Titus waiting outside of the Cafe, not needing the food or the company the place provided. His mechanical body looked up, seeing the sky through the few camera's that remained functional. "I am...away from the Empress." Titus muttered inside the cockpit, thinking his situation through. It was clear nopony around here had heard of the Empress and by logic, Chaos or The Shadow. Except for that odd pony with the sign of Chaos on him. He had to be watched, for all heresy starts with one. But his true goal was quite clear however. To get back to the fight and protect the worlds under the Empress's rule. And his best bet would the odd creature that he had met after the ponies. He seemed knowledgeable enough, and would be used until he could escape from this world. With his plan set out, he remained in place, awaiting the return of his guide to this planet.
This story starts at the end of another string of events. Here, a promise has been rather badly ruined by unforeseen circumstances and the group formed from that promise all sit in a spider web infested bedroom. The ornate details on the walls line tall pillars that reach the ceiling. These gold pillars break up the cool blue of the walls. A colossal and malformed wardrobe dominates one side of the room. It's dark wood has massive doors like floodgates and the draws are all in strange shapes and sizes as though arranged as a jigsaw. The other end is the domain of the bed. A mattress the size of a small swimming pool is matched with a navy blue headboard that climbs half the wall. A layer of dust lines the silky sheets. The decay and webbing has captured the piles of books in the room that have long since stopped their constant updating along with a great deal of the grey layer that permeates the air and every surface here. They were all promised something by the fox marching backwards and forwards as he frantically wrestled with the situation. "OK." He said, tails flicking with every turn he makes while wondering back and forth. "OK, so when I said 'Hey! I think I know where the Library of Life might be! Want to come with?' I didn't plan for anypony to be here already. Let alone with a small army. I mean, no pony could but it doesn't change the fact that I got you locked in this bedroom while that mad cow tries to figure out what to do with us. I said I'd get you these books and you still have my word on that. I probably couldn't arrive with out any of you..." As he scans the room, he remembers the reasons they'd come along with him. Hurren Cane just seemed bored when he met her. Reckless and well, young. She didn't seem bothered by the books or the effort of getting to the Library. No, Tyro recognised that little glint in her eye all to well. He was her ticket out of mundane life and into something more stimulating. He only hoped the buzzkill didn't come in the form of a gun shot. Cyanside appeared to want to clear up two mysteries in her life. The first he could relate to by being in the same boat: learn about her parents. The second was to find out why she wasn't welcome in Fillydelphia. Considering how welcoming and friendly the average pony was, even to him, he was interested in whatever happened back then too. Karl was...Well, Karl wanted...Frankly, Tyro had given up on trying to understand the 44th Clockmaker. On the plus side, he was easier to read than before, if only because Tyro felt like he was being reminded of the promotion every few hours. A creature that's meant to balance the universe's books ought to know where they are first, right? Fair Capriccio was looking for an old relic, apparently. Something from before the Crystal Kingdom was taken over by some shady git a millennia ago. The crystal pony was a musician so had all the combat usefulness of a dish cloth but Tyro had to agree with her that the Library was likely source of clues on the artefacts whereabouts. Before they were jumped, the risks were perfectly surmountable but they certainly weren't any more. Tyro had been surprised Rifter's assignment to this case. Princess Luna had been rather insistent a few days after he mentioned 'The Library of Life' to her. She just told him to find the griffin and take him with. Considering the amounts Tyro's seen him neck over the course of the journey so far, he wouldn't have been at all surprised if this was his Captain's idea of recompense. Seemed to work out for him, why not Rifter? As mentioned, the initial risks of this endeavour didn't involve anything particularly dangerous so it was perfectly fine for Steel Law to come along. Tyro hadn't any idea why though. He didn't mention any great mystery he needed solving and didn't seem the type to just run off. The opposite in fact seeing as he has a wife to be to loose in coming here. When he mentioned he was a lawyer, Tyro figured that he might have been looking to use the Library as evidence in cases. He'd not mentioned anything else. "I dunno about a way out but we can't stay put. Cydonia will think of something to do with us. Err..." Tyro looks at the doors. Wooden doors. He could burn through them but it's just a case of what to do when the guards outside smell smoke... "Any ideas?"
Steel law spoke up in a deep southern accent ((similar to John marstons)) accent. "I think I have one, you know that rug seems out of place (points to the top left corner) there has to be something underneath. If not check the Walls and floors for hollowness". He smiled his Stetson covering his eyes.
"Well, that just seems dandy." Karl replied, his voice calm and methodical. He was in a meditating position, hovering a bit over the air and with his eyes closed. A large scar crossed his right eye and when he opened it too look to Tyro, the scar crossed into the crystallite eye underneath, cutting deep down as a dim light shone through it. He looked directly at Tyro with a tired face, as if he already knew something the others didn't and with dislike to it. "I would spoil the whole thing for you guys, but that would just be boring to sit through all this, wouldn't it? Also, it would only change the outcome to something grimmer. But, nevermind me, i can't help until i have my axe back." Karl then turned to Steel. "Have i seen you before? I might've in court or something. Then again, how many lawyers wouldn't want to take down the biggest murderer in history today?" He gave a small grin and went back to meditating.
Rifter looked at his talons, scratching at them from time to time in an attempt to sharpen them. "Why cant we just break out of here, then tear the guards a new behind?" He smiled malisciously. This was one of the things that made booze more bearable to be without.
Fair Capriccio's usually pristine mane was dulled and flat across itself. Her coat was also looking sickly, accompanying her mood. Capriccio's Fluglehorn hugged her flank tightly where she had it in it's scabbard. She drew a hoof back and rested it upon the Flugelhorn before throwing her head up. "How could this have happened!?" she wailed. "Can't we do this some kind of peaceful way? Something hit the door and she let out a loud yelp. "Okay, maybe they don't want peace. Take two. Following Steel's orders, she walked up to the carpet he pointed out and hopped on it a few times to see what would happen.
The floorboards underneath Capricco's hooves squeak and crack loudly under the pounding. "Yeah! I wouldn't do that!" Tyro said, concerned an frightened that he'll see the Crystal Pony fall through the floor. "We're outside of time and space. I'm not risking anything here."
Fair Capriccio froze on the board as it squeaked under her. "Uhh..." she slowly lifted her legs off the boards and backed away from the spot. Still a little shaken, she said "Any other ideas...?"
Ria shook her mane and trembled, not in a responsive way, but... thinking. She floated slightly, despite the fact that her wings weren't flapping, just slightly ajar. The rug shifted, and despite her cool demenor, she was disturbed. "I suppose I could manipulate the air to break the door down.." she mused. "But what then? Any ideas?"
Cyanside had already changed to Shadow, sensing the imminent battle before them. "Simple, the doors goes down, and we kill everypony inside that opposes us. Just let me at 'em and I'll burn them to a crisp"
Tyro shakes his head. "I'm not looking for blood-shed here. We just need to knock them out." He looks at the old doors, grimey with peeling paint and decay eating away at what's left. They didn't look particularly capable of holding up against a large force. "Maybe a charge at them would be a good idea. Rifter, when I say can you smash the door down? Then either me, Karl or Cyan can jump anypony on the other side. From there, we need to find and stop Cydonia. All right?"He tries a reassuring smile on the group to keep them keen.
Ria's eyes narrowed. "How do you know they haven't been listening now? It's awfully quiet on the other side of the wall." She mimed herself making air swoop under the door to see if it hit any beings.
"Count me out of the fighting. I would do it if i had an axe, but right now i don't, so taking arms right now would be rather useless. Also, i'll catch up with ya later on. Meditation's a serious business."
"Well, before you start, hide somewhere. We don't want to have to protect you while trying to do the same to our own flanks. We'll come and. Is wake you the right words? Anyway, whatever it is, y'know, we'll do it." Ria said grimly. "I'm ready." Her huge wings moved slightly, and she shot up in the air.
"I'll help, I've had a few brawls back in my time. Just because im a lawyer doesn't mean I have to follow every law to the bone". He didn't a maniacal smile before dusting off his hooves and charging his horn.
Rifter nods. "Does that mean I get to use my talons? Hehehe..." He smiled, in a way which seemed a bit dark at first, but if someone were to inspect further into the smile, would seem gleeful and dark.
Karl scanned the group of fighters before his eyes. "Well, you all seem to be ready to get fighting, so i'll just stay here until you get back." He closed his eyes and went back to meditating, steadily hovering before the ground as a small, orange-ish pulse emanated from his chest and died down. "And thanks but no thanks, Ria. I would like you all to stay far away from me when my meditating finishes, as i'm afraid you'll get caught in the blast wave and slowly burn to death." He said reassuringly, sporting a small smile on his face.
Tyro grins, looking around at the group. "Ha! I knew I asked you lot along for a reason! All right!" He turns back to the door, flexing his ears back and forth for anything going on outside the bed chamber. He runs mental calculations, taking into account the space between them and the guards. "All right, so I don't think they've heard us. Now..." He points a paw to them both. "When Rifter breaks down the door, we'll have to move to move quickly to get to the end of the little corridor that leads away from the main one to this room. That means we have two corners for guards to stand behind on either side. Ria and Steel can go left, me and Cyan goes right. OK? OK." He readies himself in front of the door, bent low. "Rifter, in three, two, one, go!"
"Alright, Let's do this. Ria you ready". He smiled getting into full gallop position. Ready for rifter to breach through the door.
