Fallout: Beyond Equestria, 65: The Top of the World (Part 7)

[2013-12-18 13:15:15] <Kkat> 3Golden_Dream smiles faintly. "I wouldn't have it any other way, ya'll." She frowns, now in a contemplative mood. This had gotten to her. A real friend who loves her friends would tell her friends everything. Even if it was painful. "Hey, guys. Ah... Um. I need t' be honest with ya'll for a sec."
[2013-12-18 13:16:09] <Kkat> 3As all her friends listened, Golden Dream unburdened her heart, and revealed her true reasons for having joined this caravan.
[2013-12-18 13:17:40] <Kkat> 3Starting with, "... I need t' kill someone. Someone important."  It took all the strength she had in her, but she told the tale, trusting in her new friends... true friends that she could share her deepest secrets with.
[2013-12-18 13:18:14] <Kkat> 3Golden_Dream's tale ends with, "I told y' that I burned out m' eye in a cookin' accident. That was a lie. I'm sorry."
[2013-12-18 13:18:23] <Kkat> 3Noble_Heart gently reaches out a forehoof to pull Golden Dream into a hug. "We have been forced to do horrible things without Our consent. We do not blame you for not wanting to think of that time."
[2013-12-18 13:18:31] <Kkat> 3CopyCat looks at her hooves and nods just a little.
[2013-12-18 13:18:37] <Kkat> 3Bookwright is crying silent tears.
[2013-12-18 13:18:48] <Kkat> 3Mare-Do-Well stares... then moves over and puts a costumed hoof on Golden_Dream's shoulder.  And then... Rainbow Dash pushes back her ghostly hat and removes her mask.
[2013-12-18 13:19:15] <Kkat> 3Fallout: Beyond Equestria, Session Sixty-Five: The Top of the World (Part Seven) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LETrhOP90p4
[2013-12-18 13:19:25] <Kkat> 3--- Session Begins ---
[2013-12-18 13:21:01] <Kkat> 3Though they came here to rest, the group of friends has realized this is not a safe place to stay.  They must escape this place, and the sooner the better.  For while the friends have beaten off the windigo who stalked this floor with the power of their camaraderie, a word still haunts them:
[2013-12-18 13:21:13] <Kkat> 3"They can't get you if you're alone."
[2013-12-18 13:21:16] <Kkat> 3THEY.
[2013-12-18 13:22:48] * Golden_Dream blinks, her jaw slack. Words were swirling around in her head, mostly of the very exclamatory variety, but nothing seems to be coming out. "Um. Buh. Guh. Rain... Bow?" Now, during her travels, this had of course had been the subject of many a tall tale. And now nopony in the world would believe what she's seeing. "Holy shit, you're Rainbow Dash."
[2013-12-18 13:23:23] * Bookwright "Huh?"
[2013-12-18 13:23:25] * Get_Lost frowns "so.... uhm... new plan?" looks at rainbow dash "she sure looks like she is.... hey i'm a big fan of you"
[2013-12-18 13:23:34] * Shatara earperks. "Bwuh?"
[2013-12-18 13:24:14] * Get_Lost we had this large poster at our crusader base, it was some sort of morale booster.
[2013-12-18 13:26:40] * Bookwright "Wha, what'choo mean 'Rainbow Dash'!?"
[2013-12-18 13:27:10] * Noble_Heart keeps Golden Dream held close with her forelegs, slowly releasing the smaller pony. "We recommend leaving. This place is dangerous, and We have doubts that We will find anything of import here." She looks to Bookwright, then back to Golden Dream curiously, uncertain to what was being referred at the moment.
[2013-12-18 13:27:45] * Get_Lost "you know, bookie... daring, blue pegasus, rainbow mane, the pony every filly wants to be?"
[2013-12-18 13:27:52] * Golden_Dream coughs. "So, um. Uh. Wow, I... No /wonder/ I couldn't beat you at a race." And then that errant word hit her. Right. Talk and walk. "Okay. Okay, we... Need t' get outta here. We can make with th' questions later."
[2013-12-18 13:28:49] * Bookwright "Yes, yes I know Get Lost, I know. I want to know what Goldie is on about exclaiming her name. Golden, are you saying that your intangible friend is Rainbow Dash?"
[2013-12-18 13:29:13] * Get_Lost nodnods "yep"
[2013-12-18 13:29:14] * Noble_Heart nods her head and releases Golden Dream. "We are concerned that more of the Windigos will follow. Whatever the Steel Rangers brought to this place it is likely long claimed by the ice and spite..." She stands up slowly.
[2013-12-18 13:30:35] * Golden_Dream points at Rainbow Dash. Which looked a lot like air to everyone else but the tinkerer. "Yeah. I'm sayin' that. Now, you. How do we get outta here?
[2013-12-18 13:30:53] * Get_Lost "well, i'm quite happy to go away... digging ice is not my cup of tea..." then the mare stops and looks at rainbow dash "unless we have a good reason to stay..."
[2013-12-18 13:31:32] * Golden_Dream cannot believe that she is commanding Rainbow Dash to do anything. "Um... Please."
[2013-12-18 13:33:36] * Mare-Do-Well 3quickly slips her mask back on and adjusts her huge, floppy, purple hat.
[2013-12-18 13:34:37] <Mare-Do-Well> 3(Because when you're wearing a mask, nopony can see you blush... just a little.  Also, being a ghost helps.)
[2013-12-18 13:37:04] * Mare-Do-Well 3bounds off, disappearing through a wall.  A moment later, she comes back.  And this time, tries leading Golden_Dream and her friends in a direction they can physically travel.
[2013-12-18 13:38:30] * Golden_Dream starts heading for Mare-Do-Well. I mean, Rainbow Dash. I mean, Mare-Do-Well. This... Was going to be difficult. "This way, C'mon!"
[2013-12-18 13:39:10] * CopyCat gets to her hooves and curtsies towards where Golden was seeing Mare-Do-Well. "It is a pleasure to meet the real you, Rainbow Dash. You know, when you were in my head I thought you were in love with yourself. I do feel silly!"
[2013-12-18 13:39:11] * Noble_Heart follows after Golden Dream, quiet for the moment, but keeping her eyes on the surroundings as they go.
[2013-12-18 13:39:13] * Get_Lost /me follows the ghost to "okay, let's go"
[2013-12-18 13:40:27] * Shatara looks to give a pony a lift
[2013-12-18 13:42:05] * Mare-Do-Well 3mutters something to herself about "not the only one" as she guides the group back out of Level 20.  She stops a moment, looking back to Golden_Dream.  "Do you want to go out the way you came in, or out the other side?"
[2013-12-18 13:42:38] * Bookwright is filled with wonder at the structure about him. Also, he needs to go to the bathroom.
[2013-12-18 13:43:26] * Golden_Dream thinks a moment. "Other side. I gotta feelin' they're on our tail."
[2013-12-18 13:43:48] * Shatara takes a passing glance around the room.
[2013-12-18 13:44:16] * Get_Lost "but the wagon is where we came from... well, still, i don't like to meet the wendigos... better the other side"
[2013-12-18 13:46:21] * Noble_Heart frowns. "Whatever the Steel Rangers came to find is likely further up the tower. Or whatever they brought. It concerns Us that there seem to be pegasi here as well, who were fighting them. Something here must have been of value to both sides." She ruffles her feathers. "Continuing is dangerous, as the Windigos doubtless haunt this place. But leaving could be dangerous as
[2013-12-18 13:46:21] * Noble_Heart well, as others may come searching for what is lost here."
[2013-12-18 13:48:59] * Get_Lost "well, the corpses were dead long ago... i think there's no risk of other ponies coming here now... i'm more concerned about the wendigos"
[2013-12-18 13:49:16] * Bookwright "I think we should press on."
[2013-12-18 13:53:54] * CopyCat trots with a little extra spring in her step. "I don't think we need to be scared of the windigos while we're together. After all, finding out how pretty Mare-Do-Well is without her mask wasn't the only revelation we had." She trots up to Shatara and gives the griffin a kiss on the cheek.
[2013-12-18 13:54:24] * Get_Lost "if you have a plan to fend off the wendigos, i'm with you bookie. actually, i think that the best thing to do is not argue anyway"
[2013-12-18 13:54:29] * Shatara squawks embarassingly, blushing and pomfing.
[2013-12-18 13:55:02] * Golden_Dream looks back, a fearful light in her mismatched eyes. "I think we ain't got a choice. We killed one of their buddies. I doubt we really know how to cover our trail." She looks at Copycat kissing Shatara and kind of winced. "Hey. Enough with th' lovey dovey. We're on th' run."
[2013-12-18 13:55:38] * Bookwright nods. "Yeah. I think we're armored in love enough, and we're prepared in case we encounter another."
[2013-12-18 13:56:42] <Mare-Do-Well> 3Get_Lost does some quick work scavenging the room for any technology that might still be useful.  She manages to find a device labeled C.R.U.X. which appears to be sort of advanced anti-matrix device.  The device has been set off, but unlike an anti-matrix mine or grenade, it is depleted rather than drained.  With the proper equipment, it could be recharged.
[2013-12-18 13:56:45] * Get_Lost i like lovey dovey
[2013-12-18 13:57:27] <Get_Lost> ""
[2013-12-18 13:57:43] * Get_Lost puts away the anti matrix device
[2013-12-18 14:00:48] * Get_Lost "i found some sort of bobm that could disable matrixes but i'm not expert of bombs...."
[2013-12-18 14:01:20] * Get_Lost "if somepony wants to try and check it here it is..." offers the CRUX thing
[2013-12-18 14:01:43] * Bookwright is interested. "Ah, I'm fairly skilled. I think Dreamie is more skilled though, and I've already got plenty of bombs and stuff. Golden?"
[2013-12-18 14:02:15] * Get_Lost offers the CRUX to golden "kid, want to check this thing?"
[2013-12-18 14:02:35] * Noble_Heart tilts her head to one side. "Some form of re-usable matrix grenade? An oddity, though We are uncertain who would bring it here, or why..."
[2013-12-18 14:02:45] * Mare-Do-Well 3leads the ponies and griffin out through a somewhat difficult maze of tilted hallways and broken rooms, until they reach a hatch identical to the one they came in through (except this one is closed, and the door to the accompanying supply cabinet is on the floor rather than the ceiling).
[2013-12-18 14:02:51] * Golden_Dream blinks. "Uh. Sure, jus' put it in m' saddlebag, I'll take a look at it later." She wondered when it was that she became an explosives expert. She realized she started caring about those sort of reactions outside of a still when she got blown up herself. Huh.
[2013-12-18 14:03:41] * Get_Lost gives the matrix to Golden_Dream and keeps following Mare-Do-Well
[2013-12-18 14:05:35] * Noble_Heart looks up at the door and attempts to open it with her magic. If it was locked like the prior door someone would need to take attention to it, but for now it was worth a chance.
[2013-12-18 14:08:28] * Mare-Do-Well 3floats mysteriously (although, really, not so mysteriously as an hour ago) before the door.  The door is indeed locked, but from the inside, so unlocking it is easy.  The door opens to blackness.  Night has fallen, and so there is no light at the end of the tunnel.
[2013-12-18 14:10:00] * Bookwright lights his horn, the better to see you with.
[2013-12-18 14:10:05] * Noble_Heart frowns, lighting up her horn as she leaps up through the hole and takes to the air briefly to check around the surroundings. With hope that it would be safe above.
[2013-12-18 14:10:31] * Get_Lost "okay, it will be cold... and not cold as in gentle breeze in the evening... cold as in die if you stay more that two minutes without moving..."
[2013-12-18 14:12:10] * Mare-Do-Well 3informs Golden_Dream, "Next intact floor would be Level 200.  It would be in one of the other sections."  She doesn't bother to mention that such a floor would have fallen much farther and harder, and probably has less intact than this one did.  Although the C.R.U.X. may have had a lot to do with the lack of scavengeable arcano-tech on this floor.
[2013-12-18 14:13:53] * Golden_Dream whips out her flashlight and flicks it on with her tongue. "Th'rn we better get goin'." She wasn't too terribly upset about the bomb ruining all the arcano-tech. Well, okay, she was. But it was a restrained upset that comes with having the thing that matters, anyway.
[2013-12-18 14:15:02] * Get_Lost yep, let's move before we freeze
[2013-12-18 14:15:05] <Mare-Do-Well> 3The huge chamber outside the door is much like the one they were in previously.  Freezing, icy, barren.  Huge.  A painted "21" marks the level.   There is a drop from the hatch to the ground, but it is only a couple yards.
[2013-12-18 14:15:39] * Noble_Heart ruffles her feathers. "It will be a long walk. Much longer than to get to this place." She frowns. "We might suggest turning back and spending the night with the fire wagon, then traveling outside the tower in the morning."
[2013-12-18 14:17:00] * Bookwright shivers, and not from the cold. "Right, let's be about it." He drops from the hatch to the ground and begins walking forward, illuminating the cavernous room with his horn.
[2013-12-18 14:18:56] * Get_Lost "waiting for the day in the wagon doesn't sound like a bad idea at all"
[2013-12-18 14:21:11] * Shatara glances between his companions.
[2013-12-18 14:21:13] * Golden_Dream drops down, then hearing the conversation, spits her flashlight onto her hoof. "Haven't ya'll been listenin'? What if we're bein' tracked with all that friendship wuju we let off? Going backward's'll just lead us to a bunch more of them Windigos."
[2013-12-18 14:22:57] * CopyCat nods her head. "I can protect us from the cold for a while... although it will leave me tired. If we press on we may even find somewhere that offers better protection from the weather than our wagon."
[2013-12-18 14:23:08] * Noble_Heart tilts her head to one side. "It is equally possible that they may be further along the tunnel. But We do understand your concern." She nods her head. "In either case, We suggest settling soon. If We are lucky then the next segment may be safe enough to make camp for the night."
[2013-12-18 14:24:29] * Get_Lost "alright, let's proceed, we will keep an eye for a decent shelter on the way, i guess?"
[2013-12-18 14:24:37] * Bookwright shivers again. "Yeah, that sounds good to me."
[2013-12-18 14:24:47] * Golden_Dream nods at her. "I dunno. In my experience, not much travels faster than bad news. And if I were them, I would be after th' pony what killed my brother."
[2013-12-18 14:26:01] * Get_Lost "well they're all about arguing, maybe they hated their brother and are now dancing because he died?" offers with little convinction
[2013-12-18 14:29:34] * Golden_Dream picks up her flashlight again and keeps following Mare-Do-Well. "It's goof t' hofe, ah kess."
[2013-12-18 14:31:21] * Bookwright isn't sure what good it will do, but better safe than sorry. He unholsters Pew-Pew and takes a moment to cast a spell on himself.
[2013-12-18 14:34:13] * CopyCat wraps her quilt around her neck and turns to Get_Lost. "It's times like these that I wish I had some seasonal accessories."
[2013-12-18 14:34:50] * Get_Lost "well i could share some of mine..."
[2013-12-18 14:36:17] * Get_Lost checks her bags "i have some sexy socks and a jumpsuit... i'm not that smaller than you, maybe they fit you?"
[2013-12-18 14:36:52] * Golden_Dream smirks and imagines Copycat trying to fit into those socks. In all of her imaginings, it never goes at all well for them.
[2013-12-18 14:37:16] * Shatara 's imaginings go somewhat differently than Golden_Dream's.
[2013-12-18 14:38:38] * CopyCat perks up. "Oh, the socks might work. I shall have to try them on when have found a place to camp."
[2013-12-18 14:39:35] * Get_Lost hands over the socks "here you go... they didn't bring me luck... worst heating season of my life"
[2013-12-18 14:39:48] <Get_Lost> *mating
[2013-12-18 14:42:06] <Mare-Do-Well> 3It has been a very long trip, and particularly tiring for Shatara and the alicorns pulling the wagon.  Equestria's Love protects from the cold, but fatigue is beginning to set in.
[2013-12-18 14:42:24] * CopyCat places the socks carefully in her bags. "Thank you Get_Lost. I'm sure that colt must of had... a sudden erand to run, that's all."
[2013-12-18 14:43:51] * Get_Lost "i found out he is married.... stallions"
[2013-12-18 14:52:25] <Mare-Do-Well> 3The group continues to walk through the blackness that envelops them.  Twisted and broken segments of the central metal stairwell is the only real feature of the tower's interior, not counting piping and cables along the walls and the stenciled numbers marking each floor.  Then numbers keep rising.  23... 24... 25...
[2013-12-18 14:52:42] * Shatara shivers and yawns.
[2013-12-18 14:52:51] * Bookwright yawns, then shivers.
[2013-12-18 14:53:46] * CopyCat also yawns. It seems to be catching. "I do hope we find some shelter soon. My Shield of Warmingness can only do so much."
[2013-12-18 14:54:01] * Noble_Heart sticks close near Golden Dream, keeping her magic alight as best she can.
[2013-12-18 14:54:34] * Get_Lost starts thinking of some way to make a fire out of snow.... interesting challenge
[2013-12-18 14:56:02] <Mare-Do-Well> 3Somewhere between floors 36 and 37, the group find two ponies, flash-frozen around the remains of a campfire, apparently caught in the midst of an argument over their last can of Magical Fruit.  There are tents pitched nearby, with sleeping bags inside.  There is a  small crate of camping supplies, once raided by somepony, its remaining contents strewn about.
[2013-12-18 14:57:13] * Bookwright shakes his head sadly. "Their loss is our own good fortune."
[2013-12-18 14:57:45] * Golden_Dream blinks. Huh. Sometimes, the world just throws you an easy one. "Dibs on th' green sleepin' bag."
[2013-12-18 14:58:23] * Noble_Heart frowns, "This is concerning. But We agree. This is definitely the best place to stop and rest that We are likely to find." She moved after Golden Dream. "We shall share your tent, if you will have Us."
[2013-12-18 14:58:33] <Mare-Do-Well> 3The figures are not wearing armor of either the Enclave or the Steel Rangers, and are instead bundled up in winterized leathers and winter maskes..  Closer inspection reveals that, beneath their outfits, they are actually not ponies but zebras.
[2013-12-18 14:59:16] * Bookwright is very interested in the contents of any books or journals the pair might have had with them.
[2013-12-18 14:59:45] * Get_Lost checks the corpses "let's see if it is possible to tell how long they've been dead...."
[2013-12-18 14:59:59] * Get_Lost "also, please, don't argue about anything, okay?"
[2013-12-18 15:00:03] * Noble_Heart looks to the frozen pair. "It would seem refugees have already visited this place in the past twenty years. We should not be surprised, but it is still sad."
[2013-12-18 15:01:36] * Get_Lost shakes her head "well, if you really think about it.... ponies and zebras  destroyed equestria becasue of an argument... it looks to me like the same old song..."
[2013-12-18 15:01:40] <Mare-Do-Well> 3Looking about the camp, Bookwright can find a book written in zebra.  Get_Lost notes the bodies are perfectly preserved, and clearly died of cold... there are no other wounds.  The zebras were, however, malnourished.
[2013-12-18 15:02:46] * Golden_Dream shrugs. "It's a free tent." She frowned. Don't argue about anything. Don't bring up something that might make her angry. But also be honest to her. This was going to be hard.
[2013-12-18 15:03:34] * Bookwright sighs. If only he could read zebra! He puts it in his pack.
[2013-12-18 15:04:02] * Shatara looks over the frozen zebras with some discomfort.
[2013-12-18 15:04:40] <Mare-Do-Well> 3The can of Magical Fruit is still there.  The remaining scraps from the camping crate include a frying pan, a post card and a can opener.  The post card is a bright, idyllic pre-war picture advertizing "Sunny Fillydephia".  (Bring the children!  They'll love the Fillydelphia Fun Farm!)
[2013-12-18 15:05:41] * Bookwright shivers. "Hey, do you think this campfire could be revived?"
[2013-12-18 15:06:04] * Get_Lost sighs again, deeply "this is so bitter..." takes a look at the campfire "i have no idea..."
[2013-12-18 15:06:11] * Noble_Heart moves after Golden Dream. "We would suspect they are refugees from the Zebra Homeland seeking escape to Equestria. With the SPP and Gardens of Equestria having been used, and the news traveling by caravans beyond Equestria's borders, it is a wonder that there has not been a flood of such unfortunates." She ruffles her feathers a little. "A worrying prospect, that."
[2013-12-18 15:07:16] * Golden_Dream sighs and inspects the wood to see if it'll hold a light.
[2013-12-18 15:07:35] * Get_Lost "well, if you are going to be dead even by trying to go to equestria, it's hard to migrate... probably, only th most desperates try the trip... and they die."
[2013-12-18 15:08:40] * Get_Lost the light in her visor turns blue while she tries to put down the two dead zebras "it looks imposible even to give them some proper rest..."
[2013-12-18 15:08:56] * CopyCat nods sadly at Get_Lost.
[2013-12-18 15:10:51] * Golden_Dream tries to think. "I'm surprised I ain't seen more zebras around, come t' think. Y'think this here part's why? And do ya'll think they still hold a grudge for th' war an' all?" She blinks. "You know, come t' think, what th' hell did happen to th' zebras? We ever get t' counterattack?"
[2013-12-18 15:12:35] * Mare-Do-Well 3pokes her head through the far end of the tent, looking at Golden_Dream and Noble_Heart.  "Your alicorn friend is right to worry."  She frowns, thinking..  "The wendigos got their asses kicked out of Equestria long ago.  I always kinda figured they never tried to come back, even during the war, because they had good feeding somewhere else.  Why now?"
[2013-12-18 15:12:59] * Get_Lost "i don't really know, but if they never came for the gems they wanted, i guess they got deathrayed somehow... i heard ponies had some sort of orbital gun capable of annihilating whole cities in a single shot"
[2013-12-18 15:13:43] * Get_Lost the visor turns pink "i'd love to check one of those guns...."
[2013-12-18 15:15:02] * Golden_Dream scoffs. "Pff. That's just some old mare's tale." Then again, so was she now. She seemed shocked at that revelation. "... Then again, maybe it has merit."
[2013-12-18 15:15:10] * Mare-Do-Well 3flies through the tent and lands next to Get_Lost.
[2013-12-18 15:17:35] * Mare-Do-Well 3frowns.  "No orbital gun.  But we had megaspells that could do that.  Celestia One, Final Requiem... most of them could annihilate a city."  Deep sorrow reverberated in her soft voice.
[2013-12-18 15:18:07] * CopyCat brushes up against Get_Lost's daydream and blushes.
[2013-12-18 15:18:52] * Golden_Dream sighs. "So, um. Whaddyou want t' be called? I kinda wanna call y' Rainbow Dash since that's really cool that you're... Um." She blushed. "Anyways, uh. Fire." She got to shaving the tip of her rope again. Poor thing, too short that it rarely got any use anymore. If she spotted her sorrow, she didn't look it. "So, Um. Question. These things make it all cold, right?"
[2013-12-18 15:19:11] * Shatara glances between CopyCat and Get_Lost, neckfeathers twitching.
[2013-12-18 15:19:39] * Get_Lost turns her head at Mare-Do-Well "overpopulation brings hunger, hunger brings injustice... injustice brings war. probably these zebra sods weren't even bad ponies if taken one by one.... but when your foals die starving, you stop being reasonable"
[2013-12-18 15:21:07] * CopyCat seems a little stunned. "I'd... never even thought about giant magical cannons in that way before..." she mumbles.
[2013-12-18 15:21:18] * Get_Lost then looks again an the two arguind deads "it's easy to be friends when there's a lot to share... they wait you when there's only one can of food left for two ponies"
[2013-12-18 15:21:31] * Shatara cant decide if is disturbed or titilated.
[2013-12-18 15:22:46] * Bookwright shivers again. Decides maybe it's time to figure out what that weird stuff in that canteen is. He extracts the canteen he found in the firewagon parking lot, gives it a good shake. Unscrews the cap, sniffs.
[2013-12-18 15:22:57] * Get_Lost "and when it's a thing between you or your ex best friend... they take both. the fun thing is, they wait to kill when there i already a murdering intention in the air... only, they make no distinctions"
[2013-12-18 15:23:27] * Get_Lost "this remembers me what i heard of the war so much that i dont' want to think about it anymore."
[2013-12-18 15:23:53] * Golden_Dream twitches. Okay, no. No, we're going to keep this happy. Keep it light. "So, um. Yeah, let's not... Yeah. So, who would win in a fight, Celestia or th' Windigos?"
[2013-12-18 15:27:37] * Golden_Dream is a little staggered by awkward. "Ah-ah mean, I figure if Celestia could swing around th' sun, and th' Windigoes are all about th' cold, I'm guessin' that th' sun would make it not as cold, wouldn't it?"
[2013-12-18 15:28:32] * Get_Lost taps her chin "i do't really know... probably it's a matter of coldness of the heart... you know, something metaphoric..."
[2013-12-18 15:28:54] * Noble_Heart gently wraps a wing around Golden Dream, contemplating what was being talked about. "We would suspect that the SPP kept them at bay after the world fell apart. It controlled all the weather, perhaps they could not fight it? They hide here, where it cannot reach."
[2013-12-18 15:29:01] * Get_Lost sighs and stratches herself "i better get some sleep... where i can sleep?"
[2013-12-18 15:30:24] * Golden_Dream decides she hates metaphors if it causes so much damn cold. Happy! Happy happy happy." Ya'll can sleep anywhere y' want, Get!"
[2013-12-18 15:31:40] * Get_Lost nodnods and curls herself in a place that seems decently repaired from the cold wind, tries tosleep at least a bit
[2013-12-18 15:31:55] * Noble_Heart frowns and contemplates. "Given what happened to the one which we encountered? It is likely that before the war they simply could not survive within Equestria. Certainly there were conflicts, but overwhelmingly ponies were positive. After the war? We would surmise that the SPP kept them out. But with this tower destroyed, they have likely settled here to feed upon those
[2013-12-18 15:31:56] * Noble_Heart trying to make the journey between Our lands and the Zebra's."
[2013-12-18 15:32:13] * Mare-Do-Well 3thinks on Golden_Dream's question for a bit, then sighs.  "You were being honest about yourself..." she admits.  "Figured I need to too.  Can't really be friends if you're hiding who you really are, right?"
[2013-12-18 15:32:30] * CopyCat tilts her head at Golden_Dream's question. "Would you like to find out?" Then she casts a spell and becomes Celestia. Unfortunately her mane doesn't float, but it was close enough.
[2013-12-18 15:34:39] * Bookwright shrugs. "Or perhaps they just prefer isolated places that are freezing cold?"
[2013-12-18 15:34:46] * Get_Lost calls from where se curled "oh right! copy, you should try th socks!"
[2013-12-18 15:36:08] * CelestiaCat smiles. "Ah yes, good idea Get_Lost."
[2013-12-18 15:39:12] * Noble_Heart fidgets slightly and yawns. "We think it is about time to get some rest." Turning to head into one of the two tents, the one with the green sleeping bag.
[2013-12-18 15:39:16] * CelestiaCat enters the tent with Get_Lost and takes the time to put on her new socks before settling down.
[2013-12-18 15:40:44] * Get_Lost calls outside "there's still place here, the more the warmer!"
[2013-12-18 15:41:03] * Shatara glances towards Get_Lost and CelestiaCat's tent and blushes.
[2013-12-18 15:41:03] * Golden_Dream sighs. "Yeah. You got that right, Rainbow." And like that, she budged. "... Alright, Rainbow Dash brought up a good point. Honesty time. Noble, get yer flank back out here." She stood up straighter than normal, and then was bewildered by CopyCat all of a sudden being Celestia. "Um. Alright. So, ya'll think-" Focus. "Anyways. Um. Let's start with Noble." Since she was the closest. She tried...
[2013-12-18 15:41:05] * Golden_Dream ...to figure out how best to ask some questions without rousing her emotion. "Look. I get y' like me. I dunno why, but I'm alright with it. But I'm gettin' kinda afraid that you're not likin' me so much as that sister I remind ya'll of." She got a little bit heated. "I mean, yeah. I like you. You're one of my best friends. But I'm worried about you. And I'm startin' t' wonder about what I am...
[2013-12-18 15:41:06] * Golden_Dream ...t' you. Am I yer sister, yer royal subject, or your friend?"
[2013-12-18 15:43:46] * Shatara quietly scoots towards the tent while the others are distracted
[2013-12-18 15:43:51] * CelestiaCat curls an elegant white wing around Get_Lost.
[2013-12-18 15:45:24] * Get_Lost crawl a little more against copycat and puts her head around the alicorn's neck, "you're so warm and comfy..."
[2013-12-18 15:46:21] * Bookwright joins Shatara in tent-scooting.
[2013-12-18 15:46:30] * Golden_Dream points at Shatara. Oh, no. He's not getting away "You, I'm worried about for different reasons. I mean, you're a nice  guy, if yer not bein' all shy and stuff. But I'm worried about you and CopyCat. Ya'll make a cute couple, don't get me wrong. But I'm worried you ain't seein' her as a partner, y'r seein' her as somethin' t' have sex with. And if that's how y' want yer relationship t' be,...
[2013-12-18 15:46:31] * Golden_Dream ...I'll butt out of it. But CopyCat's prolly th' nicest mare I ever met. And I think you'd like her even past that."
[2013-12-18 15:47:55] * Noble_Heart blinks and tilts her head to one side, contemplating that question. "We are uncertain We understand the question? You are Our friend, ofcourse. One which We would wish to protect, no matter what." She pauses again, frowning. "Though you do remind Us of... Remind me of... Of Apple Crumble." She hangs her head slightly. "I wasn't there to help her when I promised. Like I
[2013-12-18 15:47:56] * Noble_Heart should have been..." her voice went quiet. "not that there was much I could have done..." her eyes closed as tears ran down her cheeks and fell to freeze upon the ground.
[2013-12-18 15:48:17] * Shatara acks and scratches his foreleg uncomfortably. "Uhh..."
[2013-12-18 15:48:39] * Mare-Do-Well 3watches quietly.  She doesn't really understand the new alicorns.  The explanation she got was... strange.  But she at least has an idea that they are here because of the research of her old friend Twilight Sparkle.  She was at Old Olneigh once, back after the Ministry of Arcane Sciences had taken the place over for Twilight's pet project.
[2013-12-18 15:49:48] * Golden_Dream points at Bookwright. "Bookie, you're pretty cool, I ain't got much t' worry about with you. But I got somethin' t' wonder about." She twittled her hooves. "So, you say everythin' deserves t' be remembered. I got a question, then. If somethin' that you remember makes you need t' kill somepony, is it worth rememberin'?"
[2013-12-18 15:50:38] * Get_Lost "copy, didn't you have a winter outfit you wanted me to fix for your size? i rmeember something like that... maybe this is a good moment to work on it"
[2013-12-18 15:51:10] * Bookwright "Would you prefer to forget the injury and reason for wanting to kill somepony?"
[2013-12-18 15:52:22] * Noble_Heart slumps slightly where she was sitting. "I helped them when I was asked. I brought her there. To the first place to ever be hit. It's my fault she died that way, she deserved better and I failed her..." She closed her eyes and just sat there crying for a time.
[2013-12-18 15:54:19] * Golden_Dream sighs, listens, and nuzzles Noble with a bit of gusto. "Hey. We all lost folks we love. And I get you feel responsible. You ain't. Alright? She got killed by a bad situation. And nopony can blame ya'll fer y'r good intent." She moves up to Bookie. "No. It's... Kinda somethin' y' can't forgive unless ya'll put it out of yer mind in th' first place."
[2013-12-18 15:54:30] * Get_Lost frowns "mh, i'm not sure, but kid seems to be holdign some sort of speech.... should we go and listen? probably it's important...."
[2013-12-18 15:55:10] * CelestiaCat looks up and pats Get_Lost on the head. "I believe so too. And there is one who needs a hug."
[2013-12-18 15:55:14] * Bookwright shakes his head. "Remembering is an important part of forgiving. If you don't remember, how can you forgive?"
[2013-12-18 15:55:40] * Get_Lost pokes her head outside the tent and tries to catch up with whatever they're saying
[2013-12-18 15:56:21] * Shatara speaks almost too soft to hear. "Just cause I want...stuff...doesn't mean I don't have a heart..."
[2013-12-18 15:57:31] * Get_Lost listens to the last couple of sentences and smiles "oh, we're talking sex! i like it!"
[2013-12-18 15:57:54] * Mare-Do-Well 3chuckles.  "I remember wanting... 'stuff'."
[2013-12-18 15:58:35] * Golden_Dream frowns. "Forgiveness comes at a cost. And I don't... Think ya'll understand th' cost it'll take." And then Mare-Do-Well said stuff.
[2013-12-18 15:59:30] * CelestiaCat leaves the tent and heads straight over to Noble_Heart and Golden_Dream. She looks at the other alicorn with Celestia's caring motherly eyes and hugs her tight. Catching Golden in the blast wave if the filly wasn't far enough away.
[2013-12-18 16:00:11] * Mare-Do-Well 3then takes note of Noble_Heart.  She trots up and wraps a wing about her, wishing the alicorn could feel it.  She curses under her breath.  She was never that good at mushy stuff, but losing the ability to comfort another pony was the worst thing ever.
[2013-12-18 16:00:14] * Shatara responds to Get_Lost by applying face to snowdrift.
[2013-12-18 16:00:26] * Get_Lost chirps "who would say no to some decent 'stuff'?"
[2013-12-18 16:00:43] * Noble_Heart lowers her head to nuzzle Golden Dream in return. "You remind me so much of her. Assertive. Smart. Friendly. Maybe a little sarcastic sometimes." She slumped slightly. "How... How could I not see her in you? It's not fair. I succeeded, even when everyone told me I wasn't worthy of being there. When they thought I was only there because I was related to Applejack." She
[2013-12-18 16:00:44] * Noble_Heart flattened her ears slightly. "That I was some useless bumpkin who didn't really know anything." She let out a quiet 'glrk' at the sudden hug, leaning against CopyCat. "But now I'm here, and she's gone. And I miss her... It isn't fair..."
[2013-12-18 16:02:27] * Get_Lost "life is rarely fair, but in return of not fairnes you get friends, 'stuff', or some frozen meaningless death... pick one, but beware, one of these is not as fun as the other two"
[2013-12-18 16:02:58] * Get_Lost then whispers to bookie "pro tip: the not fun one id frozen death"
[2013-12-18 16:03:08] * Bookwright nods sagely.
[2013-12-18 16:03:57] * Golden_Dream sighs and frowns. "... Hey, um. Mare-Do-Well?" She seemed hesitant. "Um. Ya'll can, uh. Ya'll can hug her through me if you want." She seemed uncomfortable, but willing. After all, it's fucking Rainbow Dash for one. And she's been working so hard to save her and comfort her when in need.
[2013-12-18 16:04:23] * Mare-Do-Well 3focuses... focuses really, really hard and tries to get Noble_Heart to feel the hug.  Ghosts can do that, right?   Why can't she?  She's supposed to be awesome.  "I'm... sorry," she says when it doesn't work.
[2013-12-18 16:05:36] * Get_Lost "well we could simply...." smiles widely then screams "GROUP HUG! LET'S PONYPILE!" jumps on Noble_Heart like an olympic diver in a pool
[2013-12-18 16:08:56] * Noble_Heart cries quietly, pressed up against CopyCat. "I... I wanted to be there for her. But it was too late. The bombs. And the madness. The Goddess was born before any of us even realized what had gone wrong. I couldn't. She wouldn't let me. Wouldn't let any of us." She shuddered at the memories. "But I have a chance to do something... To make what I did then worth something... I
[2013-12-18 16:08:56] * Noble_Heart can't... I can't just let normal ponies suffer. It's not fair. S-so I have to be strong. To be what an Alicorn was meant to be..." she muttered quietly, "... even if I'm weak, we were strong..." The sudden jump of another hug made her flail off her hooves, likely dragging CopyCat down with her.
[2013-12-18 16:10:25] * Shatara scoots up and leans on the pile of pony.
[2013-12-18 16:11:38] * CopyCat 'ooofs' as the hug become a pony pile.
[2013-12-18 16:11:48] * Bookwright joins the ponypile
[2013-12-18 16:12:17] <Mare-Do-Well> 3Bookwright, Shatara and Get_Lost hear the words, seemingly whispered by the wind.  "I'm... sorry."
[2013-12-18 16:12:43] * Bookwright looks around. "Huh? Did you guys just hear something?"
[2013-12-18 16:13:47] * Get_Lost takes a look around "being sorry is overrated! cheer up, you're with friends!"
[2013-12-18 16:14:43] * Noble_Heart blinked a few times in confusion, trying to figure out why she was suddenly on the ground, and what had just happened. And how her train of thought had been so thoroughly derailed.
[2013-12-18 16:15:48] * CopyCat mumbles through a mouthful of mare. "Wuhs thah Geh Losht? Whos sorroh?"
[2013-12-18 16:16:50] * Get_Lost exploits the moment to perform some quality control on noble's plot "wow, it's like the pillow i never had!"
[2013-12-18 16:19:12] * Get_Lost "it's rainbow, she's sorry because she can't hug noble... rainbow, don't worry, we can hug her for you! and also tease her!" goes back playing with noble's plot
[2013-12-18 16:19:20] * Bookwright tries it out too. "Incredible! It's so soft!"
[2013-12-18 16:20:01] * Shatara catches sight of Get_Lost's shenanigans and meeps.
[2013-12-18 16:20:24] * Golden_Dream is now a part of the pony Pile. "Rainbow Dash, seriously. Ya'll deserve t' be in on this, more than any ghost I know. And th' only reason I wanted ya'll t'... You know, is because I wanted t' get ya'll a hug." She seemed a little less hesitant when her name came up in her mind.
[2013-12-18 16:22:19] * Mare-Do-Well 3nods, hesitant.  Then steps into Golden_Dream and adds herself to the pony hugpile.  It's wonderful, the warmth of friendship.
[2013-12-18 16:24:40] * Bookwright hugs and hugs and hugs and hopes that some of it gets through to Mare-Do-Well
[2013-12-18 16:24:54] * Noble_Heart twitches her rear legs slightly at the continued attentions to her hind quarters. Wrapping her forelegs gently around Golden Dream/Mare-Do-Well. "We are thankful for having so many wonderful friends."
[2013-12-18 16:25:30] * Golden_Dream feels kinda weird. Like she just took a vacation from herself. She can't help but feel a little worried, but whereas the thing that got to her felt as if it was aggressive, overcharged, more machine than whatever makes up a living thing, this just felt kind of warm. That made her feel glad.
[2013-12-18 16:27:15] * Shatara wraps his wings around everyone.
[2013-12-18 16:28:12] * Get_Lost finds a golden dream in the group hug and give hers a lick on her ear.
[2013-12-18 16:32:31] * CopyCat wriggles happily.
[2013-12-18 16:33:47] * Mare-Do-Well 3slips out of Golden_Dream seconds after taking control.
[2013-12-18 16:33:53] * Golden_Dream wondered if Mare-Do-Well felt that. Then again, she wondered if she could hear her wondering.
[2013-12-18 16:34:25] * Golden_Dream shook her head. "... Get, why'd you go and do that?"
[2013-12-18 16:35:40] * Get_Lost smiles "because!"
[2013-12-18 16:36:22] * CopyCat giggles. "A masterful reply."
[2013-12-18 16:38:45] * Golden_Dream stuck her lower lip out and pouted. "Ya'll keep yer tongue outta my ear. You don't know where it's been." She proceeded to giggle right after saying that. Nope, couldn't keep a straight face.
[2013-12-18 16:39:36] * Get_Lost "and what about snuggles?"
[2013-12-18 16:40:09] * CopyCat is unable to surpress a yawn. "Snuggles iss goodss..."
[2013-12-18 16:40:28] * Bookwright yawns too. "I think it might be time to settle down for the night."
[2013-12-18 16:40:37] * Golden_Dream smirks cattily. "So, Rainbow Dash. Ah heard ya'll used t' like 'stuff'. Who's 'stuff' did ya'll used t' like?" She proceeded to snuggle the cyborg. For warmth. Yes. Body heat and somesuch.
[2013-12-18 16:41:28] * Noble_Heart chuckles slightly, but mostly just remains burried under ponies.
[2013-12-18 16:41:34] * Shatara blushes as the discussion falls on 'stuff', wriggling in the pile.
[2013-12-18 16:42:45] * Mare-Do-Well 3decides it's a good time to be all stoic and mysterious.
[2013-12-18 16:44:07] * Get_Lost snuggles back, here and there, mostly distributing snuggles and cuddles with the spray and pray strategy. you start snuggling and let celestia sort them
[2013-12-18 16:45:28] * CopyCat does her best to assist with sorting the snuggles.
[2013-12-18 16:47:54] * Golden_Dream smiles toothily. "Aw, ya'll ain't foolin' me. Yer blushin' underneath that mask!" She snuggled into the pile a little more. Warm. Cozy. Sleep.
[2013-12-18 16:48:33] * Get_Lost yes, sleep. ponypile is best warm place for Zs. so, Zs it is
[2013-12-18 16:50:13] * Shatara strokes a pone or two with a wingtip.
[2013-12-18 16:50:14] * CopyCat nods sleepily and settles down. "Who needs a tent," she murmurs.
[2013-12-18 17:03:16] <Mare-Do-Well> 3The ponies and griffin bed down for the night, the friendship radiating off of them certain to keep even a herd of windigos at bay.
[2013-12-18 17:03:28] <Mare-Do-Well> 3--- End of Session ---