Up in the North, the ponies have successfully found who, or rather, what was damaging the mine. But their quest is not over, as they go to look for the source of the trouble. In Baltimare, Iron, Silver, and Dark Star enjoy the fruits of defeating the cultists, while Midnight herds the remaining rescues.
We welcome any new players to join
1753 replies and 52 files omitted.
Do you want to continue Spark's story tonight?
>>128804Sure! The last post to Spark was
>>128342 >>128805Spark nods.
"So, it has been quite some time since you have seen a pony? Who was the last that passed through here?"
>>128782I'm certain it was worth the price...though that does beg the question of how much it actually cost.
>>128807White Wolf
"I haven't seen one in a while... It's been a while since they've come through"
Grey wolf, forcefully even as he is not interrupting
"They like to hide out around the forest. Come into our territory"
Then she rebuts
"But they don't come to
us. Or they haven't since that time the doubles came"
>>12881230 bits easily
>>128813Oh, that's not so bad. He pays it.
"I just hope this meat-eating revelation has not made either of you think of me
too badly."
>>128814Jubilosa places a foreleg around him
"You continue to challenge my perception of ponies"
Mala seems to wag his tail
"No"
And he smiles
>>128813"Do you know what they are up to, hiding out here?"
>>128816Grey Wolf
"I suppose they are hiding away from the Doubles, just as we do now"
>>128815Silver smiles at them.
"There is one more thing I would like to talk about before we leave, if neither of you mind. There is issue of Mala's housing situation."
>>128818Mala sits up in his booth - he laid back after he finished eating - and he stares at Silver with big eyes
"Yes?"
Jubilosa looks over as if with concern, but she says nothing
>>128819He looks over at Jubilosa.
"I know your and Khoi's concerns, but Mala is good person as you have seen little bit of, one who wants to start new life and make up for what he has done. And there is spare room in beach house..."
>>128820She is silent for a moment, as is Mala
"I suppose I have misjudged creatures before... and he's had some hardships... I guess it isn't really my business what you do with him"
>>128821Silver hugs the griffon, burying his face in her chest feathers.
"Thank you."
>>128822Silver gets a nice feel of those feathers, and Jubilosa does not tense up, now comfortable with the hugs. She's larger than a mare, if a little smaller than Silver.
>>128823Silver releases her, and smiles again at his two companions.
"Well...ready to head home?"
>>128824Mala looks back at him, and wags his tail, before it goes down somewhat.
"Can I get my pack from the room?" he asks
>>128825"Of course you can, Mala. We will go to Tavern first so you can recover your items."
>>128826His thin, black legs tap the ground as he moves around, excited
"Were you saying I could live with you?!"
>>128827Silver nods.
"We will have to confirm it with Khoi, but yes."
>>128817"Have you had a run in with the changlings at all?"
>>128828He opens his mouth, and has his diamond ears firmly towards Silver
"That would be great!"
>>128829The White Wolf turns, with an expression like fear
The Grey wolf turns his head while his eyes lock with Spark's
"Yes. We've had
run ins. They came up into the forest. They attacked our southern settlement after a skirmish. Killed several of us. Fought us several times. We withdrew to the band up north for a few weeks, until they had retreated back. We watch their patrols still, though they haven't gone so far north in several months now"
>>128830Silver smiles at the obviously excited gnoll, and drapes a foreleg over the back of Mala's neck.
"Well, let us go out and hail taxi. We can pick up your personal effects from Tavern, and head to beach house."
>>128831"That sounds Great!"
Going outside, Silver has ease enough hailing a taxi. The Zebra stallion doesn't seem to know enough about what these creatures had done to shame them for it. Two bits to go back to the Tavern.
Mala runs back inside with definite haste
>>128830"I am sorry to hear that."
Spark wonders what brought them to the forest to begin with.
>>128832Silver tells the driver to wait while Mala gets his belongings, and he himself waits patiently for the gnoll.
>>128833The White Wolf speaks to Spark
"Yes, it's been terrible... But we are at least surviving now. We have survived worse. They are not the first to attack us. But I would like them to be the last. That is what I want you for. To make them leave us alone"
The Grey Wolf physically moves his feat around
"It isn't enough to be left alone. If anything, we need their alliance. Trade alone would do us much good"
The white wolf looks back to the grey, someone annoyed
"Trade will not do us much good..."
>>128834Mala comes back out quickly, carrying his pack with a blanket in it, and the sheathed sword. It does
not bulge with the cut off pieces of Zebra from the night before
>>128835"Hop back on in, Mala. We are going home."
>>128835"The changelings are not interested in trade, but I might know a group that is. The colony that captured the land east would be interested in trade as well as information about changeling movement and resources in this area. The changelings are preparing to invade in the future."
>>128837The grey wolf stops for a moment, his mouth closed, as if to consider it
White Wolf
"But what if the Changelings find out?"
>>128836He hops right on back in. Another few bits, and the creatures are back to the Beach House
>>128838Silver pays the zebra his due Bits, trots up, and holds the door open for Jubilosa and Mala.
>>128838"Well, we will just have to stick to the forests and we will make it no problem."
>>128839Mala gets out of the taxi, and looks at the house with curiousity, tentatively stepping forward
"Is this...?"
He steps forward a little closer. As Silver goes closer still, he runs out in front of Silver, looking around
Jubilosa walks out more normally, towards the house
>>128841"Yes it is. Our new home."
>>128840The Grey wolf is silent again
White Wolf:
"Maybe we should take you back to the chief"
>>128842He runs out, around and under the house towards the solid portion, looking around, until it's clear that he is left behind by Silver. Then he comes back up the stairs, and past him, looking around on the lower level, running around in the living room, jumping on the couch and then off of it.
Silver can hear Khoi in the kitchen
>>128843Silver is amused by Mala's behaviors, and goes into the kitchen to find Khoi.
>>128844She is in the kitchen, over a boiling pot.
Mala is evidently running around, and she seems to hear it. She walks up to Silver
"You're back"
>>128845Silver nods with a smile.
"You make it sound like you had doubts. How goes it?"
>>128846"The soup is going well. Noodles will cook quickly so I will put them in the pot just before you are ready."
She smiles back, and almost suppresses a laugh
>>128847Silver tilts his head.
"What is it? What is funny?"
>>128848"What? Why do you think something is funny? She asks, smiling then stopping
>>128843"Alright."
Spark is ready to follow the doggos.
>>128849"You just look like you are trying to keep from laughing."
Silver breathes in the smell of the food being cooked.
"Anyways, what is it you are cooking?"
>>128851Definitely some spices and onion
"Oh, some Bún soup for tonight"
>>128850The grey one says
"Very well... but if you do tip off the Changelings, know we can hide in the forests, see you before you see us. Track you -"
The White Wolf interrupts
"Relax, Lyca. The spirits have shown his good nature to us, and he has seemed trustworthy enough talking to him here. Are you really so afraid of such a little pony?"
His ears drop and he almost snarls, but he keeps his head low. He mumbles
"There's no such thing as a Sa'be..."
Spark presumably follows the wolves for a while, as they move into a formation around Spark. They occasionally yip and speak to each other in a language Spark does not understand. They pass by several clearings in the woods, that look as if they were recently planted and plowed. Then, they arrive...
>>128853"Thanks, I was hoping it would be so"
She blinks at him at the end of that
>>128854"I had never heard of some of those ingredients before. I take it this is traditional Ngua Nam meal?"
>>128855"I suppose it is 'traditional.' Yes. It is a normal meal in Ngua Nam. Maybe a bit more spice and flair, we often only had rice. But this is full meal."
>>128856"Huh. We have meals like that, in my homeland. I was thinking of making one sometime, for all of us."
>>128857She blinks
"I have never had anything else" She says
Then she tilts her head
"Do you have rice?"
>>128852Spark takes a look around.
>>128867To the right and above the canopy the early morning sun rises, increasingly lighting up the forest. The wolves stop as one of the grey males tilts his head up and howls. A moment later, and the dark grey wolf Spark had spoken to lifts his head and howls. A few seconds more and another howl, more distant ca be heard in reply ahead of them. The howls are enough to wake a large black bird, who flies out and above the canopy. The wolves walk ahead, and it's more than a little hard for Spark to keep up with them.
Then Spark can see it over in a clearing. Many tan colored, half-spherical structures as much as ten feet tall, with visible wooden branch frames, and covered in bark or hide. Some have open doors spark can almost see into, many have fires outside. There are many wolves outside, most of them appear to be female and most have a greyish color coat. Some look up at Spark with curiosity, walking over towards him. Some seem guarded and turn themselves, or walk away. A liter of pups play with a ball, while another pup sleeps half-through a door of a half-sphere under a circle filled with radiating threads and rings of circles inside, like a spider web. He sees a wolf female has a basket full of blackberries, and passes a rack of large, drying fish. They take Spark deeper inside, and near a large brownish structure with a rounded-rectangular shape that nearly looks like a loaf of bread.
>>128868"Wow. I don't remember reading about anything like this place before."
Spark takes in the sight.
>>128869Darker Grey Wolf:
"
Of course the ponies leave it out."
White Wolf:
"We've been doing it this way long before the ponies came down into our lands. There is a certain beauty to the old ways..."
When they entered the village, another grey wolf in hide greeted them, and joined in with the moving pack. The darker wolf walks at the lead. Spark can see that he wears something like a jacket, but no hide, with a sheathed long knife and a long rifle slung over his shoulder. The rifle is rather curious looking, being a very modern looking model with a scope. His legs and it seems his belly are white or lighter, and he wears a necklace. The white wolf walks besides Spark to his right. She has tanned hide on her front and chest, on her left foreleg, a large bow with a re-curved shape, a quiver of arrows, and she wears a necklace with a bright red copper medallion shaped like a turtle or tortoise.
As they walk through the settlement, a female wolf comes out and snarls at Spark, though she is blocked from coming closer by the light wolf, who is to Spark's left. A puppy, however, is small enough to run through the white wolf and the wolf behind her to run up next to Spark, taking an interest in him.
>>128872Spark is a bit nervous, but waves hello to the puppy and continues to follow.
>>128858Silver shakes his head.
"I think it is just native to your lands. We grew mostly wheat, barley, and sorgum for grain in Severyana."
>>128873After not very much time at all, the wolves stop before a larger half sphere near the rounded-rectangle. A medium grey wolf sleeps on a mat between the two buildings. He has swelling on his legs and his chest, noticeable even from this angle. He looks up at the wolves coming in, and tries to stand up.
Then from the half sphere in front, a very large grey wolf walks out. He looks much older, and he walks out with his shoulders firm and head high. He smiles with teeth that Spark can see are silver and metal.
The Dark Grey wolf starts to remove his rifle and bow his head
"Bow before our Pack leader and Chieftain, Ziibi-Ondaadad."
He then rolls over onto his back, spreading out and showing his belly. He is almost white on the underside. The rest of the wolves also lower themselves to the ground, some rolling over. The white wolf crouches down, almost laying down, but does not roll over
The large wolf - Ziibi - walks down a wooden plank from his higher position inside the sphere. He smiles at Spark with his silver teeth
"A pony? What brings you here?"
>>128874She looks at him with something that comes almost near concern.
"I am not familiar with 'Barley' or "Sorgum.' Or Severyana. There is much I do not know about this vast land or its ponies."
>>128875Silver smiles at her.
"Barley and sorgum are very similar to wheat. They are planted in rotation with wheat to return nutrients to soil. As for Severyana...it is my homeland. My Motherland. It is far to north of here, northeast of Equestria. It is as old as ponykind itself, and has very storied history. In summer, its moist soil is perfect for agriculture, but in winter, it gets cold enough to freeze solid, making growing crops impossible until it thaws."
>>128875"I was brought here for reasons both my own and the wishes of your own. I want to make sure these lands are free of any monster that recently attacked the mine the changelings have set up outside these forests. While I do this, I was asked to make sure that changelings don't bother you again and to set up trade here with friends of mine to the east."
>>128876She looks at him with immense interest, slowly nodding her head
"I see... What are these Winters like? I have heard they are much different in Equestria. Or, where you are from. Are they not?"
>>128877He maintains a position at the end of the ramp
"Oh, the woods have always been filled with Monsters, as they have from the beginning. Many have gone out to slay them, and some have come back. But you ponies, you have stopped trading with us. I know a calamity has befallen you, but I wish to reestablish relations. Tell me first, what
exactly has become of the Equestrian and Crystal Authorities?"
>>128878"It gets very cold in winter. Nothing like here. Wind gets biting cold, rivers freeze over solid, and snow comes down and covers everything in layers of white. You go outside, and entire world just seems so quiet, peaceful even. It can be fun as foal, too, getting into snowball fights, making snow angels and snowponies and such. And of course getting inside after to curl up in front of hearth and warm up feels amazing."
>>128879She smiles in a calm, warm way
"That sounds... 'wholesome.' Tell me, do you miss it? Why did you leave it? Your home."
>>128878"A few rebel fighters out there, but the leaders of old are all gone. We don't know where they have gone. There is only a little propaganda that they are dead, which is likely to mean they are still alive, but they have not made themselves known."
>>128880"I do miss it. And I would return there...but recently it was given new name, one that is likely more familiar to you. Stalliongrad."
>>128881His eyes slowly open and muscles under his eyes fall down, his smile fading and mouth opening
"They... They are gone?"
>>128882She narrows her eyes
"As I have. I think I know why you left"
>>128883Silver gives her a solitary, sad nod.
"I left years before Steel Stallion and his Soviets corrupted my beautiful Motherland, destroyed its temples, warped its culture, and cursed this world with Communist cancer. But it is reason why I have not been back. Why I could not show my own children where my people come from. All I can take solace in is that Stalliongrad is
not Severyana, no matter what those Soviets want to make us believe."
>>128885She definitely has no smile now, and she comes a little closer to him
"Can you tell me, do you ever feel you should have fought back against the Communists?"
>>128886"Every time I think on it, I wish I was there to fight against them in Civil War. I wish Celestia had not pulled Equestrian forces away from war and that we pushed on and retook Colitsyn, or even that Severyanan Whites who had opposed Reds and supported independance rallied and beat Stallion's forces back."
>>128887She very slowly nods, looking kind of sad
"I see"
Best pony in picture >>128888Checked."It is in past, now. Not much use looking back to it, unless to use it as guide for future."
He looks up at Khoi.
"I do not know much of Ngua Nam. What is it like?"
>>128889"You know a couple of them visited us. Some years ago. The mining company was expanding closer to our territory. Damaging the forest. We were very angry. They did not seem to live in harmony with nature, as all creatures should, but dominated over it. We were going to fight back. But I was kicked in the mouth by a moose. The ponies helped me with their dentistry. Without their metal I would have wasted away and died. They showed me their metal has use. A different way of living with nature. They helped others in my village with fever. And for that, I was grateful."
The White Wolf looks a little discontent with this speech, half snarling
>>128891"It is old vassal of Kirin Empire, but a rich culture on its own. Sprawling jungles from the mountains down to coast. Great temples filled with monks. Villages around paddies and old cities on the coast and rivers. There is much to say, but I am not sure how to say it. There is no playing in the snow in winter, I can tell you that."
>>128893Spark is not sure why the white wolf is objecting, but he continues to listen.
"I'm glad you had a positive experience with us before. I look forward to rebuilding it again."
>>128893"We do not have jungles in Severyana. I suppose it is trade-off."
>>128895"Yes." He says. "There is much to rebuild. The Doubles came and attacked some months ago. We drove them off... but they may come back. Who are these friends you have?"
>>128897She smiles lightly.
"I suppose. I will try to adjust to this new place. But I hope I will have a homeland to go back to, if I ever want to."
My character leaves, thanks the recpetionist for all her help, and starts moving towards the market or whatever to buy her material compnents that she needs.
>>128910The receptionist bends her head over in evident curiosity as she watches Fantasy Play walk away, and out of the building. She takes a guess as to how it must have gone.
But Fantasy Play has her map, and she has a very good idea of where gum arabic, wax, and other assorted oddities for the preternaturally inclined. And soon enough she finds a small shop in the eastern district, inside an old building, and sandwiched between still older structures of the old Baltimare. Fantasy play enters to see jaws of eyes, strands of fur and hair from common animals, the creatures of the forests and jungle, and beasts unknown to most ponies. There are brooches and wands - or alleged brooches and wands - and numerous other curiosities that line the walls and shelved.
"May I help you, young mare?"
Standing upright on two legs behind Fantasy Play, is a large cat - for surely there is there is no better way to describe it, or rather, "her." Her fur is black, hard to see in the dim light of the shop. Her eyes are thin slits surrounded by an almost glowing green. She wears a grey vest, and has a band around her head. She leans against a shelf as she smiles towards Fantasy
"I know you did not come just to look around"
So... where did we leave off?
>>128930The last post for Spark was
>>128900 >>128900"Yes, that is feeling I understand."
Silver looks over at the meal she's cooking.
"Until that day, it is good to see there is still piece of your homeland you can enjoy. I will have to show you where store was."
>>128932"There is a nation of ponies to the east that will be able to do business with you."
>>128934"To the East you say? Well, ponies are welcome to trade here. You can tell them that. We have lumber rights to sell, and fur and our crafted copper"
>>128933She looks solemn, and nods slowly
"It lives on in you, and mine lives on in me. I suppose..." she looks away for a moment, then back to him
"Yes, I would like to see that. I believed there would be others of my kind here. I am pleased to hear there are"
>>128935"I was unable to talk with kirin who ran store. Language barrier, I think. Maybe you could talk with him?"
>>128936"I could try, yes. They may be from Kirin Empire though. That grey pony, 'Iron' I think was him name, said he may have work for me though"
>>128937"Really? What kind of work?"
>>128938She moves her body back to almost lean against the counter
"He... did not say" She answers
>>128935Spark nods.
"I think they will also be interested in information of changeling positions, movement patterns, and building locations."
>>128939Silver finds the action a little weird, but he does not openly comment on it.
"Hmm...well, if you want my advice, I would say to use your best judgement as Iron does not always use his."
The unicorn smiles at the kirin.
"Oh, and if you ever need my help, you know where to find me."
>>128941She smiles briefly, and gives a small laugh
"He"
Then she says to him
"Help? What kind?"
>>128940"These...
Changelings. They have been a menace to us. We will need protection"
>>128924Fantasy twirl around and upon seeing the catlady, immediately starts to rub her hoof against its cheek.
"A kitty!" she bursts out while beaming.
>>128942"Well, whatever help you might. Help with some task Iron gives you, monetary help, whatever."
>>128942"The nation is more than capable of providing that. I'm sure you will be pleased with the results."
>>128943"Rawr!"
Her eyes go wide, fur pops up, and she jumps back a little
She rubs the part of her cheek that was rubbed
"I am not pet, filly"
The cat may or may not be physically more massive than Fantasy Play, but she is certainly much taller owing to her bipedal stance, and thus looks bigger. She is many times larger than Slogo or any cat she's seen in Nuzzleville
>>128944She tilts her head
"He doesn't want me to do.... you don't want me to do......" She opens her mouth to say something, but then closes it
"Does he?"
>>128945He nods
"Good to hear! Tell what we must do"
>>128946Silver tilts his head at the kirin.
"Want you to do what?"