[FWM] As Equestria Turns:MLP Without the Kiddy Thread XI

[Orzel]

(Insomnia is teh sucks)

Lochbed

The kelpie nuzzled Ember from the inside of that hug. "Ah am no more skilled than any other of we fae. We fae donnae have cutiemarks that adjust our ability."

Hover

The pilot knocked on the door of the crew's melee specialist. She pushed the door open slightly. "G'Morning Blaze. How are you feeling? Dead?"

[Benson]

(Insomnia is teh sucks)

Lochbed

The kelpie nuzzled Ember from the inside of that hug. "Ah am no more skilled than any other of we fae. We fae donnae have cutiemarks that adjust our ability."

"I...well...uh, no one is as skilled to make that beret of yours look so cute as you do?" He was now grasping at 'skills' at trying to make her feel better.

[HalfTangible]

Gearstride rubbed her chin and heavily exhaled. "I believe this would be the time to invoke doctor-patient confidentiality. Please proceed doctor."

(Moon Blossom can feel free to cut him off at any point, just note where he doesn't get a chance to speak, and he just never gets that far.)

With the Captain's permission secured, Sandy turned back to Moon Blossom and nodded. "It's alright by me, then."

The engineer shut his eyes and concentrated on sending his mind back to last night. Revisiting his own mistakes wouldn't be pleasant, but the greater good demanded it. "Alright, clearest memory I've got: I'm walkin' around town late last night. I got my armor and knives on, ready to give any troublemakers a proper beatin'." He decided to omit why exactly he felt the need to go for a walk, figuring it was a minor enough detail. "I hear a noise in an alley. There's nopony else on the streets. I figure it's either a trap, or a stray cat or somethin'. I draw two knives, get up a light spell, an' give a holler. Nopony answers, but I think I see somethin' scurryin' around back there."

Here in his narration, Sandy frowned and started fidgeting with his forehooves. "Instead of goin' up the wall, or flingin' somethin' at the noise, I just stand there, draw more knives, an' keep shoutin' away. Stupid, stupid move. I get jumped like a little foal an' somethin' gets a leg 'round my throat an' lifts me like I don't weigh nothin'."

Now the engineer's brow furrowed, details were at a premium here. "I...I remember kickin' an' fightin'. I try stabbin' whatever it is, but my knives don't do...no, wait, where'd they go?" He unconsciously reached for his side where his blades usually hung. "I had 'em, I stab, an' then...an' then...nghh, c'mon...I know this..." Even before the key hole they were trying to fill, Sandy had just stumbled into a memory gap he had no idea he had.

That is close enough, thank you. She shut her eyes and leaned down, her horn glowing, and placed her horn against his forehead. This may sting. Moon Blossom's eyes suddenly shot open, glowing bright pink. Ember felt himself going through the memories again, but this time it was as clear as if it had happened half a minute ago.

Dang. She muttered.

[Kelvin360]

"Brace yourself for a counter. He might've been dominated, too." Oh, sure. NOW he brings that up.

[Orzel]

"I...well...uh, no one is as skilled to make that beret of yours look so cute as you do?" He was now grasping at 'skills' at trying to make her feel better.

"Mah beret is cute. Is itnae? Of course it is." Lochbed started to gain some confidence. "Maybe Ah can work at a hat store."

[Benson]

"Mah beret is cute. Is itnae? Of course it is." Lochbed started to gain some confidence. "Maybe Ah can work at a hat store."

"Mmm, perhaps you can model the hats, entice customers to buy them," he chuckled, glad to see her coming off as feeling better.

[Orzel]

"Mmm, perhaps you can model the hats, entice customers to buy them," he chuckled, glad to see her coming off as feeling better.

Lockbed, bolstered by the colt-stallion's words, stomped a hoof. "Then it is settled. Ah willbae a fashion model."

[Benson]

Lockbed, bolstered by the colt-stallion's words, stomped a hoof. "Then it is settled. Ah willbae a fashion model."

"Oh, then I'll get to be a coltfriend of a fashion model," He chuckled and turned her around to face him and dipped her before bringing her up to nuzzle her muzzle. Aubade discretely shook her head as she cleaned up the dishes, she wondered if the young master was going way over his head and building up something he may not be able to fulfill, whelp, she would have to do her best to prevent her master from committing a folly.

[TheAmishPirate]

That is close enough, thank you. She shut her eyes and leaned down, her horn glowing, and placed her horn against his forehead. This may sting. Moon Blossom's eyes suddenly shot open, glowing bright pink. Sandy felt himself going through the memories again, but this time it was as clear as if it had happened half a minute ago.

Dang. She muttered.

Sandy felt something warm and tingling against his forehead. He cracked open an eye to try and get a glimpse of what she was doing. "Alright, just say whe-ack!" An electric sting arced from the thing on his forehead, down into the very recesses of his brain. The engineer's eyes snapped open, glowing the same shade of pink. A torrent of memories came flooding back with crystal clarity this time, and for a brief moment, the engineer was overwhelmed by the rush.

"Brace yourself for a counter. He might've been dominated, too." Oh, sure. NOW he brings that up.

(Same as before, if he gets cut off, just say when)

Back on the couch, Sandy smirked, speaking in an unusually confident voice. "Nah, nothin' like that. Luck wouldn't let things get that bad. Woop, here we go..."

His smile disappeared and he groaned as the memories came into focus. "Ngh...wha...okay, okay," he muttered, voice back to its usual tone. "I...I'm gettin' choked. I've got my knives, I stab, then...then somethin' takes 'em away. Two fast somethin's hurl them away. The thing 'round my neck laughs, he's sayin' he likes the scrappy ones. He rips off my neck bandage, I'm startin' to black out, I feel two little sharp things go into my neck. I panic an' bite down on his leg."

Sandy grimaced as he recalled the next part. "The needle-things go away, I get hurled into the alley, them two other things give me a pair of stomps along the way. The chokin' one says my blood tastes like crabapples, tells the other two t'kill me before runnin' off. I manage t'get my last two knives out, hardly does any good. They stomp my horn black 'n blue, keep my magic off. The things are like shadows, always movin', but never makin' a sound, not even when they're beatin' me. Armor's paddin' the blows, but don't know how much more I can take."

Sandy's eyes opened wider as the memories soldiered on, past any time he'd been able to remember before. "An' then...then a third thing comes outta nowhere, all shadowy an' silent. Picks up one of the two an' hurls him into the wall before tusslin' with the other one. I pick myself up an' stumble out of the way, then I turn around, see if I can't hurl a knife or somethin' t'help. I can't make out anythin', all three all just dark shapes movin' about. Only sounds are when a trash can gets knocked over, or one of them grunts. Then...then it all stops. Alley's completely quiet. I don't mind so much. I lean against the wall, bracin' myself for the trip home, when a bright light shines behind me, voice yells out. I panic, and nearly blind everypony with a flash of light. Turns out its the town guard. We talk, I can't get out much that makes sense, they help drag me t'the clinic."

He could keep going, but that was the full extent of the memory gaps, so Moon Blossom may wish to stop.

[Orzel]

"Oh, then I'll get to be a coltfriend of a fashion model," He chuckled and turned her around to face him and dipped her before bringing her up to nuzzle her muzzle. Aubade discretely shook her head as she cleaned up the dishes, she wondered if the young master was going way over his head and building up something he may not be able to fulfill, whelp, she would have to do her best to prevent her master from committing a folly.

"Wheeeeee! Hehehe!" said the fae as she was dipped. The sudden movement and nuzzle was a pleasant surprise. If her mind was not racing,she might have given the stallion a smooch. "Which kind of model should Ah be? What kind of model do ye ponies have?"

Sandy felt something warm and tingling against his forehead. He cracked open an eye to try and get a glimpse of what she was doing. "Alright, just say whe-ack!" An electric sting arced from the thing on his forehead, down into the very recesses of his brain. The engineer's eyes snapped open, glowing the same shade of pink. A torrent of memories came flooding back with crystal clarity this time, and for a brief moment, the engineer was overwhelmed by the rush.

(Same as before, if he gets cut off, just say when)

Back on the couch, Sandy smirked, speaking in an unusually confident voice. "Nah, nothin' like that. Luck wouldn't let things get that bad. Woop, here we go..."

His smile disappeared and he groaned as the memories came into focus. "Ngh...wha...okay, okay," he muttered, voice back to its usual tone. "I...I'm gettin' choked. I've got my knives, I stab, then...then somethin' takes 'em away. Two fast somethin's hurl them away. The thing 'round my neck laughs, he's sayin' he likes the scrappy ones. He rips off my neck bandage, I'm startin' to black out, I feel two little sharp things go into my neck. I panic an' bite down on his leg."

Sandy grimaced as he recalled the next part. "The needle-things go away, I get hurled into the alley, them two other things give me a pair of stomps along the way. The chokin' one says my blood tastes like crabapples, tells the other two t'kill me before runnin' off. I manage t'get my last two knives out, hardly does any good. They stomp my horn black 'n blue, keep my magic off. The things are like shadows, always movin', but never makin' a sound, not even when they're beatin' me. Armor's paddin' the blows, but don't know how much more I can take."

Sandy's eyes opened wider as the memories soldiered on, past any time he'd been able to remember before. "An' then...then a third thing comes outta nowhere, all shadowy an' silent. Picks up one of the two an' hurls him into the wall before tusslin' with the other one. I pick myself up an' stumble out of the way, then I turn around, see if I can't hurl a knife or somethin' t'help. I can't make out anythin', all three all just dark shapes movin' about. Only sounds are when a trash can gets knocked over, or one of them grunts. Then...then it all stops. Alley's completely quiet. I don't mind so much. I lean against the wall, bracin' myself for the trip home, when a bright light shines behind me, voice yells out. I panic, and nearly blind everypony with a flash of light. Turns out its the town guard. We talk, I can't get out much that makes sense, they help drag me t'the clinic."

He could keep going, but that was the full extent of the memory gaps, so Moon Blossom may wish to stop.

Rainbow is deathly silent. Her gasps are internal but her hooves still attempt to muffle nonexistent sounds. Almost lost Sandy again she thinks to herself.

[Benson]

Gearstride herself was just getting more angry the more she heard about this dang whatevers...vampires were they? But anyways, she swore on her cutiemark they'd find justice served. it was difficult to listen to Sandy's account, but she had, for him.

-----------------------

"Wheeeeee! Hehehe!" said the fae as she was dipped. The sudden movement and nuzzle was a pleasant surprise. If her mind was not racing,she might have given the stallion a smooch. "Which kind of model should Ah be? What kind of model do ye ponies have?"

"I dunno, maybe..." His imagination then went to a certain place, a place where she was at the store he worked at modelling the wares there. The thought was too much, he had a nosebleed and blushed as red as the blood in his muzzle.

[Kelvin360]

"Long's we remember they have it somewhere..." Daniel remarks when Sandy finishes, probably about the domination thing. Then again with Daniel, he could be talking about cake or whatever. He looks remarkably unconcerned, but he's been putting wooden tips on his arrows for the past few minutes, so clearly he's somewhat worried.

[HalfTangible]

[Moon Blossom]

Moon sighed and leaned back, rubbing her forehead. Watching that was... surreal, to say the least. She told him. Your mind's memory rewind is interesting to watch. She sighed. The headache will go away in about an hour - ten minutes if you drink some water. She levitated a water bottle to him.

She then looked at Gearstride, frowning. I respect doctor-patient confidentiality, Captain. But I do hope you know what you're doing, keeping things like that a secret.

[TheAmishPirate]

The glow faded from Sandy's eyes and the doctor's office slowly came back into focus. "Headache? What're you talkin' abou-" All at once he winced as a pounding ache throbbed in his head. "Okay, okay, that headache, right." He gratefully grabbed the water bottle and chugged it down.

[Benson]

[Moon Blossom]

Moon sighed and leaned back, rubbing her forehead. Watching that was... surreal, to say the least. She told him. Your mind's memory rewind is interesting to watch. She sighed. The headache will go away in about an hour - ten minutes if you drink some water. She levitated a water bottle to him.

She then looked at Gearstride, frowning. I respect doctor-patient confidentiality, Captain. But I do hope you know what you're doing, keeping things like that a secret.

"Its no secret, I think the whole guardhouse knows about this by now, we were just there, picking him up," Gearstride explained. "The whole confidentiality thing was about stuff related to the Cirrus crew and our related going ons with our employers. There was a worry, you might tap into those."

The glow faded from Sandy's eyes and the doctor's office slowly came back into focus. "Headache? What're you talkin' abou-" All at once he winced as a pounding ache throbbed in his head. "Okay, okay, that headache, right." He gratefully grabbed the water bottle and chugged it down.

Gearstride gave sandy a sympathetic smile. "You did good Sandy Shores."

[Luka]

He blinks. He was almost entirely certain that he'd be up and trying to burn something by now. He shrugs and leans against a wall, keeping an eye on Ironblade, and purposefully ignoring the other conversation to give them privacy.

After a while Ironblade would just be waking up, or sort of, the first thing he does was just to bring a hoof to his head.
"Ugh...my hea-... wait, where am I?... Who are you?"
He's kinda bleary and his eyes go a bit wider than sleepy when seeing Zaros

Aero Aero gives a surprised look at Mile. "Oh geez kid, you scared me there. And...yes. I think it's better if I just left. Before I futz anything up for you or your sister. Plus...nopony really wants me around here."

He looks at him confused... Again
"What do you mean? you saved us, you didn't screw up anything... But why don't they want you? they don't even know you...."

[Orzel]

"I dunno, maybe..." His imagination then went to a certain place, a place where she was at the store he worked at modelling the wares there. The thought was too much, he had a nosebleed and blushed as red as the blood in his muzzle.

The kelpie noticed the nosebleed. A hoof wiped some away. So tempting it was to lick the sweet blood of managed nobility. The scent was so enticing."Y-ye ye are bleeding."

[Benson]

The kelpie noticed the nosebleed. A hoof wiped some away. So tempting it was to lick the sweet blood of managed nobility. The scent was so enticing."Y-ye ye are bleeding."

"I...why yes I am.." He said in dull shock as he wiped his nose. "Hahaha...haha...so weird..." Durrrrrrrrp.

[Kelvin360]

After a while Ironblade would just be waking up, or sort of, the first thing he does was just to bring a hoof to his head.
"Ugh...my hea-... wait, where am I?... Who are you?"
He's kinda bleary and his eyes go a bit wider than sleepy when seeing Zaros

He decides to use his dark-and-evilish appearance to its fullest advantage.

"It's about time. I thought you'd be sleeping all day. What's the holdup?" My my, but these sorts of gambits run in the family, don't they.

[PurityIcekiller]

[The Fox Out On A Non-Chilly Non-Night]

After a day of hiding in a caravan and a night of sneaking off alone, Night Jewel had made it across the Mareabian border. Once she was there, her first stop was a place with a moneychanger - unlike certain recent visitors to Bridle Shores, she was familiar with the concept of currency, and knew that what money she managed to take with her would have to be exchanged for bits if it were to be of any use to her.

The moneychanger, a charming mare with a golden coat and a red mane, surveyed her carefully. "Not often that I see a young one like you crossing borders by herself," she remarked.

Night Jewel performed a rather unusual gesture involving rubbing her stomach in circles with one hoof while patting her head with the other. Where she came from, this was what was known as the "thief sign", and was considered a good way for thieves to identify other thieves with only the risk of embarrassment should anyone who didn't know the sign see it.

"Ah, I see. A little rogue." The moneychanger smiled. "I've always been fond of the clever types."

Night Jewel nodded, relieved that she hadn't had to come up with a good lie about herself. "Yep! A bit down on my luck, but I'm sure I'll find my way."

"Well, if that's the case, I've got something you might be interested in." The golden mare took out a little report on a recent casino heist and passed it to Night Jewel.

The filly soon got a look of fury.

"What is it?"

"This is... Raiders really broke into that place, took what they wanted, then blew everything to pieces?"

"That's what my sources tell me."

"Those maniacs! They..." Night Jewel took a deep breath to try to calm down. "They had no idea what they were doing, from the sounds of it. It wasn't elegant - in fact, it was downright sloppy - it was wasteful, it was destructive, and the resulting disaster is an insult to the profession. This isn't a master's work. This is a travesty."

"Ah, so you have standards?"

"Of course. I may be a criminal, but I do have some honour, and there's such a thing as doing it properly." She shook her head. "I always make sure to be efficient, have finesse, keep it quiet, and never kill. Blowing up an entire casino with who knows how many ponies inside? Violates every single one of these standards. What kind of arrogant madpony would do such a thing?"

"I don't really know." The moneychanger thought for a bit. "I've heard rumours that something was seen flying away from the wreckage towards Bridle Shores, but that's all."

"So... The culprit could have come from there. What with their lack of subtlety, in fact, it's quite certain."

"And what are you going to do about that, little one?"

"I'll track them down from there." Night Jewel got a look of determination. "I'll find whoever did this, and teach them a little lesson. The profession is for foxes, not dogs, and any who think they can show off like that without having proper techniques?" She smiled. Now she had a challenge to overcome, and would definitely not be bored. "They need to be shown how a proper thief does things. Firsthoof."

"Well, good luck with the outfoxing, then." The moneychanger nodded. "But before you go, we need to finish your exchange, don't we?"

"Oh. Right."

[Orzel]

"I...why yes I am.." He said in dull shock as he wiped his nose. "Hahaha...haha...so weird..." Durrrrrrrrp.

"Och no. Ye must be sick." Lochbed scurries about in full panic attack mode. It is worsed by her excitement over the scent of fresh pony blood. Awbade! Awbade! Ember is sick! He is bleeding from the nose! Bring the leeches! she hollered before sniffing Ember intensely. "Mmmm... soooo gooooood... Ah mean not so gooood."

[TheAmishPirate]

Gearstride gave Sandy a sympathetic smile. "You did good Sandy Shores."

A good part of Sandy wanted to correct his Captain. If had "done good", then maybe there would've been three vampires running for the hills this morning instead of two dead ponies. Another lance of pain in his head made him grimace. Then again, she might have just been talking about that whole rewind memory thing he just did. He wanly smiled and brought a hoof up for a lying-down salute. "All in the line of duty, Cap'n."

He craned his neck to look back up at Moon Blossom. "Anythin' else I should know, Doc? I'm not gonna start seein' visions or black out again, right?"

[Mindfreak]

Hover
The pilot knocked on the door of the crew's melee specialist. She pushed the door open slightly. "G'Morning Blaze. How are you feeling? Dead?"

Blaze "No, I actually feel a lot better than I did yesterday now."
Aero "Well...um...you see...I just don't want to make trouble for you and your sister, kiddo. Like I said, not many ponies would be happy to see me, if a guard found out who I was, I'd probably be put in jail till Luna herself came to execute me." And to think he was going to get away! Now Mile was probably going to cute-pony him into staying

[HalfTangible]

He craned his neck to look back up at Moon Blossom. "Anythin' else I should know, Doc? I'm not gonna start seein' visions or black out again, right?"

You shouldn't. She agreed, But there should be some nausea. Nothing serious or crippling, some water'll fix it right up.

[Luka]

He decides to use his dark-and-evilish appearance to its fullest advantage.

"It's about time. I thought you'd be sleeping all day. What's the holdup?" My my, but these sorts of gambits run in the family, don't they.

the appearance works and Ironblade thinks Zaros' a friendly, though his head seems to still hurt or something

"I don't know...Ow!...We were about to get the 2 survivors, a pegasus was with them when we found them, we had no trouble.... Then a griffon and a pegasus appeared from above and attacked us... Ack! last thing I remember is Whitestone getting clawed through his armor.... Tell Lord Doth that whoever's making the armors is screwing up the joints: a single hit and the plates break off each other....Where's Whitestone?"

Aero "Well...um...you see...I just don't want to make trouble for you and your sister, kiddo. Like I said, not many ponies would be happy to see me, if a guard found out who I was, I'd probably be put in jail till Luna herself came to execute me." And to think he was going to get away! Now Mile was probably going to cute-pony him into staying

Mile gets out of the bed
"But.... you didn't do anything wrong, maybe you meet them and then later they're you friends"

then approaches him....and hugs him, or his legs, wherever he could reach.
"But please don't go, you're my only friend now and you're not a baddie...Please" then looks at him with his little colty pleading eyes

[TheAmishPirate]

You shouldn't. She agreed, But there should be some nausea. Nothing serious or crippling, some water'll fix it right up.

He could feel a little churning in his gut, but when you spend your days inhaling Luna knows what in a cramped engine room, you learn not let a little belly ache get you down. The water seemed to already be doing the trick. He got himself up to a sitting position, still a little shaky from the memory rewind. "Thanks, Doc. How much we owe you for all this?"

[Benson]

"Och no. Ye must be sick." Lochbed scurries about in full panic attack mode. It is worsed by her excitement over the scent of fresh pony blood. Awbade! Awbade! Ember is sick! He is bleeding from the nose! Bring the leeches! she hollered before sniffing Ember intensely. "Mmmm... soooo gooooood... Ah mean not so gooood."

"Leeches? Don't be silly..I..." Ember began in protest but was halted when Aubade appeared behind him, tilted his head up and held some tissues against his nostrils.

"Young master, relax, keep your thoughts clear, keep your head tilted up," She commanded and he obeyed. She then looked at Lochbed. "Miss Lochbed, please fetch me the box of tissues on the coffee table in the foyer, I don't believe what I have here will suffice." Sigh, Ember, you're a bashful kid who went and had a saucy thought, you should have known this cliche would have had happened.

[Kelvin360]

the appearance works and Ironblade thinks Zaros' a friendly, though his head seems to still hurt or something

"I don't know...Ow!...We were about to get the 2 survivors, a pegasus was with them when we found them, we had no trouble.... Then a griffon and a pegasus appeared from above and attacked us... Ack! last thing I remember is Whitestone getting clawed through his armor.... Tell Lord Doth that whoever's making the armors is screwing up the joints: a single hit and the plates break off each other....Where's Whitestone?"

"Dammit, I told them this wasn't some farm cottage. Do they listen to me, nooo. So much for damned tactical advisory. Alright listen. Your mission's been compromised. Get back and tell Lord Doth the information yourself. Whitestone just got sprung and is on the way, but unless you want to spend the rest of your life behind bars in this peice-of-manure town, you get your plot in gear.

As for me, I have fires to set that you really have no clearance to know about. So move."

[Orzel]

"Leeches? Don't be silly..I..." Ember began in protest but was halted when Aubade appeared behind him, tilted his head up and held some tissues against his nostrils.

"Young master, relax, keep your thoughts clear, keep your head tilted up," She commanded and he obeyed. She then looked at Lochbed. "Miss Lochbed, please fetch me the box of tissues on the coffee table in the foyer, I don't believe what I have here will suffice." Sigh, Ember, you're a bashful kid who went and had a saucy thought, you should have known this cliche would have had happened.

"Yes. Ah will get them. Ember, donnae die. Ah am comming back." The silly fae actually believed the noblecolt was in danger. Her worry caused her to panic and skip over the tissues several times in her search. This would slow down her return dramically causing a whole five minutes to pass before she returned with the tissues.

Blaze "No, I actually feel a lot better than I did yesterday now."

"Good. I need somepony to push my drawer to the other side of my room and everypony else is looking for Sandy. He's missing again." yawned Hover nonchalantly. .

[Benson]

"Yes. Ah will get them. Ember, donnae die. Ah am comming back." The silly fae actually believed the noblecolt was in danger. Her worry caused her to panic and skip over the tissues several times in her search. This would slow down her return dramically causing a whole five minutes to pass before she returned with the tissues..

Because Lochbed took so long, Aubade had to resort to the rough textured paper towels here in the kitchen. A wastebasket sat next to Ember filled with red soaked paper towels. Ember himself was just coming off as silly, possibly a way to recover from saucy thoughts.