Dusty

She did not know how to deal with… This. She didn't even move or speak as Glitter touched her face. She didn’t know what to do. What to say. She let out a breath she didn't even know she was holding when the mare slipped back in to sleep. Moving the mare back down she placed an ear on Glitters chest… still beating. Still strong. All that matters. Backing away from the mare Tempest stumbled to the wall of the cave and placed her head on the cold stone. She felt… dizzy. Sick to her stomach even as she thinks about… everything. ‘We're gonna match though.’ What good was that? That was horrible. All of this was. Glitter… she never… NEVER! Needed to be like Tempest. Tempest was a monster. One born out of anger, hate and a screaming need to feel like she mattered no matter the price. Tempest killed a filly. Tempest killed Fizzy. And Tempest was going to get Glitter killed as well. It's all Tempest was good at. Destroying. And that fact made her heart drop with a weezing whimper of a cry. She was crying again. For so long she was running from her past and now she can’t. It was laying on the stone floor of a blasted cave with nothing but a monster with hooves forever stained red with the sins against ponykind commented for stuped reasons. Slumping against the wall of the cave she curled up in a ball as the wolves were howling with laughter. Their mocking echoed in her head. She was foolish. Stuped. Alone. Forever alone. They were her only friends. The only ones that stuck with her. But she didn't want them now. She never wanted them. She wanted to be Fizzy. She wanted to do all of this over again and stop herself. Stop the madness. With a wheezing cry she dug her face in her front legs to muffle her own screaming. She just wanted them to shut up. To leave her alone. But the howling did not stop. It grew and grew as she felt the hot breath of the wolves on her neck. So close. So very close. All she had to do was give in too it. Be what she knew she really was. A monster. ‘She’d die.’ A small filly says. A filly that refused to die. No matter how much the wolves did try. Pulling herself up she looked at the mare. Alone. Helpless. She can’t leave her. She can’t. So she moved closer, dropping down next to the mare and nuzzling in to glitters mane to wipe away tears. The wolves backed away, their voices cut short as if they feared waking the sleeping mare. “Honor means nothing when war is unfair.” She whispers a song to herself to distract her own mind. “We've come here to battle and return to nowhere. There's blood in these hills from the battles forlorn as kings die like peasants. Wolves in the shadows drag pieces away with no one to mourn the dead. I've got nothing to lose, with no debts left to pay. The gods have not listened as prayers turned to ash. Vengeance igniting the fire in my blood as I follow a path of destruction, by sword and by flame. Fed to the vultures were friends and good ponies in pursuit of dominion, the game that never ends. I have seen heaven, or some kind of hell, there's no one to save us, all my heroes are dead. The songs of a filly is silent and honor means nothing when life is unfair. I come here to battle and return to nowhere. A cage with no walls for a wolf like me.” She pushed her face in to the mare's chest and shut her eyes. She was so tired. ------------------------------ She woke eyes wide, breath heave with panic from her haunted dreams. Looking around the cave she saw nothing. She was safe. Looking down at Glitter she felt a ping of worry and had to put her ear to the mare's chest again. Still breathing. Standing up she stretched her legs and moved to the mouth of the cave. It was hard to see outside as the wind screamed with a blizzard. Past the cave was just a wall of white. There's no way she can go out in that she'd get lost in a heartbeat. So she walked back to the ashes of the fire… they did not have much wood left. But with what few sticks she can gather in the cave she added them to the flames to keep it going and sat down to warm up as she digs in her saddle bags. Pulling out a pack of cigarettes she takes one in her muzzle and with a spark of magic set it alight. She sat watching the small fire, feeling its heat shake of the num cold. She’d need too get more firewood if the blizzard slowed down… She saw glitter waking up and greeted her. “Good morning. At least I think it's moreing… We got a nasty blizzard outside.” she says before looking at the saddle bag and digs in it for some food. “Ya, I can do with some food… cooked oats ok?” She asked looking back at the mare. She was extremely happy to see her wake. She wanted to say so much… But the words just did not come.

Tempest rolls her eyes at Sunny. Here she was trying to let the mare have some fun and make the most of this and she’s being a butt about it. At least Wind Dancer was keeping the mood cheerful as that was something needed in the extreme it seems. “If I can slide in my own wishes, no noodles. I have been living on cheap noodles for like, two weeks. I’m so bloody done with noodles.” She says with a shake of her head. “Other than that I’m game for whatever long as it's not too fancy. Five star restaurants are scams. Cost my liver for them to put two grains of rice and a leaf on a plate. Boss took me to one. Just… blerh. Glad she paid for it. Had to go out and get dinner after dinner as I was still starving.” She then looked over at Wind Dancer, oh she did enjoy seeing that cute mare puting a wing over her back. But she reeled in that hunger for a more food related one. “Other than that and long as it's something Sunny can Enjoy I’m all game!”

Niilavin felt a hint of pride when Bluebelle confirmed that mercury was in fact bad. He knew it all along! With that pride in being told he was right inflating his ego, he watched his master trot up then snuggle up in to his side too join in the nap. He… did not think she’d just nap next to him like that. Once again she stirred feelings he had to hush with a ywain as he laid his head down and curled up around the mare instinctively. “[Then Nap well master, may the gods bless you with a bountiful rest.]” He says back to her, shuting his own eyes after waving off the maids to leave them alone for now. Life really has taken an odd turn for him. So many ages away from his own, slave to some pony in a far away land. And yet he felt… happy. He really was no slave. Blue let him do whatever he wished for the most part. They were an odd master but one he was growing to like the company of. He hated to think it but maybe this was not too bad after all. But such worries and thinking can not last long as the large cat of a pony drifted off to sleep around the unicorn. -Fin-

Tempest reached for the coffee as she hits mug two of the wonderful drink. Bless coffee and its power to keep one wake even if they really did not need to be. Siping on it she let sunny talk about the puzzle room. She found it… fun. At least for the start. After about one hour of that the fun was long over and was just boring as the two had to shout back and forth to work out puzzles together. Now the next room… That was… She leans over close to sunny and whispers in her ear “what in the #@%# is a Midnight Sparkle?” She asked in a hushed tone. Sunny was probably lying about what happened… but than they lied about her own test as well sooo… she was happy to play along. --------------------------- Twilight walked closer to Sunset with an unbroken glare of disappointment as steel horseshoes meet stone with every steep. It echoes off the towering room as she steps down from her throne of silver and gold seated taller than all others in the throne room. The throne room itself was one of power as large flags hung from the walls displaying the mark of Twilight with a crown over time as pillars of magic fire cast the room a bluish tint. Looking to either side the grand room Sunset can see rows and rows of unicorn soldiers glaring at her as much as Twilight was. “One simple task is all I asked of you Sunset. And yet you come crawling before me failing EVEN THAT! How many times must I send others to fix what you failed to do? How many times will you crawl before me begging for another test? Just one more to prove to me you are not worthless?” Twilight berated Sunset, stopping in front of Sunset and looked down at her. “You are unfit to stand before me Sunset. You are unfit to stand in my city! My empire! The fact you call yourself an unicorn makes us all look like fools. Most of all me for puting my trust in you.” Tempest watches with a confused face, looking around the room in bewilderment. Where were they? She then looked at Twilight as the mare berated Sunset without mercury. What test? What was… Then it clicked. When she saw the ursa it was a lot like this… some magic was at work. Messing with one's judgement and making them see something that they feared. But how can she help sunny? What WAS this going for? It had to deal with Twilight that was easy. Sunny did have a big mare crush on Twilight. But there has to be more to it… But what can she do to help? She was never good at feelings or understanding others… Sunny was her first friend in ages. So she had to do SOMETHING but what? ---------------------------

He thinked as he did stand up and walked out of the water. It did stand to reason that one was sick before they dropped dead. Even if they were unaware. That made for the best poisons after all! But can they know if nothing can be seen? Magic? Even the best mage-healers were stumped at times. But many years has passed so maybe now they found ways to uncover a sickness one may have missed before? Sooner or later they’d have found something after all. “[Very well, but I shall not drink one drop of mercury! I do not care what the apothecary says on the matter. Sliver that thinks it is water is just.. wrong. I shall not drink such a thing. I’d not drink silver coins after all!]” He says waving a paw about with his words. “[metal is hard. This is a fact. I can not stand mercury nore trust it. A metal that is water is just insane. No good can come from it.]” He flaps his wings open a few times, then with no warning shakes. The maids run about as they are showered in water. Even if they were wet from the lake it's hard to not cover one’s self from such a downpour of flying water. But with most of it off his body he stretches out and lays down in the grass with his wings open to get more sun. He can’t say no to the offer of naps. Most of all on a nice day like this! It's made for them. Looking at some maids he waves them closer, then after gestures they worked out what he wanted and got to work drying his paws off before they got to trimming and sharpening his claws. They were fast as learning his needs. Most of his own servants. “[Shall you nap as well? You seem so busy all the time.]” He asked looking over at the female pony.

Seeing Glitter passing out again was not the best thing to see. But with the help of Koda Tempest got Glitter wake again. Well the mare can use the rest Tempest was worried about letting her pass out like that. Sometimes a pony never wakes up from it. And that was… Something Tempest was not willing to think about. “I got some water… I’m going to move you ok? If something hurts stop me.” She says, allowing Glitter to answer her first. When she felt safe to move Glitter she sits up on her haunches, gently and slowly pulling Glitter up as well, letting the mare just lean up against her as she keeps her steady with her front legs. It felt so weird holding her close like this. She can’t place the feeling at all. Just… She hoped glitter was ok. With the mare sitting up Tempest focuses on her magic. It was never easy to use even in the best of days for a small task. Destroying came so easy. But a softer touch? That was work. She had to give all her foxes in her horn as it sparked with power. It was slow and stressful but she opened a saddle bag laying next to them. That alone made her have to take a short break to relax. “I’m glad your horn is fine…” She says looking down at it at the mares horn… She really was the big spoon in this. “A broken horn is… Hard. Even picking up something is hard. I don’t like doing it.” She added but got back at it. Another flair of her horn as she struggles to keep the magic behaving. But with some Focus she soon got a bottle of water free and rolled it over to them. With it in reach she just leans down and picks it up in her muzzle. With some muzzle and hoof work she soon has the cap off and offers it to Glitter to sip on. “Don’t drink fast can do more harm than good. Slow small sips.” She says. Glitter may have known this but it's best to say it again than risk her doing more harm.

now i'm just thinking of that blasted meme! And I need to get more art of Temy and Glitter. So going to get a big fancy com for them someday. Happy Tem Tem art is vary good after all.

Thats one prety mare! Temy going to be eyeing her up plenty.

Draco took her hoof in a very strong grip, letting his talons push hard on her skin but not letting them break it. Yet. It was easy for her to feel how easy it may be for him to dig them deep in to her soft skin. But with this unspoken show of force done and a soft shake of the hoof he let's it go, turns about and walks down the docks as if nothing stopped him on his way too get to a bar. “That is very true Sea.” He says, just speaking over the chatter box of a kirin. “She shall be set free or break apart. One or the other is always how it goes. A shame as it is. I hate seeing one of the family breakdown like that. But I’m hopeful about her. With some work she shall see the real freedom just in reach.” He says with a click of his beak, then without missing a beat he snaps a wing open and nails Akairo in the back of the head to shut her up. “But the real shame is if she tested my patience so soon…” He says, still acting as if she was not there next too him… and he hoped she’d get the hint to shut her muzzle up before he found a way to do it himself. Well he was not one to shy away from debates he was not in the mood to deal with one from some fresh blood. She had to earn that respect first. Then he’d let her have her fun. Until then he had to reinforce some basic command structure in the mare. He let a lot of things go fast and loose on his ship but even they had to follow some structure in the chain of command. “Now about this fun. Before you stopped us Akairo, me and Sea were about to go partake in some much needed drink and fun. I plan on still doing this, I have not gotten to do one spot of that at all yet well my crew had all the fun… So, I shall get at least one evening's worth of it in before I get back to working my flank off.” He explained to the mare as he looked about the shanty city they were walking in to. Puerto Aguila had no shortage of bars, pubs and other fine pits of sin where one may waste all the gold they have ‘earned’ in drink and pleasures of the flesh. And if you asked Draco it was heaven. There was no government to speak of in this city with no laws in stone. Law was mostly up to the one enforcing it and that was done almost always at the end of a blade. And in all the chaos one can hear music and song as crews sing together in a brand of harmony only found in Puerto Aguila. “let's see…” Draco looks about, leaning his head to the side. “Ohh, smell that? I smell meat!” He chirps before rushing off to one of the countless pubs. This one stands out thanks to signage marking it as being run by six Griffins and having meat for their fellow carnivores.

Niilavin flicked his ears before looking over his shoulders at his master. The word ‘veterinarian’ was another weird one for his brain to piece together. The best it got was ‘healer of pets’ and that was even more confusing. “[But I am not sick master or unwell master? Why do I need to see an apothecary of pets? It seems unneeded.]” He asked, not understanding the concept of checkups at all. He watched her eyeing up ehr wings, as she did he felt the need to stretch them out and show how big and strong they were… He can’t place why he felt the need to do that. But Blue did do a very good job on them, he’d been hard pressed to preen as well as she did! As shameful as it was, this pony was impressing him. From her skills to her sharp wits Bluebelle had a lot going for her… And looks. “blehk.” He mumbles and looks away from the pony as she splashed about. This was no way for a sphinx to think! Ponies were food! Pray! Toys! Nothing more. Why must his mind vex him so?

In some ways it was a blessing glitter did pass out. Well it did worry Tempest deeply her friend was… alive. She’d place her ears to the mares chest over and over. Never leaving her side as the day faded away in to darkness. It did not matter. She laid next to glitter as a silent guardian and took the solitude to do something she needed. Cry. Soundless weeping of the soul as she watched glitters chest rise and fall. With so much time to think her mind raced from extreme to extreme. Anger. Rage. Sorrow. depression. And as she laid there thinking and crying she never felt more alone and scared. What did she do to have this fate? Why did every part of this world hate her? She was nothing. Worthless. Broken. Aimless. She can’t even tell herself why she pushed on. She did not care about her ‘work’ or herself. She hated this world. This life. So many times she just wanted to step off into the sky and close her eyes. She sighed and looked down at glitter. What made her… do what she did. Power? Fame? No. She knew why. She just wanted to feel… worth. Wanted. like she belonged somewhere. How far she was willing too go for such things was disgusting. And she can blame only herself. All the blood she has spilled and suffering unleashed just so she felt like she was worth something for a few faint moments. All because she… Ran away from her problems. Her real problems. She rushed head first into the jaws of death just to shut up the truth. And here it was. Laying next to her so peaceful at the doors of life and death. It was otherworldly and terrifying. This pony… Glitter. Glitter was everything and she was so close to being gone. Gone forever. “I’m so sorry.” Tempest whispers laying head down on the mares chest, feeling it rise and fall with every life giving breath. “You never deserved this. Never deserved me… I never deserved you.” She spoke to herself, knowing Glitter will not hear a word. “I never hated you. I wanted to hate you and screamed myself blue saying as such. But you had no power in what happend. You were just a filly. You didn't know how I felt. I never told you… Did my mother ever tell you? Did she keep you away? Was it dad? When I think back on good days… I see you glitter.” She whimpers and hugs the mare close, using the mare's fur to wipe away tears. “I’d give up so much go back time and fix this. Fix us. My magic. My soul. Whatever it may cost. I’d go back and tell myself to just say it. Just say it and speak up. Tell you the truth. And maybe then you’d have known… You needed to save me from myself.” -------- Fizzy. It still hurt to hear that. Tempest was still laying next to Glitter, letting the mare face the fire so she layed on the side facing out into the cold. Like a protective wolf with a pup, Glitters warmth mattered more. “I’m here.” She whispers, leaning down to look the mare over. “Don’t move unless you must… How are you feeling?” She asked, her tone so soft as to sound almost alien coming from her own muzzle. “Are you ok?” She added with more push behind it with worry and guilt. Hearing glitters weakness was soul wrenching. For all the years that passed… so many winters gone. When she looked at Glitter she felt that same thump from so long ago. That same foolish puppy love that made her watch her friend and day dream. And now she was holding glitter well praying too whatever cared to spare the mare's life. Fate was nothing short cruel in its sense of humor.

“Academy trained are you?” Draco says with that so famed grin marking his face. He stopped his circling in front of the mare, looking her up and down a few times. “And you tossed it all away on masses that wish not for the liberation you offer. You have the fire that I can see. It glimmers in your eyes for all to see. But as you seemed to have learned that ember shall not set the woods ablaze..” He leans his head to the side and clicks his beak in thinking, not breaking his gaze on her as if passing a judgement. Flicking his ears he broke that hard pressing gaze to look at Seabreezer. “You think so? I don’t know. She may be far too soft for us. She has the fire yes but she sounds so idealistic…” He clicks his beak again and looks back at the kirin. “Why set free nations when all you will see is the replacement of power with another? The head of a king may roll and it shall stop at the hooves of the next tyrant. Don't think I will help you replace one tyrant for another nor shall I let you put my family at risk. You join me and you are part of the family. We rise and fall together as one. Be it riches or staveing. We all suffer as one or celebrate as one. And if you must leave us… Then so be it. I will not stop you. But if you betray me for whatever idealistic fancy you had…” He looks away from her, aiming a claw at a cannon on his ship. “I will tie you to the muzzle of that gun and set a flame to fuse myself.” Looking back at her he holds an open claw out. “So I hope you understand the deal you are making. I shall see your pockets full of coins. But I do not care about whatever mission you believe in and my crew is the same. The only laws at sea are the laws we give ourselves. So… with that clear.” He wiggles his talons. “I think it's fair.”

Draco arched an eyebrow as the mare called out at him. She looked… so out of place. In every single way. What was a kirin doing this far south? And why was she dressed up like… like… oh what did they call them? Magna? Well she looked like the mare you’d see on the cover one one of them weird eastern comics. Even her mane was outlandish! And was that a baseball bat? But he knew the look in her eyes, a fire untamed and a spirit crying out for something just out of reach. They were the eyes of a somepony willing to give everything they had for a dream. Maybe that is why she’s so far from home. With a roll of his shoulders he pushed Seabreezer to the side, partying shall be put on hold for now it seems… “I’m captain Draco Silvanus and yes I am. We are in need of crew and hopefully some that can read and even better, saw the inside of a school. Tell me dragen-blood why are you here? What leads one of you so far east to this dot of freedom? Normally I don’t much care for where one comes from or why. We are all criminals after all. No innocent soul walks this dock. But you… You are nothing like the lot that calls this free-port home.” He explained walking closer before circling the mare like a shark, his sharp eyes glaring down at her for even the smallest detail. He did not think she was some law pony. That’d be suicide to setp hoof on this port. But one he’s seen many things in his life and one look told him she was hardly normal as well. An outcast like all here but very different. And that made her worth investigating. Let alone the fact she was so brave as to snap at him with such force at the greeting. A brave mare… or was she just foolish? Soon he’d learn what makes her tick.

Niilavin blinked, the word just lost on him as all he heard was horse apples. It had no meaning deeper than the two words. But he can tell Master has gotten on to the game and worked it out. So he let out a rolling chuckle, he was bested after all. The maid investigating his maw offered up the explanation of simply just making sure Niilavins oral hygiene was up to modern times. An explanation lost on Niilavin, far too many words he’s yet to learn in their language. But soon as she patted his muzzle to be shut he did so and spoke as if nothing had happened. “[It’s a shame you won so soon master, you know this means I owe you something? It's how games work after all. But what to give the winner?]” He asked with a hum, thinking about it. “[And glad you think so well of my magic. You are no pushover as well with wits as sharp as any a sphinx! It is a shame you weren't born one, I think you’d done well for the part.]” He added with a chuckle before relaxing. It was enjoyable, he can’t lie. Bluebelle was skilled with her muzzle! A remark best not spoken given how easy such a remark can be taken out of context. Even if only she may understand him, Bluebelle had been drilling him to be mindful what he says in this day and age. The ‘free press’ loves taking things out of context. But no matter the context she did pamper him with no small amount of care. It was hard to not feel some amount of attachment to her thanks to it. Just what will he do with this pony… She’s going to be the doom of him. He knew it.

“That works! I promised her food as well… Seems I have two mares to take out on the town for dinner.” Tempest says with a soft grin, clearly enjoying the concept. Two birds with one stone as they say. And well she hoped for more… intimate outing this will just have too do. A change of plans can still be fun with a day this young. “I’d toss in my own recommendations but I don’t think either of you may enjoy eating out in a pub watching illegal fight clubs… But really it is hard too go wrong here. It's a dog eat dog city, only the best make it long. Even if I do fear for my bank account, don't worry about it sunny. I can pay for it.” She chuckles and rolls her eyes. “Well just do some favors for my boss. She’s a sweet mare if one can get past all the ice.”

Niilavin looked over his own back, arching an eyebrow at the female sphinx. “[What an odd thing to ask, did you forget so soon that I used magic on you? Last I saw a sphinx you were not born. Even if you do pass for one very well. When one uses magic all their life does it not just come to you? If you never thinked about such an act it shall not change well being a sphinx for we are as magic as any unicorn. Weaving my spells comes no harder than you picking up tea to sip on.]” He explained, and for the most part it was turthfull. Well Blue was using unicorn magic it is not hard to sell it as being much the same as sphinxes. After all both races were gifted with magic and well Niilavin’s school was different from Blues he knew first paw that a sphinx can use the same magics as a unicorn with time and training. “[It’s rather useful for you, may have been hard to do all my wing by muzzle alone… Fun as it may have been to watch.]” he added with a soft chuckle as he settled down and rested his head on his paws. The maids used this too wash and clean his face and muzzle. One brave maid even asked for the sphinx to open wide so she may inspect his lion's teeth. An odd request but nonetheless one he accepted. Not every day a pony got to see a sphinx up close after all. But in time something they shall grow accustomed to.

Draco took the bottle in his talons. Taping their tips on the glass before ripping the top off and taking a few hearty chugs with a blissful sigh as he leans on the side rails of his ship. “Worst comes we can keep this ship going strong by are lonesome.” He says with a chuckle. “Between the two of us we have the skills of more than half a crew. But I shall hold on too the hope we don’t need to. I’d rather like to have the freedom to get at least a nap in.” With more swig of booze he pushed away from the railing and walked along the deck of his ship. “Come next morning I want us out and hunting, we need to keep the gold flowing and with my stock drying up it must be fixed. I have on good word some merchant ships heading down south will soon be passing a few days sail from here. They will be full of coins to buy up zebra goods down south. If we can strike good are holds will be happy and full again in no time and we will turn about and dock before the week is over.” He starts laughing and shakes his head. “If we are so lucky. Never was one too trust lady luck so much.”He looks over at the town and leans his head to the side. “Now, I think I earned myself some fun of my own.” Looking down at the bottle he takes it to his beak and chugs down the rest before tossing it overboard. With a smug grin he nudges Seabreezer. “Well let's get at it shall we? Can’t let all my crew have the fun off ship.”

Niilavin Thought on it for a few moments then replied to Blue. “[Is it funny how every empire holds some founding story? How many claimed facts lost in time as the truth of their rule eternal. From my old master to now such things never change. Blood lines, flags and lands that by some power given from above or below must go on. From what I have seen every last eternal empire or kingdom from my age is dead. I can not say what you have is unstable, far from it. But in time even the ‘immortal’ leaders of an eternal empire shall be moot ashes of the past. Given time the united face of this land will shatter and break. But if I am so lucky I shall not see such an age… War can be very profitable. Sometimes it alone keeps an empire alive. Its real cost is never gold or silver Master. It's History.”] He remakes with a roll of his shoulders, this talk with master was very enjoyable. As they talked he almost forgot what he was doing, just grooming and preening his master with a soft rolling purr of enjoyment as they share in the relaxed moment. He’s not truly gotten much time to do this. Relax and just speak, open and uncaring of the world with his new Master. He wished for more of it. When blue asked to repay the favour he felt a tad… flustered by it. In no small part from her looks. And the act itself. Well it was fun to fluster his master by playing with fake wings this was no trick or magic. And he’s had… none groom him other than his mother! But he was unwilling to speak up on this. It was not in his place to do soo. “[Fine, if you must. Do take care…]” He hums, letting his master free he moved more inland, laying down in the water with much of his back out of it. Stretching out so the maides may wash his paws and legs he opens one wing out for his master, taping the tip of the female ‘sphinxes’ nose. “[you shall be the first to partake in this act. Not counting my own mother of course. I never did get to court another sphinx before I was enslaved. It feels odd to allow you this honor. But alas you seem to be heart-locked on this… Just know if I leave gifts at the door it's in repayment.]” He says with a roll of his eyes.