Oddly, none of the packages seemed to be for Star Shimmer, which made he crystal pony very nervous. She had just come up on deck when the boxes were being given out. Anypony who was watching Star at his point would notice that after not recieving a gift, that she tried desperately to avoid eye contact with her fellow crystal ponies. Nor did she say a whole lot during the trip. She was only seen to be muttering to herself and shaking her head.
Obsidian's box had contained a harness of sorts, the use of which quickly greeted him with a bear hug. An incredibly small dragon, just large enough to carry him, greeted him in the draconic tongue. Obsidian replied, seeming to introduce the dragon to the rest of the group. He finished by grabbing the dragon in a return hug. "My friend, Redscale. You have been missed much." Obsidian mounted the dragon and the two took a short flight, returning once everyone had opened the gifts. (Redscale cannot speak Equestrian but he understands it. He also cannot breathe fire.)
Silver opened the small box addressed to him, and found two small white crystals. "These are... enchanted ice diamonds! I've never even seen one, let alone a matched pair!" Silver grabbed his swords and pulled the decorative gem from the hilt of each. He quickly replaced them with the new diamonds, and placed the swords back in their sheaths. After waiting a few minutes for the magic to take hold, he drew the swords again. The blades were covered in frost. Anything that they touched would be instantly frozen.
Yclept opened his box, finding a black cloak & a crystal short sword, then saw that star got nothing & walked up to her, asking,"why didn't you get anything?"
Star raised her head toward Yclept and replied, "They must know...they know what I did." Her lip shook as she added, "They...they might kill me."
Venquis opened his box and grabbed out a small dark grey cube and some items needed to perform a ritual. While he noticed that the rest of his companions had received weapons or weapon enhancements, he smiled at the ritual items. However, the grey cube was worth far more than any weapon once he realized what it was. “It can’t be....that’s impossible.” He said quietly. “There was no way that the Kilania survived the attack on Neroma three hundred years ago.” He then turned around to see the rest of his companions looking at him, with the exception of Star and Ycept. Venquis began to laugh quietly before erupting in a loud laughter at the cube at his hand. “What is in my hooves is the Kilania, a secret device that was being developed just for me that was going to completely turn the Black War to our favour. Its primary role was that it was a magic amplifier in which the effects were permanent. It also acts as a memory box and communicator. It is DNA coded, so only I could use it. It is merely a tool for the ritual that I must take place tonight, for it is Sihana's will for me to do so. If i were to use it, my magical power will become virtually unmatchable, surpassing the strongest Ryborian's or Alicorn's alike. However, there is a high chance of death as well. Hopefully, it will be able to work.” Venquis had a huge smile on his face before noticing Cobra looking at his “Present”. When he was called over by him, he noticed the language that was written on their which was unreadable to Cobra. Luckly for him, Venquis was already fluent in 27 languages. A Ryborian nearing the end of his four thousand year life would be able to learn over five hundred. He went over and studied the language. Venquis then nodded and then looked at Cobra. “The language written on your rapier is in Old Ryborian, a language considered dead by us now. According to your text, its style of writing predates anything I have seen by about two hundred thousand years. So your rapier is either very old or has adopted the text.”
Star edged closer to Yclept and whispered, "Cadenza. She must've found out what I did. The great crime I committed all those years ago..."
"Well they're going to have to get through this stupid green unicorn first!", Yclept said in a serious, determined voice
As the group was preparing to head for the Crystal Empire, Silver gave Nightshade a note. She read it quickly, burned it, and flew off towards the Everfree to gather the rest of the Night Guards, as well as a mysterious lockbox that Silver had not opened in over fifty years.
"Should we stay the night here or somewhere closer towards their main city. It seems that we need to make sure we get there in time, prepare ourselves for an inevitable invasion and that i still need to prepare for my ritual for tonight." Venquis said, looking at the Kilania. "I still cant believe that this was found, this will not only turn the invasion around, but the entire war as well...."
Yclept smiled & said,"don't worry, I'll keep you safe...", then put his new cloak on his back, under his original, then he turned around & started towards the group
Star smiled at Yclept as he returned to the group. As she followed him, she wondered if he'd feel the same if he knew what crime she'd committed over a thousand years ago. She wasn't even sure that Luna, now Nightmare Moon, would forgive her.
"You think too much." Obsidian was, seemingly out of thin air, standing next to star. "I don't know what causing so much thought, but it cannot be good. I wish you to reveal problems to us. Please take your time, by all means. We will forgive when you are ready to speak." He started walking towards the group, as Redscale flew down next to him.
A crowd was beginning to gather around Star Shimmer. Silver walked over and spoke angrily. "If she does not wish to discuss her past, do not try to force her to do so! Some things are better off forgotten." Silver had served Nightmare Moon during her first failed coup, and understood all too well about having a less than pleasant past.
Yclept turns around after realising there's a crown & unsheathed his short-sword & projected,"let her be to choose her own actions!"
(I'm assuming she is being crowded by crystal ponies, since they are the only group of beings around.) Obsidian stopped and turned to Yclept and Silver, preparing to assault the crowd. He sighed and put his hoof to his face. "Why must there be such foolish beings."
(I was actually refering to Obsidian, Yclept, and the ship's crew, but a crowd of Crystal Ponies works, too.) The group of Crystal Ponies that had come aboard the Dishonored after it made landfall were becoming aggressive towards Star Shimmer. Silver attempted to stop the fight, but it was clearly a useless effort. Sighing heavily, he prepared for a fight. "Remember, the Crystal Ponies are our allies. Do not hurt them TOO badly."
(Obsidian and Yclept both left star after they said their two cents. Bonus point: neither if them tried to force her to talk about her problem.)
Responding to Obsidian, Star said, "I was the one who-" before she noticed the group of crystal ponies gathering around her and the group. Memories of her past began flooding back to her, and she started to shrink further back, hiding behind Silver. The star she'd drawn on the ship's deck remained, and she briefly considered casting one of her spells before realizing that whatever she cast would affect her allies as well as the other crystal ponies. She could only look on helplessly until the group started to disperse under the threat of violence. She could hear them talking about her. She distinctly heard one of them say, "That's the Witch." And "The Witch has returned after all..." It was then that she knew that she was no longer the Crystal Ponies' guest, but their prisoner...
