2/16/16; Ponyville

Yunalesca. The cart and their camp was set up on the snowy edges of Ponyville, a town that seemed to have quite a bit of extra space. Spread out. It'd been pleasant enough, and the fortune teller herself hadn't known it was to be Hearts and Hooves day when they arrived. It'd been a prime moment for her to make the group some money, but in the excitement there'd been few customers. With the dawn of a new day, Yuna knew she could find more to add bits to her savings. For the time being she was lounging by the cold campfire, looking ponderous.

Silent Dusk stumbled out of the cart looking worse for wear but was healed at least, slinking over to the campfire hanging her head some. "Hey Yuna, thanks for the rescue and yeah sorry for getting beaten to an inch of my life there, we got lucky huh?"

Al-Burq had been busying himself with -- well anything. He couldn't just sit around so he had done his daily routine, devoid of Gleam antics, and settled down to rewrite his notes into something that could pass as legible. He had observed the events and was able to make a great deal of notes pertaining to this unique, Ponyvillian, celebration. He didn't locate himself near the others when at rest, secluding himself as he worked. No sound left him save the scratch scratch of his quill rapidly scratching over the paper.

Yunalesca looked around at Dusk when she finally emerged from the cart's interior. She looked bad, but she was at least alive. The not-unicorn scuffed at the ground with a forehoof upon being thanked and shrugged. "It was uh.. no big deal. Couldn't just leave you to die, what kinda monster would that have made me?" She said. "Besides, Tarnished was busy taking out the big ones and I managed to deck one. Uh, yeah I'd have to say we did get lucky, but look. We made it." Yuna said, gesturing towards the buildings. She noted Distant nearby, scribbling away in his notes. She wondered what exactly he'd written down.. "It was Hearts and Hooves day yesterday, I managed to make some money.. We figured we'd just let you rest and heal."

Silent Dusk nodded and perked up some even the best warriors had bad days, no battle ever went by without scrapes anyway. "That was very thoughtful thank you, I have some bits myself as well if more needs to be pooled now that we technically travel together." then she smiled at a thought. "I was heart and hooves day and I missed it completely by resting up in the cart, what a waste of opportunity there, wouldn't have minded celebrating that." and couldn't help but sneer teasingly at Distant Lightning.

Al-Burq had a limited number of bits himself, but they were for emergencies. Now that they were in town... or at least near one. He should find a way to split up from their group. He looked up, hearing their conversation of the holiday. "It was a unique holiday, but I do not think it was something easily participated in. It seemed to intrusive in one's personal convictions." Has even been somehow roped in to replace the announcer who had been attacked by a rat and several female bodies. To intense that! He cleared his throat and turned back to his notes. "Quite." He took the quill back into his mouth and resumes writing.

Yunalesca looked impressed by the offer and nodded, "I have a small bag of bits in the cart. Now that we're here, I suppose we should do.. something. Like finding some lodgings, a place with somewhere to shower." The alicorn replied and muffled a chortle with a hoof when Dusk turned on to the topic of Hearts and Hooves, teasing Distant in the process. "It just celebrates love. Sometimes romantic love, like they were doin' with those games last night. Kinda embarrassing, but," Yuna shrugged.

Silent Dusk flicked her ears back some. "Thestrals outside of Hollow Shades are often treated with disdain and usually find none interested in them here in the more central part of Equestria." she then bit a pouch out of her armor barding offering it to Yuna with a somewhat generous smile. "Mwit hasgh abwout tventy bwits." she would share with what was considered her current party.

Al-Burq furrowed his brows when Yuna explained it. "So it is a festival of love? I believe there is one similar back home, but it celebrates the union between the royal families." He folded his parchment rolls and settled them back in his saddlebags, which rest on the ground beside him. He laid his hooves out and looked toward Dusk. "That hardly seems an appropriate way to treat such intensely intriguing ponies. Disdain? Have your viceroy no treaty with your capital?" Of course it boggled his minded that any member of the winged class would find naught but power among their leaders." Supposed leader. It as quite expected with the Alicorn seemingly in charge of Equestrian government. Nothing seemed to make sense here. He had to find out just how it had come to this. He had only a few days remain....

Gleaming Echo let out a huff as he wandered down the road of this quaint little town. A festival of...love?! Uuuugh... Why love of all things? Why of all days did Gleam let him walk around? It had to be to torment him! This type of festival was something that the doofus would appreciate! It was enough that he was gnashing is teeth together! He knew this place would be akin to sunshine and daisies but this was just painful! He turned his head and saw two ponies cuddle up against each other and shivers ran up and down his spine. How he itched to blast the cheery scene into oblivion with great prejudice! But ugh, the royals might still be near. Plus that annoying little voice in the back of his head was whining that it wasn't the 'heeeero' thing to do! He's a villain! He blows stuff up! He doesn't prance about happy-ville! That was Gleam's job... He rounded a corner and his ears perked. Oooho! His favorite frie-gag-victims! He tossed a smile up on his face and stalked towards the group. Gleaming Echo slowed his pace when he grew near. "What is my favorite group of ponies up to?" he asked with that gravelly voice of his as his tail swished.

Yunalesca spied the bag that Dusk pulled out from her barding and pondered, shrugging. "If you want. It's entirely up to you." She replied, standing up. After making a 'wait' gesture with her hoof, she withdrew to the interior of her cart to look for her own bag of money; last night's funds had been added to it already. Yuna snatched it up in her magic and returned to the other two, just in time to hear Distant talk. "Uh, yeah. It's just thestrals aren't that... common. A lot of ponies are a little.. well, some of them tend to look down on others for looking different." Yuna explained with a sour undertone and started as she spied Gleam- no, Tarnished. It was his eyes and growly voice. "Just trying to figure out what to do now that we're here. What were you up to?"

Silent Dusk nodded at Distant and placed the bag of bits down before spreading her leathery black wings wide, then opened her muzzle wide letting her tongue loll out, sharp fangs now visible just to show the saddle arabian the abomination that she was, blood enjoying omnivorous ponies were even so much as hated at places, hoping that while she showed such that Yuna would explain more.

Al-Burq seated himself on his haunches, his wings ruffling a bit. "That hardly seems fair. Do you not determine such things through skill?" The use a pony had in their society far overwhelmed their looks. Why earth ponies had no wings yet their brutish strength permissed them to work the fields with expertise. He glanced over to Gleam before he looked away, lest he catch the cooties. "Well I think your wings are quite beautiful." He looked to Dusk. He raised his hoof. "Though the structures are without feathers, they appear to have more bones. They seem to appear more dextrous." He noted.

Gleaming Echo flicked an ear and looked between the set of ponies. "Gleam, in his infinite foolery, decided that I should be out to enjoy the 'festivities'... A festival of 'love', damn it all! It makes me want to blow something up! Uugh!" he'd grump as he kicked a hoof. "He knows I don't understand such 'trivial' emotions! And he won'd take the reigns back!" the dark half of the pony flopped down on his rump only for his face to twist into an almost manic grin as he turned to Al. "Can I have a hug? I neeeeed to kill-er... hug something!" he'd smile at the foreign pegasus, standing and moving towards him.

Yunalesca leaned her head around to eye Dusk's wings as Distant talked about them. "They.. kinda look like bat's wings. Feathered wings like what pegasi have more resemble bird wings, without these extra bones." Yuna pointed out, lifting a hoof to trace one of the long 'fingers' of the wing. She dropped her hoof quickly, shrugging at the pegasus's earlier question. How was she to know? Yuna pondered over this when she heard Tarnished lament about the Hearts and Hooves day celebrations. After celebrations? The decorations were still up today. "You poor thing, did your mother never love you?" Yuna sassed, and paused to stare at the unicorn at that little declaration. Yikes.

Silent Dusk did her best to not giggle at Gleam while she still posed for Distant, then felt saliva collect on her tongue and tilted her head back slightly, swallowing twice to get rid of the slimy stuff while keeping her jaws wide just so that Distant could understand why her sub species was disliked, wing giving a twitch as Yuna's touch tickled.

Al-Burq parted his jaws at Dusk before Gleam -- the mad pony spoke up. "Both parents are quite important for the balanced growth of a foal." He could not speak of Gleam's personal experience. His cult life could have drastically changed his upbringing. he was not a normal pony, so he was learning. He raised his wings, puling the the cloak of fire in front of him. "Please do not touch me. Sands know if you are not still covered in blood." And madness. "Perhaps we would scrub you down in a pail. In cold water, to snap you from your murderous reprieve." He looked to Yuna. "I am quite malcontent to see that someone as well behaved as Dusk is viewed as a malignant member of society and this one is perfectly free to roam the surface free of a leash." He quipped with the utmost seriousness.

Gleaming Echo rolls his slit-pupil eyes and turns back to Yuna and Dusk once again. "I never had parents, now Gleam's parents were rather nice from what I find in his memories... Buuuut they are dragon excrement somewhere now." he'd say with a somewhat vicious grin directed more inward than not as he turned to Al. "I am going to be perfectly blunt, you who are soooo woefully ignorant in social customs outside of your little institutional world. Ponies are terrified of things they do not understand. Thestral society is somewhat hidden from the world, and thus not much is known about them. Thestrals have sharp teeth, and ponies freak out at the sight of such beautifully gleaming incisors so ripe to tear out a pony's throat.... among other 'delightful' things." he snarked at the foreigner while batting his eyebrows. "We know our dear bat well... thus she is our frie-" cue gag and an odd face "-comrade."

Yunalesca's ears flicked back when Distant said that. Both parents, balanced growth? She sneered. "My father left. I grew up just fine." It was a bit of personal information she wasn't ever sure about giving out, but there it was. The alicorn quieted to listen to what the others had to say, and nudged Dusk to relax. Tarnished did most of the explaining about thestrals, as her knowledge on them was woefully lacking. She knew they existed and what they looked like, but nothing more. "A bath." Yuna interrupted when Tar was finished. "A bath sounds wonderful." Maybe she could turn their minds elsewhere before another argument like before broke out; Distant was probably never gonna get it.

Silent Dusk closed her jaws smacking them a few times and folded her wings neatly at her sides. "Mmm usually they get some work out now they just feel stiff.. Oh a bat sounds delicious!" she'd exclaim she knew of an inn here in Ponyville and would lead them there gladly, but would wait until they as a group decided to go there.

Al-Burq had picked up his quill again, scribbling notes. He paused when the venom spat was expressed from the mare. "'Well' and 'balanced', are not the same. There are things, taught by parents that one must find out on their own, sometimes when it is much too late. There is a genuine advantage to living with relatives, even if parents cannot be accounted for. Grandparents, uncles and aunts." He tucked his hooves against his body and stared at his paper. "Even siblings. These are all factors that effect a pony, well documented. Did you know that according to the store is the calamity known to scholars only as Discord, whom had long since lost the villain's true name, was an orphan? Not even a village took pity on him. Sometimes calamity can be avoided with the efforts of others." He stated, taking from his studies.

Gleaming Echo simply stared at Al and listened to his little... lecture. That is all that he could think of and he let out a long-suffered sigh. "That was an enlightening... if not unnecessary... lecture... And I find myself reeeeally wanting to go stab myself in the eye right now...." he'd say as he tried to hold his 'blow it the buck up' temper in check and just leveled a flat look at Al. He turned to Yuna and tried to keep the twitch in check. "So! My resident idiot has relayed to me the sentiment to ask you if you want to have a lesson on spellcasting! You can either mass fiery destruction with me or healing with him! Your choice. Either way I'm getting away from this town for a while!"

Yunalesca could only sigh and shake her head at Distant. "I turned out fine," She emphasized again, "if my dad was the kind to just up and leave, he probably wasn't essential in my upbringing anyway." She snorted and tucked her bag of bits, having been left floating forgotten, under her shawl. "Interesting, though. Times have changed since then, but" Yuna paused and glanced Tarnished's way. "Mass fiery destruction sounds good right about now but, unfortunately, I think I better start on healing magic for right now. Work my way up."

Al-Burq was uninterested in Unicorn magic and pushed to stand. "I need to gather some more information. DO enjoy yourselves." He seemed offended by Yuna's comment. How could she know their reasons for leaving to assert such. She outright disrespected the the position of a patriarch! He held up his nose and trotted off. Quite bothered, more so at her remark than Blac-- Gleam's madness.

Gleaming Echo let out a bit of a snort. "Don't let the mares bite!.. Oh, wait... I really doubt you'll notice it if they did anyways! I mean Dusk has been trying reeeeeeeeally hard and yet it just seems to go over your ickle featherbrained head." he jeered and waved a hoof as he turned to the alicorn. "Alright! I get a bit of a break then! 'Til next time dear Lady Yuna." he'd say with a sweeping bow only for Gleam to straighten up again. "Good evening Lady Yuna." he smiled some, now appearing quite the regular pony once again... Save for the cultist attire of course. He got a few odd looks while acting as Lady Yuna's guard but... none had connected the dots at least.

Yunalesca flicked an ear Distant's way when he rose to leave. Nice. "You can try checking if this place has a library while you're out." She replied with a little wave of her hoof, a gesture that was mildly dismissive. Would he look into it? She made a loud 'tch' of amusement, something that would have been laughter had she not held it back. "She practically kissed him yesterday." Yuna added, turning back to Tarnished once the pompous pegasus had moved off. "Alone at last," Her tone was only slightly sarcastic, but she nodded and watched his odd little change back to Gleam. It was.. fascinating, and a bit eerie. "Uh, hey. So how do we get started on healing spells?"

Gleaming Echo flicked an ear and let out a quiet 'hm'... "Of course... Shall we head to your cart? It would be a far more peaceful place than out here. I'm also....not sure that ponies would appreciate my methods!" he'd cheerfully say as he slid up onto his hooves and stretched. He wondered if Lady Yunalesca would even approve of the methods but... well, it was the way that he had been taught soooo yeah!

Yunalesca turned her head to glance back at the thing of wood and wheels, a little hesitant. "Yeah I guess so. Better than sitting out here in the snow, anyway." She agreed, turning and heading around to the cart's back. The alicorn opened the door with her magic and made her way inside, pausing to knock the snow from her hooves on the side of the steps. Once inside, Yuna sat herself down on a cushion and took the opportunity to stretch her wings out from underneath her shawl- though the cramped spaces prevented her from extending them to their full length. It still helped. "Alright. So what're your methods you're so shy about?"

Gleaming Echo looked about the cart. "Remind me if we ever acquire enough bits... we could always see about expanding your cart's interior." The unicorn turned back to Yuna and smiled some as his horn lit up with magic as he sat next to a table. In front of him a magick blade shimmered into being before he raised his foreleg. The blade came down and cut a gash upon his foreleg. Missing any major arteries of course! Just a surface wound even if one could almost think they could see bone. Yet the cultist wasn't doing anything more than sweating. Even though his eye was twitching from the pain. "N-now... Focus your m-magic upon the wound a-and I will guide you through the h-healing p-process with my own. Then I will let you p-practice." he'd say with a smile.

Yunalesca shook her wings and refolded them at her sides, but loosely. "Wouldn't there be a spell for that?" She asked, eyeballing its interior too. They probably could manually do that, but.. "I never really linger in one place for too long, but I could easily sell it or something if I found Ponyville fitting enough to stay. Because, y'know, if it's safe here.." Yuna left the rest of that sentence up to interpretation. If there were no cultists, or no diamond dogs, or whatever else.. she probably could stay. If she could handle it. Yuna visibly cringed when Gleam cut his own foreleg, and judging from his stammer it probably hurt a lot. "O-kay.." She said, her magic flaring to life as she focused it upon his wound.

Gleaming Echo simply nodded. "Yep.. but they typically need some form of enchanted anchor to hold the spell active. I doubt you'd want to move a whole bunch of furniture in only for the expanded space to collapse all of a sudden." he'd say only for the lesson to begin in earnest! He sat with the injured foreleg held out and waited for her horn to flare to life. When he saw the tell-tale signs of magic his own horn flared to life and he'd have gently started to 'focus' her magic with his own into healing the wound. "Feel the flow of the spell... It also helps the flow of your magic to envision the wound healing."

Yunalesca had looked a little amused when Gleam explained how such a spell would work, though the mental image of it collapsing made her wince. Oh well. She focused back on the wound as the unicorn laid his magic over her own, guiding it; it felt a little weird, but she tried not to care. Instead, she listened to him, and thought to try that little trick he'd just suggested: imagining the wound healing, knitting back together. It was her first lesson in magic, and she was determined to learn it.

Gleaming Echo had little idea the whole 'using magic to guide' concept was on the more... er... perhaps slightly invasive side? Maybe not but it felt weird to experience. And was just.... slightly at risk of magical feedback. That is how he was taught and it was effective, right? Tar was snickering in the back of his head though! The soothing magic was already causing the pain of the wound to lessen and he continued to pilot the spell while letting Lady Yuna power and learn how the spell felt when being cast correctly. Her efforts were not in vain though! Between her efforts and his direction the wound was slowly closing!

Yunalesca's brow furrowed as she kept at it, focusing on the wound and the imagery. She was sure that the cut was starting to close, and she tried not to let her excitement distract her. She took a slow, steady breath and kept at it; she didn't want to forget to breathe, now! It was probably a good idea that they'd withdrawn to the cart, for at least here they had no distractions. Yuna didn't want to wonder what would happen if she messed up.

Gleaming Echo let out a bit of a wince as the magic slipped a little. However the wound continued to heal. After a good...eh.. five or ten minutes the wound had been fully closed though the fur was still missing from that area. "Do you have enough magic to give it another go? Perhaps on your own now?" he'd ask with a tilt of his head. He didn't know just how much magic the alicorn had since it didn't seem she used magic as extensively as many other casting ponies do. Lack of control also caused more mana to be wasted and all that jazz. If she had enough they'd be able to continue.

Yunalesca seemed to have managed it, as after a time, the wound was healed. It was bare, but, it was a start. Besides, the fur probably grew back on its own anyway. She leaned back a little, biting her lower lip when she looked up at Gleam and thought. Did she? "Um, I'm not sure. I can give it a shot and see if I can manage. If not.. I can always try again a little later?" Yuna replied, clearly lacking confidence. "If I can't, you can still heal yourself I'm sure."

Gleaming Echo quirked his head. "Of course! Let's give it a try." And almost without hesitation the magical blade was back and cutting into the recently healed foreleg. He didn't cut it quite as deep as before but he put the foreleg out and would let Yunalesca make her attempt to replicate the spell for herself! Quite the mssy method of teaching healing though. He'd need to stop otherwise he'd risk blood loss!

Yunalesca's ears flicked back, cringing, when he sliced into his own flesh again. She couldn't imagine how much that hurt, but she tried to force such distractions to the back of her mind; and that included her trepidation of performing the healing spell on her own. The alicorn inhaled slowly, calming herself first, before she focused her magic on the cut again. This time she didn't have someone else guiding her, but she tried her best to mimic what Gleam had just shown her. Hopefully she'd get it right!

Silent Dusk trotted back to their camp sighing some, she had flown to Ponyville for a bath but had not found an inn yet so decided to return to her friends, then looked around to see if she could spot a certain noble pegasus.

Gleaming Echo was twitching a little as he lowered his head to hide his expression. He had taken more care not to cut as deep into his leg but at the same time it was still painful! He couldn't show the pain, though! Heroes were strong, right?! He couldn't show such weakness before Lady Yuna! Thankfully the alicorn seemed to be a quick study and she had no sooner started casting the spell before the wound once again started to close! The soothing magic also reduced the pain during the process so he couldn't hold back the smile. "Wonderful!"

Yunalesca noticed with some excitement that the wound was healing under her magic. She was doing it! She didn't let herself celebrate too early, however, and kept her focus on the spell until it had been healed completely. If and once it did, she would lean back with a little smile smoothing out her expression of concentration. "Wow, I-I actually did it. Huh." Yuna uttered. She felt very accomplished to have caught on to it. "I mean, it's a good start. I know in a fight it's not gonna be as calm as in here, and.. well, I'll probably be dealing with a lot worse than a little cut."

Silent Dusk couldn't find Distant and broke into a light canter towards the cart, deciding not to bother the two unicorns right now as they seemed busy with something important that involved spellcraft, instead she lifted a forehoof and slightly punctured the skin there, lapping up the red droplets that came free, having a slight craving for a sip but her friends there might not offer such, most got weirded out by the practice.

Distant Lightning had not been successful in collecting information today, not even the slightest intrigue had found him. He had spent several hours searching, writing, but the only thing he could determine was gender and racial ratios, which did not amount to much without a distinct understanding in a pony's cultural divisions. How did they work together, how was their social structure built? Rituals of greetings, partings? It was a bust today. The stares had not helped much either, but neither was he unused to them. Sighing out the dejected scholar had nothing to show for his efforts and hardly felt willing to show his face. Perhaps ridiculed at the fact that he was unable to do the one job, he did have.

Gleaming Echo brought back the leg when the wound had been healed. "Indeed. Combat healing will take quite a bit of practice because the spell has to come naturally." he'd say as he sat back on his haunches. A look at the rather blood-covered table brought out a bit of a look and his own horn once again lit up. A wash of magic later and the table was blood free once again. "I believe that would be good for the night... I don't need to lose too much more blood, eh?" he'd ask with a bit of a chuckle. "Perhaps we should see what the rest of our merry little band is up to, hm?" he asked curiously.

Yunalesca could understand that; this was her first crack at spellcasting that wasn't steeped in small tricks and fortune telling. It would take her some time of practice again and again before she could really get it. "Yeaah, don't hurt yourself too much on my account." She said, turning her head a little to watch him clean up the spilled blood. "We probably should. I know they wandered off earlier," more specifically Distant had left in a bit of a huff, "but they've probably come back by now. This was a, uh, good first lesson. Thanks." Yuna added awkwardly, pulling herself to her hooves. She shook out her wings once more before tucking her shawl over them, and made to slip past Gleam into the snowy outside world. A quick glance around told her that Dusk had returned, though she saw no sign of Distant. Had he found a library here?

Silent Dusk stood a ways off and was still happily lapping at her hoof, but then saw the two emerge and licked the small cut close with the numbing solvent her teeth gave off and trotted towards them licking her lips, almost immediately perking her ears as she looked towards Gleam. "Mmm you smell great, how come?" then offered a kind smile at their fortune telling friend. "Hello Yuna."

Distant Lightning would eventually be a visible spot on the horizon, though it was not hard to spot the firebird. The flaming chicken had crashed and burned and he was exhausted. He used what little funds he had to by a small lunch. Just an apple, and he filled his canteen. The canteen was still slung around his neck, the apple's core in his muzzle. He stared at the path he walked before raising his head when he approached the familiar cart. He raised a hoof to slid the core into his muzzle to quickly chew, rather than seem an unsightly brigand. "Pardon me." He hiccuped softly. "How goes your days efforts?" Though miscreants, certainly they too had chores to take care with! He seated himself to slide his saddlebags off. Nothing accomplished.

Gleaming Echo let out a bit of a chuckle. "An unorthodox first lesson I bet..." he'd say with an amused expression. In any case he nodded and followed Yuna outside only to see Dusk and couldn't help but let out a bit of a chuckle. "Probably my blood-soaked foreleg. Part of learning healing is there needs to be some sort of practical..." he'd muse only to shrug a little. "Have you seen our foreign friend? I do hope he hasn't managed to get into any trouble." he'd ask the bat-winged pony with a somewhat concerned expression only for his gaze to look past her and he blinked. "Nevermind..." He turned his attention to Distant. "How fared your research?" the good-half of the insane pony smiled cheerfully.

Yunalesca gave Dusk a bit of a confused 'what?' look at her question but shrugged it off; Gleam had that answered anyway. "Hey. Where'd you wander off to?" She asked, right before the foreign pegasus himself showed up. He looked like he'd had himself a little bit of a meal, before he ate it anyway. "Yeah, find a library around here?" Yuna echoed after Gleam had asked his own question. She wondered what Distant had been up to, herself, and whether he was still annoyed after earlier. Snerk.

Silent Dusk flicked her wings. "Been looking for an inn in Ponyville but lost track, then decided to return here but you two were busy so I ah.. entertained myself some." yes let's not discuss this little blood craving to our friends just yet shall we? though thinking on it made her salivate a little, then grinned giving Distant that very same hungry look.

Distant Lightning looked between the three sighing. "This place is much larger than it alludes to." He professed. "There were many structures, many ponies, many things to note, but nothing seemed to stand out as preventive, nor anything resembling a library. There was a road leading down to a number of homesteads and what appeared to be a structure of Crystal, but it was too far and lunch was already upon me. A break is most needed." He moved to settle down, tucking his hooves beneath his body. The male shook out his braided mane, much of it still hanging loose from the braids. ."Have you made progress?" He offered in return to the questions, as it would be most arrogant to speak only of his day's endeavors. Why they may have even found something he could study upon!

Gleaming Echo inclined his head some and stared curiously at Silent for a few, however his attention turned back to Distant whenever he mentioned a structure of crystal. "I believe that would be the library. The resident alicorn is a savant of the written. She... well, collects books apparently. I, however, will never eeeeeven dare go there! She's the one that took down Lady Nightmare after all!" he'd say as he scuffed a hoof upon the ground. He turned his attention to Yuna and let out a bit of a grin. "Lady Yuna now knows a healing spell now... I'd teach her more but I'd raaaather not bleed out today."

Yunalesca frowned a little in concern; entertaining herself with what? She wasn't sure what she'd seen Dusk doing to her wrist, but it probably didn't matter. "An inn sounds nice. Food and baths." The latter was said a little wistfully; after a few days on the road, and who knows how much longer before that in the cultists' care, she was in desperate need of a bath. Yuna was broken out of her fantasy of hot water and soap to Distant's words, though Gleam had that covered; he seemed much more knowledgeable on this town. "Surely she's not that bad, but, I did. I managed to learn a healing spell!"

Silent Dusk stopped staring at Distant like he was a meal since she didn't get any reaction out of him at all the last day or so, was he homesick or so? "An inn and bath sound great, maybe we should go into town to look, then afterwards maybe find that new princess of our lands or at least her books." licking her fangs she snorted, maybe grab some livestock too or ambush one of her friends.

Distant Lightning looked to Gleam when he spoke. Any efforts, on Dusk's part likely fell on a block of stone. The pegasus had little interest outside his books. Even food did not excite him as much as the idea of learning something new. His ears pricked forward, strands of crimson slid back. H flicked his head and sunk a bit. "Of course in the last place..." And it was owned by an Alicorn? Of that he should have guessed. It was not uncommon for their sort, unicorn as well, to hoard knowledge and covet it. They had been as such for generations, limiting the lessons of magic reaching others. While the scholar had resigned himself to a life of educating the ignorant masses, he was not against learning magic and did hope he could one day weave his clouds much like a wizard weaved spells. He sought for a connection between the two types of magic. With his hooves tucked to his chest he looked up at mention of a bath. "A bath would do well for recuperating." Now Gleam's madness was often ignored, but-
Distant Lightning could not help but wonder what he meant that Dusk was trying hard. Hard to do what? He was already with interest of her presence. She need not show off like some parading Earth Pony during spring. He could hardly guess at what her aim could be. "Did Miss Dusk succeed in locating a satisfactory location?" He wondered.

Yunalesca glanced over at Dusk and shook her head. "As far as I'm aware, she hasn't. I do like that kind of suggestion, though. We should go into town and find an inn to stay in, so the rest of us have beds to sleep on. I just hope this town's a lot cheaper than I think it is." The alicorn replied, reaching a hoof up to her shawl, where she'd placed her own bag of bits prior to her healing lesson. "Then, yes, you could probably check out that strange.. tree? Castle? Whatever that crystal place is."

Silent Dusk nodded and would wait for Yuna and the rest on what to do, she had never been a leading type and was often on her own so had a knack of following more natural born lead ponies around. "Well let us go then, I think the inn must be near the market area no?" then shook her head at Distant. "Not yet."

Distant Lightning shook his head. "Perhaps first, we may need to gather some more information." First off -- he had no idea an Alicorn was the viceroy to this town. He had thought there was a voted figurehead. Well he supposed Alicorn were no different than a pony's puppet. "That structure seems rather unique to be just some public office." And given it did belong to an Alicorn, even less of a chance. One did not simply -- into a castle. "Wandering around in such a large group as well, given that three of the four of us are sought after by questionable figures, should we not split, two by two, until one can find the inn?" It jsut seemed coming into town together would make them suspicious, but it was merely an education thought. While Gleam seemed to have confidence they were not being followed -- Gleam had confidence they were not being followed: and that was worry enough when one listened to a madpony.

Gleaming Echo let out a bit of a snort. "I suppose we could always split up.. then whomever finds the inn first could let everypony else know." he'd say as he yawned. He'd managed to tire himself out he did! "Do be careful which inn though... This town can be a bit of a.... tourist trap." he muttered only to wander onward towards the town. He would rather find the inn so he could collapse onto a nice comfy bed or... wash off... Or wash off and then collapse onto a fluffy bed... Mmmm, maybe one of these inns might have a hot spring type of set-up. Oh that would be nice, he'd heard about those from the other cultists! He had serious doubt that the cultists would follow them this far, but he'd let the foreigner be as paranoid as he wanted. Perhaps he'd gone a little too far with the healing lesson? It was the practical way though as far as he knew! Then again ponies might freak out a little if they saw him with a bloody leg? Oh well, he did need to was to get the blood off.

Yunalesca found what Distant said to be agreeable enough, but Dusk and Gleam talking about an inn- specifically the 'crazy' pony mentioning baths, had her swayed without much further argument. "Splitting up seems pretty ideal in a situation like this." She replied, her eyes flicking after the unicorn. He'd started off without much more than a tourist trap warning. Yuna grunted, turning to her cart to secure its door, before she went trotting off after Gleam. It was nice warm bath, or nothing, to her.

Silent Dusk made it obvious how the pairing was meant to be then and gave Distant a friendly smile spreading her wings. "Hey Distant Lightning? Want to fly there and see if we find an inn sooner than the earthbound dwellers?" then cantered up to him and gave him a bump of her shoulder. "By the way how do you think about creatures that enjoy both vegetables and meat?"

Distant Lightning blinked a bit when the female spread her wings, his hooves pulling against his body for a moment before, with a clip clop, touched the solid ground. His wings wings loosened from his spine, settling loosely at his side. As divine as it would be to show those mud kickers their place... It was bad form. "My dear as lovely a flight would be, drawing eyes to ourselves would bring trouble you do not need." Though he did not accept the idea, he still recalled the trip expressing how thestral were looked upon with disdain. He glanced to her wings. "While I may find them fascinating, it seems no others can perceive their beauty." He shuffled a bit when she bumped his shoulder ears folding back a bit "Tis for your own safety madam." Flicking his braided tail he would turn to trot down another direction, to evade the path the other two followed. "but do pleasure me with your conversation. Certainly with your health returned your company can be enjoyed more so than your ... compatriots."
Distant Lightning rattled mentally the foulest of titles for them, but a proper gentlemen did not show his disgust with the help. "We've had little chance to discuss your origins, in detail, let alone your more personal habits." he thought a moment on her question. "I cannot say I have a feeling one way or another. I know some creatures in this world require the flesh of others to survive. Though I do not know of their culture to readily relinquish an opinion of them." They could be savages -- they could be quite the gentry. He would not know, for he has not faced carnivores or omnivores as it were. He was a man of the institutional regime. Behind closed doors and beneath the pages of books, drowning in theory.

Gleaming Echo turned to glance back and saw Lady Yuna following him. The unicorn slowed just enough for her to catch up a little and he let out a chuckle. "Who do you think is going to find the inn first?" he'd ask with an amused but still rather tired expression. If the two winged ponies had taken to the air he'd have said they were quite likely, but it seemed the foreigner wanted to stay upon the ground so it was a fair contest between the two teams! "The more I think about it, the more I reeeeeally want to see if one of the inns has one of those 'hot spring' baths..." he'd say with a bit of a longing tone.... They weren't really hot springs... Just large heated baths powered by spells placed into the siding...

Yunalesca glanced back at the other half of their little party, who both seemed to be talking. "Hopefully us. The faster we find a good place, the faster we can take up the baths before they get there." She expressed, turning back to him so she could move up beside him. "Hmm," The alicorn mused while Gleam spoke of hot spring baths. Those sounded nice.. After such a journey through cold snow, and not being able to sleep in an actual bed, her body was a bit stiff. Hot water sounded very relaxing. "Yeah, that sounds good." Yuna agreed, and had to shake her head to get herself to focus. Look for an inn. Her gaze flicked up to the buildings around them, seeking out a sign that might say as much.

Silent Dusk pouted slightly she loved flying and yet it was a logical choice to not do so, so huffed. "Alright but if we have to walk and talk you better keep it interesting then Distant." then she added. "I uh asked because thestrals eat meat besides vegetables and are not shy of a sip of blood now and then, in my case more often now than then."

Distant Lightning was not very outspoken when it came to such matters because as a scholar ponies should feel comfortable to share information with you. But at the same time he could not help but feel his stomach churn. A natural reaction. It was not the natural diet of ponies, which brought up the question at hoof: "So are you a pony?" He wondered. "While you do indeed, look, act, and--" he chuckled. "Talk like one, such a disparity in the compared diets is quite drastic." he had never really seen Bat Ponies, nor many ponies to be earnest. He has only heard of Alicorn, and was not in the habit of bumping into them. And while his family viewed mules or donkey as slaves -- the only servants in his household are other pegasi, for obvious such reasons as living on clouds. The academy was rather restrictive as well, given that researchers were often to absorbed in their thesis to really be divided. Passing notes was key! "To be capable of -- I mean it seems quite a drastic shift in diet." Distant Lightning wondered if they were so isolated that they had no choice. Were their lands incapable of growing food? While talking he walked along, looking around at the ponies of the village. They all seemed highly sociable, very close knit. It was surprising, granted how large the place deceptively was.

Gleaming Echo only hummed as he kept an eye out. His attention was grabbed by a sign not too far away that might very well have been an inn! "That does sound like a good thing indeed... We could get done and I could get to bed before our dear foreigner finishes and proceeds to torment Tarnished again." he mused with a shake of his head and a scuff of his hoof. After the trip a little rest and relaxation was quite wonderful. Was this place an inn? It looked like one - would take getting closer to find out.

Yunalesca couldn't help but smirk, amused by Gleam. "You mean, before Tarnished is driven to wanting to murder him again?" She corrected jokingly. Her gaze shifted past him to try to follow what he was looking at, and spied a sign. She squinted, but she couldn't quite make out what was on it from here, though she sped up her pace so they could both get a good look at it. "Please be a good place.." If it wasn't, well.. they'd just have to keep looking.

Silent Dusk stared at the saddle arabian stallion with an open muzzle, did he really just ask if she was a pony? but realized he probably meant differently than it sounded. "Of course I am a pony, but because Luna was sealed away for a thousand years we had hidden away out of fear for prejudice, sheesh." she then swatted him with her tail and turned her nose up. "Hmpf I hope you meant that more optimistic than it sounded, I thought nobles were mannered."

Distant Lightning jumped a bit when she swung for him, raising his hoof defensively as his wings stiffened beside him. He was -- quite gentile, though the life of a scholar does not just happen. One does not isolate oneself from other ponies unless he finds them to be the radiant flaws that makes the universe so -- unique. It was why he had gotten into his field in the first place -- why were they so different? He peered at her over his feathered wings. "I cannot fathom in what way you took as such madam." His feathers ruffled a bit before he settled them. "Just because one looks like a pony does not mean that is what they are classified as. I have never seen, nor heard of you kind: thestrals was it? For all I know you could have been classified as a gargoyle." Wings, eats weird things -- yup. He continued simply searching for a sign that read "inn" or something of the like. "So with this Nightmare Moon's curse, you too were sealed? So had you consumed blood before than, or after being cast out with your deity?" Which he could only assume she was seeing as an entire race becomes isolated once their guardian is removed from power?

Gleaming Echo snorted and let out a laugh. "Oh yeah. Tar gets really, reeeeally mad at him sometimes. He's not used to dealing with ponies." the unicorn turned back to look at the structure once again. "Ah! I think we might have a winner. While not the 'best' inn - it certainly wasn't a dump. If anything it was on the upper end of the 3 (maybe 4) star rating area. "Hmm... We'll have to see how much this place costs." And with that he headed for the door.

Yunalesca chuckled as a way of response and trailed after the unicorn towards the place in question- it was indeed an inn. It looked nice enough, but she had to agree with him about that- the price. The alicorn followed him inside, grasping the door in her magic to hold it open. The interior was pleasant enough, neat and clean. Not.. too busy? Yuna hoped it would suit them and moved back up by Gleam's side, looking hesitantly over at the pony at the desk. She cleared her throat. "Hey, how much are rooms here?"

Silent Dusk looked at Distant as she fell into step with him. "I'm too young to know exactly how we came to be Distant, but I believe we existed before Princess Luna came to favor us, during her exile however we did not vanish, we hid away in the Shady forest, and I think we have always been omnivorous and appreciative of.. sips of blood, still we are a breed of pony not a gargoyle."

Distant Lightning found this information all very fascinating. Though she did distinctly say that they were around when not 'favored'. That was peculiar. "I see. It is all very intriguing. So -- you do not primarily require meat -- or blood, to survive? You can easily on fruits, hay, and the like?" He slowed down his steps, coming upon an inn, or some run down hostel of some sort. Nothing too -- extravagant, but hopefully they were equipped with heated waters. Moving to raise his hoof he pushed the doors open, allowing Dusk to step ahead. "It is all very intriguing, perhaps during our bath we can speak more of this!" Yes a nice hot soak would do his wings well. It would so happen he would be able to find the very inn that Gleam and Yuna happened upon.

Gleaming Echo stepped up to the desk as a rather bored looking pony behind said desk yawned. "Ten bits a room." was the response to Yunalesca's question and Gleam nodded. "Eh... it works." he'd say with a bit of a shrug as he pulled out his bag of bits. The unicorn cheerfully pulled out his bag of bits and pulled out enough for four... "What are there for baths?" Was his question only for the keep to reply. "There are baths in the rooms..." With that Gleam spun and started on again. "Wonderful!" At about that time the door opened again and in came Al and Silent. He floated a pair of keys to them while the last was floating for Yunalesca to take. "We have a room for at last a night.. And the rooms are private to!" Was the cheerful smile as the unicorn happily hopped down the hall.

Yunalesca's eyebrows lifted when the pony told them the price. That sounded cheap enough! She lifted a hoof up to where her own purse was hidden in her shawl, but it seemed Gleam had it covered. She was surprised he had enough to last, but the cultists were.. probably loaded. Once the rooms were paid for and they got their keys, Yuna took the one meant for her, though her eyes followed the others to see that Distant and Dusk had arrived. "Beat ya." Yuna said with a smirk, and went off to follow Gleam down the hall. When she found her room, she slipped inside without a word and made for the bathroom. There she could finally slip out of her shawl and bangles. Huzzah.

Silent Dusk caught the key in her muzzle and slipped it in her barding, then thought a moment. "During our bath Distant I'd like to know more about Saddle Arabia in turn then as that only seems fair no? yet these rooms have baths of their own so what if instead we catch a nice spa day together? good for muscles and wings don't you think?"

Distant Lightning arched a brow. "I was unaware this was a race." Scuffing his hoof against the ground he watched as the mare unicorn wandered off. "Shall we go wash up? It is rather bizarre they sequester off rooms. Is that not a waste of space?" Being as Saddle Arabia was it was a waste of resources, but alas Ponyville seemed as backwards as they came. He nodded his head and would lead on, traveling toward the room where his key worked. Entering he dropped his saddlebags down and removed his vest, cufflink, and of course his monocle had to go. He would push open the washing room door and inhale. The thick steam filled his nostrils and it filled him with ease. He moved to check the waters.

Gleaming Echo let out an amused grin as he heard Yuna say 'Beat ya' to the two pegasi who entered the establishment. Them arriving made things so much easier! He did feel some satisfaction at beating that foreigner here though. Probably something from the back of his mind where Tar simply snickered. On the subject of bits... Well, just because his family gave up all the titles of nobility didn't man they didn't bring along their bits. He had enough to support them for a day or two. Who knows. As he was walking away he heard what Silent said and came to an abrupt stop for a moment as Tar broke out laughing in the back of his mind. That mirth spread to Gleam who smiled and continued on to step into his room. Each room was regrettably small. Big enough to move around but good enough in his opinion. The pegasi actually had rooms in the next hall. Huh... odd.. Anyways Gleam hardly spent any time taking the robes off before he wandered into the warm (large?) steam filled room and flopped into the bath.

Silent Dusk bounded over to the bath with little hops after having followed Distant and splashed gleefully into the water, looking over her shoulder at the saddle arabian as she snarked. "Hey Distant, this won't be too weird for you right? I mean was Tar right about you and mares? do I need to turn around." flicking her ears she grinned toothily as she spread her wings in the water.

Distant Lightning leaned away as she splashed about, the stallion pulling his hoof up against his chest as he settled down into the warm water. Turning his storm-grey eyes toward the mare. His wings lowered down, sinking into the waters. The steam did well to clear his chest, that cold weather doing well to frazzle the desert pony. His hoof came up to undo his braids, his thick crimson mane falling down his back. Looking toward Dusk as she presented her question. "To be most frank, madam, this is not uncommon back home. Bathing houses are places ponies can talk, discuss business in a relaxed environment." He presented. "As for as the madpony is concerned, his decisions on a pony's general orientation fully dependent on their social interactions is rather -- juvenile." He closed his eyes and tucked his hooves against his body, the water sloshing against his chest, the ends of his mane floating on the surface. "Why are his trepidations of others," particularly him. "Concern of yours?" He wondered genuinely.

Gleaming Echo perked his ears as he heard the sound of a door and then... hooves? And then there was a familiar voice sounding from the steam. Oooooh boy. The tail end of Silent's question caused a roar of laughter to cause the pony to flinch. Tar found that to be entirely too amusing! Being referred to as a madpony brought out a bit of an eye roll. "Madpony is such a.... strong word." With that he announced himself and continued to just lay back against the side and stare at the ceiling. At least he was far enough away from the others.

Yunalesca's belongings were safe in her room, and it was from there she slinked to the bath. The room was nice and steamy, the warmth a change from the frigid outside. She'd been the last to arrive, judging from the trailing end of the voices of her companions. The alicorn kept her silence as she lowered herself into the bathwater, though she couldn't stop a little moan from escaping; the hot water just felt so great. Yuna sank down to her shoulders and leaned against the edge, letting herself relax.

 Silent Dusk flicked her ears thinking she heard a moan but discarded it as her imagination, instead she waded over to Distant and nuzzled the side of his snout kindly. "Aw don't be mad at me Distant, I am only teasing you a bit, you said you admired my wings though, have you truly never seen a thestral? not even in your books?" she still enjoyed the hot water giving the stallion an earnest warm smile.

Distant Lightning's ears flicked forward. What was that...? His head pulled back a bit at her touch, having not expected it. He blinked a bit, his blurry vision having trouble in the steamy tub. He had bad vision, the monocle assisting him with reading small glyphs or inspecting objects at great distances. "No, I have not. We haven't much, if any, knowledge on Equestria. As I have said we have been isolated until the recent talks between our leaders." They lived together as Earth Ponies, Pegasi, and Unicorn, though Earth Ponies accounted for a greater portion of the population, researchers and intellectuals Pegasi for their ability to travel, while Unicorns had their roles in courts as advisers, soothsayers, though many viewed as unlucky, gypsies to the learned. Than there it was! He looked up, narrowing his eyes. "Madpony is a rather delicate word given the capacity of language and obscenities available to the average pony." He quipped, though not as hard as he oft did. The warm waters had him relaxed.

Gleaming Echo flicked an ear. "I'm far too tired to get into this again, 'Dissy'. (snrk-snrk *keels over laughing*) Can we please coexist somewhere without you making Tar want to come out and strangle you?.. He'd just settled down." he asked with a bit of a scoff. "I reeeally don't want to get into yet another argument." Thus the cultist pony sat back and yawned, an ear giving a bit of a flick. He thought he heard another in here. Lady Yuna perhaps? Bit of a risk it was coming in here where certain things could be noticed was it not? Eh - no matter he was feeling lazy.

Yunalesca remained quiet to listen to her companions talk, more so the thestral and the pegasus. Poor Dusk seemed to be trying really hard to flirt with Distant. She tried to peer through the steam, but other than a few vague bits of color, she couldn't make them out. Which meant they couldn't make out her in the steam, either. She still sunk low enough in the water that her wings could stay hidden. "Yeah, no fighting guys. This water's just too relaxing for nonsense right now." Yuna spoke up at last. "Mm, well that's why there's plans to go to the library. So you can learn proper."

Silent Dusk shrugged, flirting was a hard word being a playful and freeminded as she had always been, okay maybe a little but also she thought the far far too serious southern stallion(tm) should loosen up a little and enjoy the trip more despite the danger that the cultists still presented. "While we are in the bath I wondered.. and have a confession to make, in the light of me being just a teeny.. craving for blood lately would anypony care to offer me and well experience a small sipping?"

Distant Lightning grumbled a bit, forced to bite back his sharp tongue. He could not see very far passed his muzzle, let along through such thick steam. "Arguing? Madam... hardly. Friendly banter." he cooed, tucking his head against his chest, shaking out his head a bit to loose his mane so it was not tangled up. "I would never think to ruin such a luxury..." He bade under breath. Glancing to Dusk, she spoke something rather unexpected. "Crave? Is it something you truly need for survival?" He had not considered that a possibility, seeing as he had presented their consumption of fruits and vegetables as well. He was not one who really understood how to -- flirt. Perhaps converse in a large environment, pandering to a certain group of ponies, but to flirt? A gentlecolt did not flirt, they endeared. "How does that -- work?" Curiosity won out on the gross out factor. he was a bit squeamish, to say the least.

Yunalesca turned her head towards the pair, who seemed to be the more vocal of their group for the moment. Her brow furrowed a little about what Dusk said, but she didn't answer yet- instead she chose to dip her head under the water briefly to rub at her face. When she reemerged she shook out her wet mane, snorting softly. "So does that mean you're, like, some sort of vampire?" Yuna asked, a little baffled. "In any case, Gleam may have lost a little too much blood. Though I'm.. not sure how to feel about that."

Silent Dusk folded her ears back visibly cringing for what surely was to come, yet her companions responded kinda.. civil? "I believe vamponies live entirely on blood alone miss Yuna, we thestrals merely need it as a supplement in our diet now and then, we can live without if must but it weakens us some." then she looked at Distant. "Well I would find a concentration of larger veins and bite you, the venom in our saliva numbs the pain of the host and causes the wounds to close rather quickly afterwards, but as with many things it tends to hurt the first time, but I promise to be gentle?"

Distant Lightning had a bewildered expression on his face, though it was mostly from the concept of this venom. He thought only reptiles and manticore could produce venom, but a pony. Oh he was quite intrigued. "It is not a paralytic?" Vampires were something beyond his understanding. Touching on the subject would -- bring him only ridicule and ruin. At least thestrals were -- ponies. "Well.. I supposed... for the sake of learning... I could...." But should he? To have his vital life fluids drained?

Yunalesca's brow furrowed as she peered in the direction Dusk's voice came from, though her confused look went entirely unseen. So.. she wasn't a vampire, but she still fed like one? It was something new she could add to her mental list of 'Things I'm Learning About My Companions.' Yuna was, admittedly, mostly unfazed about the weirder things at this point. After seeing visions, sprouting wings, and ending up captured by cultists.. including learning about Gleam's duality.. at this point she just didn't have the ability to be much surprised by such things. Although whether she would volunteer to be fed from was an entirely other matter. She hadn't even eaten much today. "I doubt she'll hurt you, but we're- well, I'm here."

Silent Dusk would not hurt her companions on purpose, she joked around and could be snarky but if push came to shove she would try her best for those in her group, enough ponies thought thestrals were evil and she always fought to prove those claims wrong. "Distant Lightning, if you wish to volunteer I promise I will not harm you badly though if never done before it may sting or hurt some, but I swear it gets numbed immediately as Luna is my witness."

Distant Lightning had no comfort that Yuna was here -- simply because she was learning magic from the madpony. He cleared his throat. "While I would normally be comforted by the presence of another I cannot say that relaxed with the idea of being ,... consumed. I will offer myself, but if it brings me harm, I will venture not to act so foolishly in the future..."

Yunalesca listened as Dusk herself promised that she wouldn't hurt the foreigner, and his following reply. She snerked, amused, but she had nothing further to say to that. She did note that Gleam had been unusually silent throughout this little conversation; normally he'd be sassing up a storm. He probably fell asleep. Yuna figured. She was feeling a little drowsy in such a warm bath, herself. The alicorn took the opportunity, while she waited for the two 'lovebirds' to stretch and shake out her wings in the water.

Silent Dusk closed in on the stallion and true to her word went calmly about it, finding a suitable vein in Distant's shoulder, giving the spot a few nips and licks to get him prepared instead of surprising him out of nowhere. "Now relax and do not panic Distant Lightning, trust me as I trust you three." then bit into his shoulder sinking her fangs in deeply but as promised her saliva immediately dulled the sensation in the area much like a dentist's anesthetic would do, letting the crimson fluid flow into her muzzle.

Distant Lightning was trembling a bit in anticipation. Was it perhaps a lie? Was it venom, or were they just teasing him? He couldn't believe any pony drank blood, but he could not refuse the absolute evidence that may be provided. Curse his logical ways! He felt her teeth on his skin and he flailed a bit. He flapped his wings, trying to keep them still, but it was his first line of defense when his legs were tucked. He did not flail too much, merely the surprise of the weird feeling or well -- being eaten. "M-madam!" He spurted quietly, head tucking as his ears folded against his skull. He was not a brave pony, size wasn't everything. Big wings, but tiny, yellow liver.

Yunalesca refolded her wings and heard Dusk speak up again. Listening to the two of them.. it almost sounded like something that was meant to be more private. As though it wasn't just a thestral drinking the blood of a pegasus. The thought made her laugh, something she tried to muffle with a hoof. Awkward. "Sounds like you two are enjoying yourselves."

 Silent Dusk couldn't help herself as Yuna made that remark she just couldn't resist, uttering a soft few moans as she sucked the blood out of the saddle arabian pegasus, just to be lewd about it, body shaking with laughter. "Mmm so rich and warrrm." but soon she withdrew her fangs and licked the puncture wounds closed, a satisfied gurgle coming from her stomach as she licked her lips and nudged Distant. "Thank you, you are a true gentlestallion Distant Lightning."

 Distant Lightning was not hurt, but was not, alright? There was something strange here. His hoof made motion to move, but it slipped and he slipped. the water splashed, followed by flapping wings, that sounded like a chicken trying to escape. He kicked up, uneasy footing as he scuffled to the bath's edge, only to successfully trip, the male's tailfeathers ruffled. He sat with his back to Dusk. Silent, unmoving. "Ow." He expressed flatly, looking to his forehoof. "Um." Moving it to his chest he glanced back. "My apologies. My -- feathers, cannot get too wet." He raised them over his head, the ends dripping, the reflecting water looking a little blood red. He got spooked, his own overthinking sending him into a fright. "Yes, very well. Such is noted. Your satisfaction is my pleasure." He cleared his throat. "Miss Dusk. Any gentlecolt in my place would offer no less." he assured, staring at the water, red bangs hiding that red face beneath the pine fur. The ladies would see naught but his soggy cape of feathers.

Yunalesca had to bring her hoof back against her mouth when Dusk played along and made the whole situation even more awkward. The laughter that bubbled up was short of a cackle, and the alicorn had to turn to lean against the pool's edge to keep herself from slipping. "Oh, Celestia," Yuna managed to force out in her mirth. It didn't help that she heard a bunch of splashing and red movement through the steam- somepony she assumed was Distant. Was he freaking out? Yuna took a breath to calm herself. Too bad Gleam wasn't awake for this!

Silent Dusk cackled softly. "Aww don't be like that miss Yuna, I was his first after all." she then licked her teeth and lips, admittedly the rich flavor was new to her palette, looking after Distant as she waded over nibbling an eartip. "Hey are you alright Distant? it shouldn't have hurt you after the preparation."

Distant Lightning was a bit shaken up, but not -- hurt? In all honestly he spent hours, days, weeks at a time in isolation from other ponies. A pat on the back here or a mane ruffle there from his father. But His family weren't the most affectionate. Affection came in the form of praise, allowance, and the pride knowing you serve your family's name and honor -- but general pony contact was not something he had since the womb. He felt a little overwhelmed to even be nudged by Dusk, but consumed by her, with the ladies tittering like gossiping hens! Was he being teased or was it just -- normal conversation? "N-no!" His voice broke. "Not hurt! As I said, merely spooked. Wings, you know. If they get wet-- hours to dry." he chuckled dryly. 'Though I suppose that is an advantage to having fleshed wings. Tis a bit tedious to preen, but hard work is rewarded." He rambled as he waved his hoof, staring off, body language clear as he hid behind his raised wings.

Gleaming Echo let out a yawn as he drifted into consciousness once again... Where was... oh... he fell asleep in the bath? Oooh.. "I seem to have nodded off over here... I miss anything?" would be the innocent question from the 'innocent' pony. He had been prodded to ask that question by Tar so... who knows what went on in the head of his dark half? The steam was still too thick to actually see anypony.

Yunalesca managed to calm herself down a little, but a few chortles still broke out. Maybe it was just because of Distant's attempt to cover it up, or the fact that Gleam chimed in, completely unaware. She had to blame feeling drowsy and relaxed for this, darn it. "A bit." The alicorn answered and took another deep breath. She cleared her throat. "Those two over there, ah.. Dusk drinks blood apparently. So they've been.. busy." Yuna hadn't exactly been sure how to answer that seriously enough, but hey. It'd been funny.

Yunalesca managed to calm herself down a little, but a few chortles still broke out. Maybe it was just because of Distant's attempt to cover it up, or the fact that Gleam chimed in, completely unaware. She had to blame feeling drowsy and relaxed for this, darn it. "A bit." The alicorn answered and took another deep breath. She cleared her throat. "Those two over there, ah.. Dusk drinks blood apparently. So they've been.. busy." Yuna hadn't exactly been sure how to answer that seriously enough, but hey. It'd been funny.

Silent Dusk chuckled and nudged the stallion's shoulder. "I'm relieved to hear that, but the bath the best sipping I had in a while make me drowsy, but I promise to help you with preening later, it's the least I can do for such a generous friend." stifling a yawn she sank into the water more eyes lidding some. "Mmm really that was so good.."

Distant Lightning was a chicken, was not a graceful peacock! One could almost hear him cluck as he inhaled and pushed to stand. "Preen!" His voice broke as he hopped to the water's edge and pranced off, noping every step. Something was very, very strange with this social interaction. It did not meet the standards in any of his book. He had every book on etiquette. First Editions. He was a Lightning and very unused to not being in control of emotions! Stonefaced, scary family that made no jokes at the dinner table and spoke naught of what occurred twixt mare and stallion in private settings, for it was assumed you knew what not to do. Currently he knew not what to do so fled, like a graceful cock. Nah. Bye. He would go dry off for now, water was too hot.

Gleaming Echo blinked and his eyebrows raised all the way up to his mane almost! Nah, but they definitely arched rather high! "Oh? She was drinking from him? I thought that would be considered a rather intimate action from some thestrals?" He did know about thestrals a little bit. After all the bat-ponies were Luna's and thus Nightmare's no? There were a few bat ponies in the cult. "And he actually 'let' her do it? Curses!, I wish I would have been able to see it!" he'd say with an almost audible pout. The dark side was lamenting the lost opportunity!

Yunalesca's laughter had finally been stifled, but she grinned nonetheless; nothing Dusk was saying was really helping with the awkward factor. Sheesh. She heard a splash of somepony pulling themselves out of the water, and the sound of hooves. She sank down further into the water when they, who seemed to be Distant, left the room. He seemed too concerned with escaping, so she let him be and turned towards Gleam's direction. "Yep." Yuna replied, amused. "If only you'd been awake."

Silent Dusk lay her head on the bath's edge as she stared sleepily after the saddle arabian's fleeing form, murmuring as she closed her eyes. "Mm never thought anypony in our group would give me that little satisfaction, you are so on my yes list right now you silly runner." then relaxed fully as she dozed a little in the hot water feeling cozy and very pleased.

Gleaming Echo would hardly have been able to help but blink and star at the spot where he knew Silent to be. Tar was laughing uproariously in his head.... Oh this was just too good! He had so much more material to torment the dear foreigner with! That was as good as... well.. intercourse for some thestrals! Ooooh yes! - Gleam was hardly able to hold back Tar's sinister laugh as he tapped his hooves together like a foal...

Yunalesca wrinkled her nose a little; she wasn't sure if she heard the thestral right. She touched the side of her own neck self consciously. There was just no way she could allow anypony to do that, or.. anything else for that matter. Sorry Dusk! The alicorn's head jerked around as she heard that familiar laugh and quirked a brow. "What are you cackling about over there?"

Silent Dusk was actually asleep now, subconsciously nuzzling the bath's edge a smile on the dark mare's features as she curled up a bit more comfortably, it had been a nice day and she would seek out Distant later for that preening she promised half confused as to why he had ran off, ear twitching once as she imagined hearing evil laughter.

Gleaming Echo made a smirk that would have looked far more at peace on Tar. "Ohoho... the drinking of blood can be considered a very intimate act by many thestral. I have so much more ammunition to use against our foreigner friend!" came the voice of the ever loveable Tar. This made up for having to wander out amidst such painfully cheerful ponies... Ugh... how sickening that was...

Yunalesca heard nothing more from the thestral, so her attention settled more entirely about the cultist. His answer prompted a quirked brow. "Is that so? Well, not sure if you've noticed but.. she does seem to like him. Probably a lot." Yuna pointed out and bit her lower lip, smirking faintly as she did. "I wish you good luck in that. I've noticed any attempt to ruffle his feathers is always met with some weird rant on something or other. Then he just becomes insufferable."

Gleaming Echo wouldn't have been able to help but smirk a little and look towards Yuna's voice. "Oh I noticed... I still wonder if he has." he replied as he leaned back and then hummed. "Antagonizing him won't help party morale...." Was gleam's reply to the dark half only for Tar to snort. "It helps my morale." The split pony just shook his head and let out a resigned sigh. "You are insufferable Tar..... I really don't want to be subject to a lecture while you run off into the back of my mind to read." he sighed only for a grin to split his head again. "Whatcha gonna do about it?.." was the childish reply.

Yunalesca snorted while the stallion argued with himself and pushed off of the pool's walls, taking the opportunity to move with one companion gone and the other asleep. She moved towards their voices, wings half unfurled. "It probably isn't leaving much of a good impression on someone who's foreign to Equestria.." Yuna began, "but he's probably already not impressed. Who knows how different things are in Saddle Arabia? Regardless, shouldn't hurt to have a little fun with him anyway. He's.." The alicorn trailed off and shook her head.

Gleaming Echo let out a laugh and shook his head a little. "He already thinks me a madman, so I hardly think it matters what Tar nor I say. I mean, who ever takes heed to the ramblings of a madman? By all means I should be able to hurl aaaall I want at him." he'd say with a bit of a smirk, glancing at the alicorn whom was moving over his direction. "We'll have to see how things go... How do you fare, Lady Yuna? Enjoying the bath?"

Yunalesca snorted in mirth. "Very true." The alicorn said as she came to float by the unicorn, smirking. "Have fun with that. I can't wait to see when he actually loses his temper.. as for myself, I very much am. It's great after being out in the cold for a few days." She replied, letting herself sink a little and tucking her wings back in. "What about you?" Yuna asked, head tilted.

Gleaming Echo let out a bit of a sigh and leaned back on the edge of the bath. "We are both quite enjoying ourselves, though Tar will never admit as such. Nice bath, delightful company now and plenty of opportunity to rest. I almost wish we could stay here longer." With a flick of his ear he looked to the alicorn again. "Either I'll rile him up to the point he loses his temper or our Bat friend will get a zinger and he'll get so flustered!"

Yunalesca looked thoughtful, focused on a point past Gleam's shoulders, though the comment on 'delightful company' refocused her gaze back on his face. A little bit of a blush creeped across her face, unbeknownst to her, at such a compliment. She laughed. "Yeah, that would be funny, but this does make me wonder what we're going to have to do here in Ponyville. We can't stay in my cart forever.. well, I could but there's not enough room for the rest of us." Yuna frowned. "Makes me wonder if we should look into permanent lodgings somewhere."

Gleaming Echo quirked his head and sat back. "If we could... perhaps some lodging on the edge of town near the forest. I really don't feel comfortable so near a pony who would likely look down on us with scorn." came the dual-voice reply of the cultist as he looked to the alicorn with a bit of a smile. "However, in the end it is up to you Lady Yuna." the good half continued and raised a hoof to place it upon the floating alicorn's shoulder if he could. "You are our 'employer' in the end!"

Yunalesca took this into consideration, and found it agreeable. Hearing them talk at once was a little weird, and it made her also wonder how he even managed to do that! She tensed, but didn't flinch back from the touch to her shoulder. "You have as much of a say in things as I do. You might be like a bodyguard, but I don't own you. I do like the idea, though. Near the forest sounds like it'd be peaceful, and out of the way enough that we won't get bothered.. or deal with nosy neighbors, probably. It'll take me a while of work to save up enough money for shelter, though if this country town is cheap.. perhaps not as long."

Gleaming Echo let out a hum and nodded. "Perhaps between the two of us we will be able to come up with something. I doubt our dear foreigner friend will stay... Neither shall Silent Dusk perhaps. I have the inkling that she might want to follow him when he leaves." the cultist pony smiled some, the good half of him happy for both the annoying foreigner as well as the Bat should things go well. "Perhaps she'll help him get that giant banana out of his rump." One of those statements that made the cultist sound a little odd.

Yunalesca nodded, thinking about the two winged ponies. Distant was a foreigner, and if he was visiting.. it was probably a limited stay; not unless he was planning to move here and never expressed it. The latter didn't seem as likely. Dusk, though.. she was curious about how that would turn out. When that phrase was uttered by Gleam, and it had been Gleam rather than Tarnished, a forehoof jerked out of the water to cover her mouth, stifling a surprised laugh. What a strange thing. "Possibly. He seems pretty stubborn." Yuna replied, "That'd work for us."

Gleaming Echo tried to hide the mirth that he felt that he managed to get the alicorn to laugh. The light side of the pony liked the sound of said laugh. He liked the sound of any true laughs. Not evil laughs, those were troublesome. "We'll see who is more stubborn." came Tar's gleeful addition to the conversation. "I believe I should... be getting to bed should we not?" he asked with a grin.

Yunalesca smirked and made a thoughtful 'hmm.' Bed did sound nice about now, rather than treading water; though she'd probably have to rescue Dusk before she went under and drowned before they left. "As nice as it is to stay in a hot bath, sleep sounds good to me." The alicorn chirped, turning about in the water and wading towards the thestral's location. She'd probably lift her gingerly out of the water with magic before she could get out herself.

Gleaming Echo nodded and turned, pulling himself out of the bath as well. He walked over to the door to what he presumed was Dusk's room and opened the door so the alicorn could take the unconscious bat pony and deposit her again. He was dripping wet and all but he'd see about getting dried off once everypony else had gone off to bed. He had one of the longer manes and tails compared to the rest of the party, no?

Yunalesca looked around for Gleam and saw that he was standing by Dusk's door. The poor thestral was as wet as they. If there were any towels left in the bathroom for them, the alicorn could wrap her up in one. From there she could deposit Dusk into her room, perhaps on the floor rather than on her bed; it didn't need to get wet. And if there were towels, she definitely needed one for her own hair.. Yuna spread her wings and shook them out, flicking off the water as best she could. "What could be done tomorrow, do you think?"

Gleaming Echo had the same idea as Yuna and was looking for towels but there was a.... distinct lack of towels. He opened the door and leaned into the room to look for one and then let out a bit of an 'aha'... He ducked into the Thestral's room and returned with a group of towels.. Presumably for the pony in question! Thus he moved to help Yuna with the thestral and get her into her room in the end. "Why are most of my travel companions so odd...." came a mutter in Tar's voice.. Really, who fell asleep in the bath? *cough* -hypocrite - *cough*...

Yunalesca found it odd that the inn's staff didn't leave towels for anypony in the bathroom of all places. Gleam managed to find them, regardless, so they could bundle away their thestral companion. She turned her head a little towards the unicorn at his mutter; she made no comment, but she found it amusing nonetheless. The alicorn took a towel for herself and took to scrubbing herself off, focusing more on her coat. Were there enough towels between them, she'd keep a second for her mane and tail. "Mixes things up, doesn't it?" Yuna finally quipped as she wandered off towards her door.

Gleaming Echo bowed his head some and nodded. "Indeed... That it does." was the reply from the 'hero' side of the character even as he took a towel of his own and proceeded to dry himself off as best he could. Much like Yuna he focused upon his fur since he rather have dry fur than a dry mane and wet fur! His horn lit up and he'd carry the thestral into her room and set her down upon her bed with a fresh towel underneath her in case she was still somewhat damp. With that done he turned and headed back into the bath. "I'll probably miss them a bit when they are gone, regardless what Tar says." Ooooh it could be inferred that tar was definitely grumping in the back of Gleam's head after that! He didn't have friends! (yet)

Yunalesca paused on her way to her door and turned back, an ear tilted Gleam's way when he spoke up. "I'll probably miss Dusk more than Distant, unless our pompous foreigner decides to make himself a little more likable." She snorted. Would that be a thing that'd end up happening? That she couldn't see; if such were said aloud, she probably could have made a fortune telling joke of it. She made a vague noise in her throat as she considered something, but let it go. "Well, goodnight you two."

Gleaming Echo let out a snort. "I'd drink to that!" would be the reply only for Gleam to frown. "He's a pompous ass but at least he's fun to watch get riled up." the good half pouted only for Tar to make a sound in the back of their throats... "Touche..." And with that the two turned to Yuna as she made to head for her room. "Goodnight Lady Yuna." was the reply from both of them at the same time. The unicorn bowed and turned to head off to his own room to get some sleep... after drying off of course.

The End.