The Second Griffon War (Casual Thread - All welcome!)

[Cyan Hide]

Dreamweaver

It broke Starlight's heart to see Trixie reduced to this anaemic state. Though she felt tremendous relief at seeing her marefriend awake and alive, and was right now resisting the urge to hug her as tight as she could and never let go, her emotions were bittersweet at best. Seeing her love in this condition, it hurt.

"You're in the hospital," answered Starlight to Trixie's question, whilst grabbing a damp towel and lovingly wiping Trixie's forehead. "Don't try to move too much. You lost a lot of blood after your...injury in the battle."



From the other side of that ward, Applejack sat up, covered in bandages like a mummy. She smiled as she did so, though not without a grunt, a flicker of pain on her face and her hoof brought to her ribs to hold them. With the other hoof, she waved over to the two. "Howdy, Starlight! Howdy, Trixie! Welcome back to the land o' thuh livin'!"

 

[Dreamweaver]

Cyan Hide
Oh goddess, who was that yelling?! Trixie blinked the sleep from her eyes until her blurry vision faded, and then looked over at the mare who had decided to yell across the room at her. Trixie was super high on painkillers and other drugs right now, so at least she didn't feel the pain that would be radiating from her leg right now. Truthfully, Trixie could barely see right now past her blurred vision, but she did manage to see Applejack's blurry outline and could figure out who it was even through the drugs. She waved at her.

And then did a double-take when she realized she was waving a stump around. Her face went through several expressions in that split second. It started off completely confused, as if asking 'What the hell?', and then passed through a brief point of terror before settling on the clear expression of anger. Everything went silent for a moment before Trixie blurted out, ".... WHAT THE FUCK?!"

 

[Dumbledoof]

Dreamweaver
It was another sleepless night for Expellix. Not abnormal for him, mind you, but for the rest of his kind? Late night adventures was rather uncommon considering that rabbits aren't normally nocturnal. Well, suppose he was the first of many things, being the apprentice of Luna kind of meant that he had to change his normal routines anyway. Not like he got much sleep during the nights anyway.

Though he'd never admit to it—even if Luna herself confronted him—he just couldn't admit to his nightmares. They were just a subject he didn't feel was worth broaching, especially when it only seemed to affect his sleeping patterns. Nothing to be worked up over.

Sitting in the 'study room' that Luna had shown him had become routine. Reading through the many books that were there, most of which he was pretty sure were illegal. Lots of dark magic ... so they were exactly his cup of tea! He wasn't very good at the arcane for some reason but that only meant he had to practice and try more. It was a good thing for him—having everything handed to him wouldn't be good. Having something to really take his mind off other problems and focus was relaxing, if strenuous. Dark magic was just something he had an affinity for.

His eyes traced lazily over the words on one of the pages of a tome he had picked out this time, sitting up against a wall, the book floating just in front of him off the floor.

 

[Dreamweaver]

Dumbledoof
Luna knew all about Expellix's nightmares and his trouble sleeping, of course. Even before he had become her apprentice, she had known of him and his problems. He was a living creature, which meant his sleep was monitored by her every night. Prior to becoming her apprentice, Luna had never once sought the rabbit out; despite knowing of his relationship with Starswirl. Perhaps it was because she blamed herself for Starswirl's death, and as such she wanted to distance herself from anything to do with him...

The door to the room cracked open slightly, and in walked Luna who shut the door behind herself. Upon entering the room she immediately noticed Expellix sitting there, and briefly nodded to him. "Good night, Expellix. What are you researching this night?" She asked while walking over and pulling a book off the shelf. She sat down, summoned an ink bottle and quill and began to write in it.

 

[Dumbledoof]

Dreamweaver
Expellix's ear raised slightly at hearing hoofsteps before she had even entered the room. They were faint, these walls were apparently really thick or something. He considered it a miracle that he could hear anything at all half the time, making his ears that much more sensitive to every individual one because of the constant silence. It was almost exasperating to hear so little when he's so used to being bombarded with a rich assortment of noises.

"Hello, Master." Another thing he had gotten into the habit of. "Hm ... controlling shadows. Just brushing up on the subject before going into something new." He turned the page, glancing at her underneath the book. "What are you doing?"

 

[Dreamweaver]

Dumbledoof
"Oh, this?" She held the book up for a moment. The front cover was... completely blank. Not even a dab of quill had touched the front cover, which was pristine white and boring as all hell. "This is a book I'm writing about the influences of necromancy on society. I try to put out one book every century, just to keep my writing skills adequate and to put my thoughts into words, you know? I've written many books all on the same subject, just to see how my view point and societies view point changes over the years."

She went back to writing in her book, while absentmindedly asking, "So, why exactly are you studying the manipulation of shadows? I thought you were past that point in your magical career."

 

[Dumbledoof]

Dreamweaver
Expellix nodded slightly. "Never written a word in my life. Actually, I don't even know how to write ..." That may make things a bit difficult for him later on. Did training with her require anything that needed to be written? Boy he would be in trouble then.

At her second question, he looked thoughtful. "Well, nothing in particular, but that shadow travel you took me on when we went to the griffon camp ... it got me thinking on a few things. Mostly whether I could replicate it—which I wouldn't presume to be able to—so I'm wondering what exactly the extent of it I'm able to perform myself. It's best to find my limits before I do something that will kill me. This magic is dangerous." He explained.

 

[Dreamweaver]

Dumbledoof
"Unfortunately, I am probably the last pony on this planet who can actually give advice about that." She chuckles slightly, savoring the irony of that statement considering they were talking about shadow magic. "The magic isn't really dangerous to me, and I'm unaware of any dangers it may possess. I know there are some and have documented lists from other ponies, but without firsthoof experience it's really hard to give my opinion. Just... take it easy?"

"As for replicating my shadow form, I doubt you'd be capable of doing so, but there's always hope?" She shrugs her shoulders and chuckles slightly. "Maybe you can perfect invisibility or something, though."

 

[Dumbledoof]

Dreamweaver
"I guess I'll just have to find out how to do a dumbed down version. That might be possible." He joked, rolling his eyes and returning his gaze back to the book. He didn't even know why he was bothering to read this, he already could do everything it detailed. With a small sigh he closed the book and magically put it back in its place on the shelf,. He leaned back against the wall, tapping the floor in thought with his foot. Which made a rather loud thump every time it hit the floor.

He paused. "Hm ... well ..." he looked around the room, particularly to the dark areas of it, before standing up and taking a step from the wall. He reached out and commanded the, drawing the shadows in close and having them coil around his body. He was enveloped in a cocoon of darkness for a few moments before some of it dispersed, leaving Expellix looking like he had actually done her shadowform, becoming pure darkness, but it was just a fluke. There was no way he could do it for real, but this was probably as close as he was going to get!

He inspected himself closely, watching it closely. "I'm surprised this actually worked. I think this is as close as I'm going to get." He looked up at Luna, chuckling. "Might be good for a parlor trick, eh?"

 

[Cyan Hide]

Dreamweaver

As soon as Trixie waved, Starlight mentally prepared herself for the moment of discovery, when it came, and she saw the look of shock on Trixie's face, she realised that she was not prepared for it, nor could ever be. By the time Trixie shouted in anger, Starlight was already crying. "You...you lost your leg in the battle in the mansion, Trixie. Luna, Expellix and myself brought you here in time to save your life, but even that was a close call and we were worried her weren't going to make it."


Applejack's eyes went wide at seeing the damage dome to Trixie, and she leaned forward. "Ah second that sentiment! What thuh fuck?!"

 

[Dreamweaver]

Dumbledoof
Luna lamely clapped her hoofs together for him, letting out a sigh and rolling her eyes as she did so. "Truly astounding, Master Expellix. Incredible. You're powers are unmatched. You're like me... or at least, the discount me that you'd grab from a dollar store bargain bin selling for .20 bits." She shook her head slightly and chuckled. "Good job though. If I wasn't a total bitch, I would almost be impressed. But unfortunately for you, I am not very easy to impress."

Cyan Hide
Trixie wasn't even crying at all. She just looked incredibly annoyed. She looked over at Applejack and responded with another "What the fuck?!" of her own while waving her stump around. She was in a slight amount of shock but it wasn't exactly the first time she'd been seriously injured, so she was taking it in stride. "Please tell me you lost a limb too, AJ. I don't want to be the only amputee among our friend group."

With a sigh, Trixie shook her head and looked back over at Starlight. "And you!" She leaned forward as much as she can, a little drool falling from her mouth and hitting the bed as she slurred her words under the drugs influence. "... Where is my sword?! You better not have left it back there!"

 

[Dumbledoof]

Dreamweaver
Expellix glanced over himself and shrugged, letting the shadows disappear, leaving him normally. He gave her a mock bow. "Thank you, thank you, you're too kind," he said sarcastically, rolling his eyes and going back to the wall. He levitated the book back where he got it from on the shelf. "If I had been trying to impress, anyway. Maybe I could use that to hide in the shadows better at night."

 

[Cyan Hide]

Dreamweaver

Starlight shook her head and chuckled nervously. "No, it should be in the castle's armoury, though I had to ask a guard to fetch it as I didn't pick it up when we were evacuating you. I'm sorry. I'd have gotten it myself but if you woke up and I wasn't here, or needed emergency help..." Starlight let the sentence hang in the air.

Applejack shook her head solemnly and held up both hooves, before wincing and clutching her abdomen in pain. "Nope! Got a lot o' bones broken, though. If you find any soldiers who didn't get a scratch on them the from thuh battle, y'all let me know and we'll kick their ass together."

 

[Dreamweaver]

Dumbledoof
"... You're a rabbit." Luna said while looking over at him and sloooowly raising an eyebrow. "I can see the use for a pony... But you're a rabbit. You're practically invisible at night anyway. Nopony expects to see a rabbit at night either! So you're doubly invisible. Besides, don't drain your magic on pointless spells when you could easily hide in a bush for the same effect, yes?" She chuckle slightly and went back to her book, humming to herself as she jotted things down in it.

Cyan Hide
Trixie just went silent for a while, staring at her stump and trying to work through it in her head. Eventually the shock of this would hit her, but right now with all the drugs in her system and the tired haze she felt, she wasn't quite processing it. Although she did chuckle slightly at Applejack's words and nodded her head. "I'll find my severed leg and beat them into a coma with it."

Afterwards she looked at Starlight, frowning slightly as she did so. "... And how about you, Star?" She asked with a tilt of her head. "Are you alright? I don't remember anything of the battle after getting hurt and passing out, so I hope everything went okay. Are Expellix and Luna alright?"

 

[Dumbledoof]

Dreamweaver
Expellix grunted. "Yeah, I'm a rabbit that's apparently made a name for myself in this very war. I hear a number of little whispers here and there around the 'Killer Bunny,'" he raised an eyebrow, "and not just from ponies, either. Practically invisible isn't foolproof, and, well, I imagine somebody is going to eventually expect to see me coming sooner or later. Waste of magic or not, it's in my best interest to have some tricks than none at all."

He sighed and his right ear dropped. He reached up, scratching an itch on it. "There isn't always a bush around, and even then, sometimes you gotta hide in plain sight. If I could just turn my fur color black rather than wrapping myself in shadows, that would be fantastic." He paused then, as if an idea just came to him, sitting up straight. He kept itching though. "Wait, can I actually do that? Is that possible?"

 

[Cyan Hide]

Dreamweaver


"Expellix and Luna are fine, to my knowledge. I haven't left this bedside enough to know much about the goings on elsewhere, if I'm honest. I do know that backup arrived shortly afterwards and the tide of battle changed. But for know, get some rest. You've earned it. I'll stay here right beside you."

Despite her prompting Trixie to rest, Starlight had bags under her eyes and a mane that hadn't been brushed since the battle, but she didn't seem to notice or care.

 

[GeneralTyrus]

Dumbledoof

Tyrus would have found his way into a workshop, not really knowing his way around, though he avoided any areas that were considered off limits. And so, he looked through the rooms that were cleared, until he happened upon a room with a great deal of tools and some supplies, and his eyes lit up. He began rummaging through everything, gathering up what he needed, not thinking about the fact that he was using someone's materials.

He went about using the machinery to form the metals, and used a few of the presses to get things into proper shape, before he gathered a few tiny gears, and other things.

He had been doing this for almost thirty minutes now, and had finished a rather nice looking copper pocket watch. There were engraving in it, which were nicely detailed, though it would likely confuse anyone who saw his flower cutiemark to see him making a pocket watch with such skill and speed.

 

[Dumbledoof]

Starstreak had just been coming out of one of the restricted areas when she saw somebody odd. A stallion with a leather jacket and scars on their chest? She certainly never recalled seeing them around here, and you'd certainly think that he would be stopped by security looking like that. She sincerely hoped that he wasn't what she thought he was. She followed him quietly.

She would have spoken up if he hadn't started tinkering. It was surprising, honestly; you didn't usually see somebody stroll in, start using her parts, and then also make a little pocket watch from it. It was a nice one, she had to give him that, but ... why? And to think she was actually going to use those for something she wanted to do later ...

"So, do you take everybody's stuff and make things?" She asked behind him, glancing over the watch. "Because those were mine."

 

[GeneralTyrus]

Dumbledoof

Tyrus leap into the air, letting out a startled yelp, before turning to look at her, his eyes wide, "I'm sorry!" He blurted out, nearly dropping the watch, before catching it with his wings, cradling it close, "I.. I can pay you back!" He said, looking down, shuffling his hooves. He didn't mean to steal, it just sorta... happened?

He'd look up slowly, sighing, "I... I can take it back apart if you want." He'd say, looking at the watch. He looked hurt at the idea, but at least he had offered. He'd set it onto the table, sitting down as he rubbed his eyes, "I'm sorry, the last few days have been... terrifying for me, and I just wanted to do something to make me feel normal." He'd say, looking up at the... thing.

He'd never scene a hippogriff before, though he had heard of them, and now that he was looking at one, it was certainly weird.

 

[Dumbledoof]

GeneralTyrus
Starstreak raised her talons. "Stop. I'm not mad. I was just surprised is all, there aren't many who come in here to begin with ..." she glanced at him, "even fewer who would wear something like that," she noted, and then pointed to the pocket watch. "Even less who makes pocket watches for fun. It's unusual."

She held her claws out to him, gesturing at the pocket watch. "I'm Starstreak, chief engineer here. Can I see it?" She caught his hurt look and smiled slightly. "I promise I'm not going to damage it or anything. I used to make these things when I was small ... er." She was still fairly petite for a hippogriff. Unfortunately. "It's been a while since I've seen one."

 

[GeneralTyrus]

Dumbledoof

He'd look at her claws, then the to the watch, not really sure if he wanted to, but resigned and slowly set it down in her claws, "It's a... Hobby, I wanted to go into the tinkering business, but instead I went with flowers, ponies seemed to like flowers more anyway." He'd say, giving a shrug, before tugging his jacket on tighter, one of his ears flicking to the left, and he winced when he realised what he said, but ignored correcting himself.

"Do you make larger things?" He'd ask, watching her as she took the watch, he didn't want her to drop it, and possibly break the glass, or a mechanism inside.

 

[Dumbledoof]

GeneralTyrus
Starstreak took the pocket watch from him daintily, nodding her head. Flowers weren't bad. She examined the pocket watch thoroughly for a moment before opening up it's insides, looking at the mechanics going on within the watch. She reached in and gently shifted one of the gears before closing it and holding it back out to him. "Everything seems to look good." She said.

At his question, she made a face at him. "'Larger things?' Just about everything in this place is something of my design. Not that most of it is things I want to be designing but it comes with the business." She eyed him warily. "What's your name?"

 

[GeneralTyrus]

Dumbledoof

Tyrus watched her, taking the watch back, deftly putting it into one of his pockets, and thus it was a pocket watch. He'd watch her carefully, before sighing, "My name is Tyrus Noveri, I'm here from ponyville." He'd say, smiling as he looked around the room, admiring all the work that'd been done.

He'd stand, trotting around the room, looking at thing closely, as he hadn't really gotten a good look, he'd gone straight to work with his watch, and now wanted to actually look at everything.

 

[Dumbledoof]

GeneralTyrus
Starstreak considered him for a moment. "Tyrus Noveri. Hm, well, welcome to my workshop." She waved at all the machinery around them. Gadgets and gizmos, thingamabobs and whoza-whatzits. It was all there on full display. The more sensitive things were hidden away. "I'd rather be back making trains."

 

[Best Trekkie.]

The door opened and in trotted a new face. Graphite Spiral was quite impressed with what was before him. Thus wouldn't stop him from what he was here for. Although an Earth Pony mechanic was quite rare, this didn't bother graphite as he made his way to the front desk and rung the bell to get Starstreaks attention.

Dumbledoof