Blizzard cleared her throat, trying to get the attention to divert to her in a proper manner. "Stiff neck..." Calhad mumbled. "Well, I think we should be focused on something else. Finding a way to get everyone home. I'm quite sure the giant machine is going to attract many ponies as is the Keyblade Wielder and me. We need to get us out of here as quickly as possible." She pressed. "Or we may end up being hunted down like DarkShine here. Now Tyro, is there any way to fix your machine if we can reach it? With so many ponies and a fox available to you...it should be easy, correct? If we can reach it and fix it, then we can help DarkShine with his problem before we head home, yes?"
The other, multi-coloured fox felt sort of...Effeminate? Maybe that was the lack of foxes for a long while. "If I knew where it was and how to fix it, I wouldn't have been here for around a year. It's not the first time it's lost a string or two, but it actually refuses to get in tune. With the holes and the wood splintering from it, I don't blame it. Either way, it doesn't seem like a viable option without an expert in magical sitars." Tyro adds a defeated chuckle: "As for being hunted, there's nothing saying we will be if we do nothing. Might do if we start to help but I'm not overly content to do nothing. Dead pegasi doesn't sound all that appealing. Plus, it sounds like we've got some ponies threatening with bows and arrows. Should be good for a laugh." Then, his brain popped in with something. They wanted to go home; understandable. He'd mentioned about the sitar and then given them this one glimmer of hope. On the other hand, he had a duty, a sort of self elected duty but a duty none-the-less to Dark Shine. He looked like he could use the help. He did wonder for a second or two what fixing the instrument would mean for him. He could get away from here again. He could resume his life. The kids would be searching for him. So, why didn't he do anything sooner? "All right, how about this? Me and, errr...." His mind and face blanks as he struggles to name the keybarer. "We probably need to do a little more chatting so we'll look into Dark Shine's little problem. The rest of you can go with Sulphy and pick up the sitar." Sulphy nearly chokes, hacking and spluttering into while beating his chest to clear his windpipe. He regains his breath: "You want me to take the robot to Celestia? Are you insane!?" "No, " Tyro answers, "Depending on what Titus wants to do, he'll either come with me or meet Luna. Celestia wouldn't give us the time of day, even if our lives depended on it." He looks up at the rest of the group: "Sound good?"
Dark Shine nodded. "Thank you." He tapped his chin. "If I remember correctly, one of the ponies who attacked me was Grey... With... Odd eyes. And a Fedora."
Blizzard smiled gratefully, looking down at the baby dragon. Sure, the creature was not as whelplings she had imagined, but truly he could not be much different from her own race? "I'm quite happy with this plan! I am sure we will be able to procure your...instrument. Princess Luna sounds like a honest pony if nothing else." She said, drawing from the rumors she had heard from the patrolling guards before Ruggard had murdered them. Calhad stayed silent, also throwing his lot in with the other fox, having no other choice and fortunately Ruggard was still knocked out. "When do we go?" Her tail flicking slightly in excitement.
Titus was pondering the question inside of his cockpit, staying silent as he thought it over. How had he got here? The ship had collasped and he had shot off into the Warp. Strangely enough, it had brought him here. But even if he had wanted to give such information, he had no way of giving it. His energy was running dangerously low, and using it to speak was a waste of it. So, to try and show where he wanted to go, he pointed at the Dragon, as meeting the Princess may get him to his Eternal Empresses much more quickly then helping a native. His machinery creaked as his flamethrower pointed at the Dragon, though not a flame leaked from the opening.
Sulphy lets out a small squeak involuntarily as the flame thrower points at him. His eyes were transfixed on the pilot light. "Don't worry. He's not going to hurt you." Tyro reassures his partner. "It's like spiders. He's probably more afraid of you." "That is because I'm bigger than a spider." Sulphy argues, never taking his eyes away from the weapons barrel. "Spiders don't have heavy weaponry, either..." "You'll be fine. Just ask Luna and tell her we dealt with all of today's little problems. I think it's some sort of record for us." Tyro rises to his paws, walking around the table and towards the exit with a little jerk of his head at Ambience and Dark Shine. "Come on, there might be something of use in the wreckage." Sulphy draws in a breath, letting it drain away as a loss of all hope made audible. He signs the bottom of the parchment, rolls it up, lifts it in his claw and breathes an orange flame over it. The message vanishes in the flame before hopping off his seat. "I guess we ought to see about finding another train. And another car seeing as the other one has a massive dent in it..." The baby dragon walks towards the exit, grumbling to himself. A few things about 'slave labour' again but nothing specific or audible. "This way." Sulphy said, heading in the opposite direction to Tyro.
Blizzard followed the young dragon, wondering if asking about his race here in Equestria seemed like to much of a conversation for such a grumpy young thing. Then again, she didn't know if the Dragons back in her home dimension were the same. It brought a frown to her face as she walked along Sulphy, always bothered by the fact she could never remember her own life as a Dragon, but instead only her life with Ruggard and Cal. But as always she blamed the crystal that had done this to her in the first place. "So Sulphy." She said catching the young dragon's attention. "What exactly are we asking Princess Luna for? What is this instrument Tyro keeps refereeing to?"
The loud, snorting giggle Sulphy gave in response could have convinced you his nose had suddenly decided on a career change and attempted to escape. "You'll have more chance trying to find a fart in a hot-tub than get Tyro to explain anything to me." he said, "All we know is that it's how Tyro managed to arrive in Equestria and get into the Palace undetected. Nopony has any idea what it is or what it's supposed to do or how it works. One of the guards that attacked Tyro managed to put a spear through it and it's been a pile of kindling ever since." Sulphy stops. With a couple of hard pats on his now out-thrust chest, he gives a loud cough which spews a jet of flame. Nimbly, he catches a new, sealed scroll in one claw and immediately begins opening it as he resumes his walking pace. "I've been practising. A little more regal than burping in a pony's face, wouldn't you say?" He opens the message. "We're not wasting our time. Her highness seems happy to be rid of it. It's been causing strange air patterns while inside the Canterlot vaults. Gale force winds and everything. Oh joy..." Tyro had a quick think through his memories of all the criminals he's been asked to take down while here. Nothing sounded familiar. "Nope. Not ringing any bells. Anything else about them? What did they do? What did they want with your house?"
Dark Shine walked next to Tyro. "What they did, you ask?" He sighed. "I had just cleared the clouds. Otherwise, I would have probably have been in a comma for a while. I went to go rest on my bed. Not even a minute of laying down, one of them had a gun at my cheek. There was a few of them. 2 of them had massive guns on their backs. One of them was very good with a knife... He threw one above my head to threaten me. They choked me. I dont know why. He kept saying something about me knowing too much about a package." He looked towards the wreckage of his house. "I meant to flee to the Everfree but one of them followed me. A pink one. I got away and it would seem they decided to destroy my house."
Now that Eight Star had eaten, he was over by the burnt home, checking it out - as were many other ponies from Ponyville. To be less suspicious, he had put his cloak somewhere else by this point, and merely stood around with the other ponies, listening to their assumptions of what could've happened here. He wondered... just... where was Twilight and her group? Were they on vacation? No, he saw Rarity earlier. Not that it mattered, none of them would give him the time of day.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa!" Tyro slips ahead of Dark Shine. "They have guns?! Real, actually, firing guns?!" The news was rather big. The most dangerous piece of technology for miles that could be made in Equestria is the Party Cannon. And that's if a piece of confetti gets in your eye. A gun in Equestria is like taking hose to a water fight. The only possible threat would be the unicorns. "The only place that makes guns is Steam...Peaks..." As the epiphany washes over Tyro, he barely registers any of the other ponies that had stopped by to look at the wreckage. "So, that's how this happened." Came a familiar voice. Tyro's thoughts popped as he wheels around to see the multi-coloured mane of Rainbow Dash. "Heh! Yeah, I'd see why you'd think it was me but it wasn't. It really wasn't..." Rainbow Dash was unconvinced. "I didn't!" Tyro insists, "Have you known me to set things on fire needlessly?!" "Uh, me! Rarity when she tried dressing you up. When you -" "They were threats, no actual burning took place! Now, look! I got work to do." He escapes the conversation, to then resume moving towards the burnt-out house. The scarlet in the corner of his eye draws his attention to Eight Star. "Hello." said Tyro, "Monsters and burnt timbres a particular interest to you, then?"
"Hmm?" He turned to see Tyro and grimaced. "Oh, I was just starting to forget." His eyes twitch in Rainbow Dash's direction, but only for a moment before looking at the fox again. "I'm just a concerned pony in Ponyville. I assure you, burnt houses are not as rare as you'd think, but always a spectacle." He snorts and steps back from the crowd, standing more revealed from the rest. "Did you find out who burnt it down, then?"
"Heh. No, ponies that walk on the ceiling or brooms that fetch pales of water is what's normal for round here. A fire is actually somewhat benign, so sorta weird by comparison." He moves towards the hanging front door, pushing on it with a paw. It doesn't budge. With his shoulder, Tyro sweeps some of the rubble from out behind the door till it catches on some of the larger timbres. The walls had been largely ravaged by the all-consuming flames. The acrid stench of the destroyed wood and incinerated upholstery practically makes you gag just after the heavy layer of particulates in the air do. Light shines through the roof onto the awful scene. Tyro picks each his paws thoroughly. The rain water had made the soot and dust clump together as a sort of thick paste. He tries sniffing the air. Other than smoke and charcoal, he wasn't picking much up, if anything. "We're currently looking for ponies with fedoras. Seen any...err.." He'd not actually taken note of the unicorns name. "Sorry, your name was?"
He shook his head and turned, uninterested. "Disasters befall this area all the time. Just ask Twilight." He turned away and begin to very indignantly begin to trot off. This time though, he was headed towards the boutique... like he had some sort of business there.
Dark Shine looked at what was left of his house. It was like a nightmare. It meant currently, the only place he could live is his house in the Everfree. If they found that, he'd have nowhere. He flew into it, gagging on the scent and air, before landing in the pastey remains of the house. His pictures of his family... His gifts... His flowers... Everything. All gone. He ran his eyes along the walls, heading to where his bedroom once was. "Over here!" He shouted, scanning around for any evidence left behind.
"The object itself sounds quite powerful." Blizzard commented thoughtfully. "I'm surprised they've stored something so powerful." "Nearly as powerful as the Necronomicon!" Ruggard chipped in, finally awake after his extensive use of power. "Ruggard!" Blizzard scolded mentally. "Why did you summon such a demon here? You've injured many ponies! What could have been possibly been going through your mind?!" "Fun! And we met the Fox while I did it! We all win!" Blizzard's eye twitched. His childish attitude always served to annoy her. He never thought of any consequences, which went against her entire philosophy. Which of course was the best. "Sush, we'll talk about this later in private." Blizzard hissed. "What's more private then my own mind?" Ruggard questioned. Blizzard ignored him and continued walking, hoping she didn't make her mental conflict obvious.
"I know right! She should just wear a sign saying 'Beware-" Tyro stops, as he turns around, only to see Eight Star had gone. "Huh...That pony doesn't seem to like sitting in one place for all that long." He turns back to where he thought Dark Shine was. "I can relate." Although, he'd gone too. He hears the call from upstairs and gingerly treads up the stairs as lightly as he possibly can. "Powerful...Yeah, sure." Sulphy said as he avoided all eye contact as they arrived at the train station. He was trying keep away from the pony he'd had bellow in his ear about Titus' sudden dislike for the flatbed truck that carried him to Ponyville. Heck, he might as well be towing a lion or a fire-breathing, 100-foot tall death bear if we was going to introduce the princess to the metal monster lumbering behind him. Whether Titus could be fully trusted was something Sulphy was keen to answer with a firm 'No' and move on. The fox? Still in the air. The questions weren't helping his case. "The fluffy-brained idiot himself doesn't know what it is or what it does so I've got no clue. Apparently he stole it from some bad guy years ago, used it as transportation. Now, I gotta sort out another truck after somepony decided to smash the last one." With that, Sulphy wondered away, grumbling still further about slavery and such. The material falls over the mannequin, as Rarity staples the pins in like rivets into a building frame. "I do wonder if there is a self-preservation instinct in either of your heads sometimes, I really do." Rarity snaps over the constant 'thunk' of each needle piercing the material. "Would you sit in front of a train or a stampede if it was coming at you?" The silence hangs for a few seconds before both fillies realise that they were meant to give an answer. "No..." they drone in unison. "And Applebloom, your sister would have a heart attack if anything happened to you while in my care. I wouldn't know what to say to her." Applebloom pipes up: "But, but we were tryin' teh pick up some pointers so we can use 'em to get our cutie marks." "Yeah! In monster hunting." Sweetie Belle joins in. "Take it from me girls, it helps to be still alive to get a cutie mark. Running around the Everfree forest poking the foul creatures with sticks is a sure way of making sure you never qualify in that respect." 'thunk, thunk, thunk' "Now, didn't you have that assignment to be doing?"
Dark continued searching through the wreckage. He was annoyed because he didn't remember them firing any bullets, even though they were going to... The knife. He could look for the knife! Of course!
As brazen as he is, he pushed his way into the boutique. With the ringing of the bell, he called out along-side it. "Open for business to anypony today?" With a grin, he stood just past the door, and took a look about. He didn't exactly make a habit of visiting, so he was taking in the new designs available. "My, my, such a busy-pony. I see you're still doing smashingly."
Rarity composes herself despite the sudden spike of spite, especially since there were sensitive ears present. With a great internal battle between maintaining her professional dignity and clubbing Eight Star over the head while spouting a torrent of bile, she breaks eye contact then returns to her work. *thunk, thunk, thunk, thunk* "We're closed for the moment." She said kurtly, "Please show yourself out." Still snuffling around, Tyro reaches the same room. His normally white muzzle was now heavily dusted with black specks. As he looks around the burnt out room, he continues to smell nothing but smoke and ashes. "All right, can you tell me about what they were saying to you again? These fedora wearing ponies?" Tyro asks as he looks around.
