eyes glow a moment, then he clutches them as if in pain "Holy hell! this place is in the crapper!"
((He is a chaos spawn, a human discord, he is NOT godly as he can get sick, hurt, hungry, etc.)>>40460178
>>40460174

Last edited at Wed, May 14th, 2014 15:28

>>40468411
(Sorry, if you haven't noticed we're a bit slow here on rp. We go through our periods of great, fast activity and then weeks of zippo nada nothing happen in this town. Don't get discouraged though! Someone will be around to RP with you! Eventually...

*Cough*

In the mean time feel free to enter some discussion over on ooc and make some new friends! I'm sure someone can help you get acquainted with the board. The main ooc where most newcomers go is here:
http://www.ponychan.net/chan/ooc/res/453314+50.html)

Inter dimensional travel is not exactly fun at the best of times. Unfortunately for our bespectacled friends, this was farther from the best of times than clowns are to not creepyness.
Asma slammed hard against the bookshelf, as the small portal she had appeared from swiftly closed behind her. Her glasses went somewhere, she wasn't entirely sure where. Feeling around for her bag, she stands, using the bookshelf as a support. She carefully feels around with her foot for her glasses, finding them after a few minutes and donning them. Looking around briefly, she can see that she is indeed in a very, very strange place. She begins wandering around the library, looking around with her pistol in hand.

The next day and a half was hard travelling. He knew his way to Canterlot rather well, but with so much ruin pervading the streets he couldn't just march his way through straight to the city and had to constantly find ways around the rubble of fallen buildings and broken. streets. Still, he caught a break as he encountered very few monsters along the way and was even able to wash up in a still somwhat functional fountain in the middle of town.

Throughout all this the little monster on his back never seemed to give him much trouble, and though he was not always quiet, he at least never whined for food pr to go the bathroom. Toby found this very strange of course but feared to push his luck and never brought it up.

On the evening of his fifth day of travelling, Toby arrived at his destination.

The library still stood in good condition compared to most of the capital, but the damage that was their could not be ignored. There was no doubt that a few battles had been waged here, and if the montrosities still lurking around were anything to go by, more would follow.

His pace finally slowed as he approached and came to a full stop a few hundred feet from the building . Reapo may be able to feel the shiver that runs across Tobys back as his brow knits and he stares for a good long minute . Finally he looks to the little creature on his back.

"Alright little buddy. You gotta get off and wait here."

Last edited at Wed, May 21st, 2014 21:23

>>40478528
Reapo makes a small confused sound, cocking his head to one side. His tiny adorable smile still adorns his face.

>>40478536
He doesn't bother trying to explain it this time and instead just lifts the little creature up off his back and places him gently on the ground. He then proceeds to un do his rope and sickle. With his eyes still trained on the building before him, he begins to walk towards the back of it in a crepe.

"Stay" is the only response Reapo gets.

Last edited at Wed, May 21st, 2014 21:32

>>40478556
Reapo looks confused, running briefly towards Toby, before seeing the rope and sickle and waddling back away, look rather spooked in Toby's direction.

>>40478559
He looks back once to make sure he wasn't being followed, and seeing that Reapo had listened he gives a little smile and tip of his hat.

"It'll be alright. I'll be back, just gotta get somethin."

And with that he was off, proceeding the rest of the way stealthily until finally he was at the library. After a few moments of watching him, a door seems to open and another pony greets him, and together they enter the building and are out of Reapos site.

>>40478581
Reapo waddles as fast as his little legs can take him towards the door, making scared noises as he does so.


In the meantime, Asma stumbles down the stares, landing face first at the bottom, before standing and running away from the door as fast as she can, dropping her gun on the way. She seems to be utterly terrified at the moment.

>>40478584
Reapo would receive a few sideways glances from some of the creatures, but seeing how he lacked the perfume of coppery blood and warm flesh, he was ignored.

Meanwhile:

Toby had made it past the few devils still trying to find their way into the building, but once he arrived he was faced with a dilemma. There was no obvious way in. The wall had been fortified against attack and protection spells cast barriers over any weak points where even the tiniest monster could have slipped through a crack. He wondered the side for a moment looking for a solution, when something behind him got his attention. At first he thought it was a bird whistling and was about to ignore it when suddenly the realization hit him that he had not heard a bird in almost three days; and the birds he had heard had certainly not had the happy chip tweet chip that this one had. When he turned he found himself face to face with a royal guard, who was beckoning to him urgently. The guard had opened one of the barriers temporarily and was not in the mood to wait around for a fool to decide whether he wanted to live or die. Neither was Toby.

Inside the building was dark, but not impossibly so. Small magic orbs of light provided just enough to see by but kept it dim enough to not travel through any cracks of the walls or Windows that could not be boarded off completely.

"It's always good to see another survivor, especially one with a weapon. I take it you've been able to handle yourself out there alright? It looks like it. We've got a small amount of supplies and even less water and food, so if you're going to stay you'll be expected to accompany a group during the foraging hours. "

Toby wanted to agree with the guard and receive news of what was happening in Canterlot, but before he could say anything he heard something-a crashing noise-and immediately he was on high alert.

"What was that?!" he hissed.

The guard, having heard it too, pulled out a club from his belt and alongside Toby they begin to trot toward the source of the noise.

Last edited at Thu, May 22nd, 2014 01:01

>>40478640
As they start running towards the noise, the see what they may or may not recognize as a gun sitting on the floor at the base of the stairs upwards. If they continue following the crashing sound to it's source, they would find Asma curled up in a ball behind a table whimpering softly.

The guard stops to pick up the weapon but Toby was more concerned with what had dropped it. He keeps after the noise, his rope around his neck and his sickle in his mouth. When he comes galloping around the table, he must seem like a monster to poor Asma.

He stops just a few feet short of the body and studies her. He had never seen a creature such as this-pale, slender, fleshy with hardly a mark of fur except for a strange long main of it atop the crown of it's head. It lacked hooves and instead had digits, like that of a lizard except without the claws and instead little tender looking nobs. The limbs seemed horribly disproportioned, and no matter what way he tried to view the thing, it just seemed...wrong.

What the buck...?

He had come across a few monsters that had similar body structures, but all of them had seemed, well, grotesque compared to this thing. This fleshy mass before him lacked the rotting smell. It lacked the sometimes brow wrinkling slimy skin or open pussy wounds. It even looked warm; though he wasn't about to go up and touch it to find out.

The guard comes trotting up and stops next to Toby and places the strange item he had picked up on the ground. He takes a look at Asma, then to Toby, then back to Asma before he pulls his sword out.

"Right then, let's get rid of it before it calls in reinforcements."

"Wait!" Toby drops his sickle and throws a hoof out to stop the guard before he can make his move.

"I..I don't think this ones dangerous."

"Not dangerous?" The guard gives Toby an odd look, as if the earth pony has just grown wings and started doing the Hula.

"Colt, have you spent too much time out there? How can you say this thing isn't dangerous? It's not pony!"

"Well look at it for Celestias sake!" Toby growls.

"It doesn't have any claws, it's not covered in weird slime or have scales, it's not screeching at us, infact the damn thing looks like it could barely even defend itself! It's not even trying to run away, it's just layin there shakin and lookin like it's 'bout to piss itself! You really think it's gona hurt you?"

"Well...what the buck is this thing then?" the guard says, poking at the metal thing before him.

"I don't know. But I wouldn't go messin with it until we figure out what it does."

>>40479362
As the two round the corner, she starts trying to shove herself away, reaching into her bag for her gun before realizing she dropped it. "G-get away." Her voice is wavering and sounds terrified, fumbling around for something to defend herself with.

>>40479370
The guard hops back and raises his sword towards the girl.

"It-it talked! It can talk!"

Toby was a bit surprised to, but perhaps not as much as the guard. The little creature he had picked up earlier seemed to have had some communication skills though they weren't fully verbal.

"Hey, easy. Easy now, we're not going to hurt you."

Toby takes a look at the guard and scowls.

"Hey put your sword down, can't you see you're scaring it?"

"Hey buck you colt! I don't know what that thing is going to do!"

"It's not going to attack you unless you attack it, basic animal instinct."

"Buck you!"

Toby scowled harder and made a little 'tff' noise before places himself in-between the guard and the girl, using himself as a shield both to make the girl feel less threatened, and give the guard a reason not to attack.

"Hey hey. Look at me. It's alright. I won't hurt you. As long as you don't hurt me. Look, I don't know how you got here, but obviously you're as scared as we are. Why don't you tell me your name? Mines Toby, Toby Roper."

>>40479398
"A-Astral. A-astral S-spy-spyg-glass. W-where a-am I? I was a-at h-home... Oh god I was at h-home." She starts freaking out, hyperventilating and gibbering about how she needs to get home and she shouldn't be here.

>>40479402
"Hey! Hey, Astra calm down hun, just talk to me. Do you remember how you got here? Do you know where here is?"

Toby moves a bit closer, but not too close. He didn't want to frighten her, but he didn't want her running off either. If she wasn't from around here, which it seemed, then she probably didn't know what was going on and he didn't want to see her run outside and get killed.

The guard, in the meantime, had finally lowered his weapon. He didn't yet sheath it, but now the bald creature had his interest. If this thing had come from somewhere else, it might be able to answer a few questions about what the hay was happening to his world.

>>40479593
Asma takes no notice, having entered pure panic mode, curling up into a ball once again, returning to the state she was in before Toby found her, only this time she is entirely unresponsive.

>>40479634

Tobys eyes take in the pitiful bipedal as she tumbles down into her own world of panic and terror, and his mouth turns down into a heavy frown. She, or he-for he really didn't know for sure but felt it may be a she-was going into the same shock that he had seen rack many of his neighbours and friends back home, and she had yet to even see half of mound she had fallen into to. If she was taking it this badly now, he couldn't imagine what she would be like when she got a glimpse of outside. He approaches her slowly again, his footsteps seeming almost heavy in the way he walked.

"Hey, what are you doing? Don't go near it, what if it attacks you?"

Toby barely gave the guard any mind, barely even twitching his ear at his concern.

"Don'tcha ya have some rounds to be making? We don't know how this creature got in here, so maybe there's a hole some where. Shouldn't ya be checkin' it out?"

The guards eyes widened a bit as Tobys words struck a chord. He hadn't even thought of there being an opening in the building. He was right, he needed to do his patrol.

"I'll be alright, beem handle'n myself just fine the past few days."

Sheathing his sword, the grey pegausis takes to the air and gives a final warning to Toby.

"We're holding up on the third floor-east wing. I expect to see you up there in the next half hour with that...thing. I want to interrogate it, see if it knows anything about what's going on.

...

You come up there without it, and I'll make sure to it that the rest of my squad escorts you to the door and back outside. Am I clear?"

"Clear as the river I was raised in."

With a huff the guard took off and Toby was left alone with Astral. Very carefully he moves himself behind her back and lays down with her on the floor. He scooches his body up to her back and gently lays his head down on her shoulder, letting her feel his warmth. He doesn't say a word, just quietly provides the comfort of something warm.

>>40480246
She seems to be too panicked already to notice. After about fifteen minutes she seems to be slowly calming down. "W-where am I?" She says, hugging Toby tightly because he's right there.

>>40480440
Her grip was a bit too tight for his liking, but for the moment she wasn't choking him so deals with it without complaint.

"Your on a planet called Earth, in a country called Equestria, and up until about a week ago it was paradise."

>>40480841
"W-why am i here? D-do you k-know?"

>>40480855
"No, wish I did. Maybe it's got somethin to do with what's been goin on around here.. Can you remember anything? About what happened before you came here? Maybe what you were doin?"

>>40480867
"I-I was j-just w-walking h-home. A-and th-then I f-fell down h-here."

>>40480896
"Ya fell? That's it? Ya don't remember any weird lights or strange noises? Anything you can tell me will help hun."

>>40480905
"N-No. I j-just w-was there a-and n-now I'm h-here. I n-need to g-get b-back t-though. I h-have to." She takes a second to get herself together before speaking again. "W-what's g-going on h-here? Y-you mentioned m-monsters."

>>40480920
His frown deepens. He didn't want to say it to her, and wouldn't, but the only chance she might of had of returning to her own world was gone. Both the rulers of his kingdom were dead, and though he trusted Twilight Sparkles judgement in the coming days, he doubted that even her magic would be powerful enough to send these creatures back to their own world. At least, not for a while.

Politically, things would have to be done in order. Shelters and strongholds would have to be made for any survivors, and that alone could take months if not a few years. Raising an army and getting the right unicorns together to combat the onslaught might take even more. He hated to admit, but his world would not return to peace for a very long time, even if the evil was purged.

"Can you stand up? Here, I'll help ya."

It would do no good trying to explain to her what he barely could understand himself. Best just to show her, and the sooner he did it the sooner she could come to grips with what was happening to her.

>>40480973
She stands, leaning on him for support. "Y-you d-didn't a-answer my q-question."

>>40480974
"I know."

He guides her to the nearest window, and with a bit of effort, he manages to unhinge one of the boards just enough to let a crack of dim light shine through.

"Look."

He stood back to let her see with her own eyes; the destruction that he could barely stand to look at himself.

>>40480997
Looking out, she quickly ducks back in, looking terrified. "T-there's a s-skelteton o-out t-there l-looking a-at u-us." She seems to be very close to freaking out once more.

>>40481018
"Skele-? Oh buckin aye, hey!"

Toby hisses as he steps up to the window.

"Get down! I can't let you in here! I told you to stay! Down, get down!"

He spoke angrily, but quietly, making his point more by tone of voice and the angry 'I'm gona kick your ass when I get outa here' look on his face as he peeks through the window.

"Sorry about that, I picked that thing up a while ago. Don't know what it is, but it hasn't attacked me yet. Infact it does the opposite, damn thing won't let go of my leg half the time."

Last edited at Fri, May 23rd, 2014 13:38

>>40481025
Reapo made a sad noise, frowning. He walks over to the door, but no noise of opening door can be heard.


"I-It l-looks r-really l-lonely." She comments, panic softening a bit.

>>40481029
He couldn't open the door anyway XD is magic bitch

He hadn't really thought of that before. It made him feel kind of bad that he'd been treating the little thing so harshly. After all, maybe it had been drawn into his world just like Astral. He frowns a little at the thought.

"Ya..anyway, I was trying to show you outside. Go ahead and take a look. But be careful! Just be quiet when you do, and for Lunas sake, don't scream."

>>40481039
She nods, peeking outside. Her brows knit into a frown quite quickly. "T-There's s-someone r-running t-towards u-us."



Asma had been sprinting for quite some time, occasionally firing behind her to quell the horde of creatures she had amassed from her movements. Having seen the towering library in the distance, she ran to it for cover. Along the way, however, her method of 'kill all monsters that get in my way' hadn't entirely worked out for the best. Mostly because monsters realized she was in fact killing other monsters, and decided to kill her and eat what remained of her face.
It was the final stretch, pelting down the street towards the main doors. From an alley, however, leaped a huge spider, around the size of a decently sized dog. Quickly drawing her rapier, she dispatched it mid jump and left it twitching on the ground behind her. Though a short diversion, the precious few seconds it took had given the horde more time to close in on her. Some of the faster ones were already nipping at her heels or trying to grab her to slow her down. With a quick stab behind her, she freed herself from the ghoul who had her by the shirt, and continued running, focusing entirely on speed and as such sheathing all her weapons. As she got closer, she noticed a small figure in a cloak with a skull button nestled in pink fabric. She had no time to worry about whether or not it was going to attack her, instead just going right for the door. She smashes right through the doors, keeping up the run through the entrance area, looking for stairs up while she runs.

>>40481074
The magic, which had not been attended too in some hours, had grown weak around the door and with the added power of Asmas head on sprint they simply could not withhold against her and yield to the crushing force. They slam open with a BANG but somehow miraculously stay on their hinges.

Asma might spot the stairs from which Astral had fallen down, but if she were paying any mind to her surroundings she would notice the two creatures standing just inside the door.

"Hey hey hey! Buck! Help me! Get the doors shut, quick!"

Toby sprints back to grab his sickle before running to the doors and slashing at a demon that dared to poke it's head in the door.

------

Meanwhile:

Library-Third floor, East Wing

"Here you go mam, fresh from the fire, soft, no crispy crust-just like you like it."

"Ooh, thank you dear. My teeth just aren't the same as they used to be."

"I completely understand Granny."

"Mm, well now that does smell good, doesn't it? I haven't had huckleberry pie in years. Now you run along and tend to the others dear, they need your help. You're going to make a fine royal guard someday."

The blue Unicorn smiled brightly to the old mare's compliment as he did as he was told and walked around the room attending to anyone who needed something from him. He was just a few months short of being old enough to join the guards, but when disaster had struck, they recruited him for unofficial duties. It wasn't much to most of the platoon, but to Blue Sky it was everything. It was his dream, and his hope-hope that maybe he might have a future in the guards. If this mess could ever be cleaned up.

"Hey Tykki, how you doin buddy? Missin your mom? We'll find her."

He stopped to pat the Shepherd on the head and rub his ears, but before he could get to his neck, a spot that he seemed to particularly love, the dog went stiff and stood at attention. Blue Sky watched him curiously for but a few seconds before suddenly he began to bark loudly and before the unicorn could grab him, he was running off and down the stairs.

"Oh no.."

The whole room had gone quiet, listening. Sky was the first to break the spell.

"Every one! Pack your things and start moving to the back of the building like we planned! This is not a drill! Go!"

An earth pony, one of the official royal guards, approached him quickly with a few of his platoon.

"You think there's been a breach?"

"I don't know, but that dog is well behaved and in the time we've had him, I've never seen him just take off like that."

"Right. First lieutenant!"

"Yes sir!"

"I want you to take a few of the colts and start aiding in the evacuation. Make sure that the elderly and sick have priority when getting through the doors. I want someone taking a constant headcount and writing names down. Have the strongest aid in the packing and clean up, and when you reach the basement, I want every unicorn boarding the doors and walls with protective barriers. And make sure Shining Armor knows what's happening.

Even if this is just a fluke, we're going to treat it like the real thing, got it?"

"Yes sir!"

Blue Sky watched the guards taking their positions and he gave a glance over to old Granny and frowned at her expression. He didn't know if she could make it through another trek if it came down to having to move again. The last one was too hard on her, and she had barely had a day to rest.

"What about me sir? What should I do?"

"Blue Sky, you've shown amazing fortitude thus far. I want you in my team, aiding in the patrol. Where going downstairs to check it out. Who knows, you might even earn your cuty mark on this mission."

Blue Skys face lit up with excitement and helped to quell some of the fear in the pit of his stomach.

----

Back at the door:

"Help me shut it!" Toby was still yelling to anyone that would listen. He was pushing with all his might, but the monsters pushed harder. The two doors were so close to closing, and yet he couldn't get them just the few more inches it would take to slip the latch in place.

"For Lunas sake!"

He was panting, grunting, and for once he was actually panicking. There was more here at stake then just his own life...

>>40481204
Asma helps to hold the door closed, her feet rather literally digging into the floor as she does so. She shoves Toby off the door, holding it back with her fingers dug into the wall on both sides. "Find something the brace it!" She shouts at Toby and Astral.


Reapo managed to run inside, and as soon as he did ran immediately to the not scary lady, that being Astral, and hugged her leg tightly, making scared noises. Astral is also currently scared, fumbling around near the stairs for her gun in a panic.

>>40481476
His eyes travel over to his rope and sickle briefly, but he shakes his head. Those two items alone had helped him survive the past few gruelling days, he wasn't about to sacrifice them unless he absolutely had to.

Around the rest of the room there were what one might expect to find in a library-books, of all shapes and sizes. Not exactly useful for holding a door shut. They were scattered on the ground however, and books were usually stacked atop book shelves.

"There!"

In the corner of the room was a measly stack of wood left over from torn down bookcases, from which Toby could only assume they had used to board the windows and make fires. He races to the pile and starts digging through it, desperate to find a good plank. After about two seconds he gives up on finding a good one and just starts stacking long ones together to carry back to the door.

"Astral! Help me carry these! Grab as many as you can!"

He runs with his small stack laid across his back and drops about half of them by the time he reaches the door and one by one, he starts shoving the planks into the makeshift hooks that had been attached to hold the door shut.

Last edited at Fri, May 23rd, 2014 19:42

>>40481518
Astral helps, though it's clear she is not particularly strong. Reapo pitches in as well, barely managing to carry two boards at once.

The ground beneath Asma's began to crack, one board splintering from the pressure. She moves her foot away, slipping slightly, and the door visibly bends inwards before she shoves it back. Toby, now having time to properly inspect the newcomer, can see that both of her arms are some form of strange mechanical device rather than actual arms, and so are both her feet at the very least. Most of her face, except for her left eye and the top of her head are mechanical, at least that's visible from the front. In fact, she seems more machine than person, as her legs would have been broken at this point if she had normal legs. She seems to be straining to keep the door closed, but she does not buckle. The floor however, is not being nearly as stubborn.

>>40481529
He doesn't have time to take in the weirdness of the stranger, all he knows is that she's the only thing holding the door shut, but not for long if he couldn't get it barricaded properly.

"Hurry Astral! Just start bringing me boards!"

One after another, the boards were stacked, and finally they begin to help hold some of the weight. Once He had stacked as many as he could into the latch, he starts looking around for something else that could help. Over in the back, where he had found the boards, was one more bookshelf. It was packed full with old encyclopedias and much too heavy for him to move it to the door. So he does what his good ol' horsey legs are known for- makes his way over and starts bucking the books off. Sure, he might put a hole in the back of it, but he wasn't too concerned with décor at the moment.

"Come on, come on!"

Buck after buck, more and more of the books fall from the shelves. When there are finally enough of them off, he puts his shoulders against the shelf and starts shoving it toward the door.

>>40481539
Astral starts rushing as many boards as she can to the door, dropping her bag on the floor so she can move quicker.


Reapo runs up to the door and pushes against it, doing nothing, but trying to look tough. He makes a 'rrrrrrr' noise.


Asma continues pushing against the door, managing to get it significantly less inwardly buckling than before. "If I move, the door smashes in. I need more boards!" She shouts at the others. In the meantime, the area around her fingers is significantly weakened from so much weight being put on them. The floor is also beginning to take some serious damage, and another board splinters apart beneath her foot, and the door momentarily shudders inwards again before she regains her footing.

>>40481549
"Hnnnnn!"

All Toby can do is shove the bookshelf as fast as he can, but it seems to pick up some speed after he moves it past its initial resting place. Perhaps it had just become stuck to the floor boards after so many years.

"Move!" He shouts as he brings the shelf closer to the door. He was only a few seconds away from slamming into Asma.

>>40481556
Asma is sweating a river at the moment, straining against the door. Then, a short series of unfortunate events occurs. The first being that another board where one of her feet where broke, causing her to slip. The second being that when she slipped, the chunks of wall she had been holding onto ripped from the wall, and she went sprawling. The rest of the group have a few seconds to fortify the door, or hold it closed, before it buckles.

Reapo looks scared, and waddles towards Toby, making scared sounds.

Astral drops her planks an rummages in her bag quickly, grabbing a telescoping rod and sticking it through the latches. It manages to hold surprisingly well, and she rushes over to help with the bookshelf.

>>40481563
With the two of them now pushing the shelf, it slams against the doors with a satisfying boom. But the work was yet to be done, oh no. Toby has little time to comfort the poor skeleton, as he once again begins running around the room, this time grabbing books. Back and forth, back and forth Toby runs, grabbing thick text after thick text to shove back into the shelf in any manner it will fit.

>>40481574
Astral helps him in this endeavor, but instead makes sure that the books are put in the most efficient way which she figures out quite quickly, so that the shelf can be heavier.


Reapo runs over to Toby, still making scared sounds and looks scared and sad, trying to hug his leg.


Asma, in the meantime, has had a slight bit of a crash. At the moment, most of her cybernetics were rebooting from the extreme stress, and then the hard slam against the ground. Currently, she looks dead, lying face down on the ground, all the lights that previously were on now dark.

>>40481581
Oh buck.

"Hey! Hey wake up, what's wrong?"

He stops briefly to shake her, but when he hears a slam against the door he remembers that he didn't have time to try and save her. He couldn't do anything for her anyway if he was dead, so he returns to helping Astral. They were almost done anyway, just a few more stacks of books would be enough to hold. At least enough to give them a short break.

>>40481594
Astral desperately continues stacking the books, and when there are no more books to stack, she goes searching for more furniture, calling out a table and chairs just around the stairs up. She starts dragging the table back, but she is not nearly strong enough to get it back in any timely fashion.


Reapo in the meantime is trying to hug Toby's leg still, being utterly terrified and making almost crying sounds.


System rebooting... Updating drivers... Booting 50%... Booted
Upon her cybernetics rebooting, Asma jolts back to life, sprinting for the door and shoving against the shelf to keep the doors in check. "This'll keep the boards from breaking for a bit longer but hurry up! Are there any other people, cause we need all the help we can get." She says, shouting at the top of her lungs.

>>40481602
"What th-I, I don't know..wait! Ya, I think so..uh, I'll be back!"

He takes off up the stairs and starts galloping towards the east wing.

"Heey! Anypony up here?! We need help!"

It wasn't but a moment later that Toby call was answered, as around from the corner came galloping a unicorn dressed in makeshift armer and swinging a sword that looked much to big for his young frame-it was Blue Sky. Come to save the day!~

"Hey!" the unicorn pants.

"Where's the breach? Is there a monster inside?"

His eyes burned with the ignorant lust for adventurous battle as he raised toward Toby, raising his sword higher above his head.

"No, but there's about to be if we can't get this door sealed. Please tell you can put up a decent barrier."

"I can try" says Blu Sky as he races onward and down the stares with Toby. Once they both reach the bottom, Blu Sky takes a quick look around at the scene and immediately starts marching towards Asma.

"Filthy Vermin.."

...

It wasn't the words Blu had spoken, but rather the murderous glare set upon his face that alerted Toby to his intentions. Quickly, before the whole plan collapsed from a simple miscommunication, Toby ran forward and grabbed the unicorn by the tail making the poor youth yowl out in pain.

"Not them, the door! Look, I'll explain later, just get that door sealed! They're not the enemy here!"

Blue Sky was confused, but after taking a second glance at the others and actually realizing what Asma was doing, he frowns and does a simple nod.

"Right, sorry. Alright, stand back!"

He lets his sword clatter to the ground and gets himself situated, and then his horn begins to glow and the whole room is filled with a bright light. He seems to struggle with the spell, but slowly, and with a bit of grunting, he does it.

The shuddering on the door stops, and the loud banging turns into a muffled knock knock knock!.

>>40482318
Asma remains bracing the door. "Is there a way to see out?"

Astral takes a peek between the boards she was looking through before to see what's there.

Reapo runs over to Toby, still making the same noises, hugging his leg.

>>40482469
Astral would see a swarm of frustrated monsters attempting to ram the door. It would appear to be a useless attempt, as many of them simply bounce off the barrier. It was holding. For now.

Toby sits down on the floor heavily and scoops Reapo up in a losse hug.

"It's alright little buddy, it's alright..."

Reapo may not have realised it, but he was providing a much needed comfort to the farm pony, for Toby had fully understood what would happen to them if they failed, and so had been absolutely terrified.

>>40482534
"T-there're s-so many t-things o-outside." She says in a panic.

"You, sword horse, find more things for the door. If I move they smash it wide open."

Reapo finds comfort in Toby returning his hug, gripping tightly to the stallion, and making a few more scared noises.

>>40482536
"I put a barrier up, it should hold for at least a cpuple of hours-plenty of time to reinforce it when I get the rest of the guards down here. Now will somepony please explain to me just what the buck is going on? Who are you two...three" he includes when his eye widen a bit at the thing Toby was holding.

"What are you? Where'd you come from? And how can you talk? So far I haven't seen any of the monsters talk let alone act civil."

Toby was simply too exhausted to try and explain the situation, a situation he still didn't know himself. So he just sits with one arm slung over Reapo as he catches his breath.

>>40482539
"Hold your tongue, you insufferable prick. Considering I just blew six circuits in my fucking brain holding that door closed, I think I get to ask the questions. Or would you rather get to have a breach so you can fight the monsters?"


Astral pulls back from the window, ducking down and trying very hard to stay calm. "W-what a-are those t-things?"

>>40482543
The unicorns ears go back and he grimaces a bit. He was more surprised than angry at her responce and regretting his own.

"I'm sorry, your right. I just..well it's just that things have been hell around here. No one knows what's happening to our world. My kind has never seen anything. such as yourself and until about a week ago most monsters only roamed in the Ever Free forest. Everythimgs turned into ruin, and hundreds of ponies have been killed. Every ones on edge right now..."

He pauses briefly to get a hold of himself, feeling the old familiar panic rising again.

"You really can let go of that shelf now. Like I said, the barrier should hold for a few hours at least."

Last edited at Sat, May 24th, 2014 19:32

>>40482557
"You keep saying things like I know what the hell you mean. What's a pony here? A talking pastel horse like you?"


"I-it's an e-equine." Astral says timidly.

"And who the fuck is this?" Asma says sharply, letting go of the bookcase and taking a step forward, revealing the level of her cybernetics to the newcomer.

Astral, in the meantime, tries to shrink back out of sight.

>>40482562
"Look, mam" Toby says sharply to get her attention.

"If you are a mam...I know you want answers, but truth we just don't got any. One week ago our peaceful little world fell into ruin. Something. Happened. We don't know what, not yet.

Monsters began spreading fromour capital , where we're at right now. We don't know how they got here or where they are coming from. They killed our rulers and thousands of our own kind."

"Thousands?!" Blue Sky interrupts. Toby nods.

"They've been spreading like wild fire, half of Appaloosas already been wiped, it's. why I left."

He clears his throat and stands up, moving Reapo to his back.

"Now what I do know is that not everyone of the creatures that came through is bad. This little guy was the first one Iencountered that didn't try to bitemy head off. So colt, I'd appreciate it if you could let ya platoon know that, that not all these things are bad.

...

The games changed. We have to be cautious now."

Blu shakes his head solemnly.

"Right. I should go meet up with him then, before he gets down here. Give me some time to explain to him what happened."

>>40482587
"What level of technology do you have here? Any electricity, computers?"

Reapo remains tightly clinging to Toby, seeming to be significantly less scared now than earlier.


Astral has wandered off to find some new books, as this is a library after all.

>>40482588
Come to the ooc real quick if ya don't mind

>>40482588
"Ya but ther' rare. And good luck finding one that will work without power."

In the meantime, Blue Sky has quickly made his way up stairs in search of the squad leader.

>>40485122
Her voice lowers significantly. "Be honest here. What're the chances I'm going to have to fight my way outta here?"


Reapo makes a contented happy sound, moving up onto Toby's back and removing his knitting needles, happily knitting away on something in a dark grey.

Last edited at Mon, May 26th, 2014 19:26

>>40485124
"Well that just depends. If you wanna just settle down for a minute and think, then maybe ya won't have to fight at all. I travelled here because a friend sent me a letter saying that this library is a holdout. Somewhere in this building there are royal guards protecting a mess of citizens and survivors.

Now I don't know how friendly they're gona be towards a couple of things that aren't equine, but if we can get the chance to at least talk to the guards and convince 'em that you two ain't gona hurt nopony, then maybe they'd be willin to help us out."

Toby turns his head to check the stares as he talks, reminding himself that the guards would more than likely be coming from that direction. He eyes the little creature on his back as he does so and his ears twitch in curiosity.

"What are yew doin?"

Last edited at Mon, May 26th, 2014 21:51

>>40485258
He makes a quizzical noise, but continues on happily knitting.


"I said to be honest here. What're my chances."

I've been busy and sick. ill get on Skype soon, maybe not today but soon. Just need to get dentist appointment figured out. see ya soon

>>40491191
Aright. Hope ya stop being sick soon.

Bumping so it doesn't 404,

>>40485607
"I ain't no math teacher mam, but if I had to guess I'd say maybe ya got a fifty-fifty chance. Odds might be better if we can get the guards on your side."

>>40516483
"I'll let you do the talking. If they start the fight, I'll grab the skeleton and the girl and get outta here. More than likely that they'll go for them too."

>>40516486
"Right. That'd probly be best. I'll be back quick as I can."

Toby picks Reapo up by his cloak and drops him into the girls lap before making his way upstairs. And so the treo from other realms are left to sit and wait with nothing but the smell of old dusty books and their own company.

At least, as far as they can tell...

Last edited at Fri, Jun 20th, 2014 11:59

>>40518791
Reapo remains on Toby's back, as he was previously, happily knitting away.
Astral is still on a quest for strange books, and Asma uneasily watches the door, grabbing another bookshelf and putting it in front just to be safe.

>>40518814
And only about two seconds later Toby is back with Reapo ins coat collar in his mouth. He once again drops the little creature in front of the girl and pats its little head.
,
"Stay. Can't have you with me when I see the guards. Can you two make sure he doesn't follow me?"

And once more you are left alone.

hello darkness my old friend

This time when when you are left alone it is only a few minutes before you begin to hear a strange scruffling noise coming from the south side of the library .

>>40518908
Reapo runs after Toby, making a scared noise and holding his arms out.
Asma looks at the small pathetic creature with disdain.

>>40518985
Poor little Reapo would soon find himself lost in a maze of halls at the top of the stairs. There had been three ways he could travel, either straight, left, or right. But either way Reapo looks they all just look like long dark tunnels with the occasional magic orb of light, and Toby is nowhere to be seen.

>>40519002
He continues making his sad whimpering noises, toddling down the center path.

>>40519008
Tsk tsk. This seems to have been a bad choice. The hall seems to go on and on and on, and when FINALLY he does at last reach the end, it just turns down another dark hallway.

This one seems different however...something seems to be lurking in the shadows...

>>40519017
He cocks his head to the side, making a small curious sound.

>>40519079
He can't quite make out the shape of whatever is in the shadows, but a distinct noise can be heard.

low growl [www.youtube.com]

Last edited at Fri, Jun 20th, 2014 17:07

>>40519305
Reapo makes a surprised and scared squeak, jumping back and hugging Mister Mugwuggles tightly.

>>40519312
Whatever is in the shadows doesn't stop growling. In fact, it's getting louder..more aggressive...and oh my, is it heading towards little Reapo?

GROWLING INTENSIFIES [www.youtube.com]

>>40519324
Reapo waddles back into the previous room, wailing with all his might.
Asma looks at the little skeleton like he's insane. "What the actual fuck are you doing?"

>>40519330
BARK BARK MUTHA FUCKA [www.youtube.com]

Whatever had scared Reapo in the hall hadn't decided to just let him run free, oh no. It was right on his bony butt, pounding down the hallway after him and running down the stares at full force.

As Asma and Astral turn to look, they will find themselves face to face with...a dog. Yes, a rather large and nasty looking German Shepherd seems to be the culprit behind the poor little guys wailing. He stands at the foot of the stairs, growling loudly and viciously snapping his jaws toward Asma.

Last edited at Fri, Jun 20th, 2014 17:38

>>40519346
She removes the gun from her belt, readying it for fire, completely ignoring Reapo clinging to her leg.

Last edited at Fri, Jun 20th, 2014 17:45

>>40519350
sss [www.youtube.com]

Asma hears the noise only inches from her ear before the pain hits. The feeling of air rushing past and a brief few seconds of nauseous free fall engulf her before her head, neck, and left shoulder slam into something hard. Her right side is flushed with pain, and once her ears stop ringing and she is able to look around, she will notice that she has been flung all the way across the room. The dog, which had previously been growling at her face, is now hanging in the air, it's jaws wrapped around something that the normal eye cannot detect. Though, now that you are looking right at it, you can make an outer form but nothing more; like camouflage.

>>40519365
She quickly turns the hurl around, landing on her feet and skidding a few feet. In the meantime, her eyes adjust to focus in on the target, as she quickfires at where the creature appeared to be.

Last edited at Fri, Jun 20th, 2014 18:17

>>40519373
The dog yelps and drops to the ground, but the second fire is right on target. You hear a nasty screech and a few books go flying backwards from whatever the thing was. But the job wasn't done yet...

You hear a scraping noise, then a few puncture holes appear in the far wall, and then a few more. It seems to be travelling towards the ceiling, and fast. Until Asmas eyes adjust to it's form, the dog seems to be your only shot at getting it. It moves toward the south end and snarls as it's eyes follow the creature, but it doesn't try to go after it yet. It's back leg seems to be hurt and it's making an effort not to stand on it.

Last edited at Fri, Jun 20th, 2014 18:23

>>40519385
She takes approximately 5.182931789788127836 seconds to fully figure out how to see it all the time, drawing her rapier after swiftly switching pistol hands.

>>40519398
Good. Because it's heading for Astral.

>>40519399
She opens fire on the giant snake with a big red nose on the front, diving under it with the rapier to stab up under it's chin.

>>40519413
Poor Astral would probably see her very life flash before her eyes as the cold whisper of the monsters breath wisps across her shoulders as its jaws come near inches to closing around her neck. And then it was over. With Asmas rapier slicing through the thick skull like butter, the monster falls to the ground like a giant sack of rice. It's camouflage slowly fades out revealing a giant cross between some kind of chameleon and snake, with multiple legs like a centipede. Definitely not the prettiest creature to ever be born.

The dog would limp over to the giant beast, still growling cautiously and sniffing at it's body, wondering if it was really dead.

>>40527778
Asma continues firing shots into the head to make sure it's dead.
Astral starts freaking out again, hiding behind a bookshelf and putting her head between her knees.
Reapo runs over to the dog and hugging it's leg quickly, making an understanding noise, and starting to knit a very tight square for the dog's leg.

>>40527787
The dog just looks at the little creature curiously and sniffs it.

Last edited at Fri, Jun 27th, 2014 11:44

>>40527792
He quickly knits up the tight square, petting the dog while knitting a strap on it to tie around the leg.

>>40527814
The dog just does what dogs do-stands and leans his weight on his other good legs and pants a little. He does lean down and give Reapos skull a lick. Perhaps he was just curious what it felt like.

>>40535434
Reapo makes a happy noise, putting the finishing touches on the straps for the square. He gently places the square over the wound, tying it tightly onto it's leg, petting the dog softly as he does so.
Asma sprints off in the direction that Toby went, before turning back once she realizes that she has no idea which way after the vague first direction he went. She grabs Astral by the back of her shirt, dragging her back into the front area to have a mental breakdown there, so that they would all be in one place.

Last edited at Thu, Jul 3rd, 2014 12:34

>>40535470
It was only but a moment later that the tell-tale sound of hooves beating on hardwood filled the otherwise silent room. Toby was the first down the stairs, his rope in his mouth. Next came Blue Sky-ready as ever for battle, followed by an older looking stallion with full body armor.

"What happened?" Toby asks.

"We heard a crash, is every one alright?"

>>40535722
Astral is still having a nervous breakdown over near a bookcase.
Reapo waddles over to Toby, making a happy noise, and clinging to his leg, pointing to the dog's leg happily.
Asma appears to be the only one who isn't either extremely happy or completely flipping out. Oh no, she is just pissed.
"Why. The. FUCK. Was there. A monster. In the fucking. Building." She says through gritted teeth.

>>40535729
He was shocked but not really surprised. They seemed to be alright, and as he spots the carcass of the serpent he breathes a little sigh of relief.

The older stallion is the first to speak up, having been hanging back a bit until he could take in the situation.

"Maybe it snuck in while you and Toby were trying to get the door shut. I've seen some of the monsters with more intellect than the average pony. It wouldn't surprise me at all if that one saw an opportunity to take advantage of the chaos. Question is, how did it get in without either of you noticing?"

>>40535752
"You can't see something. When the fucking thing. LOOKS LIKE THE THING BEHIND IT. Motherfucker had active fucking camouflage. THANKFULLY, my eyes were able to figure out how to adapt to it's camo changes and automatically focus correctly to be able to see it. If they HADN'T, everyone in this goddamn building would be DEAD."

>>40535756
The older stallion did not appreciate the tone, and if she were especially perceptive, Asma would be able to see that on his face. As it were though, he understood that these creatures knew nothing of his world, supposedly, so he held his tongue on that particular issue. Later. He would deal with it later.

"Well in any case, no pony got hurt. I have you to thank for that I presume? You have my gratitude and the gratitude of the Royal Guard. If you choose to stay here, you will have our protection, though for the time being I will have to ask that you stay in this room until we can organize better accommodations for you and your friend.

It's nothing personal. Simply, the ponies under my protection have been through enough the past few days. Trying to explain to them that other worlders, as well as monsters, are here might tip them over the edge. Their fear of the unknown could send them fleeing or taking up pitchforks against you. So again, I ask that you stay here until we can figure something out."

He then turns to his attention to Toby, intent on addressing something, but when he sees him he simply shuts his mouth.

Toby sat on the ground a few feet away. In his arms was the german shepherd, whom he hugged tightly to his chest and shook with silent sobs. Like-wise the dog could not seem to get enough of Toby. It licked his face and neck, his ears, his nose, wherever it could reach with it's slobbery tongue. It's tail wagged so fast that it was kicking up a small plume of dust, and his chest uttered small noises and the occasional ecstatic whine.

>>40535784
"Get a room, you two. Oh, and is there a computer in here? Holding the door closed I blew six fucking circuits in my brain. Running on about a half the processing power I was before."

>>40460129
So, anyone can join in?

>>40551293
Well hello hello! Welcome to our little dungeon of terror~

>So, anyone can join?

Yes sir/madam, that is correct. I designed this thread to be a very open ended type of deal, meant to be built on and around the characters playing in it. If you would like a more detailed explanation as to what the story and setting are about, the ooc is linked directly under the tags at the beginning of the first (intro) post, in black text. If you are new to the site, just hover your mouse over the black box and the text will appear! Fancy that.

Also, usually we like people to leave ooc (out of character) comments, either in the ooc thread, or at least black text so they can be easily identified from actual Role Playing that is going on in the thread. Just a heads up :P

If you have any other questions, please direct them to the ooc thread and I will be happy to answer them, though I am quite the busy bee and may not get to them immediately.

>>40460129
Melusine flew carefully in the darkened skies, trying not to radiate fear. She knew that if she wished to survive, one of her only options was to blend in with these feral creatures. She had darkened her royal blue scales with the soot from her breath, causing it to seem black, much like the evil dragons roaming the skies here. As far as she knew, she was the only dragon originally from Equestria that got along with all the ponies and other creatures that still existed.

>>40535790
The old stallion nods and turns his head.

"Blue Sky! Take our guest to the second level and near the end of the hall there should be a sealed off room. There should be a directory computer up there, but you might need one of the other unicorns help in getting the power running to it, so before you go down the hall have one of the guards help you find a volunteer. They should be waiting up there for orders anyway.

When your done with that, fetch Shining Armour for me. I need to explain the situation to him."

The young warrior nods before sheathing his sword.

"Come on mam, this way" he says as he begins to climb the stairs.

>>40556147
No, Melusine wasn't the only dragon left. Aisu was hiding in the caves below, hoping not to be noticed. She was m poo 're of a non-conflict dragon.

bap

>>40562744
She follows warily, keeping an eye out for a trap.

Reapo joins the loving reunion of dog and stallion, hugging both and sounding very happy about it.

In the meantime, Astral is still having a mental breakdown sitting on the floor.

Last edited at Fri, Aug 1st, 2014 19:18

>>40572017
The stairs and hallway would appear to be trap-less, with the only threat coming from a suited up guard pony that might get his face knocked in if he didn't stop staring at Astra with that weird expression. Blue Sky gives him a hardy salute when they reach the top of the stairs.

"Sir, we are to help this guest with the use of the libraries computer. I will need the help of another unicorn to turn it on, and then I must report to Shining Armour about our guests sir."

The guard gives the two a shifty stare before shrugging his shoulders and leading the way to the reference room. It wasn't his job to ask questions.

"Wait here Blue, I'll go fetch Shiner so he can help you with the computer while you give him the run down."

And then the cyborg and the teenager where left alone to have quality bonding fun time.

Meanwhile...

"Son... You alright?" the old guard asked as he watched Toby pick himself back up on his feet and pull himself back together-wiping away his remaining tears.

"Ya. Ya I'm alright. HuH."

He clears his throat a little before reaching down and picking up Reapo, slinging him on his back.

"Was there a mare with this dog when you found him? A White mare with blue markings? Or another with a gold mane?"

The old guard frowned, knowing he would have to be the bearer of bad news.

"Yes. Ella she called herself."

Tobys met the guards eyes and had to swallow before he could ask his next question.

"And now?"

There was a silence, and the dog whined.

"She's gone. No one has seen her since last night."

>>40574415
Did Astral follow Asma up the stairs? XD

Well, you said this;
>And then the cyborg and the teenager where left alone to have quality bonding fun time.
So I assume they were taken to the same pla-
WAIT YOU MEANT BLUE SKY.
DAMNIT DROW.

Last edited at Sun, Aug 3rd, 2014 20:18

>>40574425
lel why so serious? >D

>>40574408
Reapo clapped his hands together, bopping Toby on the head with his tiny little skeleton hand, making noises that basically translate to "pay attention please".

Asma, in the meantime, uses this opportunity to fuck with Blue Sky. "What the actual fuck was going through that thick skull of yours back there? 'Oh, something is holding the goddamn door closed, lemme go fucking shank it'? Fuckin', how idiotic do you have to be to do something that fuckwitted?"

>>40574432
Toby merely flicks his ears and says 'stop it' in a harsh tone, his attention still on the guard.

"No one has seen her? So is there a chance she could still be alive? any chance?"

"Well son, I don't want to leave you with false hope. She's a mare, a blind mare on top of i-"

"She's strong" Toby interrupts with firmness.

"Yes.. I'm sure she is..

Tell ya what, why don't you question some of the refugees. Maybe one of them might know what happened, or seen her."

Toby nods a little, his heart sinking fast into the pit of his stomach.

"Ya. Ya alright I'll do that. Let me just deal with this little guy first."

The old guard can only stare as Toby walks the skeleton over towards the bipedal sitting in the corner, knowing that soon he would be seeing that stallion in the same sad state-balled up in some corner shaking with grief.

There was no way his friend was alive. Just no way.

-------

Blue Sky looks at Asma with both confusion and a bit of fear. He couldn't understand half the words that we're coming out of her mouth, but he could feel the anger and the general meaning of her sentence was clear enough.

"What are you talking about? We all heard a huge crash so we came as fast as we could. We thought you guys were in trouble, getting attacked. I had my sword out incase I needed to fight! I mean, a guard must ALWAYS be ready to fight and to throw his life on the line if that is what it takes to defend his people."

He was feeling rather defensive now, only realizing halfway through his little speech that the cyborg had been mocking him.

Last edited at Tue, Aug 5th, 2014 12:23

>>40576351
"I'm not fucking blind you idiot. If the tan horse had to hold you the fuck back, you were going to try to shank me. Emphasis on the try. You're shitty at holding a sword, by the way. I could killed you in two movements. Not even hard ones."
Reapo makes more noises, becoming more insistent, bopping Toby softly.
Astral, meanwhile, still having a mental breakdown, though slowly pulling it back together.

Last edited at Mon, Aug 18th, 2014 06:45

>>40577030
Blue Sky opens his mouth to argue, but then closes it, having the sudden realization that Asma was right. Caught up in the rush of the battle, he hadn't known that the cyborg was not one of the monsters when he first came down the stairs. Instinct had told him to look for danger and to him, naturally, the furious humanoid looked very dangerous indeed.

His eyes lower to the ground and his ears droop a little as embarrassment replaces anger.

"Oh...ya, you're right I was. My apologies mam. You just looked so...well menacing standing there like that that for a minute I mistakenly assumed you were the threat..."

________

Toby was becoming impatient with the little skeleton. He had had a rough day thus far and was in no mood for childish behavior, so rather roughly he pulls Reapo off his back and drops him on the ground before him.

"What is so bucking important that you need to interrupt me? Huh?!"

>>40580933
"How the fuck did they let you be an 'elite soldier'?" She says, saying the last words in a mocking tone. "You couldn't cut a goddamn apple with that thing. Shitty condition, zero training, how the fuck are you people still alive?"

Reapo, upon being removed from the back and yelled at, walked back a few steps, hugging his small stuffed rabbit, and looking very scared. He makes a kind of a scared sound, and points shakily at the dog's leg, specifically the bandage.

>>40580990
The embarrassment that Blue Sky had felt sizzled into nothing more than a small stain on the back of his mind as he realized that it didn't matter what he said. The bipedal would continue to criticise him no matter what points he brought forth.

So he shuts his mouth and lets an annoyed look settle upon his face as he waits.

____

Toby regretted it the second the little monster coward from him.

Yes he was tired. Yes, the last few days had been hell for him...but he didn't have to act like a flankhole to the little creature.

His face softens as he looks at the dog, finally realizing what the dog had on his leg.

"That's nice little fella. Thank you for helping my friend."

He really did appreciate what Reapo had done for Tykki, but he felt ashamed for his outburst and couldn't bring himself to apologize to the little guy at the moment.

He continues on over to Astral as he had planned before being interrupted.

"Astral? Ya alright hun?"

>>40585429
...And lo and behold, she delivers.
"You couldn't cut a goddamn egg with this piece of shit. What you need, kid," She says, pulling out a whetstone from one of her pockets, "Is one'a these. This and a little oil, and that club of yours can be a real sword."

Astral doesn't respond, her eyes are closed, and she seems to be thinking about something. After a few seconds, she opens her eyes, but something seems off about her. Her previous slouched posture has changed, and her shoulders seem quite a bit broader than previously. The final nail in that coffin is her eyes; They're an electric blue, as opposed to their previous stormy color. There's a new Bat in Belfrytown.
During the period of Astral's eyes being closed, her brain had pretty much shut down for a second, so it could change hands. Astral goes out, new(well, old) guy comes in.
The moment that the new Entity(hereby simply referred to as The Entity or simply Entity until I can think of a proper name) opened it's eyes, began to talk. It sounded rather strange coming from this frail looking girl's body, the voice of something that has been on this Earth a thousand years, and shall stay many thousands to come. It's abundantly clear that something is wrong.
"Spyglass has been temporarily sidelined due to her continuing mental breakdown. I will happily explain myself, but if you attempt to harm me, I will have no choice but to use all force necessary. I am no monster, nor am I exactly what you would refer to as a person; I am another entity requiring a form to inhabit. Spyglass's happened to fit my requirements. I am not a recent occurrence either, remember, I am not a monster. And before you ask, I do not have a name."

Reapo still cowers for a sec, before waddling up to Toby, and tugging on his leg whilst Entity speaks. He looks extremely perturbed, and rather unhappy.

>>40592781
Despite the insults, Blue was still a colt and the idea of battle was not just intriguing-he craved it.

The heart pounding action, the thrill of the chase and the fear. He wanted it so badly without even realizing just how bad it would be when he got it.

However, having seen the size of the monster that Asma had brought down. He felt a kind of respect for her and secretly was very interested in what she might teach him, but the salt on his wounds still stung and he could not bring himself to utter something sweet.

"Pft, and what would you know about swords? I bet you've never even been in battle."





For poor Toby, the day continued to spiral down into a hazy type of chaos and he wondered for the third time if perhaps he was truly still breathing. He was not a dumb pony by any means, but he lacked knowledge that might categorize him as smart. He relied more on common sense and intuition to lead him through his obstacles, but every now and again it seemed he found one that required him to climb. And climb he tried.

"I. Uh... Huh."

The instant he finishes his sentence, Asma has already drawn her pistol, aiming it directly at Blue's head. "Rule one. Shit on a helping hand, it shits right back. And it generally shits explosive rounds aimed at your noggin. Were I to pull this trigger, they wouldn't be able to find any pieces of your head. That got through that thick skull of yours?"

Entity turns to the leader of the guard, brow furrowing in annoyance. "Excuse me, you appear to be of some intelligence. Would you kindly explain what is going on? I believe it would aid in Spyglass's return to sanity, as well as help me to get out of this universe as fast as possible."

Reapo continues tugging on his leg, becoming more insistent and scared with each tug.

>>40599039
Blue barely has a moment to react before he suddenly finds himself encased in a glowing orb.

"I really hope you weren't planning on hurting one of my best helpers."

A white unicorn with a blue mane is making his way down the hall towards Asma, followed closely by a group of about three other unicorns and a guard.

"Please put your weapon down."

His voice was kind but authoritive.




Toby didn't have a clue how to respond to the new attitude of Astral. He didn't understand what was going on with her but it made him feel damn uneasy. He was grateful when she turned her attention to the other stallion, and the guard, whom had not been there earlier and whom failed to notice why her behavior might seem strange, was more than happy to oblige.

"Well mam, there's not much to tell really. About a week ago everything just kinda got flipped upside down. Our rulers, the two princesses Celestia and Luna..."

While the guard informed Astral of all the chaos, Toby busied himself with making a leash for Tykki out of his rope. He hung the loose cord around the dogs neck and started for the stares, gesturing for the little skeleton to follow. He had something that he needed to see to.

>>40606224
"Just scaring the fuck out of him." She says, returning her gun to it's holster. "Who're you?"


Reapo continues his barrage of trying to get attention from Toby.

Once the guard is done, Entity pipes up. "This is a terrible safe house. There's too many variables."

>>40606233
"My name is Shining Armour. And you would be?.. "

As soon as the gun is putnaway the barrier around Blue dissolves.




" Perhaps so, but currently it is the best we got. Beggars can't be choosers."

The guard pauses for a moment and looks around the ruined remains of the once grand building.

"No one will force you to stay here, but just know that we will not force you to leave either. So long as you do not cause trouble. You may take as much time as you need to recover and figure out what it is that you would like to do."

>>40608421
"None of you're fuckin' business."

"It would be idiotic to leave."

Reapo continues pestering Toby, getting panicky.

>>40608568
Soooon...~

>>40608568
Shining Armour gives her a bit of an annoyed look, but otherwise ignores her attitude. Or at least tries to.

"Right then, my guard informed me that you need access to a computer? If you would just follow me, we'll see what we can do about getting one up and running for you.."

He makes his way a bit farther down the hall and stops to unlock one of the many doors. Inside is a room that looks untouched forthe most part. A few cords have been ripped from sockets and cut from whatever appliance they had been attached to, but on the far left side there still stands a small cluster of old computers. Dark from lack of power and covered in dust, they look as if no one has bothered to boot them up in years.

Two of the unicorns walk over as a third pulls a book out of his carrying pack and flips it open. After finding the page he wants, he carries the book over to the computers, and guiding the other unicorns, begins the spell that will bring power to the old tech.


______


>"It would be idiotic to leave."

The old guard nods, a small smile tugging at the corner of his lips.

"Yes mam, it would be. So what would you like to do? We're reasonable creatures, miss. If you decide to stay we can no doubt provide accommodation and perhaps in the process help one another to learn a thing or two about what's going on out there..."

Toby continues his way up the stairs and stops at the top to pick the skeleton up and place him on his back while he pondered which way he should go. He looks down both directions of the long hall before noticing that Tykki was staring down the one side. Toby holds his breath for a moment, listening.

When he hears the voices, he follows it.

>>40627757
"This piece'a shit's your computer?" She runs her hands through her nonexistent hair, looking rather frazzled.

"I can aid you substantially. My magical powers are rather strong, and would easily be able to aid you in keeping this building safe. However, I do have a few other suggestions of building that I saw through the window. They would require search parties, but from the outside look do-able."

Reapo clings to Toby, pointing to Entity with a quivering finger.

>>40627867
Shining actually looks surprised at the mention of magic, and he smiles. He wasn't going to miss an opportunity for help, that was for sure.

"Really? Great! As soon as your finished with the computer, I'll get my second in command up here and we can start going over your suggestions."


____

Toby looks down the stairs briefly before he moves on down the hall. He was just as creeped out by the change in Astral as Reapo was, and it only made him more eager to get away from the humanoid.

"I know little buddy. Ah know."

Making his way towards the voices, he finds the room that Asma is in and gives a light rap on the door to get their attention.

"'scuse me, don't mean to interrupt, but when you're done if I could have a word or two with you Mr. Armour.. "

Shining looks at the pony and recognizes him as the stallion Blue had told him about earlier. He gives a polite nod before turning his attention back to Astral.

A cloaked figure strolled down the street, two strange creatures following behind her. One was hovering a couple feet off the ground, a strange aura surrounding it as it floated. The figure turned and looked towards the other creature, what looked like a dinosaur except smaller. The figure turned to look at a building, after hearing a noise coming from the area. "I didn't think anybody was still home" She said to herself, her voice sounding as if it were sandpaper, "Do you think we should knock? Be the good neighbors and see if they need help" The flying creature purred slightly, landing and folding its wings across it's chest. The dino nudged the figures back with it's head, pushing it forward. "Oh are you going to make me go in alllll by myself?" She questioned jokingly as she walked forward, "How rude of you two" The figure walked up to the door and knocked a couple times, and looking towards the other buildings.

>>40627893
ok repost cause I messed up on my last one
>>40627867
Toby looks down the stairs briefly before he moves on down the hall. He was just as creeped out by the change in Astral as Reapo was, and it only made him more eager to get away from the humanoid.

"I know little buddy. Ah know."

Making his way towards the voices, he finds the room that Asma is in and gives a light rap on the door to get their attention.

"'scuse me, don't mean to interrupt, but when you're done if I could have a word or two with you Mr. Armour.. "

Shining looks at the pony and recognizes him as the stallion Blue had told him about earlier. He gives a polite nod before turning his attention back to Astral.

"Yes.." he was a bit confused at Astrals reaction to the technology, until he realized that Astral most likely had much better tech than his pony kind. The computer had seemed like such a leap forward in their modernization, but looking at it now with another beings point of view in mind, it probably did seem barbaric. He smiles.

"I assume that you have better technology where you come from?"

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

The old guard nods, considering the alternative.

"You're probably right. I'll need to gather some of my guard to strategize a plan and time. Why don't you stay here and help your uh...friend over there while I gather my colts."

>>40671224
No one answers the door, but all sound stops.

Last edited at Mon, Nov 10th, 2014 13:01

>>40683153
The figure smiled, her red eyes gleaming in the darkness, "I fear I may be interrupting something," She said to herself, "But I must check to see if the neighbors are friendly." The figure knocked again, louder this time. The creatures behind her stirred nervously, making small chirps and purrs as they tried to make the figure leave and continue on walking. "Stop that" The figure said firmly, "I am only being a helpful sort, there is no need to act in such a manner." The creatures went silent, looking towards the ground in embarrassment. "That's better" The figure said, turning back to the door and knocking again, "I know you're in there" She called out softly, "Stop hiding and let me see youuuu"

>>40683235
A small amount of time passes in which no sound can be heard. Then..

BANG! BANG!

What sounds like thunder explodes from inside the house and two holes appear in the door.

"You get on outa here ya montrosity, or I swear on me mum I'll shoot ya right in whatever sorry excuse of a mouth you got!"

>>40683281
Asma completely ignores Shining, sprint for the stairs. Upon getting to the ground floor, she shoves whoever is holding a gun out the door over, looking through one of the holes, and calling out. "Sorry, these fuckwits can't walk and chew gum at the same time. What's yer name?"

>>40683366
A red eye peers through the hole, "I knock on a door....and you shoot?" the figure asked, "I must be missing something, but anyway. My name is Walks With Daemons, and I heard noise coming from this area and thought someone was in trouble so I came to help." The figure backs away from the door slightly, "I am not a monster, though my friends could be considered monsters...if they weren't under my control"

>>40683366
"H-hey! What's the matter?! Where are you going?!" Shining calls as Asma runs off down the stairs.

The pony Asma shoves out of the way looks very old and feeble, holding some sort of ancient rifle between his hooves. He looks to have been hiding out in a forgotten room in the library, most likely completely unaware that there were even other survivors in the building with him.

His glasses go flying off, and he falls butt first on his gun.

"Hey!" he growls as he shakes a hoof towards Asma.

"Don't ye know it's not polite to be pushing the elderly! Why I oughta...wait a minute, you one of them..them, demons ain't cha? Y-you get on outa my room! Get now!"

He picks up his gun and aims it toward Asma. Or rather, whats left of it. His flank seems to have snapped it right in half, and after a few moments of fiddling with the trigger, he lets out a frustrated huff and goes in search of his glasses.

"Gosh darnit, where are them dang gon glasses!"

>>40683473
"Yeah, sorry boot that. This old coot should be in a home, or at the very least not handling weapons." She casts a glare to any nearby guard, before turning back. "Best leave your friends outside, for now. Got any weapons on you?"

>>40683828
"Not much need for weapons" Walks replies, "I tend to not have to fight my own battles" She backs away from the door, "Are you going to let me in now? Or shall I act as target practice for another nervous gentleman?"

>>40683835
Having found his glasses in, the old man pony gets a good look at Asma for the first time.

"Oh my! Ah, what are ye?! Oh, I gotta get outa here!"

He promptly stands on his shaky legs and proceeds to run shamble towards the nearest exit, dragging the sorry remains of his gun with him. He was no longer concerned with the creature outside, but with the ugly ass muthafucka humanoid behind him.

>>40683835
She glares at the psychotic old pony. "No, he won't be a problem. He went off someplace. Yer friends'll have to stay outside. You can come in, but I'll have to be holding a gun to yer head. Sorry."

>>40685027
Walks shrugged, motioning for the creatures behind her to stay. She walked through the door, looking around, "Seems a rather nice place you have here" She said, you can't see her mouth as her hood obscures everything but her eyes, but those eyes seem to almost glow with a strange hunger. The rest of her body is covered with heavy robes, all colored dark blue that seem to blend into the shadows in the hall. You find it very hard to focus on anything but her eyes as she blended into the shadows rather well. She nodded, "Well, are there others?" She asked, her head tilting slightly.

>>40685030
Asma. if Walks complies, grabs her by the shoulder, drawing her pistol and putting it against the back of her head. "Yeah, there are."

>>40685036
Walks allows Asma to grab her shoulder, keeping her hands in the open, "Well are they all as hostile as the old gentleman?"

>>40685044
"To non pastel horses? Yep." She says, kicking the door closed. "Sorry about all this ballucks." Asma starts nudging Walks back the way Asma came.

>>40685101
Walks turns and looks back at Asma, "Pastel...colored...horses?" She says, almost to herself, "Strange."

>>40685308
"Yeah, at this point, I wouldn't be surprised if a giant shit monster smashed in a window and smothered someone." She says, leading Walks into the main room.

>>40688351
"I doubt it...we would smell it coming" Walks replied, "Is the gun really necessary?" Walks turned her head slightly so she could look back at Asma, "I mean I don't have weapons, and if I was going to kill you I wouldn't have left my friends outside."

>>40690933
"This's fer the pastel horses. Honestly, I trust the fuckers less'n I trust yer monster friends out there." Asma says, continuing to nudge Walks to the main room.

>>40690974
Walks just nods, continuing to keep her hands in view and slowly walking forward.

Meanwhile...

"H-hey! Where are you going? What's wrong?!"

Shining is left to stand and stare at the small cloud of dust that Asma had stirred upon her leave. With a slow frown he looks around the room.

"Should we go after her?.." he asks himself.

"Probably best to wait'n see what's up" Toby answers.

Shinings eyes take him in for the first time.

"I suppose..what do you know about that creature?..and, what is that on your back?"

Toby flicks his ears nervously, but otherwise stays in the doorway.

"Not much to tell ya the truth sir..I only just met...her?" he shakes his head.

"She just came crashing into the building and I had to help her get the door shut again. The 'thing' there is harmless..well that I know of anyway. He's been following me around for a while now..still not sure what he wants, but I get the feeling he's just as out of place here as we feel."

Shining seems to accept his explanation, so he continues.

"Sir...I wanted to ask. Did..did a mare arrive in your group with this dog? She's mostly white with light blue markings and blue eyes and..she's blind. This is her guide dog. Have you seen her? Her names Ella, and she never goes anywhere without her dog so I can't...I don't know why she would leave her dog.."

Shining gives him a stare that chills his spine.

"What? Oh no what happened?"

"Toby was it? Come over here and have a chat with me..."

...

Upon Asmas arrival a few moments later, a few of the guards immediately draw their weapons and ready their magic, but with a firm command from Shining, they do nothing more than hold their ground. Shining looks at the new comer with concern.

"Who is this?" he asks.

>>40695870
Reapo baps Toby lightly when he refers to him as a her, making a small indignant sound.

"Oh, this fucker? Just someone who got in, I got her under control. Seems safe enough to me." Asma says.

>>40695884
"Sure...you could say that." Walks replied, "But I would seriously reconsider claiming that you have me under control." Walks eye's stared at each of the guards before resting on Shining. "I am obviously not here to kill you, or I would have already done it. Is it really necessary to keep pointing a gun at my head?

>>40695884
"Hey, what are you bappin me for? I wasn't sayin nothin bout you!"

>>40695884
>>40695892
"Honestly" Shining says.

"I mean no offense but...we don't know any of you...and I do have to keep my ponies safe. So I'm sorry, but for the moment at least, we'll all have to be on guard. However, I don't need everyone pointing a weapon at you, so how bout everyone just lower their weapons. That means you gentlecolts behind me.."

The guards lower their weapons.

yup, my writing creativity is lacking, I sorry.

>>40695908
Walks nods, tilting her head, "I can't believe that you are actually a bunch of pastel talking horses." Walks shook her head.

>>40695908
Reapo baps him again, doing his best to flex and look manly and tough.

Asma keeps her gun leveled for safety. "Yeah, I couldn't really believe the pastel horses either, but eh. You get used to it."

In the background, Asma can be heard discussing things with the elderly guardsman.

Toby stares back at the little creature with annoyance.

MEANWHILE

The guardsman magically finishes up his conversation in 2.5 seconds flat and somehow appears by Shinings side to discuss the possibility of a scouting party.

"The creature seems to have some knowledge...might be best to at least check it out.."

Shining nods in agreement as he contemplates the options.

He was low on men..the the survivors in the basement were already so scared from repeated exposures to attacks..still, if there was a more secure location.

"Is there any unicorns downstairs that might be willing to go out one more time today?" Shining asks.

The old guard frowns.

"They are all tired and weary..but I might be able to gather a few. We still need as many guards as we can keep here, to protect the rest."

>>40695961
Reapo gives Toby's neck a big hug, giving out a little happy rattling sound.

"Wait, we're what?" Asma asks, taking her hand off the trigger and scratching the side of her head with the gun absently.

>>40695967
"I don't see why you are all so worried, I didn't run into anything too bad out there" Walks commented, "But I would be up for another run"

>>40695967
The old guard is first to answer her.

"The entity downstairs believes that there is a more suitable building to take refuge in not far from here. We want to gather a small group to go check it out, see if it is indeed worth our time."

Toby clears his throat and steps into the room.

"I recken I could be a part of that group if yer takin volunteers. It's rough out there, but I made it all the way here on my own so..."

>>40695978
Reapo nods affirmatively, standing with as broad shoulders as he can manage, pointing at the old guard.

"Oooh, all that makes a lot more sense now. Eh, sign me up. I'd rather go out and shoot things than stay in here and get talked at all day. What about you, Lizard lady?" Asma asks jokingly, eyeing Walks.

"Yes, if my calculations are correct, it should have the dimensions to fit your group of survivors. It appeared barren, but one cannot be sure. I would suggest all those coming are heavily armed and ready for a possible fight." Entity speaks up, walking up the stairs towards the gathering.

>>40696010
"I am up for anything so long as it does not involve someone pointing a weapon at the back of my head." Walks replied, "I would be happy to join in this adventure"

Shining frowns a little. He didn't like things moving so fast..

"Let me have a moment to think about this please..." he says.

"Lieutenant, would you come with me please? I would like to speak with you in private."

The two out of the room and down the hall a ways to speak in private, and it doesn't take them long to come to a decision. When they return, Shining looks concerned but certain.

"Alright.." he says, addressing the group.

"I will have two of my guards occampany the volunteers to the building for a recon mission. You will do no more than observe for dangers and possible advantages to this new structure, and when you are done you will report back to me immediately. Is that clear?"

The guards all nod in unison.

"Right then, when you are ready" he says to the volunteers.

Blue Sky picks his weapon up and makes for the door, but upon seeing him Shining clears his throat.

"Where do you think you're going, private? I need you here to help protect the civilians."

"But.."

"I'm not asking Blue.."

The colt frowns and makes his way back into the room.

>>40698344
"Hey now, White Boy." Asma says, letting go of Walks. "That motherfucker's coming with us. He wants to get that piece of shit you call a sword a little messy, let him do it with the best safety net he could have. We held back a goddamn full monster assault. We can deal with whatever comes after us." She says, patting Blue on the head awkwardly.

Entity doesn't bother speaking on the matter, as it is of no consequence.

Reapo taps Toby's neck excitedly.

>>40698366
Toby doesn't seem to carry the same enthusiasm the little skeleton does. I WONDER WHY

Shining seems ready to argue for a moment, but a curious look shared with his lieutenant seems to change his mind.

"...very well...I suppose I really shouldn't be trying to stop him if he really wishes to go..he is almost a stallion now. Plenty old enough to be making his own decisions."

Blue looks up at Asma with a greatful smile.

>>40698372
She ruffles his ears a little, yanking his sword away from him and whipping out a small stone from a pouch on her belt, kneeling down to eye level. She holds up the whetstone. "This is a whetstone." She holds up the sword. "This is a piece of shit." She rubs them together slightly. "Put them together and you get a slightly sharper piece of shit. Watch." She proceeds to sharpen the sword, and do various little maintenance things before they head out.

Entity remains standing by the door.

Reapo taps Toby's neck more insistently.

>>40698377
"If he isn't smart enough to know what a whetstone is I doubt he even understands which end to poke monsters with" Walks said, sighing and walking towards the door, "I hope you don't my if my friends tag along, they do so love protecting me"

>>40698377
Toby follos the group out and tries to gather his wits as they make their way down towards the exit. He wasn't looking forward to going back outside.

At the door the group prepares themselves one final time, doing whatever it is they need to do to get ready. Toby considers leaving the little skeleton behind but knows he'll probably just follow any, so instead he makes the dog sit. And stay.

Least he could feel lime he was protecting someone.

>>40698453
Reapo furiously taps Toby's shoulder, making an insistent noise.

Asma keeps talking to Blue about weaponry and combat.

Entity follows in silence.

>>40698453

>Follos
>Lime
huuuuuurrrrr

Last edited at Sun, Nov 23rd, 2014 11:28

>>40698622
hey

hey u

ur a butt

>>40699691
>dat tripcode
Who dis?

>>40699691
Waaait, is this Scotty? Hiii Scotty! :D


Come join us in the dungeon... You know you want to~

We have our own Skype group and everything

Last edited at Mon, Nov 24th, 2014 14:23

>>40698600
Toby turns his head around and glares at the little skeleton for a full minute before speaking.

"You hit me one more time and I'm making you stay here with the mutt. "

Blue is too busy hanging on every word to notice the little scuffle going on behind them. Asma seemed to have a vast array of knowledge, and Blue didn't want to miss a word of it.

>>40699998
"...And then you stab the fuck out of them. Any questions?" Asma asks, still holding the sword.

Reapo's holding up a grey knitted hat, which looks fairly fluffy. As Toby glares at the tiny skeleton, he shrinks backward, making a sad noise.

>>40700011
"How did you learn all this?" Blue asks.

The small hat seems to break Tobys bad mood and he can't help but crack a smile.

"Touchy little thing aren't you? Just stop hittin' me less you got something important to tell me, k?"

>>40700019
"That's for me to know, and for you to never find out." Asma says, bonking him on the head with the handle of the sword before handing it to him.

Reapo seems to get a massively improved mood at Toby's smile, and runs up his neck, placing it on Toby's head. It happens to fit quite well, even including ear holes. Reapo then hugs Toby's neck, because of course he does.

Entity finally speaks up. "We're wasting time."

>>40700032
Tobys ears go flat against his head and he looks very unnamused.

Blue on the other hand seems to find it quite hilarious and let's out a giggling laugh at the site before him, which in turn gets a few of the guards laughing as well.

"Ya, ya, very buckin funny" Toby complains as he lifts his cowpony hat up and places it atop his head. He doesn't take Reapos hat off though, so that says something.

"Look, I'm with Astral. Can we get this show on the road? I got better things I can be doin right 'bout now."

One of the guards wipes the tear from his eye and nods.

"Right, let's get a head count then. Everyone here?"

He looks to the Lizarian creature.

"You said you had 'friends' who were to occampany us as well? Are they prepared?"

>>40700150
"I can only assume so, just don't kill them when you see them" Walks replied, "It takes a lot of effort to bind a soul to this realm and I'd rather avoid going through it again"

>>40700150
Asma bonks Blue on the head with the sword handle again. "Pay attention, dumbass."

Reapo, upon seeing the entirety of the room laughing in his direction, looks rather distressed, backing away from Toby's head a bit, making distressed confused sounds.

Entity simply stands by the door.

>>40700154
The guard nods and steps out from the building a bit to take a look around and see if it was safe to exit. His partner follows closely and covers the other side.

Blue grumbles a bit at the bop, but seeing the guards move he quickly forgets to make a retort and with a quick 'ok, thanks!', he takes his sword and follows closely behind the guards-ever ready to be a part of the action and use the knew knowledge he has just been given. The guards call back and give the all clear. There doesn't seem to be any monsters in the immediate vacinity at least...

Toby begins to loosen his rope and tie the end securely to his sickle. As he does so, he addresses the entity.

"Well miss Astral, lead the way. I'll follow behind and watch our flanks."

The guards call back and give the all clear. There doesn't seem to be any monsters in the immediate vacinity at least...

>>40700357
As Walks leaves the building, two creatures step around the corner. Pure white, they are the creatures that followed Walks before. She turns and looks at the guards, "Do. Not. Kill. Them" She says sharply, before snapping her fingers, the creatures bowed their heads slightly and trailed after her.

>>40700357
Asma ruffles the colt's ears. "Hey, if you're lucky, maybe you won't die." Asma, having already seen the creatures isn't surprised at all.

Entity's hands light up in a white glow, but it doesn't make any offensive moves.

Reapo still continues making distressed confused sounds, looking just as distressed and confused.

>>40700370
[This is a picture of the dinosaur lookin one.]

>>40700370
The guards exchange a look, but otherwise keep their weapons in place and ready for more hostile creatures.
>>40700374
Toby makes a quiet shh noise to Reapo.

"It's okay little buddy, you just hold on tight and don't make too much noise...you don't want to give us away, do you? You'll be fine if you stick with me. And be quiet."

Blues cool facade falters for a second and he half trips over a rock. He quickly recovers though, and gives Asma a nervous laugh, trying to play it cool. And so the group moves out, slowly making their way from building to building, to random pile of rubble, and finally, to their destination...

>>40700392
[And this is the flying one.]

>>40700394
Asma laughs at Blue's not paying attention to his feet. "Kid, better look where you're going or you might just walk into one and not know it."

Reapo looks more confused, making a low keening noise.

Entity snaps sharply. "The creature needs to be quiet. It could give away our position easily."

>>40700395
[What a bitch]

Before this party of fools stands a massive tower, marring the night sky with it's presence. No other towers rise as high as this one, strangely, even the towers of what remains of the castle are shorter than this behemoth. The lower floors of the building look to have been damaged by something comparable to a siege engine, with huge gouges cut out of walls and massive chunks missing. But the tower, and it's base, seem untouched, even when a huge long gash in the stone should have continued through it. A few monsters are scuttling out front, but seem apprehensive, and the instant they hear footsteps the scatter, running as fast as they can away from the noise and the building.
Silence falls. Nothing seems to stir in the building, as though the entire thing is dead.
Inside, however, an entity awaits the group, seeing something new below it's abode. It shall be patient. It has been for so long.

>>40700423
Walks looks towards the tower, "Seems like a rather dreary place to hold up during the end of the world." She says with a shrug, "But a safe house is a safe house, so I guess we should go inside at least... though the thought of such large creatures fleeing from us is strange... didn't you say that they normally attack you?"

>>40700405
Toby turns his head to Reapo and gives him a quiet, but stern 'shh'. The angry look on his face makes it clear that he wasn't going to comfort the little skeleton any more.
>>40700423
He gives the tower a once over, and isn't blind to the creatures that scuttle away in fear. The fur on the back of his neck stands on end as he pulls his rope out in front of him and readys his sickle.
>>40700494
"Ya.."

This time it's the guard who speaks in a low hush.

"Something doesn't feel right...let's just be on high alert."

"Aren't we already on high alert?" Blue whispers, and Toby gives him the same look he gave Reapo.

"Quiet. Just. Pay attention to where your walkin.."

>>40734454
Reapo makes a quiet sad sound, before falling silent. He's shaking in his tiny lil booties like a leaf.
Entity remains silent, walking over to the building to enter.
Asma pipes up towards the talking people. "Y'all take all the fun out of this. Look around, see if anythin's wrong around here."

>>40734454
"I guess it's because of the size of our group." Walks says with a shrug. "But I doubt that will scare the monsters inside of the tower itself." Walks turned towards the guard, "You have far more experience in theses masters than I do. The monsters tend to ignore me for better pickings. What do you say we do?"

>>40734557
The guard, still being careful to keep his tone hushed, watches as Entity enters the building as he answers.

"I say we just proceed...careful like.."

He didn't want to admit how little knowledge they actually had on the beasts.

He follows in after Entity, scoping it out.

Blue, for once, isn't so quick on the draw. He instead waits to see what Asma does as he sticks with the rest of the group.

>>40734557
>>40734584
The interior of the tower is near pitch black. As soon as anyone enters the thresh hold, they would notice that it gets unnaturally dark. The shadows appear to shift momentarily, so quickly that whoever seeing it might not even believe it happened. No sound can be heard, as though the place is completely dead.

Entity looks around the area in silence.

Reapo points to the building and makes a very, deeply fearful noise. He bops Toby on the head numerous times to try and get his attention.

Asma walks towards the tower entrance, eyeing the tiny skeleton. "When the fuck's that thing going to shut up?"

Last edited at Tue, Dec 30th, 2014 19:06

>>40734584
Walks shrugs, following the group inside. "I just hope what ever is in that building just runs away." Walks stared up at the building as she entered, grimacing nervously. A thought stuck in the back of her mind, What if the monsters weren't running from them?

>>40734608
Toby pulls the little skeleton off of his back, but, instead of putting him on the ground, he instead holds him for a moment. He stares at the little bone face for a few seconds before turning his attention to Asma.

"I don't know...somethin don't seem right bout this mam. He's awful nervous, and I don't think it's just from being out here in the open..."

Seeing Asma getting closer to the door suddenly makes him nervous. Maybe it was just the little skeletons own fear rubbing off on him, or maybe it was something else, but either way he had a sudden urge to flee.

"Asma" he says sternly and suddenly.

"Get away from that door. Back up. I think we need to get out of here, right now."

He puts Reapo back on his back and picks his sickle up with his mouth.

Blue stops suddenly and looks back at him with a worried expression, and then back to the guards who had already filed into the building.

>>40734655
Asma turns back to Toby, cocking her head. "Yer fucking skeleton is paranoid. Ain't nothin wrong with this pla-"
And that was the exact moment that all hell broke loose.
Two shadowy figures leap from the shadows, a red blade glowing in the blackness at the end of what look like arms. The two blades find two throats, the guards inside the building gaining a brand new hole each in their necks. Along with that, a large shape appears in the blackness. It's bony, thin, and pale, looking much like a warped human being, if that human being had been stretched for several thousand years. One of it's arms drags on the ground, a long white point extending from it's arm, secured tightly with a bolt of bone through the arm. It swings at entity, the point finding purchase in the young girl's back. She is thoroughly speared, body arching as she's stabbed. Another creature moves out of the shadows, this one a horrific abomination that looks like a bear with feathers and a beak. It roars, stomping towards the group outside. As it roars, the shadows appear to form into new beings, more than any normal person could count. One moves in front of the others, a disembodied head with three tentacles coming from the sliced neck. It opens it's mouth, and speaks. "New beings. Identify."

>>40734659
"BUCK!"

The sickle drops out of his mouth and clatters on the rubble as Toby watches the guards and the girl get mauled before his eyes. Then the rest was happening too fast for his brain to keep concious track. Asma was dangerously close to the monsters, and Blue right behind her. He couldn't see were Walks was, but it was too late to help her if she was in the building.

"BLUE! ASMA! GET THE BUCK OUTA THERE!" he roars at the two still standing as he picks his sickle up again and takes a step back. But Blue wasn't moving.

-----

Blood. That's all that he saw. It filled his vision and wet his face and muzzle. His sword...he knew he should be holding his sword, but he didn't know where it was. He couldn't remember where he was.

What was going on? His friends...the colts who had taken him in, cared for him-taught him the basics. They were there on the ground. They were just lying there bleeding on the ground and no one was helping them!

BLUE!

His ears were ringing.

GET THE BUCK OUTA THERE!

His heart was pounding.

...

New beings. Identify.

"wha-what?"

>>40734674
"Well..." Walks said, backing away from the tower slowly, "I can see...why the monsters ran...a...away" Walks stared at the large creature asking her to identify, "I would think...the polite thing to do was to identify yourself..for uh...us?" Walks familiars growled and readied themselves to fight the new shadow creatures. Walks managed to back herself out of the Tower, ignoring the blood as she silently cried, fearful of these new creatures.


Walks looked towards Toby, "Get...everyone...out of here" She hissed.

Last edited at Tue, Dec 30th, 2014 21:51

>>40734674
>>40734675
"New beings. Identify or be destroyed." The head says, eyes rolled back into it's skull. It speaks in a horrific mechanical echoing, as though a thousand machine voices speak through it's mouth at once. The creatures behind it begin to edge forwards, shuffling and stomping and slithering nearer to the group. The horrific abomination has one thing in common: And that is that they are all different, save the two creatures with red blades for hands, which still can't be seen clearly. No two creatures even appear to be the same species. Most are completely unrecognizable to anyone in the group, though a few are familiar to some amongst them.

Asma reaches for her sword, other hand going for the gun as she slowly backs away from the door, talking to Blue as she does. "Run the fuck away from here, follow the hick. Go, now."

Reapo lets out a shrilly sound of terror, hiding behind Toby's head to escape the nightmares within the tower. The little skeleton is shaking like a leaf, clinging to Mister Mugwuggles tightly.

>>40734675
>>40734699
Looking between the two, he nods. Running up to Blue, he pulls his hoof back and swings-effectively giving Blue a pony bitch slap.

"HEY! Snap out of it kid!"

"What?!" Blues eyes land on Tobys, wide and terrified.

"I said snap out of it soldier! Get your sword! Now! Come on, march! March! MARCH!"

Toby drills into the teenager with the ferocity of a sergeant, which works magic on giving the poor colt something to focus on. So, with Toby riding hot on his heels, the three of them gallop off toward the library.

Last edited at Wed, Dec 31st, 2014 00:36

>>40734699
"Like I said, I'd be nice to know you first" Walks said, pulling a small knife from her pack, "I mean, I'd gladly tell you exactly what I am, but I would rather avoid saying so in front of people I don't know." Walks two familiars stayed by her side, the flying creatures aura seeming to give a calming feeling to those close to it.

>>40734744
>>40734747
"New beings will identify for processing immediately." The head looks blindly at the group, seeming to stare intently with it's white eyes. The throng begins to slowly continue it's advance, reaching the threshold of the building now. As Toby bolts, they charge. The owlbear rushes Asma, fury and death in it's eyes.

And Asma legs it. With nobody but Walks remaining at the scene, she makes a run for it after Toby and Blue, with the horde following behind her. Thankfully due to augmentations, she manages to remain ahead of the throng, though it becomes clearly apparent to all involved that this isn't a mindless mob. Each creature moves in it's own way, some not even moving on the ground. Many of the creatures stalk the group from rooftops, a few were even seen burrowing beneath the ground.

Reapo continues to make his terrified noises, hugging Toby's neck tightly with his tiny little skeleton hands.

The head turns to Walks, staring at her intently with it's milky white eyes. "New entities will identify. Noncompliance will result in termination."

>>40734748
"A Vampire" Walks says angrily, "That is what I am. Is that what you need?" Walks continued to back slowly towards the door, "I am a god damn, blood sucking, creature of the night, fear of the day, weak to fire, Silver fearing, FUCKING VAMPIRE" Walks points towards the skull, "NOW WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU?"

>>40734752
"Entity has not fully identify. Identify. Noncompliance will result in termination." The head states once more, just floating in the air bobbing slightly.

>>40734754
"What the hell do you mean I haven't fully identified?" Walks asked confused, "I'm...an Argonian....I guess that's what you need." Walks snapped her fingers, and slightly corporeal armor appeared over her robes, "I don't understand what more you want"

>>40734755
"Identified as Argonian. Match in archive. Entity to be terminated." The head says, and the horde begins an advance, the only two creatures that are the same advance the most quickly, taking the front as they move towards Walks, still in shadow.

>>40734756
Walks turns to run out of the Tower, swearing loudly at the skull, "WHAT THE SHIT DID MY KIND EVER DO TO YOU?" She screams as she and her familiars sprint for the exit.

>>40734759
The two matching figures follow her, sprinting behind her on all fours. The rest of the horde that remains at the tower fade into the shadows, the head being the final creature to melt to darkness inside the thresh hold before the inside of the building is empty. Nothing living remains.

>>40734761
The Clannfear breaks off from the group and turns to charge at one of the creatures following it's master. It roars as it lowers it's head to charge. Walks stops herself from turning to watch this display, knowing that her familiar may keep one off her back but the other would just run by. She sprints for the doors, screaming, "RUN!!!"

>>40734748
Toby's only focus at the moment was getting the Blue and the scared little thing, (and of course himself) back to the safety of the library. He doesn't have time to survey the scene, but he tries his best to keep any creatures near him in his sight as he sprints. Blue on the hand is looking around and noticing the creatures both above and below them.

"Oh Celestia, were not going to make it back!" he cries in a panick as he tries to wield his sword.

"Just shut up and keep going!" Toby yells.

And there were words.

The battle had been hell, and no one could say it was really won. Half the scouting party had been wiped out before making it back to base. Not that base was much better.

Shining Armour had done well to prepare the troops. They had fought hard, but in the end winning the battle ultimately meant losing the fight. Many ponies were hurt in the attack on Canterlots grand library, and before many lives were lost, Shining called for the evacuation team to get everyone out before it became a blood bath.

Unfortunately for the scouting party, they weren't invited.

Having almost reached the safety of the library, Walks-with her two companions, Asma, Toby, Blue, and the skeleton were veered off course from a surprise attack from the front. They were forced to flee to a nearby building and take shelter or risk losing their own lives.

Now, three hours after the attack, they emerge to a wasteland. Even the once half-standing buildings have been torn down to rubble, and there is no sign of life anywhere...or..is there?

The library is gone, along with the ponies that were in it, but something can be seen in the far distance.

>>40774211
Asma kicks the sheet of metal they had used as a front door out of the wall, gun drawn. She looks around the place, calling back into the house. "Looks clear. Think they cleared out."

Reapo clings tightly to Toby, still shaking lightly and making a quiet mewling noise.

A clanking sound, quiet at first but gradually increasing in volume, can be heard in the silence that has fallen over the battlefield. A rhythmic clank, clank, clank, that does not seem to be particularly forceful but is loud nonetheless. And then the song ebbed into earshot, in time with the clanking.
It is, it is a glorious thing, (clank, clank!)
A song, a battle cry I sing! (Clank! Clank!)
For the monsters I have slain! (Clank!)
I'm heading home again! (Clank!)
But my home's a life of wandering! (Clank! Clank!)
To the east! The source of the song, and the clanking. A lone figure, small of stature and voice, marched stoically across the scene of the battle, occasionally hopping so that the visor of his knightly helmet would open and shut with a clang. The figure continued this until he was almost halfway across the field, then cut directly towards the group. As the shape grew closer, a sword and shield could be seen across his back, and a coat of arms was visible decorating his chest: a purple and green talon clutching a red, heart-shaped gem.

Blue takes a step out the door cautiously, and the minute his eyes see the wreckage his face falls.

"..no.."

They were gone. Everyone he knew was gone. He didn't see any bodies, but they were still gone. His comrades, his friends, his cousin. They left him.

"Sarge?!" he calls out.

"BB?!"

No answer.

"BOOMSHOCK?! Answer me damnit this ain't funny!"

There is a momentary pause in which he is silent, trying to listen for the distant echo of a reply, but all he hears instead is a song-
>>40774231
His head jerks towards the direction of it and he scrunches his eyes up trying to see.

"Who's that?"

>>40774216
Toby is busy digging around in the covered for something while the group takes a look outside.

"Here, get off me for a sec little man."

He places Reapo on the ground gently before turning back to the covered and pushing things aside with his hoof. There's blood on his neck, hoof, and a large gash in his back thigh that is slowly oozing a red river onto the floor and making a soft plop, plop, plop.

>>40774231
[Our Savior hath arrived]

>>40774231
Walks grimaced, "Are you kidding me" She replied, holding her side in pain, "Is that what I think it is?" Her companions were worse for wear, the clannfear blinded and the Winged Twilight missing a foot. The escape from the skull creatures hadn't been as on any of them. "I swear to what ever dead god still lives in your world, if that is a knight I am going to kill someone."

>>40774258
Asma goes to grab Blue and cover his mouth to stop his shouting, hissing through gritted teeth. "We just escaped from a horde of monsters, and now you want more? Go and off yourself then, but don't get me involved." And then the musics. "Are... Are you shitting me?"

Reapo looks at Toby's leg with wide eyes, reaching into his cloak and pulling out his needles and some yarn, furiously knitting away.

>>40774417
Blue jumps a bit when Asma grabs him, but when she lets go he give her an apologetic look.

"Sorry.."

Toby is still busy ram-shacking the covered. After a moment of frustration, he shuts it and heads to the bathroom. A few clinks and quiet squeaks can be heard from the other room and some whispered cursing. Finally he seems to find what he's looking for-a white bottle of antiseptic.

He rinses the wound on his thigh out with water before applying the antiseptic. He then limps over to the doorway.

"Blue, get over here."

Blue looks behind at the buckskin with a curious glance that quickly turns into a wince when he sees the gash on Tobys leg, and the bottle he was holding.

"My turn?" Blue asks.

"Yup. Can't be gettin any infections, I don't reckon we gonna come across any docs offices any time soon. Do you two need to clean any wounds?" Toby asks as he looks at Asma, then Walks.

>>40774258
>>40774384
>>40774417
As the figure draws closer, now walking at a normal pace- or what would be a normal pace if he wasn't so infernally SMALL- the party notices something that wasn't obvious from a distance due to the armor:
It's a dragon.
A young dragon, based on the size, but a dragon nonetheless. As the dragonling continues forwards, he catches sight of the party and stops in his tracks.
"Halt! Be you men, or be you Hollow Men?"
He fumbles with his sword for a moment before pulling it from I back. He does not, however, remove the sheath.
"Either way, know that I am Hardram Durwood, knight errant of Canterlot!"

>>40774679
Blue had just got done cleaning his wounds when he looks to the little dragon.

His sword is still in his sheath..

Blues face scrunches up and he starts laughing-quietly of course, lest Asma smack him upside the head. But he is laughing.

Toby is just staring at the dragon, not sure what to make of him.

"Uh..stallions?" he asks. "non...hollow stallions?"

>>40774679
Asma looks at the tiny dragon, smiling widely and trying not to burst out laughing. Her efforts fail, and she doubles over raucously laughing. She doesn't even pay any attention to the knight, still holding her gun in her hand.

Reapo taps Toby carefully, making a small "look at meeee" noise, holding up a tightly knitted square.

>>40774705
Toby looks at the little skeleton with perplexity.

"Where do you keep getting all this cloth? Thanks."

He takes it and pushes it onto the gash on his leg.

"Unfortunately I'm gonna need more than that? Can you do stitches? Surgery?"

He makes eye contact with Reapo while making the motions with his hoof, trying to get the point across.

>>40774728
Reapo cocks his head to one side, making a little exclamatory noise, before pulling a needle out of his cloak and holding it up, pointing to it and nodding.

>>40774679
"That depends....tiny knight" Walks Replied, "What is a Hollow Man?" Walks stared at the drawn sword, "Well...he doesn't appear to be very smart" She said under her breath, "He might not even realize what's been happening."

>>40774790
Toby gives Reapo a nod before turning to his wound and lifting the rag off of it with a whence. This was going to hurt.

He sits down on the ground so he can grab the two longest sides of the gash and push them together.

"Mmn! Ok little buddy, do your magic. I'll hold it shut."

>>40775836
Reapo stares at the cut, cocking his head to the side again and looking at Toby inquisitively.

>>40779596
And Toby stares at him, getting a bit impatient.

"Hey, miss Asma. Could you come help me? I don't think little skely dude here understands what I need."

>>40779600
Reapo frowns, looking rather upset and pointing at the gash with a frustrated confused noise.

Asma recovers from laughing and turns back to the house. "What d'you need, Brown horse?"

>>40779605
"I need someone to stitch the wound together so I don't bleed out. But I don't think he understands, and I can't do it myself. Or, I can, if someone holds the skin together."

If there was one thing Toby was not, it was squeamish. It hurt like hell to hold his leg how he was right now, and even though it looked knarley as hell, complaining about it wouldn't get him back up and walking. The sooner he got it stitched, the sooner they could leave.

Reapo makes the same action, this time with the hand with the needle, jabbing it at the wound and making a more insistant and annoyed noise.

"Aight, I'll be right there." Asma turns to walk back in. "Ey, Vamp lady, make sure this fucker doesn't do nothin'." She gestures to the small knight.

>>40779622
"Ow! Watch it."

>>40779629
Reapo makes an exceptionally annoyed confused noise, before just tossing the needle down and storming off with his arms folded.

...And at that moment Asma comes into the house. "Uh, you need a minute?"

>>40779636
"Hey!"

Toby watches the skeleton walk off with a bit of confusion himself. He had to figure out a way to communicate with him better. Not now though, maybe later, when they had more time. If they ever got time that was.

"No, I just need you to sow this shut."

He pauses and looks at Asma with his brows kind of furrowed.

"You do know how to do a basic stitch, right?"

"I am NOT stupid!"
The little dragon stomps his foot to emphasize his point. Uh-oh, seems he heard the giggling and occasional snarky remark (resnark?).
"I have journeyed to Canterlot to seek the advice of the wisest dragon of all; he whose exploits founded my very order! So!"
The little knight looks around.
"Where the heck is everypony?"

>>40784941
Blue clears his throat after the little dragon makes his stand, and he tries to hold back some of the giggles still threatening to let loose.

"Then it probably hasn't hit your homeland yet. Tell me little dragon, how have you not yet noticed the chaos going on around you? There is no sun or moon. The princesses are gone, and so is most of Equestria. I imagine if you travelled this far you had to have noticed by now that there are monsters everywhere, and almost everyone is dead. I'm surprised you survived."

>>40779642
Asma rolls her eyes. "No, I'm a complete idiot with no fuckin' survival skills. Can I fuckin' stitch..." She proceeds to mutter and take to sewing the gash shut.

Reapo in the mean while, storms out of the building to the congregation of people with a scowl on his face and his arms folded, looking down at the ground.

>>40785317
Toby watches Reapo go, still confused as to why he was so angry. His thoughts are interrupted with the first poke of skin and he wences and looks down at the gash.

"Thanks" he manages to breath out. It hurt like hell just to hold it shut.

"I don't get why it's so mad at me.." he says while Asma works. Just to distract himself more than for conversation, but still.