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Post by Becka on Mar 27, 2014 15:40:04 GMT -5
Princess Luna was distracted as she wandered through the final preparations for the Summer Sun Celebration. It felt strange to be the one making sure things were ready for her sister's day of glory, especially with recent events, and news of the death of her friend. Not that it was the first time she'd lived through the death of this particular friend, mind you, but she did wonder how she could remember that death, if a death now meant the death then could never happen in the future-past.
She pressed a dark blue hoof to her temple to stave off the headache that thought was forming.
Night still blanketed the land, but sunrise would be arriving soon, as well as the residents of Whinnyopolis for the celebration. A few early birds were already arriving, their eyes glossy from a night of pre-celebration.
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Kiernan
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Tua Culpa, Culpa Mea
Posts: 384
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Post by Kiernan on Mar 30, 2014 13:46:37 GMT -5
Kai led his guests from the previous night through the dark streets of Whinnyapolis. It was a bit chilly, but everypony should have had a travelling cloak. Frostbite and Usu were still singing at the very back, being held steady by Tundra. It had been an eventful night, but thankfully, there was a half-day coming right up.
The group was one of the first on the scene, preceded only by Luna and several guards. Remembering how he hadn't been able to find the Princess last night, he left the group and ran up to her, only to be blocked by the guards.
"I don't mean to step on your toes, boys, but I need a word with our beloved Princess of the night. It's rather urgent."
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Post by Becka on May 29, 2014 9:42:47 GMT -5
At the words "our beloved princess," Luna's dark gaze turned on the stallion she couldn't seem to shake. "You again," she said as she motioned to her guards to step aside. "What foul news would you bring us so early on this morning? Speak quick, this is supposed to be a day of celebration."
~~~~
Not knowing anyone else in Whinnyopolis as of yet, Hy trotted along behind Kai and his guests, humming along with the drunk ones' song. She was hoping to see Whisp again, but guessed the little unicorn would probably sleep straight through the celebration.
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Post by Sunrunner on May 29, 2014 11:50:07 GMT -5
Tyr walked into the midst of the preparations, golden eyes sweeping the field, looking for....something.
He had no idea why he was here. It was often best just to follow his apparent whims. Most of the time, his gut had some idea what was going on even if his mind did not. Something was going wrong: that much was obvious. He never woke up otherwise.
"I look like a sun god this time," he muttered under his breath. "What was wrong with my grey coat, I wonder?" Was he no longer meant to be a force of neutrality? Was evil so heavy on the land he was supposed to be a good guy? "Someone point me at something to hit. That's all I ask." Grumble grumble grumble, until someone with the natural air of authority caught his eye. "Oh look. Someone who looks bossy and has guards. Yes. There we go."
Tyr abruptly changed course and headed straight for Luna. Did she look familiar? Everyone looked familiar after awhile, that was the problem.
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Post by Nightbow on May 31, 2014 8:50:54 GMT -5
[Cont. from An Apple a Day Keeps the Monsters at Bay] "Jus' what were ya doin' out there anyway?" Applejack's hoofbeats fell firm against the cobblestone. "Ya coulda' been killed, ya reckon?" Nightbow had already thanked the keepers of honesty and kindness for getting her sorry flank out of trouble with the town guards, and they in turn had to be thankful that two stupid youths had so timely shown up to scare the stonebacks away when they had ventured too deep into the forest. When all was said and done, Fluttershy and the border forces had made AJ abandon her post and see the silly filly home, convincing her that they all needed to unwind. Besides, thanks to Nightbow, they now knew how to ward of the monsters. "Forgive me," breathed the unicorn once again, cheeks still flushing. "I was just...taking a stroll." Nightbow despised lies, and she felt ashamed for holding back information, but mostly for lacking judgement. "A stroll? Through tha' Everfree Forest?" Demanded the orange earthling. Nightbow could see just how ridiculous it sounded. As if the forest was not dangerous on a regular basis she had chosen to venture there at a time when nopony could have missed the rumours. * * * Fluttershy would normally have taken pity on the regretful unicorn, but as the three [four? Rocknote may still be with them] ponies approached the square, her eyes fixed upon a light blue shape racing across it. She recognized him from the tower but was given no time to reflect upon his presence; Rarity had just spotted them, and without warning the peg was pulled into a bone-crushing embrace alongside Apple Jack. * * * "Girls! I've been so worried!" Rarity squealed, finally letting go of her friends. "Just how bad are things at the edge of the forest?" Adjusting her hat, Apple Jack subtly motioned towards Nightbow, and Rarity swiftly realized that she had said too much. "It's like you'd expect," huffed the earth pony. "We jus' had tha' pull this unicorn outta a monster's maw!" Rarity covered her mouth in horror. " Well, to be fair, it might as well have been one of us," Flutterhy piped in. " I've never seen an animal quite like it!" Rarity was not given a chance to respond to this, for the purple unicorn who were among them just finished rummaging for something in her bag and, using her magic, flipped open a sketchbook right in the fashionista's face. "Those weren't any swamp crocodiles! See?" Rarity winced at the zeal, distancing herself enough from the paper to see the lines drawn upon it. She narrowed her eyes as she scanned the sketchy outline. "That's nice, dear..." * * * Nightbow realized that her manners acted repelling on the unicorn, thus retracting the drawing enough for the others to see. "Don't you see? These things are extinct! You don't recognise them because they are from a different time period entirely!" She flipped the pages demonstratively, putting an array of foliage lost to the eras on display. During an awkward silence, Nightbow watched the three friends exchanging looks. Apple Jack soon decided to step forth, eyeing Nightbow's drawings critically and pointing her hoof at the Gold Moon flower, sketched from memory. " Oh! You are really good at drawing. Anypony could see clearly that this is a Yellow Reed. We have plenty of those back in Ponyville!" The purple unicorn peeked over the cover, feeling unhinged. It took little to shake her beliefs, despite being well educated. "...You sure?" Fluttershy hummed, smiling kindly first towards Nightbow, then towards her friends. The others swiftly joined in her "uh-hu":s and nodding. Apple Jack then seized the moment and slammed the book shut. She handed it to Nightbow and proceeded to steer her towards the square. "You should see the cupcakes Pinkie has made," said Rairty, quick to change the subject. "She's been at it all day. Let's get some before they're gone." She turned to smile at Nightbow, asking her name, and Nightbow being too polite to protest played right into their hooves and kindly followed along.
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Kiernan
Member
Tua Culpa, Culpa Mea
Posts: 384
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Post by Kiernan on May 31, 2014 19:05:41 GMT -5
"With all due respect, Princess," began Kai, but at that moment he stopped himself. It was a warning. Whenever somepony said, 'with all due respect,' they were stating that the next sentence was one without a shred of respect. And to be disrespectful to the princess was about as stupid as ideas go. He wasn't working alongside her anymore. He wasn't one of her most useful tools. He was just a run-of-the-mill, arrogant, creepy pony, who had, the day prior, been arrested in front of her. And he had brought bad news. He wasn't doing himself any favors by trying to hide his words behind other words.
"It's not that I want to bring you bad news, Liege," he continued. "It's merely that I was given bad news that needed to come to your attention. I mean you no ill will. Besides," he smiled. "I have some good news this time." He stood as tall as he could, his smile growing wider. "Kailani Hoofspen lives."
No sooner had he said this than he realized something important. Something he hadn't thought of. Something that would cast doubt on the news he just delivered. As clear as his head was, and how true the message was, it didn't matter. She wouldn't believe him.
He reeked of rum and bourbon.
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Post by Sunrunner on Jun 3, 2014 16:17:04 GMT -5
Tyr's false leg nearly betrayed him as his steps stuttered. Kailani?
"Of course the Disbeliever lives," he said with a heavy sigh. "Because the universe has a fantastic sense of humor at times."
Though, how? That was a good question. Had she become an immortal at some point, or were there other things going on? Tyr stepped even closer, determined to find answers.
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Post by Becka on Jun 3, 2014 16:29:08 GMT -5
Luna's gaze turned into a stony glare as soon as the stallion began speaking. Stale alcohol wafted from his mouth to her face and her nose twitched, distracting her as he babbled on about bringing her bad news. She had told him to make it quick, had she not? She was so annoyed by his presence at this moment that she almost didn't hear what he said at the end.
"Kailani Hoofspen lives."
For one excruciatingly long moment, the words didn't register, and when they did she stared at him in stony silence. "You told us last night that there was a witness to the death. Were you deceived? Who was this witness?"
A presence in the corner of her vision drew her attention away for a moment, and she glanced at the white unicorn who had just taken another step in her direction...with a wooden foreleg. Her guards saw him too, the muscles in their shoulders tightened as they discretely stepped closer to her. She turned her attention back to the false guard before her.
"How do you know that the Green Champion lives?"
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Kiernan
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Tua Culpa, Culpa Mea
Posts: 384
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Post by Kiernan on Jun 3, 2014 23:14:09 GMT -5
Were you deceived? Who was this witness?"
"She was unclear on the details. She thought she had seen the death take place, but she was wrong. What a pony sees and what a pony thinks she sees are two different things." He conveniently left out the name of the witness. He thought it a bad idea to give the princess a means of exacting her wrath on a pony so defenseless as Whisp. She had been through enough, already. "That being said, the witness knows her error. She has thus revised her message. Redacted, even."
"How do you know that the Green Champion lives?"
This was a much easier question to answer. "She appeared at my home last night. Ironically, right after I returned from informing you of her defeat. I ensured her safety, then came to find you as soon as I was sure she was safe, but I could not locate you. She is safe, now. Likely, she's resting. If you want to see her, you should look for Razzaroo. He'll know where to find her, if she's not still in Neighathorn tower."
He suddenly felt that he might have said too much, with too many ears around. Curse this alcohol, making him talk against his will...
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Post by Sunrunner on Jun 4, 2014 10:00:43 GMT -5
Tyr nodded slightly to the guards and decided to halt there. He could pitch his voice to carry clearly. "It would not surprise me if Kailani lived. She is resourceful, I give her that." Let it not be said that Tyr did not give credit where credit was due. "But if you don't mind humoring a crippled old man, what murderous danger is lurking here?"
He actually smiled wryly, not expecting anyone to buy the crippled old man part. Sure, the false leg was obvious, but so was the sword he carried. It was a plain blade, well worn but well tended. "I have been...traveling, and did not notice anything myself. If there is trouble, perhaps I could be of some assistance."
He paused, weighing the risks of giving his name here. How much time had passed? What lore had grown or waned in his absence? If Kailani was here...
Ah, who am I kidding? I've slept many times and woken to being totally forgotten. It's been hundreds of years since I've had to worry about being remembered at all, never mind misremembered.
He chose to make a calculated bow to the Princess--deep enough to show some respect, but shallow enough to reveal that he thought himself of far more importance than any ordinary pony. Which, of course, he did. "I am called Tyr."
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Post by Becka on Jun 4, 2014 16:03:25 GMT -5
Not only did Kail survive the attack by Eclipse, but she was in the Tower at this moment? Luna stomped one hoof - why had Razzaroo neglected to bring her straight to the princess? He should have known better. She wanted to go straight to the Tower to speak with the pegasus, but after the problems the eclipse had caused, the Summer Sun Celebration had to go off without a hitch, and it was her duty to make sure that happened.
"It would not surprise me if Kailani lived. She is resourceful, I give her that."
Luna's ears swiveled in the stallion's direction before the rest of her head followed. Who was this creature, that he knew a pony who had been dead for over a thousand years? Luna tried to remember if Kail had ever mentioned a Tyr, but the princess had been young, and there had been Discord to deal with, and if the peg ever had the name had fled the alicorn's head.
"And how did you come to know Kailani Hoofspen, Tyr?"
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Post by Sunrunner on Jun 4, 2014 16:32:44 GMT -5
"We were...acquainted once upon a time," Tyr said dryly. He paused a moment before adding, cautiously, "Ah, what year is it? I haven't been...paying attention." He plastered his best impression of an innocuous look on his face, hoping that the stretch time was not overly absurd.
He had a feeling it was, however. Even if the Disbeliever was somehow present.
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Kiernan
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Tua Culpa, Culpa Mea
Posts: 384
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Post by Kiernan on Jun 4, 2014 20:27:51 GMT -5
Tyr. The name rang a bell, but Kai couldn't place it. Had he read it in a book? If that were the case, He would have been too old to be the same Tyr. It may not have been a common name, but he must have some name. Then again, all sorts of strange ponies were showing up recently, all claiming to be from the past. Would it really be too far out of the question to assume he was too? If he was from the past, he would be in a book at the library of Palarcanus. Shame that it was now only a pile of ash.
"If that will be all Princess, I have other business to which I must attend." Such as rifling through some history books as soon as he could. "I take my leave of you."
As he walked off, he thought back to Tyr. He didn't care for him. He reminded Kai too much of himself. For now, at least. He hoped his first impression was wrong.
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Post by Becka on Jun 5, 2014 12:18:05 GMT -5
Luna's thoughts ran the same course as Kai's - if Tyr was an acquaintance of Kailani, and had no idea what year they were in, it was very likely that he'd come through the Rift as well. "The year is (whatever the heck year it is - I have no idea. Roughly 2000 years since C03), and we are the Princess Luna, co-ruler of Equestria." She stared down her nose at him, expecting from his behavior so far that he wouldn't care a whit who she was.
When Kai spoke she dismissed him with a wave of her hoof. His good news didn't make up for his behavior the past two days. "You may go. Do not let us find you causing trouble again."
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Post by Sunrunner on Jun 5, 2014 16:03:02 GMT -5
Tyr blinked rapidly a few times--the only outward sign of his shock. That long? It was unusual for that much time to pass without him waking. Had he lost crucial allies this time around? Just because some of his old companions were immortal didn't mean they couldn't be killed. Had Aedeminar, that crazy old bat, finally found an end?
It chilled him. If he lost everyone then the next time he felt the urge to sleep, he might not wake up. And that was not how he was supposed to die.
He'd have to try to track down his favorite lunatic mare, to reassure himself if nothing else.
Tyr snapped out of his thoughts with a brief shake. "Truly, that is the date? How is the D--Kailani here, then? I knew her long ago." He took a deep breath and looked at Princess Luna, gauging her.
"It is a pleasure to meet you, Princess Luna," he said carefully. "You must forgive me if I ever seem rude. I am a little out of sorts."
He hadn't gotten an answers to his question about trouble--but, well. More flies with honey, etcetera.
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