BiE 36: Team Meeting.

=BiE 36=

 

>The carriage bounced and bobbed along the road and into the forest.

>Being crammed inside with four other ponies made the ride...interesting.

>Eventually, the carriage stopped.

>But not before the riders inside had been dropped into a pile.

>"Whoever's hoof that is has five seconds to remove it before I do."

>The offending hoof is removed as you all climb your way out of the carriage.

>Before you are erected a good couple hundred tents of varying sizes.

>Ponies of all shapes and sizes roam around the makeshift town.

>No...not just ponies.

>Your eyes make out several pairs of griffins as well as several unicorns. You even see a minotaur.

>"Impressed, human?"

>You turn to your side and spot Trixie beaming over her collection of cultists.

>You grunt.

>"Seems pretty organized for a religion supposedly based around the concept of Chaos..."

>Trixie harrumphs. "We will not have a hired mercenary, and even worse, an -outsider- critique our methods. Now, come along. I want you to sit in on a meeting."

First a camp and now a meeting? Is it a Chaos meeting?

>She's a hypocrite, who cares?

>Just follow along until you get what you need.

 

>The meeting was exactly as bureaucratic as you thought.

>Long table.

>Dozen or so high ranking cult officials.

>The Holy Mother at the end, flanked by Trixie and some pegasus in red armor.

>And you. Crammed between a griffin and an earth pony who smelled like he hadn't bathed in a week.

>Trixie was using her illusionary magic to place markers over a map of Equestria and the surrounding countries.

>"I will re-iterate our plan for those of you who are unaware." she says as she throws a glance at you.

Fuck you too, Trixie.

>"As you all know, Chaos is a state of things. One that is imprinted throughout the entire world almost as much as magic itself."

>Four markers appeared over the map. Two to the North and two to the South.

>"Our goal, is to collect four items that either caused mass Chaos, or are the direct result of it. Using these artifacts, we will tear open a portal and free our lord Discord." she says with a manic grin.

>Everyone else at the table was wearing the same grin.

>You sigh and raise your hand. "What, human?" Trixie asks.

>"Why are we doing this? I mean, I know you want to free Discord, but isn't he a statue in Canterlot? Shouldn't the first task be getting that statue?"

>The rest of the members of this idiot council all moaned like you had just asked why the sky was blue.

>"Discord is not mere flesh, human, He is a spirit. A spirit that is currently trapped in the Tartarian plains. We will use these artifacts to open a portal to Tartarus and allow him re-entry into our world."

 

>"Isn't Discord supposed to be as powerful as Celestia? Shouldn't he be able to open a portal himself?"

>You hear a sigh from the earth pony next you. "I have a question, why are we even entertaining this ape? He is no true believer, and I fail to see why our plans hinge on him."

>You shoot him a glare. "What, ape? You think you can frighten me? I have fought worse then you in my-"

>He gets no further as you grab his head and slam it onto the table.

>You pull David out of his sheathe and stab him into the table barely a hairsbreadth away from the earth pony's neck.

>"You ponies need to learn that I'm a lot scarier then you are."

>Any traces of arrogance in the ponies eyes had evaporated as he eyed the blade at his throat.

>A flash of light erupts from behind you and splinters over the back of your head.

>You turn to see Trixie standing on the table, her horn still glowing. "That is why we need him. I have word from one of my sources that both this human and the other from P0nyville are entirely immune to magic. We can't overlook that advantage."

>The only time that ever came up was when you first got here and saw Celestia.

>She has spies in the palace?

>Trixie continues to glare at you while the rest of the room looks on edge, the pegasus on the other side of Her Holiness looked ready to jump you.

>"Now, release him human."

>You stare down Trixie for what feels like hours.

>Should just wreck these idiots...

Easy. Remember the plan. We need them.

>Yeah...but they don't need us here.

 

>You pry David out of the table and re-sheathe him as you walk out.

>"Human! We are not done here!" you hear Trixie shout from behind you.

>You stop and look at Trixie over your shoulder.

>"Four artifacts to summon Discord. I help you get them and then I get what I want. I'm going to assume you aren't a moron and have some way of crossing that ocean on your map, so I'm leaving until you twits come up with a plan."

>You continue walking out of the tent.

>"Come find me when you have something, and not a minute before."

>That went well, what now?

We need food. And a place to sleep.

>You wander around the camp looking.

>Dammit, where is the cafeteria tent, or whatever?

There has to be one with this many cultists.

>Maybe they catch their own food?

>You're interrupted by a trio of colts running past you chasing a ball.

>Shit, they had kids in this mess?

Fucked up.

>"Hey. Kids."

>They all turn to look at you.

>"What are you doing here?"

>The three of them glance at each other. "Uhh...our parents all brought us here, who are you?"

Parents dragging their kids into a doomsday cult?

>It's either that or pay for college...

>"Nevermind, where do I get something to eat?"

>The colts all point to a particularly large tent over on the other side of camp.

>"Yeah. Thanks."

>You can feel them stare at you as you walk away.

 

-Music: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MOWAWT-8IVM-

>Dinner consisted of some bread and water.

>Can't get too fancy when you're feeding this many mouths in the middle of nowhere.

>At least you were used to the diet.

>It was night, late, the events of the day were beginning to catch up to you.

>Apparently, tents were for actual members of the Cult, so you had to fend for yourself.

>Deciding against sleeping near the outskirts of a camp in the middle of the Everfree Forest, you lean back against a tree next to the conference tent you stormed out of earlier.

>Your mind begins to replay the events of the day.

>You still remember Anon's face when you announced you were working with Trixie, he looked confused.

>Anon always saw the world a bit more black and white then you.

>Contrast to Rainbow's face; the rage of your betrayal was practically carved into it.

>Still, you hope they're okay.

>You didn't stick around to see the aftermath of the smokescreen.

>And then with what happened with Lotus...

>You felt a pang in the middle of your chest.

>Why did she have to be there?

>She better be safe.

>Is she worried about you? Or did she do what you said?

>Maybe you shou-

No.

We can't.

The job is too important.

>You sigh as you remember why you rolled in with Trixie in the first place.

Mind like ice. Let nothing get in your way.

>You take some deep breaths as you center yourself.

>Anon, Rainbow, and Lotus would be fine.

>Whatever they do after this, you're not going to be around to help.

>You eventually succeed in banishing those thoughts and drifting off to sleep.

>Whatever the council came up with, tomorrow would be an interesting day.