Welcome back to Occupied Equestria
Dark Star, Silver, Iron, and Midnight continue their investigation and hopefully, the take down of a group of organized criminals who have taken up operations at an old fortress on the sea shore. They have already rescued a number of creatures and persuaded them to join in their efforts. Now, they most hope that they can strike with enough force, and quickly enough, to destroy the evil that has taken up residence there.
Up in the North, the ponies are waking up, ready for a new day
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>>117051"Sounds like a tough existence."
A couple changes to make note of in addition to class. She's now a pegasus, she now has two shortswords instead of her dagger and her pistol, but she does still have her necklace.>>117051Midnight shakes her head
"It is a sad life. Let us hope we can help them."
>>117052"I would hardly call it 'fruitless'. There are shipping records that can help us tell what shipping companies they were using, who they were working with in Griffonia and Zebrica, and things like food purchases that can help us guess how many creatures are living here at any one time"
By this time Iron is already walking away, and Skies is talking to no one. So she just stops talking
>>117057I don't know about all that...>>117056>>117057"Well, it's definitely not helpful for our purposes"
>>117058She simply shrugs
"It is still a sad existence for them"
>>117052Hopefully those footsteps down the hall stay far enough away. No creature visible in the secondary corridor
>>117059"In many ways it can be, yes"
That damned whispering again. It's a bit louder now though
"Do you want to have wings, Midnight?""Would you like to punish those who reside here?" >>117060She closes her eyes, clenching her jaw as she listens to the voices.
"Shut up, shut UP"She then looks back at Skies
"Then let us find a way to help them"
>>117060>>117058Iron huffs to himself, deciding to absent-mindedly pet Sands as he stares at her hooves vacantly, his ears ready to detect any clawsteps around him.
(I have to wonder why ponies cooperate with eachother on such a grand scale only to abuse said deal.)
>>117061Fuckin' Mala must be whispering
"There are ways indeed to help them"Skies is silent for a moment, then returns
"There might be more upstairs"
>>117062Sands gives an expression of surprise, evidently not anticipating being pet. Her eyes focus on the nearing hoof, her face moves away. But when the hoof comes, and it pets her, she realizes there is nothing to fear, and she lets him pet her, closing her eyes, and now placing her head closer to him.
Her hair is not the softest. If anything, it feels a bit ragged. Like it needs to be washed. Much the same with her hooves, which while belonging to a set of pretty feat, could stand to use a trim.
Off in the distance, further away, Iron can hear what does indeed sound like claw steps. Maybe it's up a set of stairs, maybe in the tunnel. But it's not in this hallway. Not in this little corridor. It's just him and Sands here for now
>>117063"Shall we investigate? It can't hurt"
>>117063"Well... it can. If there are too many armed creatures"
"What would you like to know?" >>117065"Hmmm, fine. That is a good point."
Midnight looks around, not quite frantically
yet, for the source of the voice.
>>117063Iron looks up to see Sands leaning in on the petting, causing him to smile a little.
(It is easy to handle a couple of ponies here and there. Manage their issues and such, and if it does not work, one simply fights the other to determine the victor, maybe cast him out.)
His hoof brushes along her mane, taking one step closer towards her to allow him more comfortable strokes.
(Little worlds, caring for themselves, not a big, unfeeling world of metal.)
>>117065"I will try my best to make sure they hurt only me."
>>117066Mala is moving up from behind, evidently heading to the door after interesting himself in the cigars and whiskey. His voice is a little off for it. Khoi is already by the door. Her voice is
definitely off for it. The voice sounded most like it came from just over Midnight's right shoulder. The best candidate for that is Meadows, who is over to the right. She is blinking and has a hoof on the shelf, probably testing out her vision. She's not finding the exit soon.
>>117067Now, she takes a few steps closer, and leans into him. She wants him to stroke her mane
>>117068"Oh Silver... You don't need to be that brave"
>>117070Mala looks over, and speaks with his detached, defeated sounding voice
"That's the main dorm area. There might be some captives there. Same with the workshop. But it's nighttime, that's less likely"
>>117069He nods. "I appreciate the thought, but it is better that I am one who gets hurt than rest of group. Do not worry, I am tough pony."
>>117069Iron obviously obliges on Sands' request, accepting her leaning fully, deciding to sit down against the wall slowly to make sure Sands doesn't fall from his change in position and starts stroking her mane with his two hooves.
(A life like this, where a pony only needs a couple of other ponies with different skills and similar interests living off the land.)
>>117069Midnight sighs at the group, before walking over to Meadows, making sure to make a few noises to announce her presence.
"I know I am asking a loaded question, but are you okay?"
>>117072She places a hoof behind his right ear in an almost petting action
"D'aww, you're adorable when you're so selfless. But seriously. Don't get killed"
>>117073She sits down as well, up against Iron. Her mane is long, and could use a brushing. Khoi Lua walks by, looks over at the two, and expresses visible disgust at the public display of affection
>>117074Meadows looks around, then points her head at Midnight. When midnight speaks, she smiles, as if joyed that she recognizes the shape in front of her as a pony.
"No... I... One of those monsters got me. A Rakshasa. I almost died. I think I am safe now, I hope."
>>117071"Mala where do the guards sleep?"
>>117075"I see, would you like me to assist you for the time being? Maybe later I can help to heal you as well."
>>117075Iron looks at Khoi quizzically at her expression as his hooves stroke her long mane and he rubs his coat lightly against hers.
"Is something the matter, Khoi?"
>>117075The ear folds in a sign of enjoyment. "I have not died yet. Are we ready to move out?"
>>117076He blinks, then looks over to the right. Back the way they came
"You met all of the gnolls, right?"
>>117078She just shakes her head, and walks forward a little. Sands seems to be enjoying it
"No pony has stroked my mane in a while"
>>117079"Yes, I am ready"
She takes a few papers, and places them in a sack she has
>>117077"Yes, if you can? You are... not a Rashaka too, are you?... Nevermind... Yes, I would be delighted"
>>117080"Yes, i assumed there's more than just 2 gnolls down here guarding the prisoners."
>>117080Midnight gently lays a wing across the pony's shoulders, judging her reaction
"Of course I'm not, I just wish to help you if I can."
>>117081"Well, there were four of us...."
He looks away, and down
"Yeah, those were all of us that lived down here... But those who live up there, who are actually part of the Society... There are many of them, and they might find arms if they know danger is coming"
>>117082She flinches a little, as she didn't seem to anticipate the touching
"I am... weak. I am afraid I will be a burden"
>>117080Deciding that he should test the touching boundaries for Khoi later, Iron gives Sands a little smile and a chuckle.
"I can imagine."
He strokes for a little bit in silence.
"Do you have any loved ones you are eager to go back to?"
>>117083"A pony in need is never a burden to me. I have dedicated my life to helping others, and would be honored to help you."
>>117083"How many do you reckon are up there?"
>>117084She looks at him, and blinks. Then she opens her mouth as if to say something. But she just blinks again, and nothing comes out
>>117085She is already standing, but when she lurches forward, she seems to raise in height half an inch, coming out of what must have been a resting stance. She walks a pace closer towards Midnight, placing her hoof in the air and gliding it over the ground as if feeling for any obstacles in her path. She wobbles almost like a newborn foal
"If you could just stop any others... from becoming like me..."
>>117086He looks up, and places his teeth together - row after row, of unsettlingly sharp teeth - in a fearful wince.
"I... I don't know. I think at least a couple dozen. Before I came here I heard they were raided by police, and they lost half their number. Then last year, at the end of the pony civil war, after the ships stopped coming, they were raided again, and again they lost half their number. But they grow back. They gain new members every month"
>>117087Iron cocks his head, worried, while the mane stroking continues.
"Is something wrong, Sands?"
>>117087Midnight steps to Meadow's side, wrapping a wing around her barrel, as if inviting her to lean on her.
"Of course, but for now just rest. I will keep you safe."
>>117087"Do you know how they recruit?"
>>117088She looks down, and ahead, as if focusing a hundred meters distant
"No... I don't think I do" She says, finally answering Iron's question
>>117089Meadows is noticeably taller than Midnight, and with visible ribs as well. Instead of leaning, she moves her legs, and locks into a resting position, standing up
"I-I am afraid that if I rest, I will waste away. And my legs will fall off my body. I must move"
>>117090His head is low, but his muzzle is level. He speaks to Dark Star
"Sort of... They look for the vulnerable. Those who wants omething very badly, but can't seem ever to get it. Those looking for power, respect, revenge, money... someone to talk to. To be around... I think most of them come from across the seas. Apparently they have groups over there. They smuggle them in, same as the captives. Some, they recruit from here in the city. That's how they found me. It was a creature I knew in the brief time I was in school who told me. I was happy to have a bed, and some creatures to talk to. Before, all I could eat was bread. That made me weak and feel sick. .... . I thought of joining the Society itself. But there was a separate set of gnolls, who worked for them but didn't participate in their activities because of culture I guess. I was excited to be around gnolls, so I went with that group. I got kind of stuck with that group. This whole time I felt I made a mistake by not pleading to be let into the bigger group"
>>117091Iron cocks an eyebrow, still trimming that ragged mane of hers with a tiny blush on her cheeks
"That is quite surprising. A mare like you would have made some waves with your beauty."
He hums slightly.
"It is not like you appeared out of nowhere, right?"
>>117092"You don't have to come from nowhere, to end up nowhere."
She looks up to him with those sparkling green eyes
"Enough of me. Tell me of you"
>>117092Silver, listening in on th conversation for want of things to do, briefly glares at Iron. "Or...something has happened to her loved ones. Something which would cause great grief to her."
>>117091"Then let us walk around the room a bit, I will make sure you do not run into anything."
Midnight wears her sadness at the situation on her face, wishing she knew what to do to help this pony.
>>117094Sands has a grave look. Khoi still looks kind of displeased, and standing ahead of the set.
From behind, Loputu coughs on a cigar
>>117095She stands up, cautiously places one hoof ahead of the other, then another hoof ahead of the other. Then one and two and one and two. They go on in the small circle. Meadows looks ahead mostly fearful of running into something. The lack of light in the room is doing her no favors
>>117094He glaces at Silver, a bit surprised.
(Now that is unexpected. He seems a bit too interested in Sands. Maybe he wants to have her for the night?)
>>117093He turns back to Sands, his surprise still apparent.
"It is true."
He hums for a bit, thinking on what to say.
"I am Iron. My previous life before coming here was back at the jungles, where I sparred with my kin and broke down medium-sized rocks as practice."
>>117096Silver looks to Loputu. "What are you doing, little one?"
>>117096"It is okay Meadows, just walk and I will guide you, just hoof after hoof and you will be fine"
Midnight is extra cautious, hoping she can get Meadows to trust her so she can help her.
>>117098He looks up at Silver, like a dog caught eating off the table
"Uh... That hyena said these had good flavor. Opened the carton too"
>>117099Midnight has to hold onto her muzzle. She resists at first, but quickly enough, Midnight can walk the horse. Her hoof steps become more even. Less afraid. Or at least that's how it is along the ground that has already been trotted. At least she's not wobbling now. Like a foal running
>>117100He sighs. "It is not good idea for foals to smoke, little one."
>>117100"Good pony, just like that. You're doing great. So Meadows, where are you from?"
She continues to lead her, slowing down a bit.
>>117097"Huh"
>>117101"But... I am not a foal"
>>117101>>117097Sands says to Loputu and Silver
"Don't worry, I'll take that cigar for you"
>>117102"I am a horse... And I am from Karkardannistan"
She moves with Midnight, being able to move her hooves at the right pace
>>117103Silver chuckles. "Right. Still, it is not idea for you to have those. They do not taste good."