darkSpyro

The young guard stared at Steels outfitting with wide eyes and a slack jaw. "I-I...um, I suppose you won't need me to escort you to where the other guards are?" he stuttered.

-

"Thank you plenty, miss!" the reporter said with a grin and a tip of his hat. And with that he continued on his way through the market place, searching for a pony who could help.

"By all means," Steel gestured forward with his prosthetic. "Escort away." His wing perked back up with a whirr and a beep.

"Ah, right then!" the guard said. He straightened up and began to trot down the hall to the door that led to the main hall of the castle. "Be wary though, Lieutenant, getting through some parts of the city won't be easy. There's quite some crowds out today."

Violet finished her newspaper and sighed. "One day... I'll be in their ranks..." She muttered. "They're in Manehatten too? Those poor Earth Ponies..."

OOC: I was wondering where everyone else is and if Strike could interact with them. I NEED to interact with other RPers. It's boring without. :3

Solar landed In the marketplace, looking for any reliable newspaper to by about the ESP. this place is so crowded she sighed, squeezing through the many ponies

OOC: NEVERMIND!

Violet noticed Solar and walked to her with her newspaper. "Want my newspaper? I'm done with it, and they're free at the stand. You look like you needed one." Violet laughed and handed her the Manehatten Marvel.

OOC: StarSong and Solar Spark are in Ponyville, and the background characters I mentioned in a few posts (Daisy, Lyra, Sweetie Drops) are all available to talk to. There's also a reporter wandering around the marketplace. The other characters are located in different areas.

The three ponies at the flower shop were still gabbing away.

"Do you think that these EPS ponies will try to boycott the celebration for the anniversary of the refounding of the Crystal Empire?" Lyra questioned, looking up from her magazine.

"Who knows?" piped up Sweetie Drops nasal voice. "After all, the celebration is being held in Canterlot. This EPS probably won't like it much though."

"I heard that the Crystalines in Canterlot are prouder than ever!" exclaimed Daisy. "They hold their heads up high and aren't letting this threat bother them!"

Solar reared back slightly, surprised by the sudden interaction with the pony, then took the newspaper. "um... Thanks," she said

Name:Forest Cutter
Age: Young Stallion
Species:Earth pony
Appearance: a Very large pony, has light tan coat with a dark brown mane. He wears a red plaid flannel shirt. His cutie mark is a chainsaw.
Personality: Used to be kind and polite until his life took a turn for the worse. Now he has a drinking and anger problem, constantly blames it on the crystal ponies because they get handed everything.
Location: Lived at a family farm in the Ghastly Gorge until recently.
Other: Forest used to work with his father and brother growing trees cutting them down and selling the lumber. His father was convicted for murder when 2 crystal ponies tried to rob the farm only to find themselves out powered. Now with his father gone he tried to keep the farm running, but he could not. When his mother's health started failing Forest set off, leaving his brother to help mom, to make some money so his family can survive. He now has a severe drinking problem and a disdain for other ponies, mostly crystal ponies.

OOC: Oooo, an earth pony! You are accepted, Sandman

Name: The Shadow (True name is unknown)
Age: NA (Stallion)
Species: Unicorn
Appearance: He is tall and muscular. His eyes, mane as well as tail are pure snow-white and glisten like the moon's light. His coat however is sleek and as midnight black. It is described as dark as the darkest light without light. He wears a highwayman's suit which is black on the outside and red on the inside. He wears a feathered hat and an steel mask covers his face.
Personality: NA(Will be revealed in the role play)
Location: Currently in Canterlot
Other: Not much is known about him, but whenever some needs aid, he is there.

OOC: Wyrstel, you are accepted as long as you RP in third person

Out the front of the hotel, the duo stared at the crowds apprehensively.
"It might be easier to go our seperate ways." Loony muttered. "Meet back up here later." Before Hellena could respond, though, he seemingly melted into the throng of ponies and out of sight.
"Thinks he'll embarrass me." she muttered under her breath, heading in the opposite direction. "Hh. No he won't."

Violet simply stated "No problem!" And flew off. She scanned Ponyville and spotted a reporter. Violet flew down to her and smiled. "Hello there! I'm Violet Strike." She wanted to mask her delight for the EPS with happiness, and give the reporter a good interview with her before she went back and reopened the forgery.

Solar began skimming through the paper, particularly looking for any headlines About the ESP. come on, something good has to come out of this

The reporter jumped in surprise. "Wow, that bread gal works fast!" he muttered to himself. "Hello! Are you here to gimme an interview?"

-

The newspaper that StarSong had recieved was the same as the secondhand paper that Solar was looking at. They were both the Manehatten Marvel. The headline read "Equestrian Preservation Society, terrorists or hoax?" The picture wasthe same image of the three masked ponies from the tape.

The article provided a recap of what all occurred in the video in great detail, an interview or two with some crystal ponies in Manehatten (who's names were kept anonymous), and the authors ideas of what the Princesses would do to combat this issue.

"Thanks for the heads-up." Steel smiled. "This 'Equestrian Preservation Society' BS has gotten way out of hoof." He stated. "Its starting to crumble everything we've worked to rebuild in the last millennia."

"Tell me about it." the guard said, his ears drooping. "I happen to know some crystal ponies personally, they're really nice folk. And after being gone so long, having so much time lost? You'd think that they'd be accepted."

The shadows move as a figure steps into the light. Its face is hidden behind a steel mask underneath a dark hood. None have seen his face but all know him for he is a legend. Known only as The Shadow he works on his own delivering justice and defending the people. With swish of his cloak he removes his hood, a appears behind Steel and the guard. His moonlit eyes seem to glow beneath his mask as he places a hoof on their shoulders and speaks.

"Fear not my folk, you are not alone," he says before vanishing into the shadows again.

The guard spun around. "What the ****?!" he yelled. Seeing that the interruption was now gone, he turned and looked at Steel. "Dammit! How does that guy even get past castle security?"

Steel tapped the guard's forehead with his cold metal hoof. "Magic." He chuckled before beginning to trot again. "I've seen weirder things."

The guard sighed. "I guess. I dunno, I just feel like he's an awful suspicious character being able to get into the castle so easily. Doesn't seem like the most trustworthy." he said, pushing open the door to the courtyard.

OOC: Can Steel fly?

Forest stepped out of the pub in ponyville heading towards the post office. Bags where visible under his eyes, he had been up for 33 hours now. His walk told of how he was still a little drunk. He reached the post office and walked up to the front desk and handed an envelope to the pony at the desk "send this to Ghastly Gorge as soon as possible" he said with sad eyes. "I am sorry sir but we aren't delivering until three days from now, not since the whole terrorist thing going on" the pony behind the desk said. "NO!" Forest said slamming his hooves on the counter angrily "MY MOTHER NEEDS THIS NOW! IT CAN'T WAIT". "Sir you will have to calm down or I will call the police" the pony said. Cursing Forest turned around and walked out the door. He stepped inside a dark alley and lay down to sleep. He had no home and refused to get a hotel, his family needed the money a lot more than he did and he would do anything for them, anything.

OOC: Yes, but not as fast thanks to the pounds of machinery in his body. He also can't fly while the rock saw is active. He's a lot better at scooting though, and can lift bigger loads tham most.

"He seems like one of those 'masked vigilante' types." Steel vouched, following through to the courtyard. "If the Princesses aren't too bothered, than I guess its okay."

A scruffy looking pony walked up to Hellana through the crowded streets of Canterlot. The sign he donned around his neck read "BEWARE THE COMING OF MANTICORES!"

"Pardon me, ma'am!" the pony said, his eyes slightly red rimmed. "Do you have a moment to talk about the coming of the Great Manticore Overlord?"

-

A grey mare with a blonde mane had followed Forest. She trotted quietly up to where he had fallen asleep, then gently spoke. "Um, s-sir? Sir, can I speak to you for a moment please?" she asked, hoping to wake him in the easiest way possible.

-

The guard shrugged. "Yeah, I suppose."

Just then, two pegasus guards came trotting into view, a chariot latched onto them. One was a Solar guard, the other a Lunar guard. They were easily twice the build of the guard accompanying Steel.

"Ah! Lieutenant Steel!" said the Solar guard. "We are to escort you to the rendezvous with Princess Twilight and company. The Princesses have requested we take you via chariot, as the party seems to be traveling faster than we had expected."

Forest jolted awake ready to take on anypony who dare assaulted him. He woke to see the mare, and tried to keep the envelope out of sight. "what do you want?" he asked emotionless.

The mare's wings spread in surprise of his sudden waking. She sat down and folded her wings once more, trying her best to focus her wall-eyes on Forest. "Um, I work at the post office. I couldn't help but overhear that you need an urgent letter sent..." she slowly began to smile. "If you'd like, I can deliver it free of charge. It sounds like it's pretty important."

Forest wondered at the sudden kindness. On one hand it could be a trick, considering the envelope was full of money for the family, and on the other he really needed to get it to his brother. Without it he would be unable to get food shipped in from Appleloosa nor pay the doctor's bills they now owed. His family had been there for generations and he would hate to get evicted, so perhaps trust is necessary. Forest's expression softened "are you sure? I mean they wouldn't cancel on me for no reason, are you sure it would be safe?" The act of caring for other's safety came habitually, especially those helping him out in a big way. It was how he was raised. Be polite, kind and considerate, though recently he has been dealing with anger and alcohol.

"Chariot, huh." Steel mused, giving a cursory examination of the vehicle. "Uh...yeah, sure. No problem." He gave a flapping leap into the back. "Doesn't this just make me feel all important and whatnot." He joked. Sitting his plot firmly in the floor, he blushed a little.

They knew he wouldn't be able to catch up on wing...and that was a little embarrassing.

"Yes I am." She said confidently.
"Ahem... I think the EPS should be respected but not rewarded. The Crystals should fear but not hate. I am currently... Hmm... 'neutral' to the situation." Violet lied with a smirk. "I personally think the protests are necessary, and that the selling of wares is important, as the EPS can and WILL filter Equestria, and-" She stopped at what she said. "I mean- They can and WILL uh... Murder... Equestria's 'mineral people'." Violet smiled at the reporter. "That all you need?"

The goofy eyed pegasus put on her best face of determination and gave a little salute. "As an official Equestrian mailmare of the Pegasus Post, I swear that that your letter will be safely delivered! I once took a whole wagon of parcels to the Griffon Kingdom alone, I'll definitely be able to deliver your letter."

-

While the Solar guard shifted a bit under his harness, the Lunar guard looked over his shoulder at Steel. "Well, sir, you are a pretty important pony to the Princesses. They're just looking out for your best interests." he said softly, a bit of a smile on his face.

-

The reporter quickly jotted down everything she said, word for word. Then he looked up at Violet and raised an eyebrow. "Murder?" he repeated. "That sounds a little harsh, miss. The EPS never said anything about wanting to put an end to anyponys life. As for your statements, they don't make you sound very neutral about the matter. Especially the 'mineral people' bit..."

"'Murder' as in unlawful killing of the Crystals." Violet corrected herself.

Steel returned the smile. He was on friendly terms with the Solar Princess. And Luna smiled on occasion, given he hadn't known her as long. "I guess we'd better head out. Thanks for the escort, by the way." He added to the smaller guard.

The reporter narrowed his eyes for a moment, then flipped to a new page in his notepad. "Well, anyways, do you happen to know anything about the sudden disappearance of the Elements of Harmony?" he asked, readying his pen. "Perhaps you had a personal tie to one of them? Or maybe you know where they and their families are?"

-

The young guard smiled and saluted. With that, the two other guards spread their wings and the chariot took to the skies. It was mere moments before they were sailing over the crowds outside of the castle walls.

OOC: oops, ninja.

"Well, my shop is right beside Rarity's Boutique. I woke up today to find it boarded up and abandoned. It was weird, and I didn't get a good look at it before I had to make a shipment. I bet I couldn't anyways as it had no cracks in the wood, and where it did the blinds were closed." Strike explained. "Oh, and I'm Violet Strike."

OOC: Nyght, you sneaker!

The reporter was scribbling away again. "I see. Is there anything else you know, Miss Strike?"

"That's really all. I just need to say one thing, and put this in the news. The Crystals are in danger. So they'd better run." Violet Strike smiled at the reporter and flew off.

"my, my, this certainly has a lot of information," solar thought out loud, reading through the newspaper. Solar spark wasn't someone who really believed in things such as this, but kept them in mind. she doesn't like dividing specific ponies up either, she sees no difference in everypony.

"Sorry, no, I'm, uh, busy." Hellena replied uncomfortably, before scurrying off, horn alight. She glanced behind her once she ducked around a corner, to see if the mangy pony had followed her or not.
"In all my years... Has Canterlot really fallen to this?" she asked herself. "And the Princesses... don't do anything?" Looking up, she noticed a chariot speeding past.

OOC: Just so you guys know, I'm pretty busy this weekend. I won't be able to post again until nighttime, unless Nyght posts. I'll be responding to his since right now he's helping the first major plot point move along.

The Shadow appears beside the reporter smiling through his mask as he speaks. His snow-white mane blows in the wind as he removes his hood again. His horn glistens in the sunlight sparkling like a diamond.

"Know this my friend, the crystal ponies need not worry nor do you my folk," he says leaving a crossed black and white rose beside the reporter before vanishing.

"Thank you very much" Forest said letting a small smile show "The place was to be delivered was near the Ghastly Gourge, down the train tracks on the way to Appleloosa. The property starts in the forest but the house is on the edge." Even though he was now able, if he was lucky enough, to get the envelope delivered it did not solve all his problems. His father was still in prison, his mother's health was still failing, and the farm which his family had owned for generations is going down the pooper. Why was it that the crystal ponies got special treatment, why couldn't he catch a break? Why is his dad was behind bars for defending his family, and yet these ponies could just walk in and steal everything from him. It infuriated him.

OOC: Wyrstel, there's no possible way that Shadow could get from Canterlot, then Ponyville, then back to Canterlot in a few minutes. Also, I'd prefer if he didn't tag along with the guards.

The ponies of Canterlot were trotting about through the streets. Most of them were going about their business as usual, yet it seemed that there were more guards patrolling the intersections too.

-

The reporter scratched his head, surprised at the sudden appearance and disappearance of the strange pony who left behind the rose. He made a few more jot notes in his notepad before promptly trotting off to write up his story before the deadline.

-

The pegasus mare grinned. "Okey dokey! I'll get there as quick as I can, sir!" she said, opening up her saddlebag and stepping closer so he could drop the letter inside.

Steel couldn't help but lose himself in the rushing breeze. It was the pegasi's birthright to fly, and Steel made that apparent after he "corrected" his little handicap. It was his belief that anypony should be able to fly, and when he finally retired, he would help everypony realize that dream.

Hellena grunted, before continuing on towards the castle.

---

Loony, meanwhile, was heading towards the south-eastern end of Canterlot, where the train station was.
This is ridiculous, he thought, pausing a moment to stare at the distant Ponyville. My whole life we've been avoiding crowds like this. Now, she's twisting around these ponies like she's always done it!