She sighed. "I wasn't going to say anything, because I wasn't sure until today. I've got a job... a big job... up north. Gonna be gone for at least a week."
"A week? But..." Her ears flopped. "Where are we going?" Dusty looked at the clock. "Oh, damn it. Closing time! It was closing time an hour ago!"
She shook her head. "Sorry, not this time. I'm taking a small team north over the pole, then south across the other side." As any schoolfilly with a basic grasp of geography could figure out, Nightshade was talking about a trip to the old country. The land destroyed by Windigos a millennia earlier. A cursed land, so dangerous that even the bravest warriors avoided it like the plague.
Dusty floated the unconscious Assassin upstairs. Raven facehoofed and sighed. "Just don't die on me. And... Maybe try to be back for my birthday?"
"I'll do my damnedest." She sighed as Dusty ordered everyone out. "Time to go. Feel like flying? I still need to pack, and I could use some help."
"Weekends are a no-go for us," said Maya. "And I kinda fired Saber, so... Who's gonna do the bar?" Dusty shrugged. "How about Asmodeus?" "How about no? I'd rather let little Moondust run it, dude." "Come on, Maya, he can't do that terribly. Besides, who else do we have?" "Eurgh... fine. Fine. But only if nopony else steps up." "Yeah..." Raven gave Az a big hug and stood up.
Windsor tapped Maya on the shoulder. As a sentient barstool infused with the place memories of the entire building, he was more than capable of acting as a bartender in Maya and Dusty's absence. It was, after all, what he was created for. ******************************************************************************************** Nightshade said her goodbyes and headed out. It occurred to her that Raven had never been to her apartment.
"Yeah." Maya pointed to Windsor. "Him. He'll be our bartender." Dusty shrugged. "That works." Raven followed her out. "So, how far's the place?"
"Oh, right. You told me that." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "Who's gonna do security?" Maya asked. Dusty responded, "Asmodeus..?"
Windsor, slightly disappointed, put the heavy leather bullwhip he was holding back under the bar. ***************************************** Nightshade nodded. "Hey, let's take a shortcut." She went into rapid spin, creating a funnel of swirling air that quickly formed a half mile-long sidewinder. She grinned, and flew back towards one of the funnel. "Spitfire taught me this one. Geronimo!" She flew into the open funnel, and was spit out the other side a fraction of a second later like a bullet, careening towards Ponyville.
Well, that might work then. Question is, how are we to harness it? I mean, there is still a surge of energy emanating from the North, albeit faintly, based on what my sword's instrumentum can pick up.
(@Lord Architect - Seriously, wrap it up. We're about to move to the next day.) Cricket said her goodbyes and walked outside to call a cab home.
Whatever that energy is, if we can harness it, focus it through the crystal to the north, it might be enough to punch through Universal walls. And I may just sleep here, like right here.
"That's fine. But steal anything, and I'll have Azrael break your sword." Dusty stood up. "Alright." Maya walked towards the door. "Everypony, pick a room, or get the hell out."
(Mumbles something about his sword, before pulling out two items, one, a card similar to Arch's but silver, two, a small cube. Putting the cube down and pressing a button on it after handing the card to Dusty as a type of Security Deposit.) *The cube emits a flash of light and Edmond vanishes while a smoky image of the cube remains*
"And that works." Dusty helped his wife lock up the bar after everypony left. It was now on Windsor to reopen in the morning.
