The Moon Also Rises

[raisethemoon]

[Ever just had one of those days where everything is really irritating?]

[It isn't that Luna is unaccustomed to this kind of treatment. The last time she was drawn into another world to fight a war that wasn't hers, the culprit hadn't even had the decency to show their face. On the other hoof, her indignance had faded much faster when she couldn't aim it at anyone specific. Couldn't that Lux have allowed her to retain her magic - or at least her Dream Eaters - if she's meant to be fighting monsters here? What, would he prefer she kick them to death?]

[And these humans! Rude!]

[This pony can be found walking with head held deliberately high and wings tense at her side, meeting the eyes of passerby with unspoken challenge. She doesn't expect them to fling themselves at her feet, but a little common courtesy to a newcomer is not that great a thing to ask. All she wanted was to find a place of residence, honestly.]

[No matter. There must be others like her here, if patterns hold true - she'll find them.]

Comments

[jonesiseverywhere]

[With enough imagination, EVERYTHING is a weapon.]

I met her once. She's pretty cool.

[Don't most royal siblings end up killing each other to take the throne? Or maybe it works different in magic horse land. Even CASEY isn't quite tactless enough to ask.

...but he is still dying to know.]

Are all pegacorns royal in your world, or is it just you two? Or are you the only two?

[raisethemoon]

[SHUT UP CASEY]

Alicorns. And there are four of us now - the ruler of the Crystal Empire, and my sister's student. [Who doesn't really rule anything she's just kinda there. Luna's answering absently anyway; this is not the conversation she's interested in.] Is she still in the city?

[raisethemoon]

And the doctors here could not give you a walking aid?

[r u d e]

Do you require assistance?

[mechanacet]

The most they would give me was this: [Daniel gestures to his walking stick, which he is currently using as a crutch.]

The people in this city aren't exactly the nicest bunch though, now that I think about it. Buuuut, I haven't had any actual run ins with them, which sorta makes Freesia nicer than my hometown at the very least. [Daniel chuckles lightly at this.]

But yeah, I don't need any help getting about, it's just I'm doing it somewhat slower than usual. Thanks for the offer though.

[jonesiseverywhere]

[You have to be less subtle than that to get Casey to shut up.]

As far as I know, yeah, but I haven't seen her in awhile. Figure that giant flying horse-alicorns go wherever they want.

[raisethemoon]

But this still requires you to put weight upon the foot.

[Maybe something with wheels on? She isn't sure what humans would generally use. Luna flicks her wings irritably.]

I suppose 'tis not surprising. The people of this city are most inhospitable - I had thought perhaps it was due to my species, but if you have experienced the same...

[raisethemoon]

Do you know where she was staying?

[jonesiseverywhere]

Uh...if I had to guess I'd say the high rises? It's the nicest place to stay in the city. I mean, not exactly a castle or nothin', but I kinda doubt she'd be in the slums...

[mechanacet]

I think their surliness might be due to the magic that the guy who brought us here has given us. Either that, or the sheer amount of disturbances those of us who have been here for a while seem to get into has given us a bad reputation. [Daniel shrugs, as long as they don't get violent towards him, he's fine with the townsfolk being surly. It's not like he lives in the main part of the city anyway.]

I can manage, and even if they did give me something that would allow me to take the weight off my foot, a lot of my work at the moment can only really be done while standing, so I can't really see the point behind getting myself a wheelchair or anything.

[raisethemoon]

Sister does go where she pleases...

[Looking around where are these high-rises]

[raisethemoon]

We were brought here on their behalf. They might show us a bit more respect.

But pray, have you a moment to explain these Nox? I fear Lux was less than explanatory. [Also? She sees the naming theme here and as the princess of night, she does not appreciate it.]

[jonesiseverywhere]

[Those're the buildings that are really high...]

Uh...I could show ya?

[mechanacet]

I think they might, if we didn't have as much of a habit of breaking stuff and being general nuisances. But honestly, I fear that the majority of people Lux brought here are too rowdy for the general populace's attitude towards us to change anytime soon. That said, I'd probably best get moving while it's still light out, I need to find a mechanic before the shops close.

If you want to tag along, I'd be happy to share what I've learned about the Nox so far. Though a portion of it is more speculation than anything. [Daniel makes a small gesture in the way he had originally been traveling, indicating the direction they would be heading if Luna decided to join him.]

[unrecovered]

...don't tell me how it ends.

[He's used to wibbly-wobbly timey-wimey at this point, but he's not sure he wants to be on the receiving end of it any more than he already has (with the exception of finding out whether he survived that battle on Chorus, but that's not an answer Luna can give him).]

[He straightens up and nods towards the tall buildings looming a few blocks away.]

We can head to the high rises. Most of us are staying there. [He raises an eyebrow.] And believe me, that feeling is mutual. [Nobody wants to be here and everybody's unhappy. Good times.]

[raisethemoon]

[There are a good number of high buildings.]

I would appreciate it, if it is no trouble.

[raisethemoon]

[Luna opens her mouth to say that she doesn't know how it ends, but then she doesn't know exactly when Wash means. Instead, she just says:]

Very well. Perhaps they shall grow more friendly if we prove useful to them. [She snorts.] Their guardian ought to give them powers of their own, for their own defense.

[raisethemoon]

Of course. I do not intend to waylay you - besides, I was given no true direction.

[She's been wandering around the city aimlessly, in other words. Couldn't hurt to wander to the mechanic's instead, though she doubts she'll ever need it.]

Are these creatures of shadow, as they sound?

[unrecovered]

It's easy to hate soldiers when your home turns into a war zone. [Yeah, this isn't the first time Wash has been on the receiving end of that particular sentiment.]

Nah, that'd be too easy. [It was supposed to be light and joking; it came out bitter. It's been that kind of month.]

[jonesiseverywhere]

Sure, I'm livin' there. Follow me, Princess!

...Heh, bet you're used to, like, a whole army of knights wherever you go, right? What's the word? Procession?

[mechanacet]

They seem to be, but the seem to be more oily than regular darkness, only way you can easily tell if one's hiding nearby is the eyes. They have these blank white eyes, isn't half disturbing, but at least it differentiates them from The Filth back home. I nearly had a heart attack the first time I saw a Nox here.

[They are moving at a slow, but steady pace down the street now, Daniel's limp slows him down quite a lot.]

[raisethemoon]

Processions are a bit more of a formal affair, but I do typically travel with one or two of my guards. The rest of them act as a sort of police force for the capital city, and maintain order in the castle and courts.

Regardless, I can protect myself. When my magic remains mine. [Not bitter!]

[raisethemoon]

They sound unlike any creatures I have encountered before...

[Not really Nightmares, nothing from Equestria. Ah well, that's to be expected.]

How dangerous would you say they are?

[raisethemoon]

[Well, Luna's just gotten here, but she can sympathize with that sentiment.]

I fear 'twill be some time before I can aid in the fight. This magic is unfamiliar, and Lux in his wisdom has removed my own.

[mechanacet]

It depends. If they catch you off guard, and they have numbers, the smaller ones can be extremely dangerous. They're the only ones you'll see away from large groups and only really reach the size of large cats.

The larger ones? Well, a few weeks back, Something went down at the carnival. something happened and a lot of them got through. I didn't see much of the action, but the larger ones are definitely dangerous, even individually.

If you're going to go and fight them, I'd either recommend taking back up and fighting from a position of strength. The only thing they're actually weak against seems to be the magic Lux has given us. Everything else just seems to bounce right off them. [Daniel seems to be gathering steam, Luna might want to direct the line of questioning before he properly starts rambling.]

[raisethemoon]

[She doesn't totally mind the rambling; it's informative. Most anything would be, given how little she knows now.]

What kind of magic have you been given?