|
Post by Asterian Starfall on Jun 18, 2014 15:23:33 GMT
Mirror Mare grinned. Welcome to the League, Mr. Nightwing. Our first trade will be preliminary information. The briefcase arrived in this world in the hooves of a minor neutral party known as Pack Rat. He was last seen disappearing down a manhole at the intersection of Mane Street and First. Your turn. What do you know of the Vanishing Caretaker's Orb?" Forgive me for answering a question with a question, but are you so sure we should be speaking of such things out in the open? I know they're near." Nightwing replied. " We need someplace where we can better go undetected. Somewhere off-radar."
|
|
|
Post by wanderingmagus on Jun 18, 2014 18:55:34 GMT
The mare smiled and nodded in approval, then reached out from within the mirror.
If you would like, we could continue this conversation within the Mirror Plane, unless you have a better solution? As long as there is some light and a reflective surface.
|
|
|
Post by Asterian Starfall on Jun 18, 2014 19:41:45 GMT
Nightwing took the mare's hoof without hesitation, prepared for whatever might actually happen. If this "Mirror Plane" was just what he thought it was, then there was no need to fret over it. After all...
There is nothing to fear but fear itself. With that, he gave Mirror Mare's hoof a gentle squeeze, signaling he was ready.
|
|
|
Post by Wavelength on Jun 19, 2014 0:35:45 GMT
Wavelength shook his head in disbelief. "Come on, don't you give me a good reason to call you Gearhead... we need to put together a new strategy. Blowin' up a city ain't gonna solve any problems. We're going back to that Windigo's place to consult with somepony who don't have the mannerisms of a spider." He cast a glance around. "The others probably figured the same by now, and we'll make valuable pieces ta have on the board."
|
|
|
Post by Clockwork on Jun 19, 2014 15:57:45 GMT
Infernid felt he had walked enough, the chaos of the inner city left behind him as his pacing slowed.
Perhaps the mare was right, he thought as he glanced down an alley, perhaps he wasn't playing his character true to form? In fact, what if he was playing his character in a way a character should not be played?
He needed some form of identification, something to base himself from, something of a sensed direction which he could reliably take...
He approached the eastern edge of the city, ready to cross the boarder, when a comic page fluttered past his view.
Was that himself on the cover?
|
|
|
Post by laserbolt on Jun 19, 2014 20:13:36 GMT
"We haven't even done anything yet. We still need to find information, right?" Laserbolt gave Wave a confused look.
|
|
|
Post by Wavelength on Jun 19, 2014 21:44:55 GMT
Wavelength returned the confused look Laserbolt was giving him. "We just confirmed the presence of a powerful glass-manipulating psycho who seems to have the whole city blacked out. We gotta return this information and work with it."
|
|
|
Post by wanderingmagus on Jun 19, 2014 22:07:25 GMT
Care's own voice came out of the speakers to both mares' ears as Careina played the recording.
"If you're listening to this recording, something terrible must be happening to cause either you or someone you know to change alignments, or potentially change. Or, perhaps the memory of me has been forgotten, and you want to know the truth. The third and least likely, but possible, situation would be one of my former 'partners' or 'employers' having managed to hack into this database to read the file. Thus, I'll give a retelling of the second case, advice for the first case, and purposely skirt around important current details for the third case.
"My alias at the time of the incident was the Medi-Knight. Information on my past actions may be accessed elsewhere. My assignment at the time was to retrieve a Cosmic Gem known as the Orb of Wisdom from the Temple of Athena, atop Mount Olympus in the heart of the Nevernever. The journey did not go as planned. I found my abilities taxed to their limit as I fought automatons, spirits, wild creatures of magic, and various other guardians while attempting to bypass the numerous traps and labyrinths which protected the Orb from the so-called unworthy. The delay allowed the Power Pony known as Matterhorn to interfere, and the situation quickly spiraled out of control as we raced against each other to reach the heart of the temple.
"After many grueling hours, perhaps even days, of combat and riddles, the two of us managed to barely escape the last trap and reached the central chamber. The Orb was bound in the heart of an enormous construct apparently called the Tree of Knowledge, and the inhabitants of said tree were less than compliant in allowing me access to my mission objective. I quickly discovered that combat of any sort was completely futile with these creatures, and resorted to solving the final riddle.
"Fortunately, or unfortunately, I guessed the answer correctly, and the Orb was given to my keeping. I had not known the true meaning of that responsibility until I made contact with the Orb.
"Instantly, my mind was flooded with the full enlightened wisdom of every sage that ever lived, every general and doctor, every philosopher and king. I would have died right there and merged with the Orb, had it not been for the unexpected help of Matterhorn, who likewise touched the Orb. I know not what it was that she said to it, but in that moment the overwhelming flood of wisdom ceased, and as I huddled weeping in the corner of my mind, I felt life within my inmost self. Before me stood a vaguely pony-shaped being of light, who spoke words to me I dare not repeat even now. But one thing that being said I will repeat, and it is this:
"Why do you do what you do? What do you believe, and why do you believe it? Even I cannot answer those questions for you. And even if I could, you would never believe the truth unless you came to it on your own.
"The Orb showed me myself, forced me to truly contemplate, for the first time, who I really was, and my reasons for my actions. It forced me to contemplate my most foundational beliefs, and in so doing, caused me to realize the error of my ways.
"I do not know the situation you're in now. But if you are looking for advice, I will tell you this - contemplate who you are, what you believe, and why you do what you do. Choice and free will are not reasons. They are a means to an end. You must examine yourself to realize what that end is, and make your own decision as to whether that purpose is a worthy purpose to pursue. There is a meaning to life, there is an ultimate purpose. Just because you cannot see it does not mean that it is not there. Can you see the wind? Yet we can know of its passage by how the trees sway. So it is with the meaning of life.
"And as for those of you looking for the Orb, let me just tell you that it is in a safe place. If that's what you wanted in the first place, rest assured that the orb is safe, barring some sort of reality-destroying event. For those of you seeking to cause said event, have fun searching over the entirety of the Nevernever. Also? I'm taking a new name. You can tell Plague the Medi-Knight is dead and gone. He can bust his rotting plot trying to find the Vanishing Caretaker."
Mirror smiled as Nightwing took her hoof, and he felt himself passing through nothingness into nothingness...
He was in a vast space, filled with mirrors, made of mirrors. The floor was a plane of layered mirrors, mirrors within mirrors, and mirrors stood here and there like doorways. Mirrors floated in the mirror-like sky, and in each mirror was a reflection of himself - Nightwing, Nocturne, Agent, writer, colt and stallion, friend and enemy, hope and nightmare.
Before him, seated on a reflection of a chair, in front of a reflection of a table, was Mirror Mare, who nodded and gestured to a chair opposite her at the table. Around the table were several mirrors that showed reflections of what looked like windows above the different corners of Maretropolis.
Welcome to my world, Nightwing. Please, have a seat. We will not be interrupted in here.
Infernid saw the front cover of a comic - Fiery Infernid Fights Fili-Second! His persona was standing triumphantly on a hill of rubble and cobwebbed skeletons, staring down confidently at a beaten-looking pink mare in pitiful torn spandex trying to look dignified and brave and failing.
Lord of Spiders and Flame...
|
|
|
Post by laserbolt on Jun 19, 2014 23:04:06 GMT
Laserbolt stood stock still for a bit. "Oh, yeah. Sorry, I guess not everyone would know that. Let's regroup." He activated a radio in his suit, that broadcast to all heroes with communicators. "Folks, let's regroup. Wave and I got some info."
|
|
|
Post by Midnight_Aurora on Jun 19, 2014 23:51:17 GMT
care says, "Lady Amber, I would like to make a request of you. I would like to, for a time, move my home and Careina to a place even Plague your brother can't reach. I need time to think and analyze what I now remember. the orb as she said is safer then it could be in any safe and not a single being in this universe can crack the code to it. but as for other things, I need to fully understand my self, as I am now, to be able to be of help or hindrance to anypony."
She gathers her Vanishing Caretaker items and goes over to a cabinet opening it and removing the items once belonging to Medi-Knight. She places all of them in her saddle bags taking one look at the shining surgical tools of her old self. She says into them, knowing mirror mare will hear her words, "Mirror Mare, try as you will. Try as you might. Nopony but me knows the location of the orb Plague seeks. Have fun finding it. We will meet but not now even you have much to learn before we can meet again old friend." The way she speaks is similar to the old killer she once was. Care places the shining blade back in its place before mirror mare could react, if she was listening, and places it with the rest of Medi-Knight's things.
She says to Careina, "It is time daughter. Time to rediscover who we are and why we are here. Prepare yourself for mobile unit transfer." Once Careina has set herself for transfer, Care places her, once bound to this place, core within the mobile armor activating it.
Care then leads Careina out of her home, locking it for the final time before picking up her cell phone and calling her place of work, "Heart Joy, It is me Catrina. I am calling in those few months of vacation time I have available to me. I just need time to think about something and recollect myself. I will call when I am returning, if I return before the months are up. Please tell the boss I am sorry, but life has a funny way of making things need to change for a bit."
Care walks with Careina back to North Wind's place to plan her next move.
|
|
|
Post by Asterian Starfall on Jun 20, 2014 0:34:25 GMT
Nightwing does as was asked of him, still smiling. "Quite impressive, I must admit." He looked around casually as he explained, "What I know about the Orb is limited, but what I do know is that it is some form of a power source... Of course, you already knew this, I am led to assume."
|
|
|
Post by wanderingmagus on Jun 20, 2014 17:16:58 GMT
Care found Amber slumped over in a chair, looking a bit haggard. The enchantress jumped a bit as the door opened, then relaxed after seeing who it was.
"I have found more information about those two than I would ever like to about anyone, but I think I have reached the point where I can actually create something resembling a cohesive plan," she sighed, holding her head. "I'm such an idiot. Of course Mirror Mare would have struck at this very instant; of course Infernid, the Doublecross Duo, and Nightwing weren't to be trusted, what was I thinking, agreeing to split us up like that?"
She slowly thumped her head against the desk.
"Please tell me you have better news, Care. Now I know why Lady Amber never left the Citadel of N-"
She turned visibly pale. "Oh nononono, oh no, oh NO, the CITADEL! Buck, buck, buck, no! This was all-"
The mare slammed a hoof against the table and stood up. "I have to go back! I have to help defend it, those are my children out there!"
Mirror Mare nodded, conceding Nightwing's guess.
Of course. But you are in a unique position at the moment, and the rest of these would-be 'heroes' still put some level of trust in you. It's a pity our group lost the Actress a few years ago, or we might have been able to sneak in ourselves.
She sighed and gave a lopsided smile.
But it seems that shapeshifters rely too much on their powers and not enough on their improvisation and intellect. You, on the other hoof, understand exactly what is needed to gather intelligence and gain a pony's trust, or so I'm lead to believe based on the information I've been given, no? Which makes you now one of our most valuable partners.
|
|
|
Post by Midnight_Aurora on Jun 20, 2014 18:30:14 GMT
Care says, "Lets go then." she then gets on her com and says, "Patriot new plan, head to the enchanted wood. Meet me and Lady amber there. We are on our way now. No time to explain now, just head there. Plague plans to attack it." Care guides Careina and lady amber to the car. She says, "I know you care for them and I know that, as long as it stands, we have a chance to protect the orb. I know where it is. Plague isn't going to like this, but Medi-Knight is back and ten times better then before. Right now, we need all the skills we can get. Get in Lady Amber. I can get us there fast." If and when Lady Amber gets in the car, Care puts the pedal to the metal and bolts at the car's maximum speed towards the enchanted woods of the Citadel of Nature. This entire time she seams to also be doing a half meditation. She is looking for something within. But she knows it will take time to find right now because she has to split her focus.
((Right now care is wearing the mask of Medi-Knight. She also has Medi-Knight's Magicite Surgical Tools and The Vanishing Caretaker's Medi-Pack on. The car's plates are non distinct government plates and can't be traced to an owner. Care is pulling all her knowledge into a single place within her mind and coming out with a new persona of herself. she surrounds the orb within with this new persona to hide it better from Plague.))
|
|
|
Post by Asterian Starfall on Jun 20, 2014 18:45:20 GMT
Nightwing laughed in response. "I see precisely where this is going, Mirror." He continued to grin at the mare's smile, her own brand of whimsy beginning to show an effect. "I'll see if I can still try my 'diplomatic' approach to things.
I will see what I can find out while I am looking for my briefcase."
|
|
|
Post by laserbolt on Jun 20, 2014 19:05:45 GMT
Laserbolt looked towards the direction of the Windigo's base, and grinned. "Let's go, then, my patriotic comrade."
Meanwhile, the Duo were heading to the sewers. "Not sure that fellow is to be trusted, Backstitch." Backstitch looked at his brother contemptuously for a moment, then sighed. "I'll be honest with you, Cross. I don't really care. I just want to get back home. I don't want all this sneaking around, all these... filthy criminals. I just want to go back to my day job. This is all rid- did you see that?" Backstitch ended his tirade, as he saw a small stallion, with a pointed snout, running into an alley. "Looks like our stallion, Backstitch." Cross took off towards the alley, chasing after the rodent-like pony. "Pack Rat, get back here!" His brother sighed, and walked slowly towards the alley, wondering why Cross was enjoying this so much.
|
|