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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>>117436Iron nods approvingly
"What inspires you to travel so far?"
He looks down for a bit.
"...if it is very far. I think it is."
>>117438>>117440HISSSSS!>>117437She nods and raises an eyebrow, then takes a puff
"Oh yes. Very far. Very far indeed. It's nothing less than necessity. Can't live in your hometown without the Talonberg family taking a five eights share of your farm. Can't live in Manehattan without the landlord taking six eighths of your income. So I'm here."
>>117441Iron stares pensively at Sands.
(It sounds like somepony that can help me.)
"So you were a farmer previously?"
>>117434>>117441Brie leans over to Fun and whispers "Wir befinden uns immer noch in einem Bienenstock und sind auf Mission für die Königin. Wie heißt sie übrigens? Wie auch immer, Sie können sich jederzeit als Veränderliche herausstellen, aber bleiben Sie vorerst als Ponys, damit sie Sie nicht als Bedrohung sehen. Nutze die Offenbarung taktisch.
Ich empfehle eine Strategie, die vorgibt, die Jungetiere seien Adlige. Hast du die? Anders als die Königin natürlich; Oh ja, du hast mir ihren Namen gesagt."
>>117442"No. My family were."
>>117443"Es gibt viele Königinnen unter der Königin der Königinnen. Ich weiß nicht, wer Sie geschickt hat, aber jeder von ihnen kann ein Urteil wegen Desertion fällen.
Ich glaube nicht, dass viele Mitglieder der Rasse die Haut eines Ponys tragen würden. Es wäre nicht vorteilhaft für sie. Sie werden überrascht sein, wenn wir es tun."
>>117444No. [Read more] For a moment, Brie forgets himself and staring straight ahead, adopts an overjoyed expression. "Ich hatte gerade die beste Idee!", remembers himself, and goes back to looking the stance of a standard laborer.
>>117445Iron hums in thought.
"So you left because of how much money these ponies took from your family, not wanting to be a part of it?"
>>117447"Griffins. A lot of ponies left because they didn't like the culture shock, or the reduced autonomy, or the collectivization"
>>117446Some eyes watch the creatures as they go forward, towards the second, lower center of town, to where a couple changeling guards seem to be posted. But neither is it an inordinate amount of attention. Carts must not be much out of the ordinary
How be Meadows? And Ruby?
>>117449Ruby is looking outside of the window
"Well this isn't Whinnyapolis. Where is the State Fair?"
Meadows is standing up, and stretching out, still looking fatigued
>>117445Brie responds "Das ist mein Punkt. Niemand wird denken, dass Sie Wechselbalg in Pony-Verkleidung sind. Wir sind hier, um diese Firma zu untersuchen, und alle Streiche, die wir spielen können, sind auf dem Tisch. Lassen Sie uns beim Gemischtwarenladen anhalten."
>>117448Iron's mind realizes something.
"Wait, you came from across the endless waters?"
>>117450Onyx looks a bit nervous
"We've... Got a bit of a detour before that."
Midnight does her best to help the mare as she can
"Gently now Meadows, don't strain yourself"
>>117448Silver solemnly nods, knowing the pain of what collectivization and communism can bring.
>>117452She nods. Up and down repeatedly
"The long way"
>>117451"Oh Okay"
Stepping into the grocer shows a set of rows of items of food. The grocery is pleasantly well stocked with a variety of food, including cheese, milk, a few items of vegetables, and bread produced in an attached bakery. There are no processed foods nor more complex baked goods,, though there is a small amount of beat sugar behind the counter. Everything seems to be locally sourced. There is a distinct lack of any tropical fruit, be it mangos or kiwis, and of any kind of food that would need to travel more than 100 miles.
>>117453".... Alright"
He looks disappointed
"I wanted to ride the tilt-a-whirl.."
>>117454Loputu nods as well, slowly and solemnly
[Read more] >>117453Meadows:
"Oh, I've strained myself plenty when I was younger. I can handle it."
>>117455Onyx pats the colt's back
"Don't worry, I'll get you there."
>>117456"Well, I do not want you injuring yourself more. So be gentle."
>>117455Iron pondered for a few seconds
"How did you do it?"
>>117455Hold on one sec, he's not going in QUITE yet. After removing the harness, Brie steps back to the cart. Opening the door to the cart, Brie pokes his head in.
"We've been sent on a spying mission. We're to investigate a company for crimes against the Queen. I recommend we kidnap the main Overseer." Brie says with a beaming smile.
>>117454>>117455Dark Star Joins in their nod
>>117459Small colt Brie forgets the name of: "... This is a strange game you're playin'"
>>117458She takes another puff
"At the time, the Equestrian government was subsidizing tickets to ferry us to Manehattan, Sunset, and Baltimare"
She breathes out
"So we took ships. Came as whole families mostly"
Loputu walks up to listen in on this conversation
>>117457Um... see
>>117459Meadows:
"Alright"
she tries walking forward again
Ruby is happy again. Until Brie speaks
[Read more] >>117461Brie smiles at the colt. "I'm sure you'll be fine waiting in the cart. It should only take a few moments."
>>117462“Oh... okay”
The colt goes back to doing what he was doing before, which seems to be playing tic tac toe with Wesley using a pencil and his notepad, while Kerr stares silently from a corner and Seb sleeps
>>117459"Oh, this oughta be great."
Onyx turns to Ruby
"Stay in the cart unless it would more dangerous to stay than leave"
He then jumps out himself
>>117461Midnight supports the mare, humming a quiet tune.
>>117465"We're not there yet, we need to stop and gather a bit of information first."
>>117461"So that is how most Skynavians came to live here. That must have been back when Canterlot would actually do things like that to help ponies in need."
>>117461Iron thinks where this is going.
"...did you come with your family here?"
>>117464"Oh, I almost forgot." Brie turns to Wesley and Kerr. "Wir wurden auf eine Spionagemission geschickt. Wir sollen eine Firma wegen Verbrechen gegen die Königin untersuchen. Ich empfehle, den Hauptaufseher zu kidnappen." he reiterates, with the same joyous tone.
>>117466"Hmmmm, lemme know if I can be of use then."
>>117470Brie blinks at him a couple times. "Well I
am going to need your help taking him. Unless I can get him alone, and even if I can, there may be guards of one type or another. And if we have to leave in a hurry, you and I will probably have to pull the cart."
>>117476That sucks to hear, man. Hope they get better.
>>117479>>117477Gah!
>>117478*is comforted by the floofster*
>>117469Wesley: “ Das ist ein ... das ist etwas Neues”
Kerr: “ Eine Königin! Was für eine Ehre!”
>>117468“No. My mother wanted to stay there with her mother, and she wanted to stay on the farm. But they wanted me to leave, and to see if taking them later.”
>>117467Loputu walks over, with a gait most like a fearful and submissive dog. Nevertheless, he answers
“Many stayed. Many went to Bakara. But we came to Equestria. Equestria was something of a fairy tail land to us. Magical guardians, friendship and harmony, wages in a day what would be made in a week back home. Equestria had just defeated it’s own version of Marksism, and was helping those flee from it elsewhere”
>>117465Ruby: “Well uh, okay”
Meadows walks out now, or tries to
[Read more] >>117480Iron ponders for a second.
"I see..."
He looks at her for a second, from horn to hoof
"What sort of skills do you have?"
>>117480"I suppose when you put it that way, I can see why Equestria would seem like...fairy tail land, as you say. It is difficult to see it that way when you have lived in Equestria all your life."
>>117480"Well, it is good that you are walking better now."
Midnight helps her along.
>>117471"Sounds good.... I think."
>>117481Fairly thin and dainty, a snow white with long haired fur
“Skills?! What do you mean?”
It’s pretty obvious she thinks this is a weird question, or at least, a weird way to phrase it
>>117482He nods, then lowers his head as he continues nodding
>>117483They enter out into the hallway. While Meadows isn’t too tall for it, she takes up much of it
[Read more] >>117484insert black couch hereIron chuckles at her surprise, before inhaling a little, calming himself down.
"You did travel very far and possibly without much spending money. A pony who can do that must have something to offer in order to sustain themselves. Have you picked up some manual labor jobs along the way, like Khoi?"
>>117480Brie smiles again at the 'Lings. He then grabs his suit and cloak, puts them on, and pats himself down for money. I think he's still got like 40 bits on him, that should be enough. He then looks at Onyx
>>117483"I'm still working on a plan to get close to him and try to get him alone, but that's fine. We won't be there for another 20-30 minutes. First we need som rope!" and as he says rope, he flares his eyes and eyebrows, putting a bit of adventurous anticipation in his expression. He is of course, still smiling. Without a sense motive check, it is clear that he is famously enjoying himself.
Brie
now enters the general store.
>>117484"Meadows, I hope you do not mind me asking... But what is a... Rack-shash-a?"
>>117486Onyx shakes his head, wondering what the buck he's gotten himself into this time.