Dark Star starts has embarked in a new venture - infiltrating cells of leftwing radicals at a local university.
>>150737“My… Father claimed to see it last night. He and a neighbor. There’s… there’s legends he knows from older sources. He decided to not open his restaurant for the day.”
>>150738"Hmm...well, it happened about three nights ago, but it may have something to do with what Iron, myself, and rest of our group did on our last mission."
>>150736After getting that glass of water she feels a bit more stable. She is still a bit groggy, though. She struggle herself up on her rump.
"Well, after Canterlot fell and Sunrise with it, I..." She opens her mouth to say something but choses to stop. "I decided to move here for... reasons."
She goes quiet for a moement before she says, "Yesterday I saw your church so I thought I'd visit."
>>150740"Iron may have told you about it already, but we were contracted by government to clear out griffon traffickers inhabiting old asylum at 33 Hoebuck. It turns out that they were in league with Maarist cultists and were sacrificing those that traffickers were bringing in. Moon changed when we confronted leader of cultists and he drew on Maar's power, and returned to normal after we slew him."
>>150741“Do you need anything in particular? A place to stay, perhaps?”
The filly returns with the bread, and gives it to Heather, who offers it to Virgin Flame.
>>150742“Wha…” her mouth opens, and her ears go down.
“Well, I don’t know. That was a week ago. Surely it couldn’t… be that? I don’t know… my father says he has seen signs. He knows things about spirits that lurk in the ether, and that wait to come here and to take our life force from us. He says they have come before, and that if someone just opens the door, they will come again. He claims that Zebras know some things, and the ponies know some things, but that neither knows enough to know the danger. He says that only those with a hoof in each culture can read the signs. He says a lot of things. I don’t know.
Did you hear about that order? They are rationing fuel again. I think it will be a good opportunity for selling under the table, like it was during the blockade.”
>>150744"Hmm. Well, whatever they are, I hope no one will be stupid enough to open that door.
"I did indeed hear that order. One of those we rescued from Hoebuck thinks it is going to be used to concentrate rural populations into cities, make them easier to control."
>>150744Virgin tears into the bread. She realizes that was really hungry as she starts to eat it. Soon it's gone.
The bread really help fill out her stomach with something other than liquor. The blurriness and double images around her suddenly converge into a crystal clear vision. Even if she still has some headache.
She turns over to the pair and draws a circle in the air with her hoof while bowing towards them.
"Thank you. I really needed that," she says and looks up. "I feel much better now."
>>150746I'll add some more stuff.
>>150746"Ehh, you were asking me somthing?"
So, now I'm done.
>>150745“I don’t…”
Her almost cowering demeanor returns for a moment, as she closes her black muzzle and swallows
“I don’t think think that’s right. It must be monsoons. I would say it’s for freezing weather, but it’s the wrong place for that. They must have lost fuel production in another district or something, so they are trying to make up for it.”
>>150748>>150746The filly at least, does not understand the gesture. Heather asks:
“Do you need help finding a place to stay?”
>>150749"Uhh," she begins and scratches her neck. "The plan was really that I was suppose to help you guys. But you're correct in you assumption, I am homeless. I slept under the bridge(s?) along the Delemare River this night."
>>150749"It may be, it may not be, I do not know. I do know that weather outside is definitely not mild."
Silver returns to the previous topic.
"Did your father ever share with you what it is that zebras know?"
>>150750"Aww, poor dear. You can stay here tonight, if you need to. We keep this room around for those in need, and you need it. Just tell us if you need anything else"
Flowercup:
"Like a shower, maybe."
After a pause, Heather raises an eyebrow
"What kind of help?"
>>150751"Well, I think he meant legends and spiritual beliefs. And those who tried to bring about Nightmare Moon... They did not stay in Equestria. They came to us. Well, they came to Zebrica, I mean. But he meant about the powers of spirits, and how zebras can summon them."
>>150752Silver looks intrigued.
"Zebras can summon spirits?"
>>150752Virgin is about to decline the off but then remembers the cold night she just experinced and opts to nod instead to the sugguestion to stay the night.
She can help but to grin at Flowercup's sugguestion.
"From foals and fools you learn the truth," she says and gives Flowercup a smile. "Yes, maybe I-" She takes a sniff of herself and scrunches like those cute poner do<3 "I'll take you up on that offer."
She turns over to Heather.
"Any help you might need. I think I'm fairly knowledgeable when it comes to universalism but I guess my real strength is with Dawnbreaker. I... Could tell you about Princess Celestia. She visit Sunrise's orphanage when I was a filly, I even got a photo of it."
She gestures towards the pouch one her belt.
>>150707>crusadersI remember seeing this as a class in the tome of battle.
>>150701>15>Idk what kind of sadistic DM would want to run something like that...Kek.
>>150761Hello!
>>150759Awww... I just got back from dinner
>>150760Yay!
The last post for Dark Star was
>>150599
>>150753"No! Well... No. What I meant was that there are stories of individual zebras coming in contact with spirits, some good, some not so good, and making deals with them for powers, and sometimes doing evil things with those powers, and sometimes the spirits themselves doing much evil..."
>>150754>scrunches like those cute poner do<3Kek
Heather:
"Oh, well that sounds lovely. Let me see" She looks down, evidently to look at the photograph. But then she pulls her head up, and tilts it
"Dawnbreaker?"
>>150763"Oh. Sorry, I did not mean to offend."
>>150764“It’s okay. Do you need anything else?”
>>150765"I think that was it. Is Iron treating you well?"
>>150766She twists her lips
“We get along fine, if that’s what you’re asking.”
>>150767"Well, I am more asking if he is treating you okay, but your expression says there is trouble."
>>150768She narrows her eyes and shakes her head.
“Yes, he’s treating me quite well. We’ve decided to work together on a business venture. He’s very amiable and east to work with.”
>>150769Silver nods.
"That is good. I hope he knows how lucky he is to have someone like you by his side."
>>150772The unicorn smiles back at hearing this.
"That is very good. It was good seeing you, Cauldron."
>>150775And so, Silver is presumably done with that particular visit
>>150599"The name is solar night,sir."
He grins
>>150777He smiles back, and gives him a quick nod
“How did they like the beer?” He asks with a smile
>>150778"It was Very Good. although some of the mares there kinda thought they were to good for it."
>>150779“Guh. Consider that a benefit. Any mare too good for free beer is not good enough for you.” He smiles, moves around to move a glass, and comes closer to Solar Night
“Try hard alcohol next time. If they won’t take that, you don’t want to touch them.”
>>150780he laughs
"Yea thats probably a good idea."
>>150781He smiles, and turns away.
“Keep it in mind for next time. And surely there will be a next time. Alcohol is your friend for this.”
>>150782"always has been my friend."
>>150783“Heh heh, glad I could help.”
>>150776Silver returns to where Mala was waiting.
>>150785Mala is sitting at a table. He watches Silver as he approaches.
>>150786"Well, ready to go see those colts I was telling you about?"
>>150784Dark star slides him 30 bits
"Thanks for everything mr glass. i gotta get going, im feeling very tired."
>>150787He stands up, wagging his tail
“Yes”
>>150788He takes the money, smiles, and nods his head
“Come back any time.”
>>150789"Well, good! I think they will like you, with as fluffy and nice as you are."
He leads the two outside the Watering Hole, looking for a taxi in this fine weather.
>>150790Dark Star walks back to the HQ making sure he isnt being followed. he ducks through Alleyways.
>>150791Mala smiles, and seems to try to fluff himself up. He gets up, and they go outside.
There is a crack of thunder, and it appears the clouds are denser now. Snow flies in the wind, making its way through the open door, and then around the two standing creatures on the sidewalk. There is ice forming on the sidewalk and roadways.
>>150792It's a bit late, and dark, save for lights in shops and street lights. Dark Star faces a special danger in that those who could be watching outside of the headquarters could see him. He is, at least, wearing a trench coat, hat, and glasses.
A bat pony takes guard, and choses to stand inside.
>>150793"Wow, it is really getting intense out here."
>>150794An automobile - a cheaper one, boxy in appearance, black in color - makes a left turn on the intersection. What it did not take into account, is the ice on the road.
The vehicle turns, slips, and jumps the curb right onto Silver and Mala. There is a bark, and a crack of thunder.
>>150794>>150795And Silver wakes up, back in his room, with a loud crack of thunder. Not much light comes through the window, and Jubilosa sleeps next to him, with her beak open. Silver feels groggy, as if it's too early.
>>150795>>150796Silver lets out a sudden, loud gasp, heart racing and panicked. He doesn't even recognize his surroundings at first.
>>150797It's his room. 6 AM? Too early. Earlier than he recalls. There are storm clouds over the bay, however, which makes he day darker than normal. Jubilosa is passed out on her side, her tongue hanging out.
>>150798Silver takes a moment to calm down before going to the window to look outside in the dark winter night.
>>150799Mundane rain clouds hang over the bay and partly cover the sun. There is some lightning hitting the water.
>>150800"What in fuck..."
Silver leaves his room to go check in on Mala.
>>150801Silver gets out of bed, opens the door, goes down the dark hallway to the closed door of Mala’s room. Silver can see the hyena laying on his side roll over, point his muzzle and ears at Silver, and quickly jump up to stand on his bed baring his teeth threateningly and growling at Silver, before quieting himself and returning his mouth to a neutral expression. All of this happens in about a second and a half from Silver’s opening the door.
>>150802Silver is a little taken a back, and needs a second after this display to respond.
"...uh...hello. Are you doing okay?"
>>150803Mala’s ears come down, then he hangs his head down, and then crouches on the bed, still standing.
“Yes…” he says
>>150804"Okay. I just wanted to make sure."
He smiles at Mala.
"Want me to leave you alone for now?"
>>150805Mala lays down on the bed, his big brown eyes looking up at Silver
“It’s okay.” He says
>>150806Silver continues to look at Mala.
"Or would you want to get out of bed? What is it that you want to do, my friend?"
>>150807He blinks
“… sleep?” He says, looking at Mala
“Unless… is there something else?”
>>150808"No, there is nothing that needs done. Sleep well, Mala."
>>150809He seems to smile, then covers his face with a leg, and turns, burying himself in the covers
>>150810Silver leaves Mala's room, closes the door, and goes down into the living room.
>>150811On the couch, lying on his back, and lightly snoring, is the small ecru stallion with red mane, still sleeping under the knitted blanket.
There is a light on, and sound in the kitchen
>>150812Silver goes to investigate the kitchen.
>>150813In the kitchen, Silver sees Khoi Lua poor hot water from a tea kettle into a cup. The honey-gold mare looks up towards Silver,
“Good morning.”
>>150814"Morning. How long have you been up for?"
>>150815"Maybe 15 minutes, if that. I am making tea." She says
>>150816"Will there be enough for two? I...really need something right now."
>>150817"Well..." She looks at the kettle
"Yes. Let me get another tea bag."
She opens a cabinet, and takes out another cup, and another tea bag. She pours a cup, and then another one.
>>150818Silver smiles brightly at Khoi.
"You are wonderful treasure, Khoi. Thank you."
He takes his cup when offered, and heads to the kitchen table.
>>150819She smiles
"Thank you."
Silver sits at the table, and has a view of the bay through the window. Lightning strikes the water.
Khoi comes, and sits down at the table near Silver, looking out at the water.
>>150820Silver stays there for a minute in silence, blowing on and sipping his tea as he watches the storm. Even when he first breaks the silence, he keeps looking at the lightning hit the water.
"I had dream, and in dream it was storming like this, but...worse. Ocean rolled back, revealing treasures that had sunken to bottom. It was bitterly cold and snowing, like it would back in Motherland during winter. I could watch and see ice actually forming and expanding over roads in city. It was like something you would hear about in ancient tales of when Windigoes hunted ponies."
>>150793Hmmmm are there any side doors?
>>150822Yes. It’s a whole hotel.
>>150821She looks over to him, snd blinks
“What? That’s sounds terrible!”
>>150823Silver nods.
"You can see why I needed something to drink. If it was not for you and this tea, I would be looking for bottles of alcohol."
>>150823He tries one of the side doors
>>150825There is a door there. It is locked, but he can call a guard to it.
>>150824She shakes her head
"Tea clears the mind. Alcohol clouds it. Try this. It'll make you feel calmer, and more stable."
>>150826He knocks on it. im assuming this door is on like the side of the building?
>>150828Yes. End of the hallway.
A stallion walks up, and peers through the door.
>>150829He holds his badge up to the door
>>150830The stallion looks at the badge, then unlocks and opens the door, then takes the badge, looks at it,, and draws a revolver on Solar Night
"This is for a brown pony, not a yellow one." He says
>>150827He chuckles.
"Sometimes it can smooth out rough edges, like whetstone to blade, but I see your point."
He takes a sip of his tea.
"It will be lot easier to try with good brewer like you."
>>150831"im undercover,friend. you can ask sea breeze. i can't be seen walking in the main door. just cool it with that revolver."
>>150833He puts it down, and then pats Dark Star, perhaps more than the latter would have preferred. He looks through Dark Star's bag, and finding the revolvers (but no bomb), he carries the bag as he walks with Dark Star inside the building.
"Alright, I'll take you in."
>>150832She smiles, almost laughing
"It's just boiling water and a tea bag. You can add things though. Like sugar, or saccharine, or honey. Or even milk."
>>150834"You would be surprised what little things I can fuck-up given enough time."
He lets out a chuckle to go alongside hers.
>>150834"I understand why you had to do it. no hard feelings,brother. lets go."
He follows the guard
>>150836The guard takes him through half-lit halways to an area of offices Dark Star has been to before. The stallion is a steel grey, and judging from the eyes and fangs, seems to be another one of the bat winged ponies, though his accent is Equestrian-Celestial seaboard.
"Who are you going to see? Seabreeze?"
>>150835She has a strained smile
"That's... that's alright." she lifts up the tea and takes a sip
>>150837Silver in return gives her a concerned look.
"What is wrong?"
>>150838"Why the self-doubt?" She asks
>>150837"yea i was stopping by to see him before i am going to retire for the night."
>>150840"Uh, okay. Are you housed here? You sound like a local" He says
>>150839"Because I tend to make mistakes, or screw things up. It is something I have been through most of my life, despite my successes: screw-up."