Mary blinks, shaking her head a little...somewhat instinctively rather as a result of anything she was aware of. She notices Intrude's sudden presence and is forced to figure out what in the hey just happened. After all, this pony has just managed to teleport from behind her to standing next to her. She gives Intrude a inquisitive stare, looking back to the group where she was originally just to check. "What in the...Your doing party tricks now? I'm sure an army of dreamers would love a balloon hat and any rabbits you can produce." Mary sneers, as she turns around. While there were strange mares popping in and out of no-where, somepony had the stones to fail to attack her. That needed sorting. "Well, what your currently doing is encouraging a filly, a filly no less, to take on the task best befitting an adult! She should be tucked up in bed, not being debriefed about snatching royalty from the clutches of psychotic sleepwalkers!" She cried, pointing a hoof at the little Alicorn. "The most taxing thing she has likely done in her life is decide who comes to her imaginary tea parties. Do you seriously expect her to have to deal with the closest to zombies she'll ever face? The "Walking Nightmare" is no laughing matter. I should know, I named it!" With that, she turns around, continuing onwards towards the door. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I need a coffee. Please attempt to insult me properly next time, I can always use the practice." She opens the door, slipping outside into the hallway on a quest for java.
Intrude was steaming. She sighed and followed after Mary. She saw her drinking a cup of coffee. "Look.." she said softly, walking over to her. "I don't want to start of as enemies." she began "I'm just saying that Princess Luna herself chose her. Why would she do that if she didn't trust her? While I'm sure she would probably love to be home, she can't. I trust the princess." Intrude shrugged. "But, anyway, I'm sorry I confused you with my power. I shouldn't have done that. I'm just very protective of little ones. That's why I'm here."
Mary places the cup down, raising an eyebrow. "I wouldn't worry your pretty little head about it. Warping from one place to another for no reason, I wasn't hurt. The little teleportation trick is meant to be quite advanced for you Unicorns, isn't it? As long as somepony can make it back alive..." Mary said, keeping the aloof, bored expression throughout. "Now I'm sure Princess Totally and Completely Reformed as a fantastic scheme lined up but excuse me for believing that a battlefield is not where a foal should be. Luna should not ask anything of this magnitude of her. It's absurd. She's barely worn in her cutie mark and The Princess is sending her off to fight. Sooner we get Celestia back, the better."
"I understand what you are thinking, and I'm not saying I disagree with you." She stood up. "Are you ready to get going?"
From another room robin shouted to cranium and mary. "come on were heading off in about five minutes come and join us".
Rashall walked over to little Sunshine and looked her in the eyes for a few minutes before breaking eye contact. "You have a strong heart and soul you'll make it Sunshine," says Rashall with a smile before walking off.
"Sure!" she said, pouring another cup of coffee to stave of sleep for a while longer. "I've made my last will and testament so I'm all sorted. I'll put on my full body armour later when the Nightmare rip the rest of you to shreds unless you can carry two people with that teleporting trick. The only pony I trust to get this done is Rashall, the Prince of the Forest Pixie Ponies. Even then, he'll likely be overwhelmed within minutes rather than seconds, unlike the rest of the team. The Foal will cry for mummy. That tomb raider on the end I wouldn't trust to crush a spider. The Stallion that seems to think he's in 'From Fillydelphia with Love' will buy the one with the Stop Watch Cutie Mark just enough time to figure out what position he'd like to be found in." She downs the drink in a gulp, turning to leave again. "But chin-up! Somepony'll make it back. I'll make sure of it." She smirks over her shoulder while trotting away.
Little Sunshine looked at the ground, attempting to avoid all the attention she was receiving. Despite her escape, she couldn't help but hear Rashall's and Mary's comments. "I will not call for my mummy," she breathed to herself. The princess has a reason for me to be here, no matter what you say. There's a reason somewhere.
Night Time overheard what Mary Sue had said. "And what do you think you could do then? Having a go off at us. What makes you so special? Listen, if we want this to work, we need to be a team. Which means we wont go on at or about other ponies like that. Excellent demonstration of what not to do though." He said, before breathing out a sigh.
"so is everypony ready, we should really get going Equestria's not going to save itself". he then turned to Luna. "so are you going to teleport us over to the north or do we walk it". he grabbed the amulet and white and gold cloak out of his bag and put both on. standing strong bracing himself just in case Luna's teleport went wrong but it probably wouldn't she is a princess after all. - - Auto Merge - - he then turned turned to night. "you really put her in her place there, but Im still a bit wary of her. you can never trust journalists"
"Fine! I'll play along with the little suicide squad!" Mary snaps, standing in the doorway. "But don't expect me to like it!" She snorts, looking off to the side away from the group. "Where are we heading first? I hope it's Ragnarok so I can see how right I am."
Whilst everypony was bickering… Luna nods to Quill. ”Hast thou gathered the literature for which We’ve asked?” Quill stammered, ”W-we have… I have, Your Majesty. It was difficult to find literature that was so…ancient…but… Well, I’m sure you don’t want to hear about that.” He chuckled nervously. ”Miss…Pickpear, was it? The books that I’ve gathered are in a small nook not far from here, if you’d like to…accompany me.” Quill then led Pickpear out of one of the throne room’s side entrances. After going a short distance, he stopped at a blank section of wall and almost put his nose to the ground as he searched the floor near the wall. After a short moment, he blew some dust away and stepped on the area. A soft click could be heard. Quill smiled and proceeded to push the wall back with a hoof, swinging it outward like a door. He glanced back to Pickpear. ”I know every secret passage in this castle. The books are right in here.” After leading Pickpear behind the wall/door, he slid it closed, completely darkening the area. Before Pickpear’s eyes could adjust, a light orange light illuminated the area. The light, she could see, came from Quill’s horn. Quill sighed and led Pickpear down a hallway and a short flight of steps. ”Her Majesty is right: If Master is interested, then things must be getting pretty grim. I hear that another four agents have become Walking Nightmares… Besides that, he hasn’t returned any of my letters requesting more books…” Before long, the duo reached a crack in the wall where a bit of light shone through. Quill doused his light and pushed on the wall, revealing a small, windowless room. A lantern filled with white fey fire burned in the center, over a table with a few open books in the center, with piles of book surrounding it. He extended his hoof, as if to say, “Ladies first,” before following her into the room. ”No need to close this one. We’ll just be going back the way we came.” He approached the table and pulled a few books to the forefront. ”Interestingly enough, despite Dream Castle being in the very center of Old Unicornia, very little is known of the castle’s construction. Some of the historians I spoke to, in and out of the Order, claim that perhaps Constella had those records destroyed when she chose Dream Castle as her seat of power. What we do know is that Canterlot’s Castle’s design is heavily based on Dream Castle.” He levitated a fairly recent-looking piece of parchment from the top of one of the piles of books. ”This map is a careful reproduction of the original Plans for Canterlot Castle. Now, it’s not perfect because some of the lines had faded. I work with what I have… Nopony has been able to get close enough to the real Dream Castle to do an accurate areal map, so I’m afraid that this is the best I can do. As far as any relevant history is concerned…I have none. The Windigoes seem to favor that place more than anywhere in Ragnarok, though, so keep an eye out.” Then, Quill hesitated. He shuffled his hoof on the floor for a moment, then sighed. ”Um…before you leave…” Quill’s horn lit up and he drew a dark blue quill from underneath one of the books on the table. Spoiler: Roll Perception (Mind) for Pickpear 17 + 3 = 20 Pickpear noticed that the tip of the quill is red, unlike the other ones which didn’t have any coloring. ”I was able to, um…’rework’ the spell that was put on the quills. This one will specifically allow you to send messages to me. It’s not quite as efficient as our stones, as the quills only work one-way, but…” He seemed to choke on his words before continuing. ”I have…vested interest in your quest. Please keep me appraised of your progress.” Then, he smiled. ”I’m going to research ways to communicate with you. Luna will likely be able to respond to you all telepathically. Maybe I’ll be able to help in some way, too.” ---------- Now Luna frowned at several of Mary Sue’s comments, specifically the ones pertaining to her and the mission in general. Surely, her subjects didn’t see Celestia in this way, did they? She sincerely hoped that this group would succeed in their quest, if only so she didn’t have to rule any more. Heavy is the head that wears the crown, indeed. ”Well…it seems that thou art all getting along swimmingly… When Quilliam and Miss Pickpear ret-” She was interrupted by a door opening just off to the side. In walked two unicorns, Quilliam and Pickpear. Quill returned to Luna’s side and nodded. ”Excellent.” She then turned to the group of adventurers. ”As We’ve stated before, We may only be able to take thee to the border of Ragnarok. If nopony has any objections, We will begin straightaway.” Luna’s horn glowed dark blue, as she transmitted a message to Rashall and Sunshine. Watch over the little one, Lord of Eldar. Alicorns who are not of the royal family are quite special indeed. After a moment, the glowing intensifies and before anyone can react, a flash of light explodes in their vision. When they come to, they are all standing at the border to Ragnarok. ”We shall give thee a map to Dream Castle. Beware the Windigoes, little ponies. They can be easily defeated with the power of friendship, but if thou cannot cooperate, they will destroy you. Also, beware the Walking Nightmares, for We do not know if Constella uses them as sentries, or if she is simply hoarding them for now…” Mary Sue received a map of Ragnarok! Added to inventory! Luna bids you all one more farewell before teleporting back to the castle. ”We have faith in thee, little ponies.”
Steel was blinded for a second before gaining his eyesight "well this seems chilly, good thing I brought something to keep us warm". steel heart put on his sisters amulet and focused thinking long and hard about his sister hoping the flame will ignite. He also pulled out the sickle he hoped he would not have to use it on both twilight and her friends as well as the people questing with fire.
As Pickpear arrived at the edge of Ragnarok she looked around silently. The shroud around her seemed to hug tightly to her as she pulled the hood down past her horn, just leaving her pear green snout visible. It seemed like Luna was quick to want to get rid of them... but with how everypony was acting, she wasn't surprised. There seemed to be a serious lack of camaraderie that was obviously visible. She even had to question herself; How much do I care about the ponies I'm with? The only ponies she could see herself being a team with were Night Time and Little Sunshine... well, maybe that Rashall stallion. The others seemed to be showing a mixture of beligerance and self-superiority that got under her fur. She shook her head gently. It was too much thinking, and the shroud seemed to be squeezing at her ribs. She coughed quietly with a squeak and her horn lit up gently as she pulled the shroud back into place.
Rashall glanced at Sunlight knowing that portecting the young one was now in his hooves. He smiled at least he had an order and it was something he knew how to do. "Come now little one you'll be safe with me," says Rashall to Sunshine.
Night Time looked around at the frozen, barren lands of Ragnarok. "W-w-w-w-wIndigoes?! Walking... Nightmares? Sounds... Delightfull?" He giggled a bit nervously before looking down at his hooves.
Little Sunshine began to shiver, but it was not from the cold. Luna's words about the windigos still haunted her mind. Nopony here seems to get along at all. What will happen to us? When Rashall trotted over to her, she actually felt a bit safer for once. While he was a very foreboding figure, something about his presence felt reassuring. She nodded to him and said "Thanks. I'll t- try to do my best. I hope it will be enough." She looked forward into the cold wasteland with another sense of dread. I'm not even sure anypony's best is going to be enough...
Steel overheard sunshine "yeah, I guess your right but I think I know who the thorn in our plan of working togethers going to be" does a nonshallont point at Mary. "anyway, I may not of been told to be your protector but I have a little sis of my own so I know a bit about older brother stuff. You can trust me. My sister did". He gave a reassuring smile to sunshine and nod to rashall. "we should really get a move on shouldn't we".
"Unless the wish is to stand here and freeze to death yes I do think we should get going," says Rashall, he looks around surveying everything.
Hearing Steel's impatience and strange response, Pickpear lowered her head towards the ground for a moment, sluggishly creeping over towards Mary Sue. "I suppose you are to lead the way, then." She spoke quietly, but very directly to the reporter. She lifted her head and looked back to Rashall a moment... then turned to Mary Sue again. "Unless you'd like to give up the map, navigator."
