Previously on My little Apocalyptia: 17:29:38: Patchy was a good pony, exhausting himself to heal the (ever-so-slightly schyzophrenic) team, so Jackie decided to carry him. Light_Seeker made up with Desert_Lightning and hitched a ride; he still thinks Cal is the meanest kind of mean meanypants there is. Moving on the group came across a caravan and did a quick swap of 'loot' (Really Cal?) for a healing potion and some caps. 17:29:51: The tiger went looking to get less raider-ish looking spiked ponyshoes and was made an offer too good to be true...because it was. She is now the not-entirely-proud owner of a pair of almost brand new Flutter Boots - yellow ponyshoes with pink spikes that Flutter-squee when they poke anyone. They are definitely not raider-ish, but she would have kept her old boots if not for 17:29:52: Cat and Patchy both liking them and Mr. White protesting "No refunds!" 17:30:04: Since Cat liked them so much and thought they'd look great with her Adorable 'boots', Ms. Tiger got a pair of rubber stockings for her forelegs so they would match. They're Cat approved! The group was also told that Scribe Scold in Ironworks could tell them about the ghost of the Big 52, and Seeker seemed to fixate on that fact. 17:30:16: Karma's a bitch, and at Ironworks the group ran into a prime example - Polly, a pegasus filly with an eye-patch, who was looking for her sister Sunny Smiles - the same (almost-certainly-not-a-foal-slaughtering-monster) pegasus that had been under the paradore mound. Oops. 17:30:28: Cat was tired from the extra-noisy-adult-fun-time wrestling, and the tiggy was tired of being a fluffy pony transport, so they got a pair of rooms plus a bottle of whiskey then shut themselves in their room for some plain old shuteye leaving the boys to deal with the mess. Amazingly enough, the guys managed to break the news to the filly without adding to the psychological scarring 17:30:28: of that unpleasant truth. 17:30:41: Of course, the guys had to give up the holotags, photos, armor, and plasma rifle they recoverd to make things as close to right as the circumstances would allow, but they all had clearer consciences afterwards, so yay! Since Applejack's Rangers are really big on not being jerks, they quietly rewarded the guys with some spare ammo - more yay! 17:30:51: The ammo was divided up, some got sold for caps, Seeker finally got to hear the story of the ghost of the Big 52, and was rewarded for his revelation of weird dreams by being given a (possibly placebo) dreamcatcher earring. Buddy (cutest armorer in the wasteland!) managed to repurpose the scavenged leather armor to improve the leather armors used by the group, and for a few caps 17:30:51: more, tiggy got a custom dye job that was...close to what she wanted. 17:30:59: Oh, and Buddy made a filly friend and gave her his neat necklace! All together now, everypony: Dawwwww! Lastly, Cal revealed that he doesn't plan to try surviving to his sunset years - he'd rather go out in a blaze of glory as opposed to tiggy settling down with Cat to farm rocks and/or teach self-defense. Or Jackie could always open as antique shop selling zebra artifacts...but 17:30:59: for some reason the thought of that just screams "Bad day, bad day, bad day!" 17:31:09: To do: 17:31:09: 1) Buy Light_Seeker a new Magi-Pistol to replace the plasma rifle. 17:31:09: 2) Get to Nightmare Falls. 17:31:17: (^.^)     BEGIN EPISODE 8 17:21:00: 13the group is packing up and readying to leave ironworks, they have still to gather at the gates before they can leave 17:25:51: Light_Seeker standing by Cataclysm and Desert_Lightning "So now we head to nightmare falls?" 17:27:26: Cataclysm nods her head, "It sounds like that. Hopefully whatever's bothering you will go away once we get off this blasted road." 17:28:01: 13it's been since the group left the tavern that HighCaliber is getting a lot of glares from the various acolytes he walks by, this is starting to get evident 17:28:41: "Hey cal you see this you're a star here." 17:29:02: HighCaliber looks around. "Is it my breath?" 17:29:37: "Former steel ranger." 17:31:49: Cataclysm just raises a hoof to her muzzle, shaking her head at Cal's either foolishness or willful ignorance. Or possibly a joke, but it wasn't a particularly funny one. "Maybe you should find something else to wear while you're out and about?" 17:33:15: HighCaliber looks at her. "I've got nothing to hide." 17:33:43: "That could be the case but you are a former ranger non the less." 17:35:00: 13for the moment the rangers don't seem to want to annoy directly HighCaliber, but he's drawing more and more attention and you could swear that at least a couple of acolytes are purposedly following the group 17:36:03: Cataclysm shakes her head again, "Let's just get out of here before somepony does something everypony regrets." Slowly beginning to head towards the gates out of town, "We've got a lot of road to cover today, after all." 17:36:06: HighCaliber turns around. "Can... Can I help you? I have enough of an entourage as it is." 17:36:31: Light_Seeker follows Cat and stays close by as to hide from danger 17:37:22: 13when caliber turns towards the following fans, they disperse pretending that they were doing something else, one of them even starts whistling 17:38:26: Desert_Lightning is somewhat relieved that HighCaliber is drawing the attention away from himself. 17:38:35: HighCaliber shakes his head. "Let's get out of here... These ponies are starting to creep me out." 17:39:57: JackHammer takes the time to stop by the local weapons dealer to see if she can replace the plasma rifle the boys had to give back to the rightful inheritor. "Got anything in the way of a magical energy pistol?" she asks as she enters the shop. 17:40:10: 13the gates are open and the group can see the sky outside of the giant factory structure.... open and guarded by no less than 4 armored steelrangers and half a dozen acolytes, oh, and two scribes 17:40:30: 13they seem to be waiting somepony 17:41:16: 13the weapon dealer at the counter in the shop puts a magi pistol on the slab, with an annoyed expression "yeah sure, you have 75 caps?" 17:41:23: Cataclysm blinks a little bit and whistles in appreciation at the hardware on display, "Impressive levels of security. You all expecting something specific to have so much out here so early?" 17:41:38: "Everyone, we might have some trouble. Let me do the talking..." 17:41:57: (50 caps, not 75) 17:42:35: Cataclysm peers side-long at Caliber, "The one who everypony seems interested in staring at like you're some kind of pariah? That doesn't seem like the best plan." 17:42:50: buddy looks around with his eyes wide open, so many Power Ranger ponies! 17:43:22: Light_Seeker stays so close to Cat any closer and they would be one pony 17:43:54: JackHammer nods her head and plunks down five bags of ten caps each. "There you go, and thanks! I sure hope Seeker likes it." She scoops up the pistol then trots off to find the rest of the group. 17:44:04: Cataclysm gently pats Light on the head, "Don't worry. We won't let any nasty ghosts hurt you, promise." 17:45:02: "Can... Can we help you?" 17:45:23: "I'm more worried about Cal talking to them and making them mad." 17:47:06: Cataclysm rolls her eyes, "I'm sure their guards are better trained than to shoot someone just for not liking them. Or at least not to shoot someone's friends for it. Maybe shoot AT him." smirking a little bit, "Just relax for now. We'll get out fine." 17:47:44: JackHammer enjoys the sight of Cat's swishing tail as she approaches the group from behind, but she diverts her attention to Light_Seeker as she gets close and calls out, "Hay, Cat! Hay, Seeker! Ah, Seeker, I know you had to give away your plasma rifle, so I wanted to make it up to you and bought you this." She holds out the scuffed but reasonably well maintained Magi-Pistol to him. 17:48:02: buddy spots what appears to be a discarded box of perfectly good Apple Bombs. Jackpot! 17:49:48: Cataclysm smiles as Jackie comes up in that brand new armor, "Oh, my. Did you get all dressed up just for me?" raising a hoof to her chest with a smile like her heart was all a flutter, "And you're thinking of the foals too. Why, one might almost think that you're secretly a big softy." winking to Jackie. 17:51:17: Light_Seeker takes the gun and puts it in his bags and then hugs Jackhammer and Cataclysm "Thanks guys." 17:54:32: Cataclysm leans down to nuzzle Light's cheek, "You're welcome. Just promise you'll stop running off alone, okay?" 17:55:05: "Okay unless Cal tries to get us killed." 17:55:16: buddy is now chasing his tail. It seems to have grabbed the box of pre-war snacks and is holding too far away for Buddy to reach. "Hey give it back!" 17:57:06: JackHammer hugs Seeker back with a smile and nods. "No problem, Seeker. Gotta keep our eagle-eyed spotter able to zap the baddies." She then looks up and chuckles at Cat's comment. "Soft? Me? Nah, just your average, run of the mill tiger, recently outfitted by that young genius of leatherworking over there." She gestures to the foal who just yoinked a box of Sugar Apple Bombs. 17:58:31: JackHammer stares at the 'genius' foal who is now chasing his tail and feels a facehoof coming on. 18:00:52: Cataclysm just sortof stares at Buddy a few moments, "At least he's happy?" She wasn't sure what was going on, but that was a good thing, right? Gently pating Light again, "I think if Cal gets us shot at we'll -all- be running. Preferably in the same direction!" finally leaning up to kiss Jackie's cheek, "A tiger who likes personalized armor and gives gifts to children. My kind of 18:00:53: Cataclysm tiger." reaching down to help Light Seeker up onto her back, "Long trip today. Hope we manage to make it to the falls..." 18:02:26: Light_Seeker on Cataclysm's back opens the map "I need to find a tree can you girls and Buddy help me?" 18:03:48: Desert_Lightning is listening in but doesn't have anything to say, his attention on the ponies that are following HighCaliber around. 18:04:18: 13one of the scribes at the gate smiles at highcaliber at his question "well yes, you could help us, sure! we were wondering where did you find an acolyte barding in such a good state..." 18:05:45: Cataclysm trots up towards the group of Steel Rangers curiously, so they were guarding the way -out-, not the way -in-. Apparently curious about one of her new traveling companions. For the moment she just stayed quiet. She didn't really trust Cal not to say something stupid, but she also didn't want to interject about things she didn't know anything about. 18:06:05: HighCaliber looks at his barding. "What, this old thing? I earned it. Standard issue for all Rangers. At least when I was one..." 18:07:21: "Why do you ask?" 18:07:32: 13the scribe nods while the acolytes whisper something to each other, but the other scribe shuts them turning to HighCaliber and asking "may we know from where chapter were you?" 18:08:28: buddy finally catches his tail, by jumping on it when it wasn't looking. Triumphant, he opens the box of Apple Bombs only to discover that the contents now include a well-fed Radroach. The Radroach's antenna wiggle. 18:08:48: "Fillydelphia." 18:09:29: buddy sighs puts down the box, before trotting over to Light, Cat, and the others. 18:09:34: JackHammer lets the facehoof come then shakes her head. "Well, he's brilliant with leather anyway. But yeah, lets stick together even if we don't get shot." And oh, that was a nice kiss. Maybe we won't argue with the nice mare who approves of us. "I like being your kind of tiger!" Seeker gets a peculiar look from Jackie. "A tree? Odd request, but okay..." 18:10:42: 13the scribe nods and ponders for a moment the next question "and.... may i ask why and when you left the rangers?" 18:11:20: Cataclysm glances back towards Light Seeker, "Any particular tree, or just trees in general?" Were there many trees on this road? She couldn't remember seeing any, but that doesn't mean they weren't there... 18:11:50: "In nightmare falls there is a tree on a hill i need to get to." 18:13:35: HighCaliber chuckles a bit. "Well, it was a month or so before that whole 'civil war' you ponies had. The chapter was more focused on pestering those with technology than protecting them. So I left. I wanted to actually DO something." 18:15:32: "No offense, of course. I heard that you are doing great work now. Its just... Not my style anymore." 18:19:23: 13the two scribes talk to each other for a moment, then the one that seems the boss nods at the steel cladded rangers that move away "well then, have a nice trip and stay out of trouble..." 18:20:19: HighCaliber nods to the Rangers. "Thank you all, and keep up the good work." 18:21:12: Cataclysm looks at the Rangers with some curiosity. Slowly heading out the gates and back onto the road, "At least we've got a whole day to keep moving at this point." 18:22:22: HighCaliber looks to the group. "What? Why do you all look so worried?" 18:22:30: 13just outside the structure a large roadsign announces merrily to the travelers that the wonderful resort of emer- Nightmare's Fall is just 7 miles away from here 18:23:36: JackHammer nods and begins trotting alongside Cat and Patchy. Glancing at the sign, she comments, "Not bad. We'll be there well before nightfall - always a good thing!" 18:23:39: buddy turns his grin on any nearby ranger as they leave the gates. "Bye Power Ranger ponies! Tell the red one that he's the coolest!" 18:23:59: "Oh nothing just afraid they were going to kill you" 18:24:26: 13one of the acolytes d'aws at buddy's antics and gets hit on the head by the rest of his platoon 18:25:07: Cataclysm nods her head in agreement to Jackie, starting to trot down the streets further along, "We'll be there early, might even have time to find Light's tree before Molten Gold gets annoyed with us for being late." 18:26:03: Light_Seeker walks by Cal "So Cal can you tell me about Mares?" 18:28:22: HighCaliber looks at the child. "What do you mean? You mean biologically or...?" 18:28:39: JackHammer blinks and briefly gives Cat a questioning look before memory taps on the door of her brain and reminds her that, yes, there was a reason for this trip. "Oh yeah, Molten Gold! Our quest thingy! Heh...almost forgot..." 18:28:55: "I want to learn more about them and why the play funny" 18:30:23: Cataclysm smiles and raises a hoof to Jackie's chin with a gentle rub, "Not that I don't appreciate you sticking around just for me. But yeah, we are out here on this road for a purpose." grinning just a bit and moving slightly away back towards Cal and Light Seeker, listening in on the conversation curiously. 18:31:01: "Ha. Well, they're a strange breed of ponies, that's for sure. Wait... Is their a filly in your head or something? That one that we met back at the base, perhaps?" 18:31:17: buddy gently tugs on Jackhammer's mane. 18:31:25: Desert_Lightning snickers at Light_Seeker asking HighCaliber such awkward questions. 18:31:56: Light_Seeker still looking at Cat "Maybe or an older mare." 18:32:17: 13 the morning is pleasant and the sun is not too hot, the group is traveling along the last part of the 52, rapidly approaching their destination while they shat 18:32:21: *chat 18:34:30: "I'm going to be frankly honest to you, kid. When ponies get older, they get certain... Urges." 18:35:35: Cataclysm eartwitches slightly at Light's comments on older mares. Wait, what 18:35:39: ? 18:35:47: "But that's grown-up pony stuff. At your age, it should all be about the /romance/." 18:35:59: JackHammer rumbles happily as Cat rubs her chin, and she tilts her head slightly to press into it. "Right, purpose...mmm...whatever." She sighs softly as Cat drops back to listen in on the boys, but she remains in front where she can charge anything hostile that might appear. So, she misses Seeker's comment. 18:37:08: "Romance?" 18:37:44: "If there's a mare you like, there's no shame in just telling her. Too bad I missed out on all that... Rangers aren't ones to allow relationships..." 18:38:50: buddy tugs at Jackhammer again. "Um, Ms Tiger... I want to be friends with Desert but he won't say sorry for pulling my mane and I'm not supposed to be friends with bullys... I don't know what to do." 18:39:13: "But yeah! If there's a mare you like, you should do really nice things for her." 18:39:13: "And after that?" 18:39:48: Desert_Lightning is behind the group, mind wandering about other things. Like flying and cool aerial tricks. 18:40:34: Cataclysm just sortof hangs somewhere between Jackie and Caliber. Listening quietly for now. Oh, this was going to be rich, that's for sure. 18:40:40: "Any tips on being nice and doing good things for her?" 18:41:23: "Well, if she says she likes you too..." 18:42:12: "Well, just be really nice. If she wants to talk to you, listen. No matter how boring they can be..." 18:42:24: JackHammer blinks and looks down at Buddy. "Hmm? Huh...well, that is a problem, isn't it. Did you ask him to apologize?" A small frown creases her brow as she considers the matter. 18:42:41: "And then after that?" 18:43:42: "Also, mares like gifts. Something they'd really like, though. Not that chocolate and flowers stuff. Something they'd truly enjoy." 18:44:07: "How do you find out what they like?" 18:45:17: "Refer to step one: talk to them." 18:46:37: "Anything after that?" 18:47:01: "Play it as you go." 18:47:34: "Speaking of play, What about playing with the mare?" 18:49:26: buddy nods at Jackhammer. "Yeah, but he wouldn't because I arrested you all when we were playing." 18:51:07: 13chatting and explaining why mares have so many holes, the group arrives at the first houses of nightmare's fall; the town is mostly an open cluster of low buildings that once upon a time were a resort village. the place doesn't look like a funny town, but not even the worst place on the whole world. along the shore there are a couple of small boats and the group can clearly see in the distance on the ocean the black 18:51:08: cloud of a steamboat some miles away from the coast 18:55:01: Cataclysm stares out into the distance in curiosity, "Maybe that's what molten gold was looking for?" Well they had to have SOME way to cross the ocean, and steamboat was as good as any other option, right? 19:03:22: JackHammer tilts her head and ponders Buddy's words. "Well, maybe you should ask him again...and not arrest him this time. He might surprise you." 19:03:43: patchwork stirs from his stuper. "I'm awake. Are we there yet?" Patch saidas he yawned. 19:07:18: Cataclysm continues on down the road, "Almost there. Just a little further. Down by the beach. Looks like our boat is coming in!" 19:09:41: "Ah good. Sorry about being spaced out for so long. I don't know what came over me. Probably lack of sleep." 19:11:20: "Hey Patchie what do you know about Play time?" 19:11:51: 13the town seems quite lively, there are more ponies than in the other places and at least three caravans in the outskirts 19:11:53: buddy ponders Tiger's words. "Ok, I'll ask him again. Thanks Ms Tiger!" 19:12:14: HighCaliber looks at Light. "We can finish this later..." 19:12:32: "Depends on what you mean by play time. There could be serverally different mesnings given the conatation." 19:12:54: "mare and Mare play time." 19:13:28: buddy looks around for Desert_Lightning. 19:13:41: Cataclysm mostly just continues on down the road towards the shoreline. 19:13:50: JackHammer smiles and tousles Buddy's mane. "No problem, kiddo. Lets go see what this town has to offer." 19:14:25: Desert_Lightning is still at the back of the group, not really doing anything. 19:14:40: "Ah. Well when two ponies like each other a whole bunch, sometimes they have wierd games they like to play together. Mostly because it feels good." 19:15:21: JackHammer scans the town, looking for a hill near the sea that could have a tree on it. 19:15:22: "I see and is it normal for mare on mare games or more common for stallion on mare?" 19:15:41: 13along the ways of the town there are a lot of ponies, it is almost noon adn there is even an open market in the central square. a fourth caravan in the town has the insigna of a powerful southern confederation of cities 19:16:37: Cataclysm looks up towards the nice warm open skies, a wonderful change from the way things used to be. A quiet frown now and then as she thinks about where they're going. This place was just... Warm up. Where they were heading next, that was the real adventure. 19:16:44: "No all sorts of games are common. Mare on Mare, Stalion on,stalion. and Stalion on mare. The Stalion on Mare verity can sometimes result in new born babies." 19:17:11: "Any way not to?" 19:17:35: Desert_Lightning looks at the market with some apprehension, but works up the courage to venture forth. "I'm getting a scope for the rifle." He says as he trots off. 19:18:00: "Sure they the mare and stalion can use something called contiception to prevent a new baby from being born." 19:18:13: HighCaliber chuckles. "Or in Patchies case, it's 'Stallion on Hoof." 19:18:35: "Oh haha Caliber very funny." 19:18:45: "Stallion on hoof?" 19:19:20: "When a pony plays with him or herself. That is called masterbation." 19:19:46: "You can play alone?" 19:19:50: "Like after that 'chat' we had with Pumpkin, I saw Patch run behind the barn for a few minutes with his grease rag.." 19:19:53: buddy spots Desert_Lightning as he walks off, and trots after him. 19:19:56: 13there's actually a bullet trotters shop in town, a writing outside the shop says that they sell every weapon you could want and encourages to buy them before your enemy does 19:20:43: Cataclysm continues her way on down through town. If Light's going to obsess over questions instead of the tree, that was probably for the best. She begins asking around about arriving boats, particularly that one on the horizon, to see if anyone knew where it'd be coming in. 19:21:55: patchwork chuckled "Shush nopony needs to hear about that. It's a private matter between me and the grease rag." 19:22:03: JackHammer is happy enough being out in front of the group where she doesn't have to be distracted by talk of what stallions do for fun. She trots along in her black armor with...pink tiger stripes and tries to look tough and imposing but...not mean or anything, if that's okay. Gah! Where did that come from? "Say Cat, this armor doesn't ruin my tough mare look, does it?" she calls 19:22:03: JackHammer back and wiggles her striped flanks. 19:22:23: Desert_Lightning approaches is it, his eyes flicking across the displays. "Excuse me, but would you have any Scopes for this rifle?" He asks the creature behind the counter whilst hold his rifle up. 19:22:57: patchwork follows the direction of the girls. 19:22:59: "So anyway to make a mare feel good?" 19:23:14: 13the shop keeper smiles at patchie and nods merrily "sure, you have the caps?" 19:23:54: "You have to pay extra specail attention to her girl parts, and remember to play gently and wash yourself before and afterwards for sanitary measures." 19:24:13: "Okay anything else?" 19:24:40: 13a pony with a sailor hat finally replies at cat's questions "well, that's the steamboat willy, it's the only ship large enough to sail all the way south to oatleans and come back in one piece... keeps the town alive with the sugar commerce" 19:25:13: Cataclysm the name of Motlen Gold?" 19:25:13: Cataclysm looks back towards Jackie at the flank wiggle, "Mmmmmm... I don't know about tough girl. It makes you look alluring I think. LIke someone married some leather armor to an evening gown." grinning a little bit at that prospect, "Nice, though. Suits you." looking up at the sailor's comment, nodding her head, "Hmmm. Don't suppose you've seen a ghoul recently came into town? By 19:26:00: "Hm oh yeah you should probably wait untill after you get your cutie mark to een think about aldut games with another pony. Be sure that they have thier own cutie mark as well." 19:26:12: even* 19:26:17: adult* 19:27:01: 13the bullet trotter puts a scope on the counter, it has probably been salvaged from a different weapon, but seems in good conddition "here, fifty caps for this little filly" 19:27:33: "Hey Cat i'm going to go check out the tree okay?: 19:28:04: Desert_Lightning motions to the sales pony that he want to take a look through it. "May I?" 19:28:42: HighCaliber walks up to the salespony as well and sets his .50 Cal on the ground in front of him. "Got one thatll fit this baby?" 19:29:07: 13the sailor nods "yeah, the old mummy! he was in a hurry, he arrived some days ago, had a chat with the sheriff and went away again..." 19:29:38: "Did he say when he'd be back at all?" 19:30:01: Cataclysm frowns a little bit, "Well that's a little worrying. Do you know where I could find the sheriff, by any chance?" She could always -hope- the ponies in this town would give her what she wanted to know, preferably before things started going horribly wrong... 19:30:05: 13the shop keeper shakes her head "sorry pal, the stuff is good but you have to believe me... too many cheaters nowaday..." 19:30:16: buddy follows Desert_Lightning into the store and tugs on his mane, ignoring the fact that he is busy. "Hello Mr Desert, um... I wanted to say sorry about that time when I arrested you... and um... you look really cool when you're flying." 19:30:29: 13the sailor shrugs "i have no idea, he comes and goes, nopony really cares about the mummy" 19:31:13: "Well we obiviously care about him or we wouldn't be asking." 19:31:24: buddy looks up at Desert_Lightning expectantly. 19:32:24: 13"then you should look for the sheriff, they had a long chat last time he was here" 19:32:56: 13the sailor points a hoof at a two storey building with a star sign hanging outside 19:33:05: Desert_Lightning looks back at Buddy. "yeah, uh sorry bout the entire tackling and all that ugh, stuff." He stamers nervously before turning back to the sales pony. "I'll leave my gun on the table as insurance?" 19:33:06: Cataclysm looks off towards Light, nodding her head and trotting up towards the colt, "Sure. Lead the way. I'll come with you. Let someone else do the talking today." Admittedly she was a little curious about the tree herself. 19:33:14: "Thank you very much." 19:33:44: patchwork heads to the Star building. 19:33:54: 13the sellpony nods "sounds fair, here you go...." the scope seems in good condition and it should be easy to adapt it to any rifle 19:33:59: Light_Seeker leads the way to the tree and on the way hands Cataclysm his charm he got from scold "Here take this." 19:34:38: Desert_Lightning turns around towards Buddy with it. "Think you can make this fit on my gun?" he asks the small pony. 19:34:52: buddy cheers with delight, he'd befriended another pony! "Yay!" 19:34:52: JackHammer sighs. "Alluring I don't mind, I suppose, but no points for toughness?" She'd look more disappointed if Cat hadn't so heavily sugar coated that bitter pill with so much approval of the look. How could she not like something that made Cat happy? And the armor really did look nice. Listening in on the conversation with the sailor, she glances in the direction of the building 19:34:52: JackHammer then turns and prepares to follow Cat's fine flanks. 19:36:35: "I think I could attatch it." 19:36:49: Cataclysm waves a hoof to Patchwork, "Why don't you go talk to the sherif and find out about our esteemed employer. I'm going with Light Seeker to check out this tree of his." chuckling a little to Jackie, "You look tough because you're -you-, not because of what you wear." the charm was a little more surprising, looking down at it, "Hm? Why are you giving this to me? Wasn't it to 19:36:49: Cataclysm help you with your nightmares?" 19:37:03: Desert_Lightning turns back to the dealer. "50 caps right? Got anything else I could add to it for like another 20 or so caps? Or maybe for my ten mill pistol?" 19:37:29: "Right I'll do that. Light if you got anymore questions don't be afraid to ask." 19:37:43: patchwork heads to the building with the Star. 19:37:44: "In case anything happens and it tries to go after you." 19:38:08: JackHammer feels even better when Cat tells her that, and suddenly has the confidence to trot out front again on the way to the tree, her tail swishing happily. "Well, what are we waiting for? Let's go see the tree!" 19:39:33: "I should go first so it doesn't hurt anypony." 19:43:11: JackHammer shrugs and lets Seeker take the lead - he was the reason they were heading to the tree after all, so if he wanted to be out front... "Are you sure you'll be okay, Seeker?" 19:43:12: HighCaliber , after chatting with the salespony, is now 14 caps and 72 bullets lighter, but now has a scope for his beauty. Raiders beware! 19:43:26: 13the seller thinks for a moment "no, i don't think i have something useful for that amounft of caps.... want some bullets?" 19:44:05: Cataclysm slowly follows Light Seeker towards the tree, "Hmmmm. Well, alright, if you don't think you'll need it..." slowly tucking it away in her pack, "But if you ever have nightmares, you let me know and you'll have it to sleep with, okay?" 19:44:28: "Well after this i hope i don't." 19:45:16: Desert_Lightning shakes his head. No, the scope will have to do. Thank." He count out fifty caps and places them on the counter. 19:45:29: 13the hill out of town turns out to be actually the town's grave, or at least a grave by itself. there are several stones with cutiemarks and names on them, and the pink tree on the top 19:46:58: Light_Seeker walks up to the tree and looks at it 19:47:01: Cataclysm nods her head, "Well just let me know, then." smiling a bit as she walks along alongside Light Seeker. 19:47:28: JackHammer blinks as she notices the grave markers. "Somepony you know here, Seeker?" she asks softly, hoping the answer is no. 19:47:57: 13in the sheriff's office there's a unicorn mare with a sheriff star on her breast and a funny cowpony hat, she's cleaning a .44 revolver and when patchie enters the room, she doesn't even stop the cleaning "mornin'... how can i help?" 19:48:11: "I'm not quite sure i feel like it." 19:48:33: HighCaliber trots over to Buddy, giggling like a little school-filly. "Can you put the scope on mine, too?" 19:48:44: buddy 's tail closes round one of the pistols on display in the weapon store and waves it around. It's clearly broken. "Oh! Tail wants a gun! How much is it for one like this (holds up his .45) that isn't broken?" 19:49:15: "Sure thing Mr Bear!" 19:49:17: "Howdy. You wouldn't happen to know a ghoul pony by the name of Molten Gold by any chance. He asked my group and I to meet him here." 19:50:13: Desert_Lightning grabs the gun from Buddy. Don't touch other ponies things with out permission." he says sternly. 19:51:25: Desert_Lightning then places it on the counter. "How much for this..." He pauses as he trys to recgognise the weapon. 19:51:26: 13the shop keeper looks at buddy for a moment "oh, a crusader? you're quite afar from home, aren't you?... well, the .45 is 50 caps" 19:52:14: 13the sheriiff looks at patchie, tapping her chin "yeah, sure, i know him... and you are?" 19:53:12: Cataclysm glances around at all the graves briefly with a little bit of nerves, "I'm sure it'll be fine. It's just a graveyard, right? Not all that unusual..." 19:53:17: "Patchwork, I'm the doctor of the group that just came into town.Molten said he had a job he wanted to hire us for, and that we should meet him here." 19:54:04: JackHammer stands beside Light_Seeker as he stares at the tree. "Yeah, just a graveyard like so many others in the wastes. So...what are we looking for anyway, Seeker?" 19:54:39: "A old ghost that still looms." 19:55:12: 13the sheriff nods "so, you should be... patchwork?" 19:55:34: 13"can you prove that?" 19:56:12: "Correct, I can show you my cutie mark if you'd like, or if there is a pony in ned of medical attention I can heal them for you." 19:56:22: need* 19:57:06: 13the sheriff mumbles for a while "okay, in the group patchwork is, there's a pegasus, can you tell me her name?" 19:57:07: JackHammer bends her head and noses the rock with its now dirty ribbon. "I wonder why somepony tied a ribbon around a rock." 19:57:28: "His name is Desert_Lightning." 19:57:48: Light_Seeker still looking at the tree thoughts racing through his head "It's a gift" 19:57:49: "I can name all of my companions." 19:58:00: buddy puts down all his caps on the counter. It comes to a total of 41. "Is this enough caps? I don't have anymore." 19:58:14: Cataclysm tilts her head to one side, "Maybe it was important to the pony here..?" just sortof trotting up and looking up at the dead tree, "Pink tree. That's a little unusual." 19:59:09: "Is Molten Gold in some sort of trouble that would need me to prove to you who I am?" 19:59:21: 13"no, no that's enough... i have... not so good news for you... molten had to leave, but he left a letter and some stuff for you.. i'm entitled to give you the stuff when you embark the steamboat willy if you'll do that... the letter is here..." the sheriff levitates a paper out of a drawer and gives them to patchie 19:59:23: *it 20:00:16: 13the shop keeper ponders for a bit "let's do this: give me 3 .45 bullets and the pistol is yours" 20:00:27: 13"that is, plus the caps" 20:00:33: "Altight. I'll gather my companions shortly, and we'll set off on the steamboat." 20:00:50: JackHammer eyes the tree curiously. "Yeah, it is kinda weird, huh? Still, it matches the ribbon and the writing on the sign. Maybe somepony found a way to color living wood without paint?" 20:01:15: "Thank you kindly, Sherif?" 20:02:09: Desert_Lightning looks at the pony. "I'll pay the rest." He says before Buddy can give up his ammo 20:02:26: 13the hill doesnt' seem to have anything special; the two graves on the top seem to be quite new, as a lot of graves on the sea side of the hill 20:02:50: 13the rock seems a perfectly common stone, just with a pink ribbon wrapped around it 20:03:19: buddy , holding three bullets in his mouth, looks up at Desert_Lightning with wide-eyed admiration. 20:03:27: Cataclysm shakes her head, "No idea what's going on up here." moving to pat Light Seeker on the head, "See? Nothing weird or haunted here. Just a tree and some rocks and a couple grave markers." 20:03:30: Light_Seeker reads the grave names in his mind 20:05:06: 13"then you get the gun, lucky colt...." the shopkeeper gives the new .45 to buddy 20:06:33: JackHammer pats Seeker on the shoulder. "You ready to go yet? I don't think there's anything else to see here." 20:08:09: buddy hugs Desert_Lightning. 20:08:09: patchwork leaves the sherif's office, and heads towards that tree light was going on about. "Time to round everpony up." 20:08:17: Desert_Lightning turns towards Buddy. "Say, wanna go catch up wit hthe others? I can fly you there if you want?" 20:08:36: Desert_Lightning is hugged and doesn't know what to do. 20:08:48: "Jackie Cat can you girls help me find a grave with a name on it?" 20:09:59: Cataclysm tilts her head to one side, "Sure... What name?" curious about what it might be that he's looking for. 20:10:07: "Yes!that'dbesocooltoflylikeasuperpony!" says Buddy, without any gaps. 20:11:04: patchwork approaches the three ponies on the hill. "Hey guys the sherif was holding a letter, and some other stuff from Molten for us." 20:13:00: Desert_Lightning picks Buddy up and positions him on his back, then, using his best announcer voice begins talking. "Welcome aboard Air Pegasus, we hope you enjoy this special one off flight, destination, where evr the rest are." And with that he takes off. 20:13:27: "I'm going to rest a little bit by this tree okay?" 20:14:07: "What are you guys doing?" 20:14:10: JackHammer stands on the other side of the grave markers from Cat and Light_Seeker and points to the face of the sign. "Puppysmiles Days." She points to the stone. "Rainy Days." She sighs as she realizes the first one is foal-sized. "Well, that's just sad...a mother and daughter both killed. No wonder somepony gave them both a beautiful view of the sea." 20:14:30: buddy cheers as Desert swoops and wooshes. 20:15:00: Cataclysm tilts her head to one side, then the other, before looking back to Patch, "Not really sure... Light Seeker wanted to see the tree and the graves. Something about the legend we heard?" 20:15:34: Desert_Lightning spots the rest over by a tree, a pink tree. "Would all passengers please hold on tight for a rapid decent." He says as he banks around for an exilirating, if somewhat tame, dive. 20:16:01: Light_Seeker lays down to sleep by the tree 20:16:08: "Wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!" 20:16:09: HighCaliber leaves Buddy to work on his gun and goes to look for the rest of the group. Patch is handling logistical... stuff, while the mares are at the top of some hill. HighCaliber runs off towards it as fast as he can. 20:16:18: 13the ships seems to slowly approach he coas, maybe in the mid afternoon she will dock at the pier 20:16:26: 'You mean the ghost of the Big 52 wasn't her name Puppy something?" 20:16:53: Cataclysm trots slowly over near LIght and settles down beside him to watch the boat coming in, "I don't think we got a specific name, to be honest. But supposedly this is where whatever happened to her happened to her." 20:17:28: HighCaliber , after much huffing and puffing reaches the top of the hill. He sees the two mares, Light_Seeker, a pink tree, a couple of grav- ... PINK TREE?!? 20:17:41: "WAAAIT!" 20:17:41: Desert_Lightning drops towards the ground, seeming like he was going to hit before neatly pulling out of the dive and lading gently on the ground near the tree. "We thank you all for flyng today, please disembark." He now sees the tree up close for the first time. 20:17:49: "Ah, well we need to leave soon. The rest of pay leaves with the next ship out." 20:18:19: "Do not *huff* touch that *puff* tree!" 20:19:24: "Whats wrong with the tree? Except for being painted pink." 20:19:27: Cataclysm nods her head to Patch, "Yeah. Okay. I know. But it's a few hours yet before the ship is in, then they have to unpack. Might as well let Light get a little rest, catch up with his ghosts, before we get moving again, right?" 20:19:32: JackHammer wasn't around for the story of the ghost of the Big 52. "What's this about a ghost anyway?" she asks as she lays down next to Cat. 20:20:16: Desert_Lightning looks at the tree, it doesn't look bad, but if HighCaliber is so agitated... 20:20:26: "It was a long story. You shoulc ask Light about it if you're really interested in learning about it." 20:20:33: HighCaliber looks at the tree, then at Patch, then back at the tree. "PAINTED pink?!? No, no, no." 20:20:34: should* 20:20:39: I don't think it's paint - maybe a dye? 20:20:40: Desert_Lightning tries to find a rock to throw at the tree. 20:20:54: "What did I miss something?" 20:20:59: "That tree is deadly as a Momma Hellhound!" 20:21:17: buddy grimaces as he looks at the pink tree. "Eww! That's a cootie tree!" 20:21:20: "Wait, what?" 20:21:45: Cataclysm basks under the nice warm sun, "So maybe we should just get going down to the port then, if the tree is so dangerous?" gently nudging Light Seeker, "C'mon. Let's go head for the boats, we'll watch 'em come in together. That'll be fun!" 20:21:50: "How could a trea be dangerous? That's just silly." 20:21:55: tree* 20:22:03: "Don't you understand? That tree isn't pink because someone thought it was a pretty color, that tree is filled with Pink Cloud!" 20:22:18: Light_Seeker is touching the tree and resting 20:22:32: "One whiff of its essence would be enough to kill a pony!" 20:22:37: "Oh. . . OH! OH SHIT!" 20:23:03: patchwork backs away from the deadly pink tree. 20:23:34: "Your lungs would liquefy in minutes! And that's if you're lucky. You wouldn't want to know the things that it can do..to... Is that colt sleeping on the tree?" 20:23:43: JackHammer eyes the tree uncertainly. "Say what now?" 20:23:45: Light_Seeker gets up and runs around in pain screaming 20:24:19: "Light seeker come here! Did you touch the tree?!" 20:24:25: Cataclysm winces, flattening her ears as Light Seeker suddenly starts kicking and screaming and running. Leaping to her hooves to run after him, now suddenly very worried he might have been seriously hurt! 20:24:34: HighCaliber stomps his hoof. "Dammit, we need a doctor!" 20:24:42: Light_Seeker runs towards the water 20:24:46: "I am a DOCTOR!" 20:25:04: "No damn it Light come here so I can treat you!" 20:25:06: Desert_Lightning tries to tackle Light_Seeker immediately. 20:25:16: buddy rushes toward his injured friend, his tail tugging a potion from his bags. 20:25:32: "Don't do not touch him." 20:26:07: "We need to get him out of his equipment so I can exaimine the wound." 20:26:41: HighCaliber remembers the Arcane Science Classes he took back at the Rangers. "Get him in some water! We need to wash all of the particles off of him!" 20:26:53: JackHammer jumps to her hooves as well, her startlement making her hesitate for a moment before she dives into her bags and pulls out bandages. "Get the wound clean and then we can wrap it if it's not too bad." 20:27:29: Cataclysm is mostly just rushing after Light Seeker as fast as she can, seeing as to how he's running off. She is not, however, yelling anything right now. 20:27:30: Desert_Lightning looks at the melting flesh, his mind racing through everything he knows about medicine and poison. 20:27:41: "I can treat the wound but do not apply anything to it untill it hase been throughly cleaned." 20:27:44: "Do NOT touch his wound before we wash off the Pink Cloud! Whatever touches it has a chance of fusing to him!" 20:28:38: "I can use my magic to strip him and I've got pure water to wash him with." 20:28:56: patchwork levitates out a bottled water. 20:29:25: buddy screeches to a halt, potion still held in his tail. "But, he's hurt!" 20:29:46: Cataclysm drags a canteen of water out of her saddlebag along with a healing potion, tossing the canteen to Desert Lightning, "You heard the doctor shouting. Wash it out." 20:29:48: Desert_Lightning looks at it, his mind ablaze with ideas. Quickly he finds potion from his saddle bags and presses it against Lights mouth. "DRINK!" he yells at the colt 20:30:15: Light_Seeker drinks as fast as he can while in pain 20:32:58: JackHammer waits until the foal's wound is clean and he's drunk a potion, and then she quickly wraps a bandage around it. That also hides the somewhat traumatic loss of cutie mark from view. 20:33:15: Desert_Lightning hugs Light while the healing potion takes effect. 20:34:03: HighCaliber sighs. "Is everyone alright?" 20:34:11: "I'm sorry I paniced. . ." 20:34:21: patchwork looks down at the ground. 20:36:53: Desert_Lightning is unhappy, really unhappy. "You okay Light?" he asks softly 20:37:32: Cataclysm frowns, "I think he'll be okay. Why don't we all head down to the docks and wait for the ship to come in? Before somepony else gets hurt by the tree?" 20:37:43: HighCaliber looks at the tree. "Why the /FUCK/ is there this monstrosity in a public area? So far from Canterlot none the less..." 20:38:54: "The ghost of the Big 52. It was in the story I don't know why I didn't remember it untill now. There isn't anything we can really do about it, lets go we need to get away from that. . . thing." 20:39:30: JackHammer patpats Patchy's shoulder. "No problem. It caught us all off guard. We forgot for a few moments that the entire bloody wasteland wants to kill us in various ways is all." :p 20:40:34: Desert_Lightning looks at the trww. "I should just make it gone, a little lightning and then no more tree, As much as it takes, I could just let it burn." 20:40:35: JackHammer isn't bitter at having her quiet moment ruined, oh no. 20:41:13: Light_Seeker lays down near Desert_Lightning 20:41:15: buddy trots around anxiously. "Is Light OK? Is he okay? Does he need a potion? He can have my potion." 20:41:40: "A little lightning and you could kill this whole town. It is best to leae the tree be." 20:41:43: Cataclysm looks to Lightning with a little frown, "Wouldn't that just spread the cloud all over the place? Sounds really dangerous..." 20:41:46: JackHammer is all for leaving the hill as well and waves for Seeker and Buddy to follow. "Come on, nothing to see here." 20:42:01: HighCaliber looks dumbfounded at Desert_Lightning. "Are you INSANE?" 20:42:36: "The last thing we need is a Pink Cloud vapor!" 20:43:12: Desert_Lightning look worried. "You said it's a cloud right? I can make it rain, I can make the winds do what I want. I could get it out to sea and let it defuse in the water." 20:43:25: (doesn't Look) 20:43:36: "Is it worth the risk?" 20:43:37: 13a loud whistle from the coast announces the steamboat willy entering the coastal waters, in a few minutes the boat wil lbbegin the docking manouvers 20:44:13: "You would melt in the process Desert." 20:44:53: 13and you still have no news from molten gold 20:45:07: "We need to leave. Our boat is here. Say good by to the Ghost of the Big 52 ponies." 20:45:49: Cataclysm shakes her head, "We need to head to the port. If we don't then we'll miss the boat." moving away from the tree and the graves, "We'll have to solve the mystery of the Big 52 when we come back, right?" 20:46:08: JackHammer cheers up at the sound of the whistle. "Oh yay, no more waiting! Let's go!" She doesn't give the foals any choice in the matter, grabbing for each one after the other to toss Seeker onto Cat and Buddy onto her back. 20:46:08: Desert_Lightning is not really paying attention right now. "Then if I create a rainstorm, no, need to be a gale first, get it far out. Maybe try and get it into a container of some kind, weave it through acloud. Gotta find something thick that would keep it away from me though." 20:47:33: "Desert, we're getting ready to leave. If you want to stay and be the 'Savior from the Trees,' be my guest." 20:47:59: "Desert the tree is a container for the Pink Cloud. As long as no pony touches it, it should theoretically stay there." 20:49:04: "Oh before I forget we got a letter from Molten. I'll share it with the rest of you when we get to the docks." 20:49:04: Desert_Lightning finally hears what they're saying. "Oh right, yeah, gotta leave it here. I think I may come back though, find a way to kill this tree dead." 20:49:56: "It is dead, and it isn't going any where. As long as no pony touches it, it should be realtivily safe." 20:50:22: buddy finds himself on the Tiger's back. Looking over, he sees Light is now safe and sound on Cat, and cheers up. 20:50:27: patchwork turns and walks down the hill towards the docks. 20:51:30: HighCaliber shifts his .50 Cal back on his back. "Let's go. I've had enough of this road to last a lifetime." 20:52:37: 13when the group is back in town, the boat has just finished the docking maneuver, a dozen of ponies are unloading crates from it 20:52:47: Light_Seeker looks at where his CM was and screams "WHERES MY CUTIE MARK??" 20:53:07: Desert_Lightning looks at the boat. "I think I'll meet you down there. I just don't want to be around this tree no more." Whoth that he charges off the cliff towards the open sea. 20:54:14: Cataclysm winces a little at the sudden scream, "Relax, Light Seeker. You're fine. You've been healed, nothing's wrong. Just relax." sighing quietly, how was she going to explain this? "It's just a bandage, see? Once your fur grows back you'll be okay." heading towards the ship. 20:54:51: JackHammer carries Buddy towards the boat and points to it with a smile. "Now that is something new to me. Ever been on a boat, Buddy?" 20:55:00: "All right gather round ever pony, and I'll let you read moltens letter." 20:55:59: JackHammer pauses just beyond Patchy. "Fire away." 20:56:38: HighCaliber catches up with the rest of the group. "Alright, let's hear it." 20:56:45: Desert_Lightning lands down by the rest of the group in time to hear the letter 20:57:06: patchwork levitates the letter out, and reads it out to the group. 20:58:20: "No I've never been on a boat before Ms Tiger. Hey! We could be pirates!" 20:58:25: Desert_Lightning is a bit better mentally from the flight. But is still angry with the tree. 20:58:53: JackHammer raises an eyebrow at the revelation that the ghoul isn't going to make it...again. On the plus side though, caps! Honest, not stolen from a dead pony, caps! 20:59:27: Light_Seeker gets off Cat and stretches 20:59:36: "So lets shoove off to lands unknown shall we?" 21:00:07: Cataclysm gently reaches down to pat Light Seeker, "See? You'll be fine. Just relax for now. We've got a nice long boat trip to recover on, right?" 21:00:09: 13and while the group gets ready for the boat trip, the sheriffs arrives trotting to them with a bag in her mouth 21:00:30: JackHammer grins at Buddy. "Yeah, pirates! They could call me Jackie Rackem or somethin'! And you could be Black Budd." 21:00:22: 13END OF GROUP 3 SESSION