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awaiting__patreon_reward__by_yakovlev_vad_dea3oiq-fullview.png
Occupied Equestria - New Opportunities
Anonymous
6ec7d89
?
No.143000
Continuing
1691 replies and 27 files omitted.
Anonymous
6ec7d89
?
No.144266
144268
>>144265
"Umph!"

Koptis stands back, evidently surprised by this hit, but lunges punches again
[1d20+8 = 28]
Silver "The Floof" Sword
c95152b
?
No.144267
144268
>>144264
"Wah!"

The griffon whomps the stallion, knocking them both to the ground. Silver starts laughing, holding his Jubee tight and planting a kiss on her beak.
Anonymous
6ec7d89
?
No.144268
144269 144272 144273
>>144266
>>144265
He hits Iron near the face
[1d3+3 = 5]
[1d20+8 = 18]

>>144267
"Hehe"
She kisses him back
Anonymous
6ec7d89
?
No.144269
144272
>>144268
>>144265
For double damage

Iron has sustained 19 damage
Anonymous
d163c59
?
No.144272
144274 144275
>>144268
>>144269
Iron's snout scrunched, flinching considerably before soon returning to focus on the minotaur.
Yet his nose started to bleed and his breathing was a bit ragged, the many wounds he's sustained starting to catch up to him. Yet he couldn't let himself surrender like a coward against such a powerful, humble opponent. Reminded him of Silver in how he carried himself...

There was no way he'd be able to keep up with him with speedy attacks with how things are going, so he had to cash in on slow, powerful strikes in the hopes he can knock this hunk of a bull down.
With that strategy in place, he opted for another buck once again, harnessing the energy of what he was fighting for in order to boost his morale up.
[1d20+5 = 12]<Unarmed Strike (-5 to hit, +5 damage)
Silver "The Floof" Sword
c95152b
?
No.144273
144275
>>144268
He smiles at his beautiful griffon after, happy as can be. It fades slightly as he moves on to his next topic.

"There is one more thing. That stallion we found on altar at Hoebuck, I visited him in hospital. He asked if he could stay with us, for moment at least."
Anonymous
6ec7d89
?
No.144274
144275 144277
>>144272
Seeing Iron's hooves, and evidently with memory of the last kick, koptis moves with fear in his eyes. And he moves out of the way of Iron's hooves, letting them graze his fur. The miss is narrow, but never the less, a miss.

He returns with a punch of his own
[1d20+8 = 27]
Anonymous
6ec7d89
?
No.144275
144276 144277
>>144274
>>144272
And he hits. At least he misses Iron's shoulder, narrowly, preventing the blow from knocking Iron down
[1d3+3 = 5]

>>144273
"Uh... sure" she seems a bit surprised
Silver "The Floof" Sword
c95152b
?
No.144276
144278
>>144275
He nods, and resumes cuddling his griffon on the floor.

"I went to spa to set up couple session after our dinner. I convinced them to let us stay after they have closed so you and I can get full spa package together."
Anonymous
d163c59
?
No.144277
144278
>>144275
>>144274
Iron's condition was starting to worsen as he wiped off the blood flowing from his nose, struggling to breathe properly yet willing to keep fighting regardless.

Perhaps there is another way to do this: If he is able to trip him up, Koptis' attacks will be weakened considerably, thus maybe allowing him one last shot at clutching victory.
With a heavy heart at this somewhat dubious move, Iron rushes forth, hopping up on his hindlegs in an attempt to physically force the bull to trip and fall to the ground.
[1d20+10 = 27]<Melee Touch Attack
Anonymous
6ec7d89
?
No.144278
144279 144280
>>144276
gasp
"Really?"

Her voice is exceptionally high pitched now, and she almost vibrates with excitement

>>144277
Hit
Anonymous
d163c59
?
No.144279
144281
>>144278
[1d20+5 = 15]<Strength check
Silver "The Floof" Sword
c95152b
?
No.144280
144281
>>144278
He nods vigorously.

"Everything spa has to offer, we will experience together. I can not think of better way to relax."
Anonymous
6ec7d89
?
No.144281
144282 144284
>>144279
Opposed
[1d20+3 = 9]

>>144280
"That sounds great!" she says, hopping up
Silver "The Floof" Sword
c95152b
?
No.144282
144283
>>144281
Silver takes the opportunity to get up as well. He resumes smiling at Jubilosa.

"Our dinner reservation is at 5:15, so you have until then to get really excited."
Anonymous
6ec7d89
?
No.144283
144291
>>144282
She spreads her wings, which touch the walls, and fortunately do not threaten to turn anything over
Anonymous
d163c59
?
No.144284
144285
>>144281
After pushing the minotaur onto his back, Iron took an opportunity to quickly strike at his chest.
[1d20+10 = 13]<Fast, non-lethal bonk
Anonymous
6ec7d89
?
No.144285
144286
>>144284
And with this, Iron lands a hit
Anonymous
d163c59
?
No.144286
144287
>>144285
[1d3+5 = 7]<Bonk.
Anonymous
6ec7d89
?
No.144287
144289
>>144286
Iron lands a hit on Koptis, who then reaches for his side scabbard, and tries to stand up
Anonymous
d163c59
?
No.144288
144289 144293
Iron's eyes widened, clearly not expecting him to try and pull out a weapon out of his scabbard, yet he didn't have much else to do rather than go for another hit as he stood up in a mildly desperate attempt to knock him out.
[1d20+10 = 24]<Fast, non-lethal bonk.
Anonymous
d163c59
?
No.144289
144290 144292 144293 144294
>>144287
>>144288
[1d3+5 = 6]<Bonk
Anonymous
6ec7d89
?
No.144290
144292
>>144289
He stands up, and attempts to stab Iron with a long, double bladed knife
[1d20+8 = 27]
Silver "The Floof" Sword
c95152b
?
No.144291
144294
>>144283
He gazes at the wonderous sights before him, stars in his big blue pony eyes.

"Glorious..."
Anonymous
6ec7d89
?
No.144292
144293 144295
>>144290
>>144289
Which hits
[1d3+3 = 6]
Anonymous
6ec7d89
?
No.144293
144294 144295
>>144292
>>144289
>>144288
By bad luck, the final stab - which likely would have been only moderately concerning in its own right, seems to down Iron.

The disheveled and heavily breathing Koptis stands back up, over Iron
Anonymous
6ec7d89
?
No.144294
144295 144296 144298
>>144291
She hugs him as tightly as she can manage. Considering her size, her grip is very firm

>>144289
>>144293
One final contingency

[1d20+3 = 10]
Anonymous
d163c59
?
No.144295
144296 144297 144299 144301 144304
>>144292
>>144293
>>144294
Failure... Iron hated this feeling... no amount of morale boosting can stop this, and he could tell as his legs gave out.
"Good... fight," he complimented the minotaur, chin resting at the floor, unaware of what was about to happen. No begging, no bargaining, no requests to spare him.
Anonymous
6ec7d89
?
No.144296
144297 144303
>>144295
>>144294
"That Should teach you" Koptis says, still holding up the knife

Running up behind Koptis, White Sands sling some object at Koptis' back

[1d3+2d6]
Anonymous
6ec7d89
?
No.144297
144299 144303
>>144296
>>144295
[1d3 = 1]
[2d6 = 4]
Silver "The Floof" Sword
c95152b
?
No.144298
144300
>>144294
The squeezed pony hugs back, enjoying both the outer warmth of Jubilosa's body and the inner warmth he feels from being with someone he loves, and who loves him back.

"I love you, Jubee."
Anonymous
6ec7d89
?
No.144299
144300 144303
>>144297
>>144295
But it isn't enough. Koptis turns around ,and engages White Sands

[1d20+8 = 15]
Anonymous
6ec7d89
?
No.144300
144301 144303 144305
>>144299
"I love you too!" she says, hapily

>>144298
Koptis Thrusts a knife into White Sands, who gives a loud, angry, and pained
"HISS!"

[1d20+2 = 15]
Anonymous
6ec7d89
?
No.144301
144302 144303
>>144300
>>144295
He stabs at her again
[1d20+8 = 14]

[1d3+3 = 4]
Anonymous
6ec7d89
?
No.144302
144303 144304
>>144301
[1d20+2 = 19]
Anonymous
d163c59
?
No.144303
144307
>>144300
>>144299
>>144297
>>144296
>>144301
>>144302
Iron's eyes widened, seeing Sands start a battle he was meant to finish. He tried his best to stand up in an attempt to help her, but he found his limbs to be uncooperative.
Just more lemon juice onto his wounded ego, gritting his teeth.
Anonymous
6ec7d89
?
No.144304
144307
>>144302
>>144295
Precisely what goes on between White Sands and Koptis is hard to say for anyone without a very clear view of the two, but they remain in close proximity. Koptis stabs White Sands at least twice in her torso, with her only seeming to be able to respond with a glare. But he stumbles for a moment

[1d20-1 = 16]
Silver "The Floof" Sword
c95152b
?
No.144305
144307
>>144300
"D'aww...so, what was my Jubee listening to before I interrupred."
Amber Sunset
826e3b7
?
No.144306
144307
Wow people started early. I'm ready to play if you are.
Anonymous
6ec7d89
?
No.144307
144308 144309
>>144303
>>144304
Never once does Sands land another hit on Koptis, and never once does Koptis stumble, or fall down. Yet something is clearly happening there, so the bright flashes of green light tell, though obscured from Iron's direct view by Koptis's body. It seems Koptis must have either lost interest, or was otherwise dazed, because he loses his grip on White Sands, who darts past him, and then kicks him - though her kick is entirely ineffective. He stumbles almost like a drunkard for a moment, and White Sands attempts to drag Iron with her teeth and magic.

>>144305
"It was a radio play. They have those here."

>>144306
Hello. Perhaps
Silver "The Floof" Sword
c95152b
?
No.144308
144312
>>144307
"Ooo, what was it about?"
Anonymous
d163c59
?
No.144309
144310
>>144307
Iron was currently looking incredibly dejected, allowing his heavy, 280lbs body to be carried by the mare he was supposed to be taking for more social interactions, and yet here she was, carrying him like a foal after breaking his leg after a miscalculated dive from the waterfall.

He did try his best to be as carryable as possible to help her in that regard at the very least.
Anonymous
6ec7d89
?
No.144310
144311
>>144309
She tugs at him, looks back to Koptis, who is starting to find his footing. She then pulls something out of her bag

"Here"
She takes some sort of needle, and injects him with it.

In the matter of some seconds, Iron feels his heart pounding - not necessarily the best of things when you are bleeding. His eyes focus - yet remain blurry - and he feels full of energy, and yet drained, like the experience of waking up after a 30 minute nap after days of no sleep.

"Run!" she says to Iron
Anonymous
d163c59
?
No.144311
144312
>>144310
Run?
Iron quickly darts his head around, wondering where could they even go... or even better, if he could actually fight a little longer against the bull to stop his self-loathing from crumbling even more of his spirit.
Anonymous
6ec7d89
?
No.144312
144313 144314
>>144311
It's hazy, like a dream almost. Iron is leaking blood onto the ground

"This way!"

>>144308
"Oh, it's this little thing about a mare who is trying to hide a manticore from her husband. It's nice and funny."
Silver "The Floof" Sword
c95152b
?
No.144313
144315
>>144312
"Heheh, that does sound funny."
Anonymous
d163c59
?
No.144314
144315
>>144312
Ergh. No way he's gonna be able to fight even a fly in the first place.
Without any other choice, Iron opts instead to follow Sands' voice.
Anonymous
6ec7d89
?
No.144315
144316 144317
>>144314
Do lesser animals experince limited, lesser forms of consciousness? No one can say, but that is what Iron is experiencing now. A dazed, limited perception, where all he can tell is that he is being chased by a grave danger, like a rabbit fleeing a hawk. White Sands - who herself leaks a purple blood, and is breathing heaving, bounds in front of him, going to opposite way of the car, past buildings, past bushes, down a road, past another building, and even further

>>144313
"Oh yeah, it's rather nice."
Anonymous
d163c59
?
No.144316
144318
>>144315
Iron, of course, followed Sands along, not seeing any reason to stop after what she just done to the bull: A backstab like that is going to garner resentment... although he wasn't sure if Koptis was going to kill him or not. It was kind of up in the air in his mind.
Silver "The Floof" Sword
c95152b
?
No.144317
144318
>>144315
"Would you like to continue listening to radio play?"
Anonymous
6ec7d89
?
No.144318
144319 144320
>>144316
It's not clear that Koptis hasn't killed him already. Each heart beat is loud and echoes against his mind. The bushes and grass mix together, and drain of color. White Sands places her hooves together and leaps like a greyhound as she moves. The two go even further away.

>>144317
"Sure" she says
Anonymous
d163c59
?
No.144319
144321
>>144318
He wouldn't have dreamt Sands saving his sorry flank from the jaws of death. That much he knew about himself.

Although the constant running made it feel like he was in a... everconstant terrain that the gods pulled from at a similar speed that he was running, because it felt like he was dashing in place.
Silver "The Floof" Sword
c95152b
?
No.144320
144321
>>144318
Silver trots over with Jubee to the couch, and sits down with her to listen to the radio play.
Anonymous
6ec7d89
?
No.144321
144322 144324
>>144319
Sometime passes. It feels like half an hour, but maybe it was one minute. Time doesn't really seem to pass normally. White Sands leads them into a building, then into a room and shuts a door.

>>144320
So it sounds like there is this guy who is trying to hide a trained manticore he took from a... managerie? A circus act? It's kind of hard to tell, but some rich guy. And this guy is a business partner of the husband so the wife doesn't want the information to come to life, but she also doesn't want him to know, or anyone, really, because of how obviously illegal this is. So they are trying to hide it in a room, but then the husband comes in and they have to pass off the manticore as a foreign exchange student that the wife is giving piano lessons. And the only sounds the Manticore can get out is "Roo" so the Husband thinks the Manticore is a foriegn exchange student named "Rue."

At least that is what Silver can discern so far
Anonymous
d163c59
?
No.144322
144323
>>144321
Iron kept running towards... somewhere, unsure if he should still do so, considering the abnormal circumstances...

...Sands could stop him from running further if she wanted to, right?
Anonymous
6ec7d89
?
No.144323
144325
>>144322
If she cannot, the walls can. Iron is in an enclosed room now.
Silver "The Floof" Sword
c95152b
?
No.144324
144326
>>144321
Silver can't help but laugh and chortle at the antics of this family as he listens.
Anonymous
d163c59
?
No.144325
144326
>>144323
Thus, Iron crashes facefirst into a wall in his drug-induced, animalistic panic, hopefully without going into a coma or becoming unconscious.
Anonymous
6ec7d89
?
No.144326
144327 144328
>>144325
It's not clear that either of those two things wasn't going to happen anyways

crash

And things start to go dark

>>144324
And now her parents are over. And they want to hear "Rue" play the piano, to show off his progress
Anonymous
d163c59
?
No.144327
144329
>>144326
And as they went dark, all he had to think of was... he failed.
Silver "The Floof" Sword
c95152b
?
No.144328
144329
>>144326
"Heheeee, this will not go well for them."
Anonymous
6ec7d89
?
No.144329
144330 144331
>>144328
Fortunately the need for a performance is saved by the arrival of... the police? Well... that's not a good turn of events

>>144327
"You'll get 'em next time," Sands seems to say. Or maybe she didn't say it at all. It's a bit hazy. Iron goes black
Silver "The Floof" Sword
c95152b
?
No.144330
144332
>>144329
"Huh. What twist!"
Anonymous
d163c59
?
No.144331
144332
>>144329
Tartarus.
Anonymous
6ec7d89
?
No.144332
144333 144334
>>144330
They are looking for... Gasp! The missing Manticore! Shame no one has seen it. But they will stay for tea, however. Anyways, the guests want to know more about Rue's homeland

>>144331
Iron wakes up after some time, in severe pain, and feeling weak.

Actually he feels better than he did a couple days ago, to be honest
Anonymous
d163c59
?
No.144333
144335
>>144332
Iron groaned softly, his legs twitching softly in wherever he was right about now. Honestly, the pain served to wash away some of his shortcomings as he couldn't quite focus on them just yet.
(This is awful...) he grumbled in his head, with tempered anger.
Silver "The Floof" Sword
c95152b
?
No.144334
144335
>>144332
"Heheheh, how come none of them notice? This is very silly."
Anonymous
6ec7d89
?
No.144335
144336 144337
>>144334
Rue is reticent to talk about his homeland, though it seems there may be a communication barrier.

Then things come to a true head when the rich pony who owns the Manticore enters, evidently following the police there.

>>144333
There's a sensation of burning, as it seems White Sands - bandaged herself - has placed bandages on Iron
Anonymous
d163c59
?
No.144336
144338
>>144335
Iron simply sighed soon after, being reminded once again of his failure to keep his word, simply staying silent with a dejected, shamed demeanor while staring at the floor.
Silver "The Floof" Sword
c95152b
?
No.144337
144338 144341
>>144335
"Oh no!"
Anonymous
6ec7d89
?
No.144338
144339 144340
>>144337
The unicorn immediately accuses Rue of being the missing Manticore, to which the mare has to explain that the owner is simply ignorant of griffyaks and really should apologize for his insensitivity. A loud argument breaks out, with the police and the husband not knowing who to believe. The husband in particular is concerned about possible deception.

>>144336
He may as well, feeling as weak as he does.

Sands says nothing at the moment
Silver "The Floof" Sword
c95152b
?
No.144339
144341
>>144338
"Ah, lies are like building house on sand. It will always have flimsy foundation."
Anonymous
d163c59
?
No.144340
144341 144342
>>144338
Thus, only his thoughts made him company while laying on the floor with a vacant look on his eyes.
Not only did he fail to take out the exemplary bull that would've sent the message of not messing on Waterfront's turf, he had to be saved by the mare he was supposed to show how reliable this is...
It won't be long before they try and send assassin squads, scouring around the city with the minotaur at the front, looking for them to finish the job. Sure, he may have had pretended to be some disgruntled lover, but soon, the pieces will fall together and the many gang members will realize what his role actually was. They were going to be persecuted for as long as they remained here the moment they find out.
A big failure all around... and condemning White Sands to die or flee due to his incompetence.
Anonymous
6ec7d89
?
No.144341
144343 144344
>>144339
>>144337
But as the unicorn owner goes forward to definitively prove that Rue is actually a manticore, there is a new development:

The husband accuses the wife and the business partner of conducting an affair. He's noticed the two being around either other a lot lately, trying to lock doors, and always seeming like they are hiding something. They both immediately deny this, but the argument stops the unicorn's efforts to uncover Rue's true identity

>>144340
Now she speaks
"I told you they were dangerous."
Anonymous
d163c59
?
No.144342
144345
>>144340
*how reliable he is
Anonymous
d163c59
?
No.144343
144345
>>144341
Iron simply exhales, as if to say he knew that already.
Silver "The Floof" Sword
c95152b
?
No.144344
144345
>>144341
"I can see why you like this, Jubee, this is riveting!'
Anonymous
6ec7d89
?
No.144345
144346 144348
>>144343
>>144342
"Now they will try to find us" she says

>>144344
The confrontation heats up, with the husband standing up against the business partner, and the unicorn against Rue. With the husband yelling at the partner, the unicorn makes a run for Rue, but collides with the business partner. They both fall to the ground...

To show a marking on the leg of the Unicorn. The police immediately recognize the marking as a scar belonging to a dangerous sorcerer who is known to use animals as puppets for attacks. He got in a confrontation with Imperial Guard and escaped, but was wounded in the attack, hence the scar
Anonymous
d163c59
?
No.144346
144347
>>144345
Iron weakly nodded before trying to stand up, just wanting to get this over with.
Anonymous
6ec7d89
?
No.144347
144349
>>144346
The room is kind of hard to identify. It looks like the back room of a commercial establishment. At least there is a couch, which Iron is laying on.

"Where shall we go tonight?" she asks
Silver "The Floof" Sword
c95152b
?
No.144348
144350
>>144345
"What twist!"
Anonymous
d163c59
?
No.144349
144351
>>144347
"Someplace that heals me," Iron replied in a monotone, somewhat tired voice. "Cannot complete mission like this."
Anonymous
6ec7d89
?
No.144350
144352
>>144348
The sorcerer quickly uses spells to immobilize both police officers. At this time, the parents - who have tried to stay off to the side of the room - admit to not liking the wife's piano lessons, playing, or even griffyaks. This distracts the sorcerer for long enough for the business partner to tackle the sorcerer to the ground. This works, until the sorcerer gets far away enough to use his horn on the business partner. But the sorcerer is immediately pawed and smashed down by Rue's paws, knocking him out
Anonymous
6ec7d89
?
No.144351
144353
>>144349
"No. You cannot. I don't know that you can complete it at all now. You need a hospital." she says
Silver "The Floof" Sword
c95152b
?
No.144352
144354
>>144350
"Wow! What amazing climax to story!"
Anonymous
d163c59
?
No.144353
144354
>>144351
"All I need is to send those killsquads with a kick in their flanks back to their chieftains," Iron mumbled, looking for an exit to drag himself out of. "All I need... is a revitalizer. An invirgorator..."
Anonymous
6ec7d89
?
No.144354
144355 144356
>>144352
The sorcerer is knocked out, and when the police are released from their magical hold, take the sorcerer into custody. The parents are awkward, both because of the fight and their words about their daughter's chosen hobby.

Although the mare and the business partner wait until the police leave, they come clean. They explain that Rue is actually a manticore they have been hiding. The parents seem to believe it, but admit they couldn't tell the difference between a forest monster and a foreign creature anyways. They leave. The husband, however, does not believe this story at all, and seems to believe this is a crazy story to cover up an affair. With uncertainty, he leaves the room. The business partner and the mare collapse onto the couch, while Rue curls up and goes to sleep.

fin

>>144353
"You'll need a lot of revitalizers" she says
Anonymous
d163c59
?
No.144355
144357
>>144354
"I know," Iron breathed out, starting his tentative walk towards somewhere where he could look at outside, or another room elsewhere. Basically anything that could possibly try to get him out of this debilitating state and into action once again.
Silver "The Floof" Sword
c95152b
?
No.144356
144357
>>144354
Silver stomps his forehooves against the couch in applause.

"Bravo!"
Anonymous
6ec7d89
?
No.144357
144358 144359
>>144356
Jubilosa giggles, while the radio gives a listing of the names of the actors involved in the performance of "A Mare, a Friend, and a Manticore."

>>144355
There is a pair of windows with the blinds down, and the one closed door

"Where are you going?" White Sands asks
Anonymous
d163c59
?
No.144358
144360
>>144357
"I will not find the revitalizers in here," Iron answered, opting to shamble to the blinds in order to see any spots where he could get the treatments he needs right about now.
Silver "The Floof" Sword
c95152b
?
No.144359
144360
>>144357
"If this is what it is like listening to radio play, imagine what it is like watching movie..."
Anonymous
6ec7d89
?
No.144360
144361 144362
>>144359
She opens her mouth wide

"Can we do that?"

>>144358
"Stop. I'll take you to one. Unless that Zebra of yours can help you."
Silver "The Floof" Sword
c95152b
?
No.144361
144363
>>144360
He nods.

"Absolutely."
Anonymous
d163c59
?
No.144362
144363
>>144360
"She can, yes," Iron nods softly, his extended foreleg shaking the slightest bit as he kept himself from opening the blinds. "She knows a healer and is also a healer in her own right."
Anonymous
6ec7d89
?
No.144363
144364 144365
>>144361
She flaps her wings

"Eeek!"

>>144362
"Let's get out of this town" She says
Silver "The Floof" Sword
c95152b
?
No.144364
144366
>>144363
He holds onto his precious griffon tight, as if his life depended on it.
Anonymous
d163c59
?
No.144365
144366
>>144363
"Have a route to take?" Iron humored, not wanting to get Sands too worried and get himself killed without even downing one extra griffon.
Anonymous
6ec7d89
?
No.144366
144367 144368
>>144364
Griffin is held. Very tightly.

>>144365
"Down Percheron" she says

"The question is, how will we get there?"
Anonymous
d163c59
?
No.144367
144369
>>144366
"Walking," Iron mumbled, thinking through the pain "If you can somehow change your appearance right now, you can cover me in a blanket and escort me out of town."
Silver "The Floof" Sword
c95152b
?
No.144368
144369
>>144366
"Alright, I have to make sure Clip is doing alright."
Anonymous
6ec7d89
?
No.144369
144370 144371
>>144367
“Heh. I don’t think you’re in any condition to walk so far right now” she says.

>>144368
“Clip?” She asks
Silver "The Floof" Sword
c95152b
?
No.144370
144372
>>144369
"Oh, stallion who asked to stay here for moment."
Anonymous
d163c59
?
No.144371
144372
>>144369
"It might be the only way, as far as I know," Iron lazily replied before shambling over towards Sands. "Maybe one of those metal things that go vroom vroom could work."
Anonymous
6ec7d89
?
No.144372
144373 144377
>>144371
She bites her lip
“Have you got any money on you? Let me see.”

>>144370
“Oh. Him.” She says
Silver "The Floof" Sword
c95152b
?
No.144373
144374
>>144372
"You are upset."

He looks up at his Jubee.
Anonymous
6ec7d89
?
No.144374
144375
>>144373
“No. It’s a big unexpected, but... no.”
Silver "The Floof" Sword
c95152b
?
No.144375
144376
>>144374
"Are you sure? If something is wrong, I want to know."
Anonymous
6ec7d89
?
No.144376
144379
>>144375
“I don’t think so?” She says

“I just didn’t know his name.”
Anonymous
d163c59
?
No.144377
144378
>>144372
He had some, although compared to the last time Iron had any money (4500 bits plus loot) and passed it all to Cauldron in order to boost her spending captial and start up her business, it was about... 350 bits, after considering the payments to the hotel.
Anonymous
6ec7d89
?
No.144378
144380
>>144377
“That’s enough” she says

“There’s sure to be a doctor in town, but I’d rather leave. They may be searching for doctors.”
Silver "The Floof" Sword
c95152b
?
No.144379
144381
>>144376
"His name is Paper Clipping. He was foalnapped by traffickers in New Mareland trying to dodge draft and avoid fighting in its foreign wars. He is nice stallion, you might like him."
Anonymous
d163c59
?
No.144380
144381
>>144378
"What is the plan?" Iron muttered, blinking slowly.
Anonymous
6ec7d89
?
No.144381
144382 144383
>>144380
"Pay someone to take us into town. Take us to your zebra mare, if you trust her."

>>144379
She tilts her head
"Huh..."
Anonymous
d163c59
?
No.144382
144384 144385
>>144381
"Sounds good to me," Iron mumbled as he stared at the window with a frown.
Silver "The Floof" Sword
c95152b
?
No.144383
144384
>>144381
"Would you like to meet him?"
Anonymous
6ec7d89
?
No.144384
144385 144386 144387
>>144383
“Uh, sure.” She says

>>144382
And...
[1d20 = 7]
Anonymous
6ec7d89
?
No.144385
144387
>>144382
>>144384
A little time has passed, and no luck for White Sands yet
Silver "The Floof" Sword
c95152b
?
No.144386
144388
>>144384
"Are you sure? You do not have to say yes if you do not want to."
Anonymous
d163c59
?
No.144387
144388 144389
>>144384
>>144385
Iron, of course, doesn't say anything, letting Sands do the thing she's best at.
Anonymous
6ec7d89
?
No.144388
144389 144391
>>144386
“Well, I don’t see why not.” She says

>>144387
And again
[1d20 = 18]
Anonymous
6ec7d89
?
No.144389
144390
>>144387
>>144388
She comes in telling Iron
“Alright, I found a stallion who will help us. Just carefully go through this door, out the back, and into the bed of his truck.”
Anonymous
d163c59
?
No.144390
144392
>>144389
Iron nodded, starting to walk towards the door, fully trusting Sands to properly guide him to safety, even if deep down, he wished to have died the moment she intervened in his duel with Koptis.
(...Is it bad to resent somepony for saving my life?) he absent-mindedly thought, looking pensive in his tired, pained demeanor.
Silver "The Floof" Sword
c95152b
?
No.144391
144392
>>144388
"Alright then."

He smiles at her, gets up off the couch, and offers her a hoof to get up.
Anonymous
6ec7d89
?
No.144392
144393 144394
>>144390
She similarly seems tired, but she works nevertheless, talking to a stallion in an old, orange truck.

"Lay down in the bed, and pull that cover over you. Don't get out until we are there."

>>144391
She smiles, and takes his hoof to get up
Anonymous
d163c59
?
No.144393
144395
>>144392
"Easy enough," Irom mumbled, shambling over said bed and looking for the covers to hide himself under.
Silver "The Floof" Sword
c95152b
?
No.144394
144395
>>144392
He leads his griffon outside, where he last saw Clip.
Anonymous
6ec7d89
?
No.144395
144396 144397
>>144394
It takes a moment, but Clip is outside by the water

Khoi can be found in the little section under the house, with bedsheets

>>144393
He places the cover over himself and settles in. It's a long drive, and the truck starts and stops at many points. Iron may be curious to get up and look out. Or he may fall asleep - which is more likely considering his poor condition at the moment.

After a significant time, the truck stops, and iron hears the sound,

"Iron. We are here."
Anonymous
d163c59
?
No.144396
144398
>>144395
He definitely fell asleep: He had lost curiosity when failing at what he supposedly does best.

Iron didn't bother to get out of the bed just yet, instead asking where they were.
Silver "The Floof" Sword
c95152b
?
No.144397
144398
>>144395
Silver trots up to Clip.

"Hello Clip, I wanted to introduce you to Jubilosa. Jubilosa, this is Paper Clipping."
Anonymous
6ec7d89
?
No.144398
144399 144404
>>144396
"We are at that zebra's apartment. At least I think we are" she says.

Iron may sit up, to see that they are parked off to the side, near where Black Cauldron lives

>>144397
"Uh, hello."

Paper Clipping walks up, and looks upwards at her
"Hello, miss"
Anonymous
d163c59
?
No.144399
144400
>>144398
Iron did so, which soon turned him pensive. "...should we let you-know-who know about our progress so far?" he insinuated, mostly regarding the mademare they took the contract up for.

Otherwise, he'd stand up and slowly hobble off the truck to allow it to drive off without much of a hassle.
Anonymous
6ec7d89
?
No.144400
144401
>>144399
“Saint Germane? Only if she will find out first.”
Iron does do, and Iron can see that Sands hoofs some coins to the driver.
Anonymous
d163c59
?
No.144401
144402
>>144400
"I do not get it," Iron remarked, softly shaking his head as shuffled over towards the apartment's entrance.
Anonymous
6ec7d89
?
No.144402
144403
>>144401
“What do you not get? You tried to stealthily go in and take on the vanguard of an arriving invasion of very dangerous criminals. That didn’t work. Now they know who you are, or at least, they are aware that someone is challenging them. Saint Germans might be very angry or entirely unsurprised, but it won’t be the same as returning having solved the problem.”
Anonymous
d163c59
?
No.144403
144405
>>144402
Iron huffed softly, feeling the metaphorical lemon being squeezed into his wounded ego.
"What about all the work we did previously?" he questioned as he hopefully arrived at the door without any sort of roadblocks in his way. "I am sure the accountant knows the Waterfront Gang is watching them because of his testimony, right?"
Silver "The Floof" Sword
c95152b
?
No.144404
144405
>>144398
Silver looks at Khoi.

"Have you met Khoi yet?"
Anonymous
6ec7d89
?
No.144405
144406 144408
>>144403
“I don’t know. They may have been hit hard enough to decide not to engage. They may think they have to strike first now. And they may only want to come after you.”

>>144404
“Yes. She was here doing laundry” he says
Silver "The Floof" Sword
c95152b
?
No.144406
144407
>>144405
"Did you talk with her at all?"
Anonymous
6ec7d89
?
No.144407
144409
>>144406
“A little, yeah. Says she’s been living here with you, the griffin, and a hyena.”
Anonymous
d163c59
?
No.144408
144410
>>144405
"I can beat their sorry flanks back with my full strength," Iron dismissed somewhat with a heavy step, appraising his weakened body. "It it a matter of how fast I can heal."
Silver "The Floof" Sword
c95152b
?
No.144409
144410
>>144407
Silver nods.

"Okay then...anything else?"
Anonymous
6ec7d89
?
No.144410
144411 144412
>>144408
“Not if they already know you are dangerous. At least, not alone.”

>>144409
“She says you are dating this find griffin here?”
Silver "The Floof" Sword
c95152b
?
No.144411
144413
>>144410
Silver nods.

"We have date planned for tonight, right Jubee?"
Anonymous
d163c59
?
No.144412
144413
>>144410
"If they know I am dangerous and have managed to take down an entire establishment on my lonesome," Iron argued, still tired, but passionate enough about knowing all his labor had some sort of payoff "then they will surely not want to find out if there are more of me."
Nonetheless, he shook his head, still kicking himself for his loss.
Anonymous
6ec7d89
?
No.144413
144414 144415
>>144412
“Oh, I think they know already that you are one of a kind.”

>>144411
“Mhmm.” She nods her head, while half-unfolding her wings
Anonymous
d163c59
?
No.144414
144416
>>144413
"How?" Iron mumbled, a bit puzzled. "Am I really that rare to find?"
Silver "The Floof" Sword
c95152b
?
No.144415
144416
>>144413
"So...want to take look inside house, Clip?"
Anonymous
6ec7d89
?
No.144416
144417 144418
>>144414
“Well, they know you’re not an ordinary colt who just wandered in. Let’s say that.”

>>144415
“Sure!” His tail moves back and forth
Anonymous
d163c59
?
No.144417
144474
>>144416
Iron didn't quite get it, but that may be due to the debilitated state he was in.
Therefore, he kept moving towards the one that can make his physical and emotional pain go away.
Silver "The Floof" Sword
c95152b
?
No.144418
144423
>>144416
He smiles at him, and motions for him to follow.

"If you will follow me..."
Silver "The Floof" Sword
c95152b
?
No.144422
hopes to continue with the cute stallion
Anonymous
6ec7d89
?
No.144423
144424
>>144418
The colt runs around towards the stairs, and follows behind Silver
Silver "The Floof" Sword
c95152b
?
No.144424
144425
>>144423
Silver enters first, and shows off the living room to the colt.

"Here is living room, nice and spacious with TV and radio for entertainment. Off to side you will find bar, kitchen, and dining area."
Anonymous
6ec7d89
?
No.144425
144426
>>144424
He walks, almost cautiously into the entrance, looking up and down

"Woah."

He stops to take extra time to look at the taxidermied... Leopard? The one that stands on the left side of the hallway, opposite the stairs and near the radio and phonograph.
Silver "The Floof" Sword
c95152b
?
No.144426
144427
>>144425
Silver looks with him.

"Bit of relic of when it was Maakie who lived here. I do not get it, myself."
Anonymous
6ec7d89
?
No.144427
144428
>>144426
“Odd tastes... I’m not sure what else I expected.” He comes further into the room, with Jubilosa following behind. He takes a careful look at the radio, and the other items like model ships.
Silver "The Floof" Sword
c95152b
?
No.144428
144429
>>144427
Silver looks at Jubilosa.

"What do you think of all of these taxidermied animals around house, by way?"
Anonymous
6ec7d89
?
No.144429
144430
>>144428
“It’s a little bit, well, excessive. But I think it’s pretty neat.” She says
Silver "The Floof" Sword
c95152b
?
No.144430
144431
>>144429
Silver nods, and smiles at her.

"I am bit ambivalent towards them, so it is nice to hear others opinions on them."

He returns to seeing what Clip is doing.
Anonymous
6ec7d89
?
No.144431
144432
>>144430
Now he is interested in the television, walking up to it, and touching it.
Silver "The Floof" Sword
c95152b
?
No.144432
144433
>>144431
Silver uses his magic to turn the moving picture box on from a distance.
Anonymous
6ec7d89
?
No.144433
144434
>>144432
Paper Clipping moves back quickly as the black screen becomes moving images of black and white. A high pitched sound emanates, replaced by static, and then a pony voice.
Silver "The Floof" Sword
c95152b
?
No.144434
144435
>>144433
Silver stifles a little chuckle, and looks at what is playing on the television.
Anonymous
7a9f388
?
No.144435
144436
>>144434
It looks to be multiple clips, each some seconds long, of what seems to be an aerial view over modern warships with bridges, guns, and conning towers. More than that, the source of the images dive, tilt, or shoot white tracers, or even pairs of black smoke trails in the directions of the ships. Sometimes the ships are stationary, with scenes of dry docks around them. Sometimes they move with white steam coming from the stacks, and curved trails of foam n the water behind them. And some smoke with great stacks of black from the hull. Airplane and machine gun sounds overlay the images, along with the voice of a narrating pony
Silver "The Floof" Sword
c95152b
?
No.144436
144437
>>144435
"This must be news report of ongoing war. Though I am not sure which war it is..."
Anonymous
7a9f388
?
No.144437
144438
>>144436
The voice over fills in this detail:

“Our colts and fillies in the ‘Flying Pigs’ squadron carry out the attack on Aquellia harbor. The Liberté Chérie long wounded by our planes in the Freeside Gulf, and dragged into harbor for repairs, is sunk outside its dry dock. Its reign of terror is at an end, thanks to the Republican Air Force.”
Silver "The Floof" Sword
c95152b
?
No.144438
144439
>>144437
"Ah, Aquileia. It is rather sad I do not automatically know what war New Mareland is fighting anymore, by my count I think they may be in...what, two, three?"
Anonymous
7a9f388
?
No.144439
144440
>>144438
“When they leave one, they enter another” Paper Clipping answers
Silver "The Floof" Sword
c95152b
?
No.144440
144441
>>144439
"Indeed it seems. Under normal conditions I would say it is duty of nation's citizens to come to its defense, but it is also duty of nation's leaders to avoid war where possible and keep their citizens safe. I can not blame you for making to leave New Mareland, this is ridiculous."
Anonymous
7a9f388
?
No.144441
144442
>>144440
“I know. Much of the male population has been drafted. The only way they keep the economy up is from what they loot from other nations.”
Silver "The Floof" Sword
c95152b
?
No.144442
144443
>>144441
"I wonder how many stallions are being sent overseas, and how few will make it back home. It is like entire generation is being marched off to their death."
Anonymous
7a9f388
?
No.144443
144445
>>144442
“Exactly! It’s the acts of a few imperialists consolidating power over their own populations. I want no part of it.”
Anonymous
7a9f388
?
No.144444
144445
Spoilered
[b]Blue Skies is still best pony
Silver "The Floof" Sword
c95152b
?
No.144445
144446
>>144444
Agreed.

>>144443
He trots up to the colt, and pats his back.

"You are safe here, do not worry."
Anonymous
7a9f388
?
No.144446
144448
>>144445
He is pat, and sits down

“So, uh, what do you do? You say you don’t work for the police.”

He tilts his head
“Are you some kind of gangster?”
Amber Sunset
5dea867
?
No.144447
144449
waves
I hope I can play today
Silver "The Floof" Sword
c95152b
?
No.144448
144449
>>144446
"Heh, not really. I like term 'Adventurer', but I suppose I am more of mercenary, even if it is dirty term for what I do. Khoi used word to describe kind of wandering knight in her homeland."
Anonymous
7a9f388
?
No.144449
144450 144451
>>143986
Dark Denizen has a flat expression, and asks Amber

“How good of a liar are you?”

>>144447
is waved at

waves back

>>144448
He narrows his eyes in skepticism
Silver "The Floof" Sword
c95152b
?
No.144450
144452
>>144449
"What is it?"
Amber Sunset
5dea867
?
No.144451
144452
>>144449
She blinks and twists her mouth. "Not very, I don't like to lie...."
Anonymous
7a9f388
?
No.144452
144453 144454
>>144450
“Hired by who?” He asks

>>144451
She grins
“No matter. Simply go to the right place at the right time.”
Amber Sunset
5dea867
?
No.144453
144455
>>144452
"And what would that be?"
Silver "The Floof" Sword
c95152b
?
No.144454
144455
>>144452
"Well, since coming here I have been hired by development company to clear undead out of quarry, nun to rescue colts from politician's, uh...sex dungeon, and local government to clear traffickers from Hoebuck."
Anonymous
7a9f388
?
No.144455
144456 144458
>>144453
She tries to pull Amber off to the side, and stares into Amber’s eyes for her next words

“Have you ever been to the Baltimare police headquarters?”

>>144454
He blinks, and shakes his head, pulling it back
“Undead and sex dungeons?”
Silver "The Floof" Sword
c95152b
?
No.144456
144457
>>144455
"Sadly..."
Anonymous
7a9f388
?
No.144457
144459
>>144456
“Like zombies? And what?!”
Amber Sunset
5dea867
?
No.144458
144460
>>144455
She shakes her head. "No, I haven't. I arrived in Baltimare a couple of days ago."
Silver "The Floof" Sword
c95152b
?
No.144459
144460
>>144457
Silver nods.

"Risen by long dead necromancer. That nest was difficult as Tartarus to clear out, thank goodness there was unexploded bomb in quarry to blow them up to smitherines. As for sex dungeon...well, we were asked by local orphanage worker kirin nun called Sister Ash to help rescue two missing colts who were foalnapped from orphanage by local gang and sold off to local politician named Comte Burgher. We broke into his mansion, and inside hatch inside his pool house we found, well, sex dungeon, and imprisoned inside were two missing colts as well as two young foalnapped changeling drones. It was...horrifying sight."
Anonymous
6ec7d89
?
No.144460
144461 144463 144464
And I have to sleep now

>>144458
She has that grin, once again

"I can't say that my experiences with it have been pleasant. Perhaps yours will be better. That is where you are going tonight."

>>144459
He blinks

"Well then..."
Silver "The Floof" Sword
c95152b
?
No.144461
144470
>>144460
Silver nods again.

"Well then indeed."
Anonymous
d163c59
?
No.144463
>>144460
With all this tension, I'm expecting this 'she' to try and shine a light into Amber's eyes and come out as some sort of undercover cop.
Amber Sunset
bc9d2f7
?
No.144464
144465
>>144460
"Tonight? Will...will anypony even be there?"
Anonymous
6ec7d89
?
No.144465
144466
>>144464
"Heh heh heh. Do you really think the police would be content to leave us who live by night alone? No. But you are thinking right. There will be the night shift, and there will be fewer of them. There are there mostly for emergencies, and they will not be expecting other business. And if you get there at just the right time, you will be there at the time the night shift expects their break."
Amber Sunset
bc9d2f7
?
No.144466
144467
>>144465
"Um, is that important?" She seems uneasy in asking so many questions, as if the wrong one might set this mysterious mare off.
Anonymous
6ec7d89
?
No.144467
144468
>>144466
"Always better to deal with fewer police, and especially, to deal with disinterested officers. Officers who don't care to take to much notice of their surroundings." She says
Amber Sunset
bc9d2f7
?
No.144468
144469
>>144467
"So they'll be friendlier?" Amber doesn't really know how to interpret what she said any other way.
Anonymous
6ec7d89
?
No.144469
144472
>>144468
"Less prone to asking questions." She answers
Silver "The Floof" Sword
0ba4c80
?
No.144470
144471
>>144461
Silver sits down on the couch.

"There is not much more to tour, I am afraid. Upstairs are bedrooms for myself and Jubilosa, Khoi, and Mala, as well as two bathrooms. You are more than welcome to make yourself at home, Clip."

He pats the couch seat next to him as an invitation to sit down.
Anonymous
6ec7d89
?
No.144471
144473
>>144470
"Where would I stay?"

He looks over at the couch, and pauses for a moment. There is a delay before he stands up, and moves over to the couch to sit down