Silent Dusk had been traveling and recovering for a few days on Yuna's cart and recovered well under their care, so now today she stood up, spread her wings and carefully took a few flaps, noticing no pain she whooped and lifted off doing a few loops crying out happily.
Gleaming Echo had maintained his tendency to take point on the off chance that they were attacked. Although besides tripping once or twice when he had grown tired there wasn't much excitement in peaceful ol' Equestria so far. Not even a band of Gobli-er-Diamond Dogs! What was the world coming to! Ever since the escape Gleam had been itching for more heroic action while Tar just wanted to blow stuff up and freak out AL...Which was at risk of becoming a bit of a pass-time for the dark half of the unicorn. The foreigner's 'nope' reaction was just too great. His attention was grabbed though when Silent took off and he did pause to watch a little before perchance continuing.
Yunalesca hadn't minded pulling the cart throughout their journey to the little town; it was something she was used to, and she'd fallen naturally into it. Yet with the addition of companions, it was different now. She had ponies to talk to, sort of, to pass the time and she was becoming a little more accustomed to it. The alicorn hadn't talked much, however, other than to answer questions should there be any, or to snark if her patience was thin in hunger or exhaustion. Yuna was surprised when she heard the whoop from overhead and slowed to look up, spying Dusk taking flight. "Oh, good for her." She muttered, though it did make her wonder- how was it to fly?
Al-Burq asked a lot of questions, and sometimes questioned the answers he was given. How weather worked in Equestria, how trees grew, exceptions to the norm. While, as a cultural anthropologist, it was his job to study a herd's culture -- many factors of the way a pony lived was also determined by their environment. Sometimes a detail of how plants grew could explain the difference between a pony's Apple-culture where in compared to a Tomato-culture. When he needed to write, he occasionally hopped onto the cart, but he did his best not to burden the mare and marched along much of the journey on hoof. He was unused to the strain of travel so had to make frequent stops to graze or otherwise rest his hooves. Elegant wings of fire remained tucked against his back. Though they were a group of workless deviants, they did not deserve abuse from members of the upper echelon of society.
Al-Burq had come to find a pattern of schedule as he traveled with the vagrants. In the morning he would comb out his mane, braid it, preen his feathers, yell at Gleam for his intrusiveness, have breakfast, make sure Gleam didn't put anything in his breakfast, yell at him before consuming it, and finally looking over his notes, yelling at Gleam again for moving his things, and preparing for the day's journey. At times he was tempted to inquire of the estimated time of their arrival, mere moments after eh asked. The walking part of the journey seemed the most boring. Without something occupying his mind he asked many questions. The intellectual was not often persuaded by most of Gleam's answers. He has come to learn many of them were whims of fancy rather than fact. "May I inquire of the estimated time of our arrival?" He tried not to sound needy, but he was so bored, hanging around Gleam he felt his brain cells committing their own deaths.
Silent Dusk dived downwards now and whoosed past Yuna with a huge smile on her snout nickering. "Hi Yuna! look!" then rolled over in the air doing a perfect screw followed by a loop, then circled Echo. "Hi Echo!" before she felt misschievous, singling out Distant Lightning, then dove and carefully dive bombed the stallion trying to land on the Saddle Arabian's back. "Distant Lightning! catch meee!" yup bat has fun.
Gleaming Echo often argued with Tar whom wanted to come out and show the prissy saddle arabian why a pony didn't mess with him! Sadly Gleaming didn't want harm to come to his loud-mouth companion! To be honest he had the tendency to just laugh when yelled at! Why? He was already used to Tarnished's own grumping. Sometimes he'd thought about putting something like pepper in the noble's food. Or rather, that was Tar's idea. Gleam didn't want to be mean though since that wasn't what a good hero did to his merry compatriots! As the bat pony flew his attention briefly turned to Lady Yuna, and then to Al. "It should about.. three hours I think?" That was all before the bat pony dove at Al. In the back of Gleam's head Tar watched with baited breath hoping for some excitement.
Yunalesca was forced to duck when Dusk swooped by her. She didn't want to get clocked by one of the thestral's wings, and she was lucky enough when she changed targets. "Uh, that's great." She said with no real enthusiasm, but neither with any meanness. She glanced around at Distant when he made his query, though it was answered in short order by Gleam. "Yeah, what he said. Once you're done goofing off with Dusk, I'd like to have another look at that map to make sure." Yuna said. "Still, shouldn't be much longer. Then we can all finally get some showers and a nice hot meal." She.. really needed a shower more than food, but both were nice. "We must've gotten off easy with those loonies, huh, Gleam?"
Al-Burq sighed when gleam answered. The pony was never sure if he was satisfying himself with the answers, or genuinely responding to them. Three hours seemed just much too long for the stallion, and given they had been traveling for so long it was not possible for there still to be three hours in their venture! Just how big were the territories of Equestria?! He narrowed his eyes, sighing. "And just how have you come to this conclusioOOUun!" He wailed when, in a sudden burst of air, which he felt against his feathers, Dusk dropped down toward him! He stiffened: tail feathers and wings spreading out as his steps became unbalance. "Miss Dusk!!" His voice broke up at the surprise which had befallen him. His heart was a flutter and knees jelly. He had nearly staggered from the fright! His monocle nearly fell from his brow, but he had squinted just in time to catch it.
Al-Burq his unsteady prance evened out as he scrunched his muzzle. "While I know you are ecstatic that your wings are healed, pursuing such reckless pastimes holds a calculable risk to the party, particularly me who has no knowledge whether you intent malice or not." he asserted, of course trying to cover up his own rattled nerves. He did not know why Dusk was so earnest in her efforts to chaff him! He cleared his throat as Yuna made assurance that Gleam's tomfoolery was indeed some measure of fact -- hopefully. "Well I do hope that is true, even by our times of rest, we have a measured number of miles traveled. By the natural degrees of distance among settlements we should have since come across another!" He assured. "Just how large are Equestrian states?" Each territory seemed so far and between. He knew the map could not give an accurate measure of distance, but by the Sands!
Silent Dusk flicked her ears back as she had not wanted to frighten him badly even though his reaction was priceless, bringing her forehooves around the stallion's neck she would give him an earnest nudge on the cheek. "I'm sorry Distant Lightning, I thought a strong stallion like you could easily catch a light thestral like me, did I scare you very much?" then she simply lounged on him some, wings folding along her sides.
Gleaming Echo perked an ear and laid the other one to the side as he answered Lady Yunalesca's query first. "The cult doesn't dare come into central Equestria. We probably shook the tail days ago. Now they will have to rely on subtlety if they wish to try to find us. There likely won't be any full attacks now." he'd say only for the most glorious of sounds to echo throughout the expansive road. Wide eyes from Gleam turned to the noble pony before his face scrunched up and he started to laugh to the point that tears were appearing and he went belly up on the dirt. Over-reaction? No... That was just too good; and Tar was doing much the same! In fact, his voice had already split into the dual tone laugh that split the two! Tar was the first to recover though, and was the one to take control for the time. He let out a few more chuckles and then looked up at Al with now slit-pupil eyes. Least Yuna would recognize it as Tar since she'd met him in the reflection before. But then it got better!
Tar nearly fell back into hysterics as the Thestral teased the peacock of a pony. "
Ooooh yes, if he might be strong but brave is another thing entirely. I swear I thought a filly was being ravaged by a chimera!" he let out a snort and rose to his full height. "
But it was just our dear Distant Lightning squealing like an ickle filly because a mare got too close! Is there something I need to know, Lightning? Why - You already yell at Gleam like half of an old married couple! Do you prefer stallions over the delightful company of such adorable mares such as these?" he'd tease with a cheshire grin displaying that his teeth had changed into a veritable mouth-full of daggers.
Yunalesca opened her mouth to answer the two stallions, but her reply was cut off before it was even given breath when Distant wailed with fright. The alicorn and her cart came to an abrupt halt, but she need not be alarmed- the pegasus had only been frightened by the thestral. An amused smile flickered over her face, a little cruel, but it wasn't until Gleam had collapsed laughing that she ended up laughing along with him; her laughter, however, wasn't so wild and was more subdued, quiet. She'd heard everything he said beforehoof, but others' laughter always had a way of dragging one in on it; even if it was eerily split between two personalities. Yuna was a little surprised to see that Tarnished was the one in charge, she knew from those strange eyes, and her laughter had died down to a few quiet chuckles. She wasn't sure how to take the 'adorable mares' comment and hid her face behind a fall of mane, turning towards the other pair where Dusk snuggled into Distant's back. How would
they take it?
Al-Burq fluffed his feathers, re-situating them over his spine. The folds of flames had stiffened considerably, but softened as they . Gleam had lost his veritable lucidity at the passing event. So he was a little frightened, what sane pony would not lose their wit when dove at from above?! Barbarians these Equestrians! "Miss Dusk you should be a bit more considerate with your capacity for flight." To see she was acting like a low-brow, ground snuffling commoner. "Wings are powerful tools that should not be abused." It could explain why he did not ride the wind as much as most pegasi. Hard work was rewarded where he was from, and that meant not overusing one's natural talents when they were unnecessary. It was a strain and effort and should only be showed off in appropriate times before appropriate company. Of course as a member of the bourgeoisie class he was given to hedonistic values and material desires.
Al-Burq would show off when it was beneficial to him. He grunted, nudged by Dusk. He lamented at his spooked response. "Twas not my lack of desire or ability to seize you upon your fall, but the reckless abandonment in which you found in throwing yourself upon me when I had no knowledge of it. You could have been seriously hurt were I to have moved but inches further, or perish the though: our wings became entangled!" His brows furrowed at the mad-pony. Was he going mad again? It ruffled his feathers to the most literal of degrees! He truly disliked this dissociative disorder that Gleam presented. It made him step a greater distance away, the nope factor appearing within seconds! Be it he was simply mad, or two-spirited, did not make the matter positive in the least. "Listen here you hat-eating star-counter," As such: these acts were that of a mad man for one could never consume a hat, nor count all the stars in the sky.
Al-Burq stomped both his hooves forward before skirting to the side. Nope, don't touch me weirdo. His wings unfurled in a guarded motion at his sides. "Married couples do not bicker. They give uniformed cases of their opinions before the pair decide what is best for the household as a whole." He huffed. "They do not dump strange ingredients into each other's foods to coerce a reaction! Tis such a unlearned juvenile would present were they to have no upbringing with balanced parents!" It was on the level you 'didn't your mother ever teach you not to be a little sheet', in perhaps the most polite, pomp, and primp allegation ever. He did not look at Tarnished. The look in his eyes just freaked him out. It was like getting a cursed item from a foreign land. If you looked upon it you'd probably be infected with the madness as well! Tar had cooties.
Silent Dusk gave a short blush at Tar's compliment, then withered some as Al basically told her she was behaving irresponsibly and hung her head a little mumbling. "It was just a bit of fun Distant Lightning.. I'm just happy." but she did slide off of his back as he did not seem appreciative if it and fell into step instead hoping she hadn't angered the saddle arabian.
Gleaming Echo turned and actually would have paused when he saw Yuna hiding behind her mane. Was she... nah.. couldn't be. However upon hearing Al speak once again his attention turned back to his favorite pony to torment... besides Gleaming of course because he was stuck with him... "
You'd have to be made of silly string for a playful mare to break you... Jeez..." He fell still and silent during Al's rant... "
That was so...pompous and silly that I have no idea how to react to that." The dark side of the pony actually had to turn to his companions for help with this! However his eyes fell upon the now downcast Silent and his eyes narrowed. Nopony tormented his companions (not friends) but him! "
Distant Lightning, I loathe nobles... sitting on a high horse eating their little prissy food while not caring who they might hurt with their superiority complex. You are starting to sound quite like a noble..." his horn was lighting up with blue-black magic as a dark grin alit.
Yunalesca listened as the noblepony berated poor Dusk before he turned his anger upon Tarnished. She snorted, withdrawing her face from the safety of her mane. "I suppose that must be snob-speak for concern. Don't worry about him, Dusk." She verbally bit, flicking her tail the thestral's way. "Dusk wasn't abusing anything. She only now regained the ability to fly, shouldn't she be allowed to show off and enjoy it again? I mean, I would if I could, but I can't even.. fly." Yuna's voice dropped in volume as she stopped herself and instead let Tarnished speak when she heard his voice again. Though when she turned around to look at him, she saw that tell-tale sign of magic. "Don't. He's not worth it." Yuna leaned towards him, speaking in an undertone; the former action was a little difficult considering she was still hooked up to her cart.
Al-Burq adjusted his wings when Dusk slid off. He sighed, tucking them properly, one over another. This ensured a quick and easy take off without knotting himself up. Wings were delicate things and it took quite a bit of practice to not only use them without a second thought, but to constantly be aware of how far you can pull them, lest having them pull, bruise, or otherwise snap. Unlike ground stompers they had an extra set of limbs to work with. It took a quite different requirement of development to use them at the same time one used their hooves. "Twas not pompous! In no way did I treat you with selfish intent nor presented my words in a manner where they could be taken as a joke!" Silly? What was with the mad loon?! "Loathe what you will of the the allocation of social classes and titles. That would be something to take up with your heads of state." he held his head proudly.
Al-Burq still did not look directly to Tarnished, but he did address him! "Now I do not know how Equestrian society runs, but the duty of a noble is to finance public venues and provide work for those within difficult positions or questionable ranks. Food is not to blame for its affordability, for that goes directly back to the work a commoner puts out to seed. If a farmer grows his field and yields a small percentage. Selling to market he would, in turn, raise the price to off set the time and effort it took to produce a margin of profit. Seeing as those who make fewer bits will be unable to afford the food that has been increased in price, those that can purchase it making it seem as if there is a discrepancy in value of position, but everything is structured as a tree. The roots are what allows it to grow and if it grows too high, the leaves at the bottom get less sun than the ones on the top." He explained the system in simple terms.
Al-Burq was ignorant in many cases -- but his field of study was the social systems of ponies and how they lived nd grew. He paused to scuff his hoof against the ground threatening, spreading his wings in intimidation. "So to not cast your vile gaze upon me with accusations for the flaws of an overall system being fault of a single class. For criminals are equally with blame among those who spend, for those who steal -- create imbalance, increasing expenditure for the weak and weary, furthering the gap you declare such hatred for. History is a system of revolutions, climbs to power, and falls of power." He huffed and resumed walking. He looked to Yuna, a narrowed gaze, though twas only to hold his glass in his eye. "I am no braggart madam. A snob, is inherently looked down upon by even the well-standing. He is a pony who speaks with boastful pride of his abilities and skills" Of which -- Lighting has never done.
Al-Burq was genuinely polite, and kindly spoken for someone who looked down on others. "Speaking with the education provided by their parents is something else entirely. it is a show of respect for what they sacrificed to put us through school." He slipped, saying something strange. 'Us'? "What you do sir, are the actions of an egotist, threatening me with your magic, displaying it as if I would lower my head in fear of your promiscuity toward madness." He asserted. "This group requires at least one head who meditates on the overall safety and variables that could lend waste to its progress." Since Yuna seemed far too quiet, passive -- weak willed. Gleam was nucking futs. And Dusk seemed to mimic their behavior, which would hopefully be overturned with the presence of a pegasi. Fliers must have some pride to show!
Silent Dusk nodded her head at Yuna and stared at Al a moment, so many words was Al a teacher back home? she had not followed half he had said being a more simple life enjoying bat when it came to it, as far as ranking and politics went she simply knew who paid her and what was expected of her job, shooting both Echo/Tar and Yuna a meek yet thankful glance she next turned to Al. "Um Distant Lightning? do you never frolick about for fun Sir?'
Gleaming Echo grit his teeth at the rather wordy speech. He was somewhat easily able to keep up with it, not being a 'lowborn' as it might have been thought. His parents might have been cultists first, but his family had once been nobility as well. His parents had bought into the radicalism of the cult and renounced their status long ago. "
I don't care about social status you featherbrain! Nobles have their socio-political uses as well as making good target practice! I don't care just 'what' they do, a damned dung-beetle has its own roles in nature; they collect the excrement from animals! And are often just as pleasant to be around. Like getting teeth pulled without sedative." he'd sneer only to bite back a curse. He turned to Lady Yunalesca and sighed, bowing his head to her will. "
I'm going to let the idiot have control again before i fry me a chicken." And with that his eyes changed back to normal and Gleam stumbled.. "Huh... sorry about that! I think Tar's mad."
Yunalesca just had to cringe after she'd given her little order when the pegasus began a long and wordy speech. "You're quite literal." She noted with sarcasm, turning back towards him. "You know, it's interesting the way you talk of working class ponies. 'Commoners,' I mean, really, do you have to be any more insulting?" She snorted. "It doesn't matter how things work, what matters is that we're all working together, but just because one is more well off does not mean they can treat other ponies like dirt!" Yuna stomped a hoof, a little rankled herself; she had to agree with Tarnished on that note. "You're going to have to learn soon that Equestria is different. We work together. Now, can we all get along so we can reach Ponyville, or do I have to turn this wagon around?" Yuna huffed and nodded at Tarnished once she was finished, noting the.. transition between himself and Gleam. "I bet, but I think Dusk has a point. We should try to have a little fun."
Al-Burq looked at Dusk with confusion. "I haven't time to take walks, as much as I may enjoy the sun, any walking I do is for work." He huffed as Tarnish ran off and looked to Yuna. "Madam you make assumptions of me! I am committed to working together to form a functioning, coherent group, but if he is to bring classes into this, you should turn your wrath upon him. It is no fault of mine he structure has titles. If you are working class, you are a commoner. If he does not wished to be called a commoner, become a noble rather than accusing me for faults of a system that predates my birth." He turned his head way, "Thus far I have seen no signs of begin worked with. My food sabotaged, my worry for reckless actions being voted upon as a noble-minded action. Tis common sense madam. You do not fall on a pony, and hope he will catch you." That was just nuts. "I have treated nopony with lesser actions. I have shared my goods with you, where I had no need to, for sake of cooperation."
Al-Burq was not at fault! Tar was just a whiny foal who didn't like ponies with wings! "If you wish to focus blame on a lack of cooperation you may place it upon his maddened split spirit. Do not coddle him because his mind is stirred. He starts a fight, allow him to pay the consequences for verbal interjections." if he wants to talk trash, he can be given facts straight up. "As far as I can surmise Equestria has a backwards concept of how classes work. In Saddle Arabia all we do is for the country as a whole, regardless of standing. All stallions, regardless of status, are expected join the military for a short time to garner respect. Titles are merely a means the state separates us for politics, of which I do not agree on, but neither can a society survived based alone on the idea of community. There is inherent fault with ponies. They can be selfish." He did make sense and to be blamed for Tar's assumptions on classes! He hated them because they were unicorns, not poor!
Silent Dusk stared as Al spew off a whole wall of text at Yuna again, flicked her ears then leaned forward and kissed the stallion in hopes of shutting him up and preventing more fighting before turning aside and nickered. "You talk so much Distant Lightning I can't follow you." then lifted off flying upwards some to see if she could see Ponyville in the distance yet.
Gleaming Echo snorts. "My family gave up nobility because they wanted to do good by ponies without getting stabbed in the back by rivals wanting to take advantage of weakness.... They wanted to break the decrepit system that allows idiots to undermine those that work hard to support those they love. Don't even get me started on some of the horror stories I've heard about saddle arabian nobility..." he'd grump only to flick his tail and start walking again. "Oh... and whilst you say you had no need to cooperate. You were hopelessly lost. Could have let you fly into the cultist's hooves." he'd mutter darkly. He completely missed Silent's actions since he wasn't watching, a mite bit too antagonized.
Yunalesca scowled in response. She understood what he was saying, but to her it just sounded like a bunch of defensive drivel. "Call me a commoner and we'll see who'll be eating dirt. Besides, becoming nobility isn't as easy as you make it sound. 'Easier said than done,' as they say. It's always nonsense about 'noble blood.' If you don't want to be accused for those faults, stop acting like every other puffed up nobl-.." Yuna's return rant was cut off mid syllable when Dusk went in to kiss Distant. She did not see that coming. An ear flicked Gleam's way and she started after him, getting the cart moving again. "Too bad, huh?"
Al-Burq scowled at Yuna. She was quite arrogant for a Unicorn. He could call her whatever he well pleased, but he was raised better. It wasn't a matter of class, for sometimes races just had an innate inability to cooperate with others. The stallion unicorn was no better! I'll have you know sir-- Though before he could go full on queen on the pair he was attacked! "Miss Dusk!" Now just because he could stay level headed, did not mean he wasn't losing his mind! Outward appearances were everything. His ears folded back, monocle tightly in place. "I..do not think such a thing is appropriate in public." He was quite flustered, cheeks heating beneath his tawny, pinewood fur. His wings snapped against his body as his eyes focused on the ground. Oh look, a pebble. He got quiet quite fast though. "Have we arrived at our location within the estimated time of arrival?" How much further? He was going to start molting if this kept up!
Silent Dusk looked down at him with a silly smile on her snout. "Loosen up milord here in Equestria we won't behead you for just a simple show of affection and I do not want our three companions too irate at you." not seeing Ponyville just yet she glided down again and touched down with the group, wings folding as she gave them a few licks and nibbles.
Gleaming Echo let out a sigh and turned to Lady Yuna... "I hesitate wishing even him upon the cultists... They may be crazy but he'd probably drive them to murder." he'd say as he walked just in front of the cart in case something were to occur. He turned and looked up at Silent and then down at Al before a grin stole out upon his face. Sadly he was missing most of what happened... "I think that conversation is done... at least before one of us does something we will regret, no?" he cheerfully smiles as he starts to foalishly bounce down the road as if the whole thing had never occurred!
Yunalesca noted that getting kissed by Dusk seemed to have shut the pegasus up. She was a stubborn creature herself, and she probably would have continued arguing with him until she could have drilled sense into his head.. but it was a pointless cause. She had better things to look forward to, like talking to Gleam instead. "Pff, yeah that's true." The alicorn said, nodding her agreement; whatever further conversation was lost as Gleam went bouncing down the road. She was forced to turn back to Distant to answer his question, keeping her voice level. "We were a bit waylayed by that argument, and if Dusk can't see it.. it may take some time of steady travel before we get there. Hopefully nothing else hinders us."
Al-Burq sighed deeply. He just wanted to arrive at the point of interest. He was not one to socialize with ponies. Intelligent, educated discussions, yet lo such a debacle where the grounded stoop to name calling. He was not given to social interactions outside of an academic setting. He stared off in thought, just contemplating the trip up until now. He had done everything with a measure of conduct, expected of him, yet he is looked upon as if he were the wingless heathen. Here he was offering them polite repertoire only to be accosted. His ear swiveled toward Yuna, his head raising up. "Thank the Sands." He was getting tired again and dealing with Gleams star-counting madness was just draining.
Silent Dusk flutters her wings with a shake, snapping them open at their full width before folding them in neatly again, then perked her sensitive ears as she looked up at Yuna and Al. "Did you two hear that too?" she could have sworn she heard something not too far away but wasn't a hundred percent sure.
Gleaming Echo let out a bit of a sigh as he came to a stop not too far. His energy hadn't lasted too long. It really had been quite bothersome to deal with the crazy foreigner! Yes, the crazy one thought somepony else was crazy! How insane was that?! He turned to look at the group and inclined his head only to hear Dusk say she heard something. He perked his ears and turned to look about only to hear something himself! It was like... scratching? Rather abruptly the dirt erupted in front of him as two shapes came leaping up! "Oh stars, its in my eyes!" He'd yelp as he ducked his head down and somehow managed not to get hit by the large paw that had been swung to take his head off... ~ The two that had climbed out of the hole were burly with sharp claws and beady little eyes. Three more climbed out behind them. Smaller with more agile builds and small knife-looking weapons!
Yunalesca flicked an ear back at Distant and Dusk; she hadn't heard anything other than them talking. She looked puzzled, and noted that Gleam had stopped some distance ahead of them. Did he hear something too, or was he just waiting for them? This unspoken question was soon answered when a couple of large creatures burrowed out of the ground just in front of him; large and doglike. Diamond dogs? Yuna slammed her forehooves down to come to an immediate halt, her cart lurching. "Gleam, watch out!" She warned; a few others had appeared in short order. This was a good a time as any to unhook herself from her cart so she could try to make herself useful, though she couldn't fight. Not unless she could find a stick to smack them with.
Al-Burq had been lost in his thoughts after Yuna professed their arrival being soon, but by the sun in heaven it seems that there was no peace to be had in this land! He raised his head when worry filtered through his thoughts of citations which needed to be made to his research. He wasn't lamenting on the argument, or ill-expressed views. Instead he focused on moving forward, since, at times, Unicorn were hardly any different from Alicorn. Demanding change, yet doing naught to progress it. Perhaps it was merely cold rumor carried to Saddle Arabia by way of unkindly relations over the years. It was not until recently that the royal Alicorn of Equestria reached out to their leaders. When suddenly, like a patch of sun-cursed daisies did the Diamond Dogs pop out the ground, the peacock found well the stiffen. With a burst he spread out his wings, rearing. He tried to take off but was quite spooked! Al-Burq flapped his wings hard, the loud forms giving an audible clap, but his frantic mind did not allow him rapid take off so he only barely got off the ground, but off the ground he was -- kinda.
Silent Dusk saw the diamond dogs burst from the ground and her playfulness took on a more malicious turn, pushing off against the ground as she flew at the dogs that were attacking Echo, but flew too low while unsheathing her hoofblades and got tangled with a root, plunging into the ground as she bounced twice before landing on her side. "Rghh, clumsy.." but swiftly rolled up on her belly to at least protect her vulnerable underside.
Gleaming Echo ducked back from the two diamond dogs only to feel a sudden pressure as the still angry Tarnished pushed to take control. Taken by surprise Gleaming was pushed to the back of his mind as the dark half let out a cackle and took control! "
Oh how I NEEDED this!" he'd say as his horn lit up with blue-black magic once again. The spell that shot out from his horn was anger fueled and grossly overpowered. The aim was off though and it veered to the right. Nevertheless it smacked the two right-most hounds! A third was forced to dodge to the side. The large diamond dog that was hit by the blast was sent ragdolling backwards until he slammed head-first into a tree and didn't get up. The second was only sent sprawling back but was somewhat slowly climbing back onto his paws. The second large dog near Gleaming swung its meaty fist and clocked Tar across the head and sent him tumbling to the side head over hooves until he slid to a stop somewhat next to the cart. "
Idiot Mongrel!" Gleaming Echo climbed back onto his hooves with bloody murder in his eyes! But alas, this was fun! Adventure - yay!
Yunalesca unhooked the straps holding the harness to her and worked her way out of it while the others were focused on the beasts. She saw Dusk dive for them out of the corner of her eye, but she didn't see where she'd gone. By the time she'd freed herself, she heard the snarling voice that was Tarnished, surfacing again. She froze in place and watched as he took on the diamond dogs by himself, knocking out one and knocking over another. Only to get knocked down himself; she flinched back from where he'd landed before taking a few tentative steps. "Are you.. okay?" Yuna asked hesitantly and glanced the dogs' way. No, apparently he was fine. She'd try to help him, however. Yuna cast about until she found a rock by the side of the worn road and levitated it up. She aimed at one of the dogs and threw it with as much strength as she could muster.
Al-Burq was too panicked to even make a weather cloud so would end up flying up to escape the beasts. He was not a fighter, a scholar to be sure! His heavy wings beat against the air, the fellow not built to be a ninja of any sort. He tucked his hooves beneath his body to withdraw vulnerability from nasty claws and teeth. Natural fear of predators are what kept ponies alive, though sometimes it was what made predators very dead.
Silent Dusk was busy scrambling to her hooves when one of the dogs plowed into her side causing her to drop again curling up in anguish, but lashed a hind leg out in defense which connected to the dog's leg with far less strength than intended, having been knocked over leaving the thestral winded a little. "Haven't.. recovered enough.. yet.."
Gleaming Echo threw another blasting spell at the group only to completely miss this time. Probably the blood trailing down his face and getting in his eye! "
Damn!" he'd say only for the brutish diamond dog to stomp his way up. Thus in a desperate act Tar reared his head back and slammed it against the large dog. The dog staggered back but seemed mostly unhurt. The three smaller canines were moving towards Silent. Two were at least, the third was following with a bit of a limp.
Yunalesca's rock had done absolutely nothing. It might as well have been a fly. She backed away, nervous, once Tar was going toe to toe with the remaining big one. He seemed to have things handled, but Dusk certainly didn't; Distant himself was nowhere in sight. If she had to hazard a guess, he'd probably run off in fright. Ha! No time for laughing about it, however.. Yuna forced her nervous limbs after the smaller dogs, particularly the one with the limp. She spun herself on her forelegs and tried to use her back to buck the thing in a vain hope she'd earn poor Dusk some time.
Al-Burq still could not manage to form a stormcloud. Though not like a Unicorn and needed some sort of concentration to find victory -- he was still a magic user in a sense and could not form a cloud if his mind too was clouded! All he could do was continue to climb in flight, hoping he could calm down and form his cloud! If not, the company was in serious trouble!
Silent Dusk curled up to brace herself seeing one dog stumble but the other reaching her, then got swiped at and the thestral screamed as the beast scored a heavy hit on her poor body, the mare cringing and drawing in pained breaths looking teary eyed at her allies not much bravado left now. "H-help me please I'm.. I can't.. too weak."
Gleaming Echo let out a groan only to try to shot two blasts, one to help out his ailing comrade... Both failed! And for his efforts he was rewarded with.... a fist to the face! he was flung back against the cart and fell to the dirt with a bit of a groan. "
I'm going to blast you yet, ya flea-bitten pest!" he'd whimper as he pushed himself back up onto his hooves. Though he was starting to get a wee bit shaky...
Yunalesca's back hooves had completely missed her target; naturally. She cursed, turning back around once all four hooves were back on solid earth. She ignored the ones closes to her and made to put herself between Dusk and the encroaching diamond dogs. The thestral seemed too beaten to stand up for herself, so she would do her best to help. What was a few scrapes anyway? There were flashes of magic that she knew to be coming from Tarnished, but he seemed to be having about as much luck as her. And still no sign of their pompous pegasus! Yuna huffed and reared, using her forehooves like any horse to lash out at the dog who'd been harrassing the thestral.
Al-Burq would, at least, finally start making his cloud! Though it wasn't big enough to constitute as a stormcloud! Ht was getting there. Those darn dogs would get what's coming to them, so help him!!! He bounced and treaded along his cloud, feeling a little safer, but hopefully he could make a proper burst. He kicked off the cloud, flying a bit away and above it.
Silent Dusk saw Yuna hop between her and the dog that had been beating her so mercilessly and sighed in relief, rolling up on her belly then stood up shakily behind the fortune teller panting painfully. "You.. you saved me Yuna.. t-thank you." she then tried to position herself to help attack the two dogs, hoof blades ready as her wings folded tightly to staunch the bleeding.
Gleaming Echo managed to get back onto his hooves and risked a brief look at Lady Yuna when she raced to help their bat pony friend. Alas Luck was finally with him as he reared back and came forward with another magic blast upon his horn. That one smacked the dog right on the chest and sent him rocketing back much like the other large dog. Tar let out a slow breath before he raised a hoof. "Ya get the number on that wagon, mutt! I got ya!" He crowed only to wobble and nearly tumbled onto his face. However he managed to turn and see the two mares who were facing down the last dogs...
Yunalesca found that facing her enemy head on had worked out quite well for her. Her forehoof had hit the dog's jaw from below, knocking it back and out. And another one bites the dust~. She shifted her attention to the other two, flicking an ear back at Dusk. "No problem. You should probably get back to the cart before you take any more hits. We can handle these mutts." Yuna told her, dropping back onto all fours to keep herself as the shield between the remaining two and the thestral. This time she'd try to punch one of the dogs in the gut.
Al-Burq flapped his wings, but it was for naught! It blackened the cloud a bit, causing it to rumble, but there was not enough power. Push, push. Wing beat after wingbeat! He had to get this cloud stirred up. he was not a fighter, but heavens forbid he would fail at this, his one skill!
Silent Dusk limped quickly back to the cart while she was covered by Yuna, beating a retreat hurt her sense of loyalty to her new friends but her wounds were too much to properly fight with, hopping into the cart she would hide in the far back.
Gleaming Echo shook his head and narrowed his gaze as Yuna told Silent to get to the cart. He agreed with this prospect but at the same time this put Lady Yuna in danger! "
Oh buuuuck no!" His horn lit up with blue-black magic and with a yell he sent a large ball of magic straight at the two dogs! At least he seemed to have improved his aim! The blast hit the first dog and rapidly expanded, impacting the second, only for the ball to explode in a ball of fire. The two now crispy dogs were sent flying. "
Oh My.... think that may have been too much. Hehehe... Take that you.." And he fell to the ground face first and just groaned....
Yunalesca didn't do such a good job trying to hit her target this time around, as the beast retaliating with a slash to her shoulder threw off her aim. She yelped, flinching back- which was a good time for such a reflex when Tarnished came to her aid. The strength of his spell did more than knock them out, it fried them. Quite an unpleasant experience to see up close, but it did its job. Dusk was safe, and.. she was pretty sure she heard a rumble overhead. Rain? Yuna held her foreleg bent up, almost not wanting to put pressure on that shoulder, but just seeing Tarnished collapse threw that out of her mind. She rushed over to him, concerned. "Hey, you alright?" Not that she could really do anything for him.
Al-Burq seeing as his cloud was no longer needed, he dissipated it and dropped down, a heavy stomp of his hoofs as he shook out and tucked away his wings. "Are all well?" He questioned, looking between them. Twas not his fault he was such frighten that the gods of chance proclaimed his efforts to be in vain! Alas he did try, but was thwarted by compulsive fear!
Gleaming Echo raised a hoof to address both of them. "All is well... I-I think I might need to go in and see about treating Silent Dusk's wound though..." Gleaming had taken control again because Tar had passed out in his head. The stallion tried to push himself up onto his hooves and glanced towards Yuna. "You aren't injured are you Lady Yuna? That was a brave thing jumping to help our dear thestral friend." He wasn't going to ask what happened to the pegasus. At least he was still somewhat here, right? Half of his face was still coated in blood. Least his head-wound wasn't bleeding anymore.
Yunalesca looked up when their pompous companion finally joined them from up above. The cloud had been dissipated so she could see no proof of his help to say anything on that. "There you are." She sniffed and turned back to the unicorn, Gleam now. "Oh, it was.. nothing. Can't let anypony get killed." This was a low and embarrassed sounding mutter. "M-My shoulder. It's just a few cuts. Shouldn't you deal with Dusk first?" Yuna asked; she considered voicing that she felt like giving Tarnished a hug for his help, but what was the point? "I'm guessing you're uninjured then, Distant."
Al-Burq stood and looked to his wings. "With luck. Do you require aide? I have a few suppose to treat wounds. I believe I also have some herbs to help with any open wounds." he seated himself and rolled off his pack, looking through it. The saddlebag looked to be weighed by his parchments, but the other was balanced with his canteen and medicines. They were kept in special, metal snaps to keep them fresh!
Gleaming Echo let out a bit of a chuckle as he pushed himself up onto his hooves. He was too tired to be antagonizing with the pegasus. "Some herbs to help with open wounds would be welcome. I believe lady Dusk took a wound again... The herbs will help if I run out of magic before can finish healing her." the unicorn would say as he looked to the alicorn in disguise. "At least Tar and I have our roles... He's better at offense while I'm better at defense and healing... Once I finish with our thestral friend I'll heal you up, lady Yuna.."
Yunalesca bit her lower lip at the offers from both stallions, nodding. "You oughta teach me healing spells sometime, among other types of magic. That's for later, though. Go help Dusk." She insisted, and turned towards Distant, forcing back her earlier irritation at him. Diamond dogs certainly had put a damper on it already. Yuna lifted up the tattered edge of her shawl to bare her right, and bloodied, shoulder; she just hoped it didn't become obvious there was a wing attached. "Here."
Al-Burq set the leaves in a small mortar and ground it with his hoof. After it was mashed up he took a piece of linen and rubbed the herb into it. He did not speak, quite focused on his task. "Battle... is much different in life, than in books." He did not like the idea of it. "As an educator, we hope that our words will change the actions of others without use of brute strength, As a noble, this is what I wish to change. So long as I have power, ponies in charge have no choice but to listen. But -- try as I might, I cannot use my skills to bring harm to others." Though, how he tried.
Gleaming Echo let out a smile and nodded. "Perhaps tomorrow we can have our first lesson on healing magic. If this is any indication, we might need another healer... We shouldn't be too far from the town at least." he smiled and was waaaay too tired to get into another argument over the way things worked in the sheltered pony's mind. So thus he just headed for the cart and climbed right on up and inside so he could get to work healing the injured member of their party whom had already fallen unconscious making a wee bit of a bloody mess to... Admittedly he was worried about this! But the wound didn't seem to be quite as bad as the first one she'd got....
Yunalesca remained utterly still while Distant worked on his herbs in his mortar. She turned her head ever so slightly towards Gleam to nod. Though she had to push some of her long mane out of the way for Distant to apply what he'd made to her shoulder. "Sounds great to me." Yuna replied and listened to the pegasus talk. "Diamond dogs can't exactly be reasoned with, and sometimes fighting is just something that happens. But hey, glad to hear you're using your powers for good."
Al-Burq did wonder about it sometimes, but he couldn't-- they were still living, breathing creatures no? He has never so much as fisticuffs with another! His was intellectual arguments! He stuck the linen against her shoulder -- it should stick into the would without him wrapping it. The mash of herb would harden and sealing into any wound while disinfecting it.
Yunalesca pondered over the foreigner's silence while he busied himself with applying his medicine and bandage combination. The press on her shoulder stung and she bared her teeth, wincing briefly. The pain would probably die down, but this treatment would do until Gleam could come and heal her. They couldn't pull that cart without her, not unless Distant decided to stoop to 'commoner's work' and help out. Speaking of.. she'd probably have to pull two of their party while they rested. No big deal. "So, uh.. thanks for helping."
Al-Burq nodded. "With no regret madam, but do take care. It must be cleaned the following day to prevent sickness." he pushed to stand, shaking out his wings as he trotted to pick his saddlebag back up! He adjusted himself and fixed his vest. He straightned himself out! good good! Presentable!
The End.
