Kite everfree

[22:09:49] Kite was soaring through the air, faster than she had ever flown before. Unfortunately, however, this was not by her own decision; a quest to recover a missing doll had gone awry when they item was discovered in nest of an Ursa Minor deep in Everfree forest. (c)
[22:11:25] <Kite> How it had gotten there was a mystery, but the persistent little knight had agreed to get the doll back to it's owner no matter what. And so she had snuck, armor clanking, into the cave, snagged the doll, and then snuck back out, armor clanking more. (c)
[22:13:47] <Kite> The Ursa Minor was hardly happy with this intrusion and subsequent awakening, and upon approaching the little armored pegasus, deemed it a viable course of action to swat the armored knight away with one mighty swing. (c)
[22:15:46] <Kite> And so we join our hapless knight as she soars faster than she ever soared before, crashing through trees and branches at high speeds, three large scratches adorning the side of her armor, branches whipping her wings and denting the steel until she finally loses momentum and comes crashing to the ground.
[22:16:16] <Rue> Quietly, Rue trod down a path she thought familiar, although no amount of time spent here ever gave Rue any sense of familiarity with this place.  It seemed there was always some sort of creepy crawlie waiting to get the better of her.  Rue froze.  Was there something there in the bushes?  Slowly, she turned her head back.
[22:20:15] <Kite> With great effort, the injured knight pulled herself out of the bushes, her wings stinging from the branches, and just about everything else throbbing incredibly painfully. She didn't even notice Rue as she half consciously pulled herself along; she had to get that doll back home!
[22:20:16] <Rue> Ever aware of what might come from the forest, Rue didn't give a second thought to look UP.  So, when Kite came crashing to the earth in front of Rue, Rue's reaction came before her thought.  "EEEEEEEEEEEEKKKKKKKK!"
[22:22:26] <Kite> With great effort, the injured knight pulled herself out of the dirt and to a standing position, her wings stinging from the branches, and just about everything else throbbing incredibly painfully. She didn't even notice Rue as she struggled to stay standing, trying to take a step and stumbling.
[22:23:32] <Mirthbane> *As for the hermit who had taken refuge within the infamous woods, he was tending to his own business - that of gathering and discerning various plants.  Some edible, some magical, some potentially medicina, and some that failed to have any use.  He kept his animated tree in tow, of course, as being alone in the everfree was seldom a good idea - the lumbering treant might be heard in the distance
[22:23:32] <Mirthbane> on occasion, but for now it wasn't doing much.  Still, the hermit could swear he heard something - clattering, crashing, perhaps even thumping.  He paused, and kept an ear open.   ...Ah.  There was a sound.  It was a filly, and they'd found something they didn't necessarily like.  Still, 'eek' was generally something unpleasant, but lacking in danger or pain.  "Aaaaiiiegh!" was reserved
[22:23:32] <Mirthbane> for something dangerous but not yet harmful, and various forms of "Heeeelp!" were reserved for, well, running away from something.  Still, he kept his ears open, a quick hearing spell to help him get a better purchase on the world of sounds around him.*
[22:28:23] <Rue> Any stealth upon which Rue had relied for peace of mind was shattered, of course.  Instead, Rue determined speed was the best course of action.  Rue recognized kite almost instantly -- that oversized armor could only belong to one pony.   "Kite?  Are you okay?  We need to get outta here."
[22:32:17] Kite blinked, the edges of her vision dark and fuzzy, everything else blurry. That Ursa packed a wallop alright, and even as she stared right at Rue, her brain could barely make sense of who it was and what she was saying. (c)
[22:34:49] <Kite> "Ah, mission...accomplished!" The knight tried to take a step forward, but stumbled again, wings flopped uselessly at her sides. "Ursa...Minor... not so tough..." She cringed, everything was hurting pretty bad.
[22:41:08] <Rue> Hurridly, Rue ran to Kite's side "You're hurt?  Don't get up.  Sit still."  Kneeling next to Kite, Rue put to use what she had learned living with a doctor, and quickly examined Kite to see if there were any open wounds.  Armor, of course, made this difficult <c>
[22:43:48] <Rue> With a bit of concentration, Rue summoned magic to her horn.  Kite's armor flickered hazily.  It wasn't a steady casting, but it was enough to catch anything major.  "It looks like you're not hurt TOO badly, but I can't tell through all that armor.  WOuld you be okay if I picked you up?"
[22:50:23] <Kite> The armored filly frowned. "N-not to worry, citizen! A knight... a knight's duty is... to help others! I-I'm fine, you don't have to..." Stubbornly, the delirious knight tried to get up, but flopped back in the dirt seconds later.
[22:51:56] <Mirthbane> *He could hear voices - rather distant ones, and the words he couldn't quite make out - but at least one of them was vaguely familiar.  A bit of hesitation held the hermit back a bit, his mind working through the various possibilities, as well as the outcomes that might come from the actions he felt presented with.  To investigate, or to leave matters be, to bring his trusty ent, or to leave it
[22:51:56] <Mirthbane> where it wouldn't start scaring anypony.  A moment later, and his mind was made up - "Treesworth.  Quietly, for a change, follow me, keep back a bit."  He commanded, then he started towards the source of the talking, ten-foot-treemonster in tow.*
[22:55:31] <Rue> "Grrr, stay DOWN.  I cant mend bones, Kite.  I don't NEED any protecting."  To sell the point Rue placed a forehoof on Kite and held here there.  Kite needed to be moved, but if she insisted on struggling like this, moving her would be pointless.  THen it occured to Rue "Of COURSE.  I can summon HIM." <c>
[22:55:54] <Rue> << I dont remember the mechanism given by Mirthy to be summoned, but assume she does so >>
[22:56:03] <Rue> << then consider that post done >>
[22:56:29] <Mirthbane> (( Beacon-like spell.  He'll just know where she is and that she wants his attention, and react accordingly. ))
[22:58:30] Kite didn't struggle anymore. Despite her eagerness to prove herself a good knight, the realization that she'd been hurt by the Ursa was starting to kick in, and suddenly staying awake was proving quite difficult.
[23:01:00] <Mirthbane> And that was the Ruesignal.  She was... astoundingly close-by.  Couldn't she just find her way from here?  No, wait, this was the Everfree - maybe she was on her way already and turned around.  Still, he picked his pace up - a lot, at that, and broke into a full-on gallop, ducking and dodging this way and that.  The distance was short enough that he decided it would be better to keep his magic
[23:01:00] <Mirthbane> untapped rather than save a half-minute by teleporting.  After all, nothing sounded like an emergency.  The treant lumbered along after him, causing more noise than he'd hoped.  But, soon enough, the coal-black stallion with the dirty white mane arrived, looking somewhat concerned.  "Something the matter? Or... hm.  Friend of yours?"
[23:06:52] <Rue> "There ya go, just chill.  YOnce my friend gets here, we'll have you patched right back up, then you can play at being a knight again, kay?"  This was the closest Rue got to having a bedside manner.  "Well, unless a monster finds us first."  THe moment Rue said it, she winced.  You're supposed to keep the patient CALM, fool.  <c>
[23:08:33] <Rue> At that moment, Mirthbane emerged "... Friend of yours?"  -- "Mirthbane!  Yeah.  I think she's alright, but I can't tell for sure through  this armor.  We need to get her to safety."
[23:13:36] <Kite> "S-safety..." The knight mumbled, trying again to stand but barely twitching a leg this time. "...I can... I can help..."
[23:14:56] Mirthbane 'Safety? In the Everfree? Well, that's either a trip back to my own abode, or hope nothing's taken residence in one of the Lunar ruins...' And, with that, the unicorn strode towards the armored pony. "Luna's blood, pegasus, stay still before you strain something even further... What happened to you?" More inquisition, more curiosity as he strode around the downed tin can.
[23:21:01] <Kite> The injured pegasus blinked, her thoughts fuzzy. "...There was... an Ursa Minor... was looking for... the doll it took... I think... it hit me... but I'm...ow, okay!" She layed her head back down. "...a knight... always helps. I-I can help..."
[23:26:40] <Rue> "Uggggghhh, you are SO stubborn."  Which made sense really.  Kite didn't seem cut out for knighthood, but she never gave up at it.  That sort of persistence was a foreign concept to Rue, but she found it admirable nonetheless.  Determination was at least one qualification for being a knight.  "could we teleport her back, perhaps?  I think I can get myself <c>
[23:26:54] <Rue> there if you leave an ether trail."
[23:29:08] <Mirthbane> 'Ur-ur-sa minor?'  Rue got a treat - she got to watch Mirthbane freak out a little bit.  Where there's an ursa minor - a fright in and of itself - there was an ursa major, which even he found worthy of nightmares.  His voice dropped significantly, his head lowering a bit.  "You will help by not moving a muscle until we are a good distance from here, as I for one value staying in alive."
[23:29:08] <Mirthbane> And, with that, Mirthbane started slowly picking Kite up - magically, of course.  "Treesworth?  You stay here, make noise once we're out of sight, then return to my abode in a while."  He commanded his large, wooden companion, which started rumbling and thumping about fairly readily.  "We head for Ponyville.  Not an ideal place for medical help, but it's closest."  And, with that, he
[23:29:08] <Mirthbane> laid Kite on his own back, straining a bit, then teleporting about fifty meters at a time, pausing for a quick few breaths between blinks in and out of reality, doing his best to leave Rue a fairly strong string between nodes.
[23:33:44] Kite was finding it incredibly difficult to get a grasp on what was going on at this point, not being used to teleportation. It was all she could do to force herself to stay conscious and mutter a weak "I can help..." every now and again.
[23:35:20] <Rue> This was more teleporting than Rue had ever done in such quick succession.  As novice as she was, it was no surprise then that she fell behind quickly.  In addition to the fatigue, the frequency of the jumping quickly disoriented her.  Gradually, her accuracy diminished, and she found herself hopelessly confused.  She figured she had one ore in her before she
[23:37:06] <Rue> she'd have to call it quits.  Fortunately, that was the one that put her at the forests edge.  In the distance, lights flashed in sequence as Mirthbane ported through the hills, and Rue could make out the glint of Kite's armor in the fading sun.
[23:41:13] <Mirthbane> Damn.  His student, falling behind fairly quickly, and the armored injury, pretty much immobile, not to mention a rather heavy strain on his back.  Still, once near the outer skirts of the forest, they were faily safe - much moreso than being near an ursa minor, at very least.  Still, he put Kite down, rather grateful for the lack of living burden once she was on the grass, then made a quick pop
[23:41:13] <Mirthbane> in and out of reality to fetch Rue, putting a leg over her rather briefly, then popping the two of them back towards Kite.  Unless, of course, Rue prevented such from happening in the ten seconds the action would take.  After all that, though, Mirthbane simply had to sit down for a breather, looking a little worn out from the effort.  "How you carry... whew.  How you fly with all that metal
[23:41:13] <Mirthbane> all about you is beyond me...  Now, do we have time for idle banter, or do we need to make sure you're not quietly bleeding to death in that burdensome pile of steel?"
[23:45:13] <Rue> It was one more jump than Rue could handle.  She popped in positively dizzy and unsteadily lowered her body to the ground.
[23:48:10] <Kite> The teleporting had stopped; feeling only the grass under her now, and the looming presence of the Everfree forest behind them, the little knight stubbornly tried to stand yet again and failing; to be sure, the weighted armor was not helping. "I...I'm okay...I'm a knight.. I can, I-I can...I can do this..." Again she tried standing and again she hopelessly flopped back down.
[23:51:39] <Mirthbane> *Okay, now he had -two- ponies looking woozy and shaken.  One, he knew to be well enough, Rue just needed some air and some time not popping in and out of Equestria - or at least, he was fairly certian this was the case.  As for the tin can, she was stubborn, and worse still, not giving himany answers.  "Would you kindly stop trying to get up and tell me what is actually wrong with you?  I've
[23:51:39] <Mirthbane> had more than enough strain on your behalf already, I'd rather not have to try and examine you through your entire ensemble of metals.  Is anything broken.  Are you bleeding?"
[23:55:42] <Rue> Slowly, Rue regained her bearings, or could at least determine within twenty degrees which way was down.  It was enough for Rue to lift her head "I don't think she's like dying or anything, but we need to get that armor off to be sure."
[23:58:33] <Kite> "I... ah, I don't... think so." Kite did her best to focus on answering the question. "E-everything is sore... but I... I did crash through a few trees... wings hurt alot... n-no armor..."
[00:02:53] <Mirthbane> "Well, I've nothing on pegasus physiology.  Don't move your wings, likely for the best..."  And, with that, Mirthbane tried to figure out how to deal with the possibly-wounded pegasus.  Lie her on her side?  Would that hurt a wing?  How did she even get all this armor on, anyhow?  A brief glance Rue-wards - she was getting herself sorted out, good - and then he started looking for blood.
[00:07:49] Rue was sorted out, and climbing onto her feet "Sore all over?"  she asked, approaching the injured pegasus "Okay, let's roll you onto your belly here"  Assuming Kite went along with this, rue continued "Okay, can you move your wings at all?"  Rue placed a hoof on the wing joint "Why dont you just stretch it slowly for me, but stop if it hurts."
[00:11:08] <Kite> The prospective knight winced almost as soon as Rue touched the wing; despite the Ursa smashing her armored side, her wings had taken the biggest lashing while crashing through the trees, earning several nasty little gashes and cuts in the process. Still, she gave one wing a bit of a stretch, but quickly stopped as a jolt of pain surged through it. (c)
[00:12:32] <Kite> "Ow, ow." She winced again. "I-I'm sorry...!" She looked to Mirthbane and Rue. "A-a knight should...should not be g-giving you cause to worry...!"
[00:16:56] <Mirthbane> "Well, then let this be a lesson to you, perhaps avoiding an Ursa in the future would be a better idea than trying to steal from it."  Even if he was Rue's mentor in the matters of magic, he wouldn't let that override her in subjects he wasn't familiar with.  Without salves or potions, he wasn't a huge amount of help medically, and so he backed off while Rue inspected the wing.
[00:21:03] Rue shook her head and thought aloud "Mom would know for sure, but I can't tell one way or the other.  I'm tempted to give you spell for the pain, but the pain's there for a reason -- If it hurts, you shouldn't be doing it.  Hmmm.  If it doesnt hurt to fold it, maybe its best to just keep it against your body, and we can put a light binding on it to keep you
[00:23:52] <Rue> from jostling it too much."  Rue was accustomed to utilizing false confidence in confrontational scenarios, but she found, quite to her surprise, that it served a purpose here as well.  Because despite her demeanor, she sensed that this was something she'd have to be in charge of, and she was not at all sure if she could handle it. "Either way, can this armor
[00:24:03] <Rue> be taken off without disturbing your wing?"
[00:28:06] <Kite> The little pegasus nods. "T-there's a latch on the back that makes the suit dis...disassemble." Kite normally hated being out of the armor, but whatever spirit to argue had since left her. Besides, she couldn't reach the latch with her wings now useless at her sides. Turning to Mirthbane, she then hung her head. (c)
[00:29:31] <Kite> "Ah... I know it... it was a silly thing to do, but I promised I'd find that doll, no matter where it was. A-and a knight always... always keeps their word."
[00:31:55] <Mirthbane> *He only assumed that Kite meant for him to undo the latch with that gesture.  As for his stance - well, he was certianly older than Rue, and somewhat taller and larger.  His expression remained fairly stoic, simply watching Rue work, attempting to discern what injury the knight might have garnered, watching how Rue treated it. "Well, then perhaps you should use your promises more sparinly,
[00:31:55] <Mirthbane> Lest you be pulled into such a situation as this again.  Be glad that it wasn't an ursa major that had found you - if such were the case, believe me, there wouldn't be enough of you left to identify, even with that armor..."  And, very carefully, he tugged on the armor latch - magically, as one might expect - and attempted to 'grab' most of the armor, lest it start falling all over her.*
[00:40:18] <Rue> By now, Rue had had enough rest to venture another spell.  As Mirthbane removed the armor, Rue ran her horn across Kite's body; a translucent window tracked beneath it, offering a look beneath Kite's pelt.  Having only watched Starflower do this, Rue was unaccustomed to such proximity to a relative stranger.  It was much more intimate than she expected <c>
[00:43:53] <Rue> A feeling Rue hoped was not too obvious.  "*ahem*  So, um, you;re not like dying.  Just some nasty bruises.  The wing must be a sprain or a hairline fracture, because I'm not seeing it.  Still, we ought to take it easy until somepony better than me can take a look.  I gotta wonder what the HELL is so special about that doll though."
[00:51:49] <Rue> By now, Rue had had enough rest to venture another spell.  As Mirthbane removed the armor, Rue ran her horn across Kite's body; a translucent window tracked beneath it, offering a look beneath Kite's pelt.  Having only watched Starflower do this, Rue was unaccustomed to such proximity to a relative stranger.  It was much more intimate than she expected <c>
[00:51:58] <Rue> A feeling Rue hoped was not too obvious.  "*ahem*  So, um, you;re not like dying.  Just some nasty bruises.  The wing must be a sprain or a hairline fracture, because I'm not seeing it.  Still, we ought to take it easy until somepony better than me can take a look.  I gotta wonder what the HELL is so special about that doll though."
[00:52:45] <Kite> "I imagine it's probably... probably very important to the little filly who lost it." She glanced over to make sure the doll was still safe in her helmet, which it was. "I'll.. I'll try to be more careful in the future... but still... a promise is a promise... a knight can't ignore somepony in need." (c)
[00:55:46] <Kite> She still kept her injured wings at her sides. "But, either way...  I-I really owe you both my thanks...! Kite, the knight... always at your s-service!" She attempted her customary bow, but in her current condition, only ended up wincing in pain again.
[00:59:15] <Halide> "The point still stands that you could have lost your life due to unfortunate circumstances.  As for your services, I doubt I'll have much need for them."  Still, that goot a nod from the near-black unicorn, a nod of his sharp-horned head.  "Mirthbane, nocturnal.  Now, how are your legs?  Do those still work?"
[01:01:20] <Rue> "You announce your sleeping habits as a greeting?  Who does that?"
[01:02:23] <Halide> "I was under the impression that was some form of title among Celestians.  My sincerest apologies if that's not keeping in common parlance anymore"  *This is, of course, a -very- sarcastic apology*
[01:05:54] <Kite> Without the armor, standing proved slightly easier to the pegasus, who managed to push herself up to a wobbly state. Her left side throbbed quite fiercely from where the ursa had struck, though the bruise was already concealed under the bandages already in place from a previous incident. (c)
[01:07:18] <Kite> "It's... it's nice to meet you." The filly hung her head at the reprimanding though. "...a-and yes... I'll be more careful, I'm sorry."
[22:43:12] <Kite> Now just a short distance outside of the Everfree forest, Kite had just managed to push herself to a wobbly standing position, thanks to the help of Rue and Mirthbane. Despite still being in a great deal of pain, she managed a small smile. "Eheh, t-thank you both again for your assistance."
[22:44:49] <Mirthbane>  Mirthbane is still looking a bit ragged.  Well, for that matter, he usually looked a bit ragged, it was just his usual sort of look.  "Your death would be investigated, and such a circumstance is one I think we'd all rather avoid.  Besides, the Ursae are no friends of anypony, I rather enjoy hindering the violent brutes.  Are you sure you are able to manage, armor and all, back to Ponyville?"
[22:49:26] <Rue> "Even if she's sure, I'm not.  You really ought to just relax.  You're just going to drag it all out if you're running around like nothing's happens."  Rue knew it was a losing battle, trying to convince this one to relax, but then a thought occurred to hear "What if another citizen were in eed of a help in a few days, and you couldn't help because you didn't
[22:49:38] <Rue> rest up properly?"
[22:55:27] Kite had begun to argue with a "Don't worry, I'm fine." but paused, when Rue mentioned the second bit. "I, ah... suppose you have a point..." She didn't want to simply stop working at being a knight for the moment, but then again, there was no counter-arguement to what Rue had pointed out.
[23:02:54] <Rue> "I know I have a point." Remarked Rue.  "I don't /get/ it, but you really, really want to be a knight for some reason."  This sort of perserverance seemed foreign to Rue.  Kite was such a curious pony.  Rue wanted to know more, but it seemed like Kte always found an excuse to bail whenever Rue tried to get answers.  But here...  She was a captive audience,<c>
[23:03:49] <Rue> and probably feeling vulnerable out of her armor.  Rue knew it was a subject she should leave alone, but she needed to know "So, Kite, Tell me..."
[23:05:55] <Kite> (Still here XD)
[23:06:03] <Mirthbane> (( As am I. ))
[23:07:27] <Mirthbane> This wasn't really his conversation to have, nor did he actually care.  As far as he was concerned, this was a stranger in heavy metal armor who did foolhardy things that might die at some point of unnatural causes.  She was probably rather into the whole idea of Celestia's Eternal Rule Without Question, too.  Thus, he simply took a few moments, backing a away from the mares momentarily.
[23:07:51] <Rue> "Why do you wanna be a knight so badly?"
[23:11:35] <Kite> The injured filly shrunk back at the question slightly; the answer had to do with her family back home, which immediately brought up memories of failing knight school and running away. "Ah, w-well, I've just always wanted to be a knight, since I was little. Dad's a knight, and he used to have the coolest stories to tell. (c)
[23:14:08] <Kite> The best ones though, were about the way the ponies he helped would look up and be happy that he was there to help." She sat back down on the grass, finding standing to be progressively tiring. "So I wanna help too."
[23:17:33] <Rue> "Heh"  Rue smiled to herself.  She didn't expect Kite to divulge so easily that she wasn't a knight, but she just did right there, apparently without realizing it "So you're not a knight already then?  Why is that?"
[23:20:15] Kite blinks, realizing that she's said way too much. The ursa's attack must have left her not thinking clearly. "Ah, I-I am a real knight though!" She tries correcting the situation quickly. "That... that was what inspired me to become one!"
[23:23:18] <Rue> This was aggressive, even for Rue.  By her estimation, Kite was quite possibly among the kindest, most good-heartied ponies she had met, and just as Rue had felt bad for putting her on the spot like this, she felt on the verge of something she couldn't quite identify.  A certain longing that she felt without understanding "You just admitted you weren't. <c>"
[23:26:09] <Rue> "And with sincerity to boot."  It didn't seem like they were going anywhere, so rue found a spot in the grass near Kite and lied down "You don't have the killer instinct of a knight.  I've had a lot of er... run-ins with the Destriers, but you.  You're not like they are."
[23:31:03] <Kite> "Ah, uh, well..." Kite flustered nervously; being out of her armor AND caught as not being a fully fledged knight was about as far out of her comfort zone as she could get. "A-alright, well, t-truth is, I'm still learning to be a knight..." (c)
[23:33:44] <Kite> "A-and me, not like other knights?" She shook her head; that was what she was told following just about every failed knight academy entrance exam. "I spose I've heard that before."
[23:36:22] <Rue> "You have?"
[23:41:04] Kite nods, perhaps a little too vigorously, and winces slightly. "Uh huh. 'you're smaller than the other knights', 'pegasus knights don't normally wear heavy armor', 'aren't knights supposed to be older?'" She smiles sheepishly. "I can't really argue against those kinda things, though."
[23:45:59] <Rue> "Of course you can.  You just be better than them.  Kite, you just took on an URSA MAJOR and lived.  For a doll.  Now, if you ask me, it was stupid.  But Mirthbane over here commands giant trees and mizxes deadly potions just for bits and giggles, and he gets the sivers every time I say it...  'Ursa Major'"  She pauses to see if Mirthbane reacts <c>
[23:46:52] <Rue> "If you truly, honestly, weren't up to snuff physically, you would be dead now.  THat's not what it is."
[23:47:40] <Mirthbane> Mirthbane's eye twitches a bit, but he manages a retort.  "Ursa Minor, Rue.  An Ursa Major has sufficient strength to literally liquidate a pony, armor or not, if they are so inclined.  Still, the fact she survived does speak well of her physical tenacity, as well as the strength of her armor."
[23:48:41] <Rue> "Whatever."
[23:50:47] Kite has a vivid image of a Kite-colored wine glass sitting next to an empty suit of armor for a moment, and decides she's glad it was indeed not an Ursa Major. Nonetheless, she's flattered by the compliments, even Mirthbane's incredibly indirect ones. (c)
[23:53:22] <Kite> "Eheheh... well, either way, they're right. I am smaller and younger than most knights, and pegasi aren't normally supposed to wear heavy armor. You said yourself, I'm not like other knights."
[23:57:08] Rue snorts "Yeah, you're not a tool.  What do you need them for anyway?  You seem like you're doing what you set out to do anyway?  Or is it for the colts?  It's for the colts, isn't it?"
00:04:24] <Kite> "The...colts?" The injured filly blinks, slightly confused. "I'm doing this for everypony! If I can become a real knight, I can start to really help out and make a difference. If not, well... I dunno, really. I'd just be somepony who didn't try hard enough." She cast a glance at her stolen suit of armor, dented and scratched in a pile off to the side. (c)
[00:05:16] <Kite> If anything, it was a solid reminder that she couldn't stop trying to be a knight, no matter what!
[00:13:10] Rue looked at the armor idly and thought over what Kite said.  She could relate to feeling inadequate. "You seem to have everything you need though."  'Unlike Me," Rue thought "You know what you want to do, and you're already doing it.  You're MAKING a difference.  You say you're doing this for other ponies, but here you are doing things for <c>
[00:15:40] <Rue> everypony else, but you refuse to give yourself credit for it!  You're beating yourself up over what?  So you can join some highfalutin club that tells you who to obey and who to persecute?  All knights are good for anyway is fighting dumb wars!"