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Post by Person on Mar 24, 2013 18:03:02 GMT -5
[47th of summer, mid-morning. Open to Nightbow]
Blades of soft grass shifted beneath RockNote's hooves as he plodded toward the daunting wood that coated the north in emerald leaves, his necklace knocking against his chest with each step. He'd heard of a place, or rather a dark... thing. Something that gave ponies nightmares that made them scream in their sleep, if they came back from seeing it at all. Something that powerful... he had to know for himself. It's not as if he thought he'd simply understand exactly what it was when he saw it., he just needed to confirm whatever image he had of this thing.
He heard of it in the park, not any kind of green, living park, but a slice of the urban jungle that the ponies had taken for their own. A warehouse turned skate park in the heart of Farin was one of the locations he was considering for a performance, and was working on putting the band's spray tag on a wall when he heard the rumors from the local color. Whispers, words, hushed tones, all just added another level of complexity to the same theme, some called it "the Veiil', others "the Rift". Some refused to give it a proper title, and merely referred to it as an unmentionable"it".
As the forest drew nearer, Rock hesitantly paused his rhythmed walking to observe a line of armored stallions rimming the enchanted wood. He really didn't want to get involved with the guard again, that was just too much hassle for him to deal with right now. His eyes narrowed and he started moving again. He'd figure out how to get past those metal-clad buffoons when he got to them.
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Post by Nightbow on Mar 25, 2013 16:12:07 GMT -5
A ruffled mess of chartreuse, turquoise, and magenta followed her like a flag. A bag filled with books and notepads for scribbling hung around her neck. The unicorn had the day off, many hours remained until the celebrations, and she couldn't resist taking her usual weekly stroll in the forest - especially not today, with all the rumours floating about.
They said it stretched through the forest like a black ribbon of Aurora Borealis across the night sky. Nightbow couldn't believe it. Phenomenons such as these interested her immensely, she had the "night rainbow" imprinted on her flank to prove it. But there was something else entirely among the rumours that had forced her here. If they were true she needed to see for herself. She owed it to Whinnyapolis to investigate!
She stopped as she made it out on the road that cut through Feathermur and Krin, hesitating. A barricade was already up, new guards joining up by the minute, switching places with the night guard. Blast. Was it really that dangerous?
She almost turned around just then, when she spotted a red stallion close by. He didn't look like he had walked here by accident. "Heya," she called quietly (as loud as she dared really), cleared her throat and waved a hoof. She wanted to know if he was there on the same business as her. "Um ... did you hear the rumours?" She asked with a sheepish smile. Of course he did.
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Post by Person on Mar 25, 2013 19:58:27 GMT -5
"Heya"
RockNote stopped and his ears perked up at the greeting. It was soft, but just enough to gain his attention. He looked around and saw the dark purple unicorn waving at him from her spot at the road. Judging by her unkempt and colorful mane, she was either a student, artist, musician or combination of the three. He waved back and started toward her. She seemed friendly enough.
"Um... did you hear the rumors?"
Now that he was closer, as well as listening, he could hear the mare's voice much more clearly. "Well, yeah, hasn't everybody?" he chuckled, "I was hoping I could get a look at.. well... whatever it is, but these gold puppets--" He gestured at the all-too familiar guards with a scowl, using the less common derogatory for those in their majesties' service, "are going to be a big problem."
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Post by Nightbow on Mar 26, 2013 14:32:20 GMT -5
"Suppose so," Nightbow said with a courtesy laugh, a nervous habit of hers. She nodded at the same-age looking stallion and kicked a rock that lay at her feet. "I honestly didn't think ... well, I dunno what I thought. But for the Princesses to put up defences so fast? Has anypony actually checked if there's anything to the rumors?" She asked rhetorically.
She turned her flank to the woods. "It's such a shame. I just wanted to check out those 'monsters' out there. Ponies 'prolly got it all wrong - what harm would it have done to just take a peek at them from a safe distance?" At the barricade, the guards returning from their shift by the forest border to sleep in the tents started to strip the armour of their bodies.
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Post by Person on Mar 26, 2013 21:42:15 GMT -5
"Of course not, but not everypony thinks as well as we do." Rocknote replied, looking to the group of guards at the blockade's gate. A particularly peppy younger recruit, perhaps only a little younger than the pair of them on the road and with merely a single bronze shield emblazoned on his breastplate was taking the position of an elder stallion who was now heading toward a good day's sleep. A newbie! and that meant....
Rock turned to the mare and started speaking quickly in a hushed tone, "Okay, I think I can get the both of us through," his eye gleamed almost wickedly at the challenge, "But it may end in one or both of us getting arrested and taken to Celestia-knows-where for questioning."
He extended a hoof, a grin on his face as a plan formed in his mind "Up for it?"
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Post by Nightbow on Mar 27, 2013 6:49:15 GMT -5
Am I not too old for these things? Nightbow caught herself thinking, but she knew that in her heart she would never be too old for an adventure. She hesitated for a moment, but looking into his golden eyes something told her that he was no stranger to these sort of things, and knew what he was doing. At least she hoped so.
Once again she imagined the creatures that supposedly lurked in the woods. "Okay then," she mused, grabbing his hoof steadily to seal the deal. She then realized that she hadn't introduced herself, and started to awkwardly shake it. "I'm Nightbow by the way." Feeling stupid, she let go again.
"What's the plan?" She grinned.
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Post by Person on Mar 27, 2013 16:17:34 GMT -5
RockNote smiled, this was going to be fun. "Well if you'd look over there at the tents they're going into--" he began explaining, and gestured at the fabric shelters strewn near the blockade, "--Most of the guards are just leaving their breastplates and helms outside. And over there--" he pointed at the newbie positioned at the gate, "--is the reason we can get through. That one's a new recruit, it's been maybe a week since his release from basic training. As long as we have the right attitude and appearance, he'll think we're his superiors. Every recruit learns not to question somepony who out-ranks himself. If we can find fitting highly-ranked armor near the tents, we can put it on and simply waltz through the barrier."
"The only problem" he continued, rubbing his chin thoughtfully, " is once we're through the gate, he has to record it, then report it to his superior in charge of the gate. If we're lucky, his superior is asleep after a night shift. If we're not, once we're through we'll have to drop the armor and book it before word gets around."
Rock shifted his hooves around so his whole body pointed toward Nightbow and looked into her eyes. "This is the really important part, so listen carefully if you take nothing else with you, " the stallion pronounced gravely, "If they start chasing us, you run for the woods and double back around to the city. I can head them off away from you. I've been through the system before, it shouldn't be a big deal, but I don't want you going through anything on my account. If they chase, you run, alright?"
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Post by Nightbow on Apr 12, 2013 1:19:58 GMT -5
The young stallion didn't reply with his name, only amplifying the levels of awkwardness. Nightbow's cheeks where dangerously close to flushing. Oh well. He seemed to know the drill. The dark unicorn couldn't tell if this frightened her more than it thrilled her. She nodded slowly, ears pined back to signal the urgency of the situation. "Let's go then."
She went quietly, afraid that and movement or sound would betray the partners in crime. Why was he doing this again? Nightbow glanced over at RockNote and found naught but determination - a pact, a bond. She visualized it like a bundle of golden strings clinging between them. She really hoped that they wouldn't run into danger. That they would have to cut them. Nihtbow's eyes trailed back up to the lone guard, rigid and tall, and she felt herself shiver with the killing suspense. She had to remind herself that the guards probably weren't their biggest threat, then again she wasn't sure if that thought filled her with comfort. She needed to stay focused.
Deep violet hooves padded to the side of the tent, careful not to disturb the gear of its residents inside. She was afraid that the armour would scream once she touched it, sounding the alarm. Softly she lifted a breast plate from the ground in her front hooves, only twitching a little as its straps clanked cheerfully against it. It's too big. How on earth would she find a high-ranked armour for such a small pony as herself? She tried to steal a look of what her companion was looking for. It hit her that she wasn't sue how to recognize the armour's ranking.
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Post by Person on Apr 12, 2013 16:19:44 GMT -5
Rock crept around the guard's quarters, trying to keep as quest as possible. after a few moments of frantic searching, found a matching set of hoof guards, a breastplate, and helm with two silver starts emblazoned on the chest.Not too highly ranked, but it'll work, he thought, then saw that Nightbow was having little success finding armor that would both fit her, and be higher than recruit.
He carefully set aside the armor that looked his size, and begun searching for a set for the smaller mare. It would be tricky finding armor to such specifications.
"You want either silver stars, or gold suns on the chest," Rocknote loudly whispered to Bow,then remembered he'd forgotten to introduce himself, "oh, and the name's Rocknote."
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Post by summerblade12 on Apr 22, 2013 20:13:40 GMT -5
Solid built brown earth mare approached the guard border and flashed a badge from her green vest. The recruit on duty looked uncertain about letting the red maned mare in.
"look my name's Redd Moss I supposed to be here go check with someone if you want. I'm the only ranger pony on the area and I need to get out to my cabin." Redd Moss pawed at the ground impatiently. In the last few weeks the forest had become unpredictable, a dark rift ripped through the woods and disturbed the trees, animals plant growth and just generally messed up the order of the forest. The whole thing made Redd Moss uneasy she couldn't find a reasonable explanation for it.
time running backwards odd birds and plants that were supposed to have died out long ago just suddenly popped up when the rift came about. Redd Moss's ears folded back and she looked deep in thought when the recruit nodded her through. "Thanks." Redd Moss trotted through staying close to the tree line.
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Post by Nightbow on Apr 23, 2013 6:46:59 GMT -5
Nightbow looked up as she heard the colt's urgent whisper. Of course, stars or suns, even she should have been able to figure that one out! She grinned sheepishly back at RockNote, confirming his introduction, when something in the back caught her attention - a burly mare had just ordered the young soldier to step aside.
"Now is our chance," she hissed, heart bolting in her chest. She turned back to her partner-in-crime to make sure that he would hear her: "Let's accompany her!" She motioned towards the pony who looked to be a forest ranger. If RockNote would just confirm that everything was in order, surely they could get past the guard with the ranger. Maybe they could even get out of her what was up with the forest. The unicorn hurriedly rummaged the pile of discarded armour and pulled out a small helmet sporting a single star, clanking ever so slightly against the others - but enough to make Bow's hair stand on end with suspense. This would have to do.
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Post by Person on Apr 24, 2013 14:54:02 GMT -5
"Seriously?!" RockNote complained perhaps a bit louder than he should have when the mare simply waltzed past the young guard. He was miffed that she could simply walk past while they had this whole scheme planned out and were carefully enacting it. He trotted back to the armor he'd picked out for himself and hastily putting it on. It was thankfully the right size and he hurried off to the barricade, hoping that Nightbow was in tow behind him.
"Stand at attention, recruit!" Rock snapped as he marched toward the guard with as dignified a posture as he could manage, "My second patrol officer and I are going to escort the ranger around the forest on orders by general Graycoat."
Rock stared rigidly into the eyes of the young guard and waited for a proper response until the newbie swallowed hard, relented, and stepped aside for the two to pass. He nodded in approval of the guard's action, then marched onward toward the ranger-mare.
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Post by summerblade12 on Apr 25, 2013 20:20:40 GMT -5
Redd Moss stopped in her tracks and looked over her shoulder when she herd one of the soldiers bark out orders to the recruit. Escort? I've never needed an escort before she thought to her self.
Great now she would have to lead a pair of heavy armored guards through the woods. This was not what she was hoping for. The plan was to go in check on her cabin and get more records of the effected area of the woods then send a report back to the mayor of Whinnyapolis and Canterlot. Not drag along a pair of guards. Redd Moss snorted in frustration, oh well they were only doing as they were told.
Redd Moss pawed at the ground " Escort hu? " she questioned the stallion "what brought this on? I've never needed an escort before not through my own backyard. Some one think I can't do my job now? cause all my reports have been as through as I can make them I can promise you that. "
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Post by Person on Apr 26, 2013 18:52:42 GMT -5
Rocknote tried as best he could prevent showing that he had no idea what to say by pulling his helmet a little farther down over his eyes and frantically searched for an answer within the confines of his mind.
"Well, um, we have the highest of regard toward your work quality and efficiency but, uh, our superior thought it wise with all the, erm... rumors and reports we've been getting from the ponyfolk that a small precation against attacking beasties may be necessary." Rock said, then swore under his breath at his dumb tongue not being able to keep its pace.
He looked away slightly and continued walking alongside the ranger. Once we get deep enough into the forest, he thought, The chick and I can ditch the gear then go and see this rift thing.
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Post by summerblade12 on Apr 27, 2013 19:47:29 GMT -5
Redd Moss' ear flicked and she gave the the pair of guards a questioning look. Something was 'off' about them but then again who was she to say maybe they were just nervous being in the woods, the ranger often found that guards or city bound ponies got nervous out in the 'wild'.
"Ok then stay by me and don't wander off, easy to get lost out here if you don't know the paths." Redd Moss turned and started on one of the main trails, " Haven't seen you two before, " she said making her way through the brush, " I'm Redd Moss, but you can just call me Moss. You two have names?" She asked holding back a low branch for the guards to pass by.
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