darkSpyro

While Loony talked, Patriatic's horn glowed to see what was going on, "Sleep spell? I may have to teleport there myself..." he muttered, Once drove a surfer to sunset, Fellini just couldn't forget, Pico, let's go up to Zuma, Pico, let's go up to Zuma, From Zuma to Yuma the rumor was, I had a hand in the lay of the land. he continued to think.

"The interloper," Loony would've smiled if he had a mouth at this present state of being, "could find that leaving this place and its tenants alone would be in his best interests."

OCC: Reshiram, is it possible to teleport there?

Patriatic's mind once recycled the poem he heard from before, Get up and go hit the highway(Oo-wooh...), I worked on a reservation, (Ooh...ooh...), Who would believe they would love me and leave
On a bus back to old Santa Fe? he thought.

OOC: they hadn't actually said anything about The Sheppard of Fire aloud anyway. Ash and the Sheppard are speaking to each other in silence, currently only Ash can see and hear him.

OCC: I see then...

Sic laughed at Barkis. "everyone fears death, even those who say they don't" he spoke "It is a natural instinct that even a psycho like me feels. Nothing runs deeper than self-preservation" he whispered creeping ever so closer to Barkis.

"Its thrilling really" he chirped up "You say now 'I am unafraid' but when you face the realization of how close you are to not being anymore, you won't be able to move. You want to survive, you want to run." He let out a small chuckle and then in a psychotic shout said "BUT NONE OF US MAKE IT! NO ONE GETS OUT OF LIFE ALIVE!" He now was only a couple of feet from Barkis "You know what I am? I am creeping death!"

OOC: Possibly close by, but not to their location itself. Loony is careful with making his teleportations near untrackable.

Hellena frowned as Loony got to work with the stitches, bandages and antiseptic cream, the latter humming something under his breath.

Somewhat bored with the now lack of action, Hellena picked up the closest scrap of paper to herself, observing the contents closely.

A detailed drawing of a brown fog, pony-like in shape, with a smoky mane of white and red. From the shape that the fog took, and the obvious eyelashes that were showing, Hellena guessed that it was female. Beside the drawing of the dream was another, this one depicting a unicorn filly with similar colours, with the addition of antlers. The filly, Hellena recognised.

"Rainy," she said quietly, "But, I thought you said she didn't really exist?"

"Not the one I invented, no," Loony replied, "Rainy is real. At least, was. I'm not too sure about the specifics yet. I'm still trying to track down her resting place, I need to know what happened after Luna became Nightmare Moon."

The Sheppard twitched his neck, "It seems Loony has fled the area, taking his dreamer and her friend," he walked out away from Ash who was hesitant to follow. They found the almost destroyed clearing to see Barkis and the remains of the magic explosion. "This one has a specialty in telepathic magic, which means he can sense me, but I can still remain unseen or heard," The Sheppard stood directly nose to nose with Barkis, sure that he couldn't really tell he was there. He suddenly allowed himself to be seen, flashing into Barkis's physical senses, "You must answer my questions." He spoke a little quickly to insure he made his point that he was here for business.

--

Raptor paused her walk, turned to the fight with a raised brown and lips, "Well I guess we have a difference in opinion. Oh, I remember you," her eyes squinted as she also noticed S just off to the side, "but he's new to me. Is he your brother or something?" She didn't really care if he could reply at the moment or not, she was still pressing her questions.

"Ah," Hellena responded, looking away. Loony's expression and position hadn't changed in the slightest, the dream finishing up with what he was doing with a weary sigh.

"It's fine, really. It's been a thousand years, after all. I've gotten over the worst of the grief." Loony gave out a soft laugh, shaking his head. "Things were different a millennia ago. My sister wasn't the most... traditional... of the nightmares. All I know is that she was never a part of the nightmare dreamscape thing from a while ago."

OCC: Thanks Reshiram.

"I don't want to survive," Barkis said slowly, "I want to LIVE. And I will do everything in my power to do so and help this other one." Huh? he thought, having just heard The Sheppard, Who are you speaking to me through this witchcraft?

---

"S?" Red asked confused, "Who is this 'S' character now?"

---

Patriatic hanged his head in sorrow and sat down, "Have I failed?" he asked himself, Once in an Indian Nation, I took the kids on the skids where the Hopi, Was happy 'til I heard 'em say..."You're worthless." he thought as the poem finished.

Loony quivered, before turning to face Hellena abruptly. After a quick scan of her side, the dream incarnate spoke, his voice a little faster than usual.

"That doesn't look good," he stated, shifting nervously, "Hhah... I'm- Yeah, I'm gonna need to... fix this. Sorry. I really do know what I'm doing, don't worry."

"What are you-?" Hellena backed up, but was already feeling drowzy. "You- No-!"

"Sweet dreams," Loony would've smiled apologetically, if he'd had a mouth, "But you really deserve a little rest."

Patriatic hung his head down in shame, "Maybe I am worthless...no...I am NOT worthless. You, dream incarnate Loony, may think so," he spoke, "but you...are...wrong!"

As soon as Hellena dropped down, fast asleep, Loony relaxed up, giving a faint snort as he got to work. He spared a quick glance at Grey, who still seemed to be deteriorating.

Oh... I get it now, he thought, turning away from the pegasus. That's something I can fix. A little Hope...

"Honestly, I couldn't care less about what you're going on about," he commented wryly, "Worthless isn't a term I throw about lightly. A victim complex is an interesting thing, be careful before you put words in my mouth."

Patriatic's focus on Loony's location had enhanced even further as his horn now glowed a faint cross of orange and mahogany, to his surprise though, he saw a filly's room before his eyes, "Try harder..." he said, the glow brightening.

OOC: Woops I meant Patriaric in my last post not Barkis... Well this will most likely be my last post, so I'm just going to edit the last one to Patriatic, if it doesn't bother you to edit your posts...

The Sheppard leaned back a little looking to Patriatic's horn, coating it in an anti-magic spell, "Tell us what you know about Loony and Hellena, and hope you don't know too much," his fiery irises let of an orge glow as the flames weaved around on his eyes as if the fires were real.

Ash crawled over behind the Sheppard, even though he was technically interrogating the unicorn. Ash didn't really know what to do, and as always, was scared to do or say anything.

--

S didn't glance back in the slightest suspicion that Jed could attach, "Little busy here doc," referring to her from the last memories he has, though they are mixed with Sicolus's.

Raptor shrugged and sat down awaiting the conversation she was expecting from Sicolus. The guard had stopped just behind her and only turned bid head to look in the same direction, "S is a clone of that unicorn," he was gesturing to Sic, "They expected him to be different from the original. He is, just not in the way they wanted. He has a high level of intelligence with technology, and is more sane. He has more morals, and a better view on life itself. The downside was he has multiple personalities, more than Ash. His base personalities are scholar, child, mental unstable, and joy. He has chances of rage, humility, and the rest of the emotions. Though they are mostly together, his mind is the most unpredictable of anypony known to the Equestria wide database."

The guard extended his wing that held Red in the shield, he just held him out so he could sit down next to Raptor. Red was just our next to them and still on a level plain as not to role off, "Your wounds should be just about sealed completely. You will be bruised, but you may walk within the next two hours," he added.

"I wouldn't recommend it. The mind is a complex thing... but I've seen its secrets. Studied where a well-placed nightmare would hurt the most. Expose the deepest, darkest secrets."

Loony finished up with the last stitch, slipping out the room's window with ease.

The small house was tucked just inside one of Canterlot's abandoned train tunnels, set about a quarter of the way up the mountain. Loony had been pleasantly surprised that most of it had survived the crisis, with only one of the rooms facing the back of the tunnel having collapsed. The incorporeal being drifted out of the tunnel, setting himself down on the ledge outside.

"Huh... Oh!" Loony flitted up, white eyes narrowing slightly as he felt himself blocked out, before settling back down on the ground, pooling out a little.

Hm, good, good... He turned his head back towards the tunnel, feeling for the telltale pegasus within. Loony had a job to do.

OCC: Yeah, I realized that a while ago...

Patriatic realized the voice and nodded, surprised, "Okay," he said thought-speaking to The Sheppard, "allow me to explain this, Hellena said that he was some kind of dream incarnate and a sociopath, Loony himself also said, 'I've lived forever, in terms of Equestria. A generation or two of pent up anger means nothing in the long run. I watched Princess Luna fall, along with my sister species. Who was there whe-' he stopped there. Why do you wish to know this? Patriatic then asked in confusion.

Pain. Again and again, the same pain that he’d endured during the ambush just came back to claw at him. All around him, his best friends and colleagues were being torn apart. Nothing he did could deter their assailants.

In the centre, the white-coated unicorn stood, laughing over the corpse of a pink pegasus mare. His sister was absent. Blood dripped from that once-pristine coat of his, the aging stallion’s eye twitching as Grey could literally see that he just didn’t care anymore. He was too far gone. Joseph Mediziner had always been insane. This…

This was just a whole new level.

"Lumi!" the yell tore itself from his throat, the heavily scarred stallion lunged forward. "Luminia!"

He pushed back the pain that increased with his proximity to the mad unicorn, the latter drawing his saw for the oncoming fight. Grey himself was unarmed, defenceless.

He just wished he could stop that horrible, raucous laughter. The pain was worth it, if that traitorous adversary could just be silenced.

Grey didn't notice the small brown filly nearby, watching with wide, icy blue eyes.

Patriatic, while he waited for a response, went through internal conflict: Whoever was talking to him could help him find Grey and Hellena, redeem Loony, and return everything to normal, or they were going to use him. He didn't know what to do.

Then... it was gone. Everything, the pain, the ponies, corpses...

Everything, except for the filly.

It was all replaced with a pale void, the colours indistinct. The brown filly was distinct against the dull colours, chewing her lip uncertainly. She looked as if she wanted to say something, but didn't know how to start. That, or she was afraid that he'd start yelling the moment she opened her mouth.

"What-" Grey cut himself off, shaking his head. "Who- who are you?"

"I- I'm-" the filly's voice was high pitched, and almost on the point of wailing. Grey noticed a pair of antlers adorning her head, between her ears and behind a unicorn horn. "I'm really, really sorry! I just- I was following this guy into a cave, and I- I guess I felt you? Or something? Yeah, and I got really curious because that doesn't usually happen, and- and- I didn't mean for it to go this far!"

Patriatic's horn glew brighter as he tried to see through Grey's eyes as if it was an observation tower he could use and hijack, he could see the brown filly even, "What is going on...?" he asked himself.

Quote: SpyroD

The Sheppard leaned back a little looking to Patriatic's horn, coating it in an anti-magic spell,

OOC: plus actual nightmare thing yeah

OCC: I didn't notice that, ignore the last post then.

"Relax, relax." Grey tried to sooth the filly, though still felt quite shaken up from the nightmare. Its creator backed up, quivering. He had little doubt that the filly herself was a dream, or even an actual nightmare incarnate. She even looked a little like Loony, with the same bouncy mane and off-white belly. "It's- it's alright."

"Oh! He's coming!" she jumped in the air and, forgetting her fear of the pegasus, ran up to Grey, trying to hide behind his legs. The brief moment of contact brought back the horrible memories, making the nightmare incarnate lurch back. "The dream! Oohhh, I shouldn't have come, right under his nose. Please don't tell him I was here! Please? I'm not trying to be bad! I'm just- I'm just a nightmare! I can't help it! I have to make good ponies see the truth! The truth!"

And, with that, she was gone.

Patriatic's horn tried to use magic, but not even his advanced telepathy could do anything, What's going on? he thought, who's doing this?

Loony appeared from the void, long, wispy legs carrying him forward slowly.

"I've suspected for a while that you'd been having nightmares," he commented, tossing back his puffy golden mane. "What I didn't consider is that they'd be this advanced, or that an actual nightmare entity would make themselves known. I'm truly sorry for letting this go on."

"Except you aren't sorry." Grey stepped forwards, fluffing out his wings. How strange it was, to be doing these things in a... dream? It wasn't a nightmare, not anymore, but it wasn't a dream yet either.

"True enough." Loony inclined his head, shrugging. "But I didn't come in here to fight with you, Grey. I wanted a chance to talk, face to face, without trying to kill each other. That nightmare was an unanticipated obstacle, and I'm truly intrigued as to why one would come to you."

Patriatic doing some more magic, but his horn could not even glow, this now had put him in distraught, "My magic's wose than a foal's..." he whispered.

"Why wouldn't they? Plenty of dreams turn up, don't they?"

"There haven't been many nightmare incarnates for a long time." Loony turned away, tendrils shaping a landshape out of the void. "It- It's been rough."

Dusten took the chance to make a dash for a nearby tree where had dropped his stuff during the scuffle. "Well, there is not much you can do" Sic said noticing Dusty's movement "I will kill you all in the end" he laughed and charged Dusten.

Dusty reached the tree, grabbing the saddlebag and turning around in time to block Sicolus's horn from piercing his liver. A liquid sprayed over Sic, it smelled like kerosene. Sic backed up a little surprised. Dusty tossed the saddle bag at his hooves where the liquid spread across the ground.

Dusty revealed a lighter he had slipped from the bag before he had tossed it. A sick smile spread across Dusten's face "burn out" he said lighting the match and dropping it. The liquid lit quickly and with a pop consuming Sicolus completely in the flame.

Barkis jumped back in surprise and in slight retaliation, "Why was that necessary?" he asked Dusten, "There may have been a chance to redeem him."

OOC: so, anything happening with spyrod's characters or are they just in standby?

Loony shook his head for a moment, before turning back to Grey. "Look, it doesn't matter. I know you're a busy stallion, so I'll make this quick.

"One, your little tantrum back there almost killed you. If that bite was a little to the left, it would've punctured a major vein. I managed to fix some of it, using what I knew by watching Mediziner at his work. Not a lot, admittedly, he was damn paranoid about keeping his specialty magic his. Expect pain, and a lot of it, when you eventually wake up. I can't promise that you even will.

"Two, Hellena. Pretty sure you both know this, but you need to stay together. I cannot stress this enough, alright? Neither of you can afford to seperate, now that you're both hurt."

"Says the one who has dedicated the last forty years of his 'life' to protecting her."

"Three," he continued on without giving any indication that he heard Grey, and turned. Grey followed his gaze. There, the events of the ambush were playing out. The pegasus winced; there it was, him being mutilated, from the perspective of a spectator. "I believe you have a few... misconceptions... about my role in these events.

"Yes, I have dedicated the last few decades of my life to keeping her happy. Even after I split apart from her subconscious, I did what I had to in order to preserve that little balance."

"You're avoiding the main point." Grey teared his eyes away from the brutal murder happening across from him. Third person was a new perspective, but he'd relived those moments too many times for him to find anything new out of it.

OOC: He may not be around right now, he has some things he has to do. Idk what he told y'all but he may not be on for while, perhaps not until August. I haven't heard from him but if that happens I plan on pausing the RP until he gets back, If that is fine with y'all?

OCC: Very well then

OOC: ok then, lemme just finish this little bit up

"You want the truth? Fine." Loony laughed bitterly. "I arrived too late. Believe me, Grey, I would not just stand there and watch your - her friends - my friends! - die," his voice lowered as he turned away, "not again, I- I- Aheh...

"It was a little before first centennial when my sister and I were instrumental in the death of Na- of my first mistress. I can't- It's been almost two thousand years, and I still remember it like it was yesterday."

---

A navy blue filly with a silver mane, possessing both a horn and wings, unmoving upon the unforgiving cave floor. A much younger Loony was whispering to the dying filly, trying to keep her from slipping away. At the cave interest, a brown smoke with a 'mane' of red and white lingered, her white eyes wild with delirium.

"No! No!" Rainy shouted, her black, tendrilesque antennae whipping about with the magic she wielded. "Brother! We can save her! We can still save her! Don't give up hope!"

She didn't even wait for a reply, Loony's desperate shout for her to stop, that it was denial, not hope, that she was experiencing, before the nightmare unleashed her magic.

---

Loony winced visibly as the memories formed around the pair, the dream banishing them before they continued. Grey felt actual sympathy for the ancient being, plagued with memories of a much darker time before Equestria, before even the pegasus' own country.

"She didn't mean it. Rainy, I mean. She was just trying to help, and she created a monster. Aheh. That's something that my sister and I didn't have in common, trying to help. I'm too passive. If I just hadn't been so cowardly... Even now, I'm too scared to truly bind myself to reality, even after Luna's return... what she did to us, to me personally...

"I hate her. I hate her so much! It was she who tore my sister - the nightmares - away from us! She betrayed us, she tore us apart! That's why I Fell! I need to find my sister. I need to find out what happened to her-" Loony was interrupted by a hoof to his 'shoulder'.

"Relax." Grey shook his head. "It's alright. Looks like we've both lost ponies to those we thought we could trust."

"Hah..." Loony smiled sadly. "I'm sorry you had to listen to that. Look. I understand that you're angry, and only you can really change that, but... how about we start over? Things got so messed up, with all of these misunderstandings... Wouldn't it be easy to start again at the beginning?"

He held out a pink-and-gold hoof.

Patriatic's tried to leave until he noticed two shapes in the distance, "Strange," he said, "who are these two characters?" He peered closer, and saw what looked like Dusten and Barkis.

Grey's eyes flitted between Loony's, and the dream's offered hoof.

"Well, if what you say is true," he started, flaring out his wings, "than I have no reason to be angry, don't I?"

He bumped his hoof against Loony's, shaking once briskly.

"Well said." Loony glew brighter as he smiled, drawing back as he observed the surroundings. "Well, I'll leave you to it. Sweet dreams, Mr Calibre. We'll talk when you wake up."

Loony departed, letting his happy facade drop, before his expression hardened, and he was gone.

No.

I am NOT letting him die on me.

Patriatic looked even closer, Thanks to that stranger, he thought, I can't reach Miss Hellena and Sir Grey...I hope they'll survive.....

ooc: This RP is on hold for now. Just until SpyroD gets back. He will probably be back sometime this August so it will be about. I am very sorry for the hold up, but this RP will continue. Especially since it has lasted so long and we are almost done with the first act.

ooc: This RP is not closed yet, it is still waiting on SpyroD. I have heard from him recently and it seems things are going to take longer than originally anticipated. As of right now we don't know when we will be able to start up again but considering how successful it was, it will surely continue. Thank you for your patience.

The Sheppard flashed into sight just in front of Patriatic, "This information will ensure that you do not know too much about us. What else do you know about Loony and his past?" he demanded, "If you do not co-operate then your magic will be lost forever. If you do, however, then you may be released to continue your life as normal as you can possibly make it."

Ash watched from his almost prone position behind Patriaric. Staying still and quiet as his own 'Dream' presence questions this unfamiliar pony.

--

Dr. Gulaven sighed heavily as the train began to move. Rainbow Dash looked from Gulaven to Luminia, "I dont remember you too well. Where did you work? Within the factory that is?" she was seated relatively close to the center, only more toward Gulaven's side. The train picked up speed rather slowly, probably to compensate for the doctor's removed limb, to help keep him from being knocked around while he was weakened.

--

OOC: well I can't really do anything with S at this point, it's Jed's move in this ultimate chess game.

"You wouldn't know me. I've never worked in the factory." Luminia replied. "I'd always alternated between Zephyr, and the Royal Guard. It was... Cave never cared for occupational safety."

Her voice took a bitter turn. "But no one died for his cause, he made sure of that. In the end, he was the only victim, as he'd always wanted. Phora, though..."

Falling silent, Luminia turned to look out the window.

ooc: back in town baby. Its gonna get really messy

Jed thought for a moment 'no signs of erratic behavior, primarily a defensive combat style. I may have jumped the gun. I didn't even hear his side, dear celestia I am getting too old for this'. "If I am correct" Jedidiah spoke to S "That ball there, is a capsule still in testing, its design is to hold things and in this case a pony. The one in there right now does not deserve any misfortune. I am going to go out on a limb here and say you are probably not as messed in the head as I originally believed." Jed coughed.

---

Sore and aching Dusten hit the ground wheezing out a laugh at the moving fire. 'FINALLY! He's gone, I can't believe he is gone' he thought to himself. A smile stretched across his face at the thought of no more Sicolus.

He turned his head to Barkis "I just killed the devil" he said smiling like a kid on Christmas.

The motion stopped and the fire dispersed with a flash of red, the fire quickly disintegrated having nothing to fuel it. There stood Sic wheezing with a wicked smile on his face. He a had used a simple force field spell to push the flames outward.

Some of fur still had embers on them while others where melted together and some places had no fur at all. "that...hurt" he wheezed out through the pain and lack of oxygen.

Dusty's heart dropped. He stood back up "WHY WON'T YOU JUST DIE ALREADY!!!" he yelled angrily "YOU FRIGGIN COCKROACH, DISEASE CARRYING PEICE OF TRASH! GO TO HELL WHERE YOU BELONG!"

Sic just laughed.

OOC: Just a note, I've noticed popfizz hasn't been online in a month.

Hellena shifted, wincing slightly as her side was aggravated. Even in sleep, Loony noticed, she was still frowning, still raring for a fight. In the current scope of things, she would never find peace. Just more anger, just more sadness. How long would it take for her to end it all herself? Self-immolation, a knife, or a rope? It would be so easy.

Loony turned away, settling down on the ground wearily. It was hard to be a Dream for so many ponies throughout their lifetimes, seeing the myriad of bubbles that was a conscious mind, extinguished by their own hooves.

S halted the magic barrage, the magic items themselves dissipate in the air. The orb shot over to float next to S1D5's head, "Close enough. Actually, it holds their very soul, their mind, the true soul is life itself. You see, this one is rather special. Of elemental proportion," he laughed a little at the pun that he understood clearly, "I dont believe you need it, and it is technically mine after all. You could have one too, it'll keep your consciousness safe and ready for mechanical uploading. Why you could be an AI... If your orb is handled by the right pony that is. It is easy to lose a life in this game," the orb bounced around in an arch over his head. The panels of magic holding him up let gravity pull them down to the ground. He then froze entirety as he stood on the grass, no movements, not even blinking. The orb was still floating, but was absolutely motionless in the air. It was like his mind had shutdown completely.

--

Raptor sighed heavily, "Well things just got boring," though Sicolus quite literally just survived hell on earth, "Where is that so called safe place of yours at again?" she stood up and walked off around the trees lining the edges of the small clearing the fighting was held in.

The Guard turned and raised his body slowly as not to knock Red to the ground, "It is relatively close to the remains of Canterlot. The forest is more of a secure traveling route. Less for us to encounter here."

"Now where is the fun in that?" her emotionless sarcasm made her seem even more broken.

We have to find a way to fix her. This is not the mare I knew when we first met. The guard settled his shield upon his back. He then looked over his shoulder the best he could to let Red know he was speaking to him, "You should keep an eye on your limbs, they should be bordering use once more. Even when they become useful, I'd suggest following us a little longer to ensure you will be able to fly properly."

Jed tensed unsure of what was about to happen. He thought on what the clone had said. If it was true one could live forever. The idea of being immortal must really sale, at least to those who have not lost.

Jedidiah's own coughing pulled him out of his thoughts. "I am not one who is concerned about my decaying body" Jed spoke "I have other more pressing matters to worry about." His muscles where beginning to become sore from the recent use, slowing down was a bit of a gamble. If he could not resolve this with words than he would be half as good in combat as he was earlier.

---

Dusty steadied his breath, having to force himself to calm down and think out the situation. The pony was just lit on fire, he is weaker no doubt and probably looking for a way out. It seems he also lacks the power to properly use magic only using minor spells, and very rarely at that. Was he bluffing at the beginning? Or just reeling him in? He was good at hoof to hoof combat no doubt.

Gambling was one of Dusten's favorite past times but right now the stakes where a bit higher. Luckily Dusty had the advantage in terms of longevity. Not only was he born a proud earth pony but he obviously took better care of himself than the unicorn before him. 'my guess is he has just about reached his limit' Dusty thought.

Dusten took a leap for his crossbow but was quickly put on his back by a half melted mad pony. All he saw was a flash of red and then... memories. Dusten's own memories, terrible, hurtful things that festered up all at once until he felt he was about to burst.

'do you know what it's like?' his internal commentary from years back rang through his head 'to lose somepony SO close. To have that pony who took care of you, fed you, kept you happy... to die right there. WHILE YOU ARE HOLDING HER HOOF!?!? Just to realize that the person you loved is not there anymore. I saw the strongest stallions in my family cry, and that hurts. The realization... the numbness and the realization, denial and tears. It ain't something you can put into words. Only something you can feel.'

'Now I know pain, now I know loss. Not some BS some foal came up with of why their life is absolutely terrible. This is the real thing. It makes you wonder...what's the point in living?'

I can let you out. Just let go, you won't feel a thing.

The demonic voice rang through his head tempting the serenity that lies in six feet.

"I promise you" A young Dusten said through teary eyes "I promise I won't let my life go to waste, I will become something, somepony." He was talking to an unresponsive relative that would pass away the very next day.

"NO" Dusty's head jerked forwards slamming into the muzzle of Sicolus. He followed it up with a right hoof which barely missed as the unicorn jumped back. His horn glowed one more time kicking dust into the air, allowing his escape.

When the dirt cleared Dusten realized the chest was gone, 'I still have the key, he can't open it' he thought in relief before noticing something. On the ground was a crescent shaped amulet. 'He must have dropped it in the hustle' Dusten thought to himself picking it up and observing it.

The memories came back and tears flooded his eyes, eyes with no life left in them.

(ooc: I assure you, that came from a very REAL place.)

Suicide. Murder. Both options were within him. Wouldn't it have been so much easier, for all of them? They wouldn't even feel a thing. Lost, in sleep. An endless sleep.

It was his job to keep her happy. He had failed. He was a disgrace to his very domain.

But it was his job to not be a coward, either. A selfish act. An easy way out, when there was so much to be done. He had always been called a coward, and not without reason. The two mortals needed to come to terms with their emotions. Wrath. Wrath was never his role, never his to deal with.

What mother would think, if she could see him now. A disappointment then, a disappointment now.

He was almost glad that Iracundia was dead.

S1D3 5W1P3 was still unresponsive, he only stood there, in fact it didn't seem he was breathing either. Only a blank unmoving stare at Jed, or in his direction. This was not a common thing for him to do, but it was not the first. The last time his mind had froze like this was back in the Factory, during the escape. Sicolus had sustained a heavy wound from the factory turrets that managed to live long enough to get a shot out at the runners. The freezing of the clone must come from the mental state or stability if not the high reaction to pain of his origin being. For now, he is motionless, like a mannequin in a display window, not even wobbling from muscle use.

--

The train needed the first cave, which Torch brought the speed down in order to identify, if any, obstructions of any sort. It was clear, for it was just a small tunnel, the larger ones lie ahead. He looked around at the dark yet still rather beautiful scenery, "I think I've seen quite enough in my years, but some things still manage to grab my attention," he spoke to himself as he pulled out a small, metal picture fram, much like a locket only slightly larger, and opened it to stare at the picture inside. He quickly out it away as they neared the next tunnel.

Dr. Gulaven sat rather quietly on this ride, which was quite unnatural of the pony. Rainbow Dash noticed the silence in the car and decided to speak up, "Hey doctor," she scooted down toward Gulaven, "Remember that day of the of the Best Young Fliers event in Cloudsdale?" Gulaven just looked up to Rainbow and nodded at a decent pace as to not be rude, "Did you know my friend, Pinkie Pie, tasted the spectrum liquid from the outdoor Rainbow vats? Apparently it is a very spicy," she laughed a little attempting to lighten the mood, "Then there was Gilda, she had no idea we had white thunder clouds in the airspace and zapped herself on one," she paused to await a reply.

Gulaven nodded with a chuckle of his own, "Those were some tricky clouds to track down. We ended up just following the pain trail they created. Took us weeks to round them up," the doctor was smiling again, though it was very little, it was something, "I believe you tried to take a nap on one when it got late."

Jedidiah looked curiously at the clone "Hello?" he asked. Jed thought on taking the orb from the frozen pony but decided against it, gaining trust was important right now. He cautiously stepped forward until he was just inches away from S. 'He could kill me in one swift strike right now' Jed thought emotionless 'not that it would matter at this rate'. He let out a cough or two.

He reached his hoof out and shook S1D3 5W1P3 ever so slightly.

---

Sic cussed limping through the woods, the box floating just above the ground. He collapsed along with the box once he felt he was a safe distance away. "I didn't think it would go that far" he said to himself "I have so much under my belt, how could this happen to me? Next time I will use that!"

Sicolus crawled to the bottom of a tree where he lifted a hatch pulling out a needle "I will crush them and make their bones and blood and organs into a soup, that I will feed their families with" he said wild eyed as he stuck himself with the needle. "I left S behind, hope he isn't upset. Never the matter it might give me a pony on the inside."

The painkillers began to take affect and Sic became half lidded 'this should last me until I get proper medical treatment' he thought. Sicolus stood back up, grabbed the box and made his way back to his lair. 'It's dangerous, they might find it. But if the find it with me there...Celestia help them' He thought.

OCC: I'm back! What'd I miss?

OOC: Not much. About nine or so posts.

"...Never really got a hang of pegasus magic." Luminia muttered to no one in particular, shuffling her wings uneasily in the dark tunnels. The dark had always been a horrible place to die, in her thoughts. She'd seen it happen. How many had to experience it? How many of her own? "I can fly, but..."

She glanced around, frowning.