darkSpyro

"You could help," he said, "in return I could help you find that pony that you are looking for. Is that enough to get your help?"

"I have no interest in helping," Arlon replied, beginning to leave. "And likewise, I have no interest in being helped. Good day, or night. That doesn't matter either."

"Need I remind you that since Celestia died, there is no sun anymore," he replied, "and if you're going to bottle your emotions, I'll have no part of the matter whatsoever then,"

"I don't bottle my emotions. It's called detachment." Arlon shook his head as he spoke in his perpetually cheery voice, neglecting to turn to face Patriatic. "Indifference. Disinterest. Whichever word you care to use."

"The words I would use," said Patriatic, "would be shy, insignificance, sorrow, worry, fear, tragedy, worry, or maybe, just maybe, insecurity."

Arlon paused, expression flattening.

"'Insecurity'?"

---

A dark grey colt sprinting through Canterlot's streets, avoiding lightposts where he could, tears streaming out of his red-yellow eyes. Memories of that last argument with 'dad' churning around his nine year old brain.

Only an hour beforehand had the earth pony discovered the truth.

He wasn't the son of an initiative. He wasn't going to get the facility he so richly deserved. Everything would go to precious little Phosphora, wouldn't it? His real kid. Pretty Princess Phora.

He was just an earth pony, and the son of a murderer.

Arlon resisted the urge to scream into the night.

---

The adult Arlon turned around to face Patriatic.

"Tell me," he asked, his voice still keeping that even, cheerful tone, though there was a slight edge to it. "please, where do you put your basis for the claims that I'm - correct me if I'm wrong - shy, insignificant, afraid, or worried? I'm intrigued."

"To start of with, when you faced away you seemed to want to not face reality stemming possibly from shyness, you must feel worthless due to the fact you can't find who you are looking for leading to self-hatred and insignificance, afraid because you're still scared to face reality, and worried because this person could be dead right now," he said

Arlon scoffed, shaking his head. "Am I really going to fight this pointless battle? Fine. 'Shyness' is intention, to find what I need to own and act on it. I was leaving, after all. 'Worthless' and 'insignificance' are setbacks, with no relation whatsoever as to my own feelings about myself. 'Worried' is a change of plans, as to if my adversaries are alive or not, I need the confimation as to their fates, and if they're alive, end them.

"Easily, I could turn this around to you. You're looking for Rarity and Pinkie Pie, yes? Where is your proof that they're alive? Laughter's corpse could very easily be buried in the rubble you're standing in. Generosity," Arlon smiled. "Could be a rotting pile of red and white, lost beneath that pretty little shop she owned. Hah, possibly. What is it you're after?"

Patriatic's eyes suddenly looked as if they would light up, "I'm looking for them for something very special boy," he said, "they have very unique worth for what I have planned in my vile brain,"

ooc: sorry pop, that's a negative. I have plans.

Dusty turned to Hellena "You're just the right kinda crazy aren't ya?" He smiled "I have been all over Equestria and beyond, chances are you've seen me before."

---

Twilight's eyes widened at the sight of the metallic ball. "it's that shy one" Sicolus said with a sick smile "I wonder what would happen if I introduced her to 48 hours of mental torture. You know the ponies strong enough to overcome my mind control ended up going mad and committing suicide. How long do you think she would last?" "I am telling you I don't know where any of it is" Twilight said in a panic "all I know is that they have a special pony store those types of items away."

Sic laughed and tossed the ball behind him causing it to crack slightly "I don't even know if we could pull her out healthy from that thing. It was the last thing that went through my mind when I shoved all your friends into them. Kinda like ponemon."

Sicolus walked over to a syringe and filled it with a strange liquid. He then turned to Barkis "come here."

OCC: Very well then

Barkis walked up to Sicolus somewhat frightened of what the liquid is, "Y-yes?" he asked about to flinch is he was going to be harmed

Hellena's eyebrows creased, the unicorn staring at the ground.

"Hh... No, I definitely know you from somewhere... But- I looked a little different, didn't I?" she muttered audibly. "The- the Factory, wasn't it?"

---

"Developing a harem, are we?" Arlon replied, beginning once again to leave. "Or are you planning something else? Try for the less... cliché, creepy edge. Really. It'll improve your chances. Well, it doesn't matter if you're a necrophiliac. I'm not one to judge."

"Actually," he said, "you could be right when you said that they could be dead, but Rainbow Dash is the only one I know is still alive. She's in the Rainbow Factory and I would attack there, but they would thwart me with there defenses. In the meantime, I'll help you with you're predicament if you desire it to be."

"You'd be a fool to try and assualt the Factory head on. And as I said earlier, I'm not interested in help." Arlon stared out over the buildings, in the general direction of Whitetail Wood. "I don't like to have to keep things private, without a bumbling drunk getting in the way."

OOC: so uh spyrod if you want i can pm you the reason of why phosphora (and by extension luminia) is probably really pissed off

"Bumbling drunk?" Patriatic questioned somewhat offended

"Oh, no, I'm not referring to you."

--

He was a bloodied, bruised young stallion who could only have been in his early 20s at most, his neck bent at an angle too extreme to be natural. Tattered blue-grey wings and a broken horn were clearly visible, the 'alicorn' having been long incapacitated even before the short fight had begun. Pitiful, even in life, losing everything in one stupid blunder, turning to alcoholism to ease his pain.

The dark grey earth pony wiped away the blood that wasn't his, regretting having to extinguish the spark of life that was Pendleton Zephyr, but it was a necessary sacrifice.

Arlon left the body of his little half-brother where it lay.

--

"A potential ally had the gall to call me out on one of my ideas. I met with him a few hours ago, actually. Interesting how the time flies."

Patriatic walked up to Arlon, "An ally? Now are you talking about me?" he asked

"No. I was - and still am - referring to my little brother."

---

The deepest parts of Zephyr were locked in a kind of perpetual darkness, the lights having gone out long before Phosphora's lockdown. The said pegasus found a certain charm in the inky blackness, with the underground lake reflecting what little light found its way to the water surface.

Peaceful, Phosphora called it.

Now, she was sitting by the shores of the lake, a can of beans supported between her forelegs. In the distance, an office block was burning, and in the process of collapsing into the lake. Despite the pang she felt at just sitting by, watching a part of her own facility crumble into the void, she was oddly at peace. It was just nice to take some time to appreciate the prettier things in life.

"Your little brother?" he asked, "aahh...I understand. That has to be what is making you feel insecure dear boy,"

"That's getting rather annoying. I'm thirty." Arlon looked down at him, raising an eyebrow skeptically. "And I don't understand your insistence at my nonexistent insecurities. You ever heard of Pen Zephyr? Hh. I don't envy my brother. Maybe he became an alicorn, albeit in the worst way possible, but the cons outweigh the benefits. In the end, it was a mercy kill."

"Why I've heard of Pen in some ways," said Patriatic, "but I'm very certain that me had turned into alicorn. If Celestia is dead so is the celestial plane. And so is the mirror to the human world, they all must be wiped out from existence,"

"There was no celestial plane or... human world... involved. It was more along the lines of a horn transplant, a subsequent power high, and the attempted removal of the appendage. All in the interest of science, of course, or so she claims."

"She?" he asked now very interested, "is she this Phosphora mare that you are speaking of?"

Red peered down from the roof slightly depressed, They forgot all about me, he thought, just when I was about to create even MORE oppression!

OOC: he never actually mentioned phosphora by name

OCC: Actually Reshiram, he was a customer of her company/products

OOC: yes, perhaps, but arlon never actually mentioned any of his sisters, or his affiliation with phosphora (and pen was never too big on advocating zephyr, seeing what phos did).

OCC: Oh, nevermind the last comment then

OOC: I'll leave that choice to you. It would be insightful, but I'm not sure how useful it would be, then again I dont know what it is so... Eh.

Ash put his hooves over his head as if he had been struck or pain had just emerged from nothing, "Do you hear the words? The words, the name... Calling to us... Calling to me!" he looked up to Raptor who was flinching at nothing, "You do... You do, you do!" he turned away from the guard who was confused on what they were possibly hearing, "It calls to us again and again... The Factory... It lives!" he ran down the alley to the other side and turned out of sight.

The guard turned to Raptor, "Are you alright? Do you require any treatment?" he reached back into the left saddle bag.

Raptor shook her head, "No, it's just... Nevermind, it is nothing," she started walking away from the alley and down the direction they were headed, "If you insist on following me, do so in a quiet manor. I dont want to be ambushed by rookie thugs. It would be a shame to die so young."

--

Gulaven turned to Luminia after Red had flown off to the roof, "It is up to you whether to join me or not, but as I said, this wasteland can have me... Just not my factory," he had his front right leg produce its pieces that made it fire the riffle, "The yield on this thing could use a tune up," he aimed for a lamp post that had already fallen just over on the next cloud. It charged, then fired a single fast traveling green beam. It penetrated the metal and separated the shell, "Might go through a head easily, but not armor, at least not a whole lot."

Red had overheard the guard and Raptor and a jolt of excitement overcame him, the idea of either working with the Rainbow Factory or be against them and Raptor with the guard would make tonight fun for him

"I will come." Luminia replied quietly, watching Gulaven shoot somewhat warily. The aging mare had neglected to find a new helmet for herself, her old one lost in the confusion surrounding what had happened. "I need to find out for myself... this is probably the best opportunity I'm going to get."

---

Argaent lurched on his first attempt to move forwards, grasping his head in his hoof as the pain flaired at the sudden movement. Eventually feeling steady enough to keep going, the unicorn continued south towards Ponyville, horn glinting every few moments or so in response to his rising paranoia and unsureness.

Aah... Red thought, a chance to prove my strength against so many ponies all with my guns teeth, rainboom, and even more! I cannot wait for this event to come!

Dusty laughed "how could I have been in the factory, no wings" he pointed his back. "I know who you are talking about" Jed said in a somber tone "he's dead. That maniac ripped his arm off. He probably bled to death on the floor, but not before he could do some damage control" he looked down as if he had said to much.

"are ya done?" Dusten asked "can I go now?"

---

Sic quickly stuck the needle in Barkis and inject the liquid "there, I just injected you with a genetically parasitic virus" he said cheerily "but don't worry it's dormant. For now. Now you can go along do what ever you please. hell take a few guards with you, cause some havoc. Just don't die, otherwise this was pointless."

OCC: Is the other character I added accepted (Blue Visor)?

Barkis smiled with sadistic intention in his eyes spreading across his whole face, fear was now dead to him, "Much obliged. I'll have one hell of a time with this advantage." he said turning over to see the guards once again feeling excitement.

"Oh." Hellena responded, not giving much of a reaction from a fainting reddening of the cheeks.

Grey's expression tightened, his feathers puffing out slightly.

Damn it, he thought. What are we getting involved in?

"So Arlon," said Patriatic becoming more interested, "tell me more about whom you're looking for,"

"No." Arlon replied shortly, flicking an ear. He didn't really care about Patriatic's presence, seeing as the earth pony didn't really have a plan for what to do next. It was more of a waiting/stalking game now, as to find someone or something that knew what was going on. If worst came to worst, there was always the homicidal option.

Ooc:
Name: Proditora
Gender: Female
Species: Pegasus
Personality: intelligent, cynical and very judicious
Appearance: Dark blue fur/mane, striking blue eyes
Weapons: Intelligence, speed and her dagger
History: She was part of a secret group dedicated to protecting
the royal family, although when she was accused of not being fully
responsible when Princess Celestia was nearly attacked by a pack of thieves,
so she turned rogue
Other: Values her own safety more than others

"Very well," said Patriatic, "but your insecurity is starting to consume you dear boy, you should do something about it,"

Arlon chose not to respond, choosing instead to turn weary eyes over Ponyville, and his little thoughts for killing this adversary were growing all the more louder.

Hm, I really didn't have a plan for this. Interesting.

Patriatic walked up next towards him and looked at the destroyed Ponyville, it was such a shame that such a great land that one would consider paradise had been turned to such a wasteland where rubble and charred twisted metal lay about, "Such a shame really..." he muttered

OOC: you mind deleting your first post there jet-vac?

"Targeted 'Red' has been located at the Rainbow Factory. Roof of the tour district," The guard's helmet announced. The guard looked up into the clouds, to which the visor from the helmet also lowered again to produce a visual from one of the roof top cameras, "Subject of interest seems to have failed and has given up entry to the Factory."

Raptor turned quickly to the Guard, "Could that name stop being said!?" she stamped.

"I have to keep up with him, so his name-"

"Not Red!" she placed a hoof on her head, "It is just so... Grrraahh!" she turned and started trotting off a little faster than normal, "To Canterlot right?"

"Yes," the guard said as the visor raised away and flew up to catch up. Gliding next to her, only inches off the ground, "But we are taking a more covered path from here to the mountain base. Through that forsaken forest. Not ideal on a regular basis, but we don't live in regular times now."

--

Gulaven turned to Luminia again after taking one last glance at his leg as the parts retracted and closed up, "I appreciate the help. I normally dont Sk anypony, but this one time I am making an acception."

Rainbow Dash came back by herself, "They should be up in a matter minutes," She looked out into the world below, "Rarity... AppleJack... Apple Bloom... Big Macintosh... Sweetie Belle... Pinkie... The Cakes... Granny Smith... They were all down there... From what I've seen... I haven't seen them," a tear boiled up on her cheek where she caught it, to which she produced a small laugh, "Can you believe the first time I almost truly cried was when I though they ran out of cider at the farm?"

Red looked down and noticed the guard and Raptor, "How interesting...should I use a gun? Nah...that's a coward's weapon. I have a better idea," he started to check his bag for a gun with no ammo and stared at it, "coward's weapon huh? They're kinda right," he placed his guns on the roof and came down to the doors of the factory again

"You really think so?" Arlon kept going, speeding up slightly. "Huh."

---

Luminia frowned sympathetically at Rainbow Dash's words.

"If it means anything, I'm sorry for your losses." she said quietly.

Patriatic followed, "Yes, if you grew up the way I did, you wouldn't be attached to reality if you understand, my parents weren't exactly perfect... in fact, they were savage,"

"Hh." Arlon grunted. "Unlikely. I've been alone since I was nine."

"For that long?" Patriatic asked confused, "but if that is the case, who is it you're looking for? No one could remember anyone that could have been in there childhood for that long,"

Gulaven looked past Luminia at Red, "Can you tell me what it is you need?" he shook his right leg out as the fake skin sealed the lacerations that had previously shown the metallic components. He stepped up to the pegasus, "I recall you had just flown up to my roof."

OOC: I'm distracted, might finish or repost this later

"Is there still room here for me?" he asked curiously, "I'm not armed so no need to worry about that either,"

"I'm thirty." Arlon repeated boredly. "There are no need for childhood grudges."