New Moon Rises (MLP Quest)

"Trixie thinks..." you gulp nervously before you speak. What you're about to say may be one of the most foolish decisions you've made since waking up in that field - but no risk, no reward. You let out a breath you hadn't even realized you were holding in the form of a sigh as you finally say, "Trixie thinks you should tell the princess whatever you want." What!?!

Twilight blinks at that. "What?"

Sunburst looks surprised. "What?"

"Tell the princess whatever you want," you repeat, giving the purple unicorn what you hope is a reassuring smile, "You've done well by Trixie so far, and you know what Trixie know - what they worship and what they want, what they've been doing to unicorns - what they did to Trixie." Your expression grows serious for a moment, "The deadline is the most important part - the Summer Sun Celebration is important for their plan in some way," You're expression softens as you continue, "Trixie trusts you will tell the princess whatever you must."

Twilight regards you for a moment before nodding somewhat slowly, "I'll... be on my way then..." she turns and starts walking before pausing and glancing back, "And Trixie? Thank you."

You give her a small smile and a nod of your head in reply before she starts off again, and after a moment she's vanished out of sight. "So," Sunburst says as he approaches you, both of you still staring in the direction Twilight vanished, "now what?"

"Now?" You reply, turning to him, "Now I imagine you will begin working on that research you mentioned. Trixie, meanwhile, is going to go find Captain Armor and begin searching for those cultists." From somewhere close by, you hear a very unprofessional cheer from your personal bat pony. You glance in her direction before turning back to Sunburst and adding, "Also, Trixie might need you to watch Silver Spoon."

The filly wilted a little at that, ears folding back as she looks up at you, "But I want to go with you!"

You kneel down, running a hoof through the fillies mane as you say, "Where Trixie is going is no place for a filly - no more then that cafe turned out to be. You will be safe here," you then add with a smirk, "Besides - Trixie needs somepony to keep Sunburst on task."

Sunburst gives an indignant 'hey!' while Silver chuckles before nodding in understanding. You rise back to your hooves and find Chromia right next to you, a big fangy grin on her face, "So - hunting time?"

"Hunting time," you reply with a nod, "But first we need to speak to the Captain." You take the lead as you head out of the library and into the castle proper, only occasionally asking for directions as you weave your way toward the castles garrison. From there, it's not too difficult to locate the captains office. Wouldn't want the new grunts getting too lost, now would we?

The captain looks up as the two of you enter, Chromia falling into what you think is called 'parade rest' to the side of the door as you approach Shining's desk, "You are still planning on tracking down these cultists, yes?" You ask, forgoing any pretense.

"Yes, I am," Shining asks, raising an eyebrow, "You want to come along?"

"Indeed," you reply with a nod, gesturing toward Chromia with one hoof, "Trixie will be bringing Chromia as well."

"I haven't even agreed to bring you yet," Shining points out with a smirk, "It's a little premature to make demands."

"One," you reply, "They aren't demands - Trixie is simply stating a fact. Two - why wouldn't you bring Trixie? You know that they're after Trixie - if you're hunting, you bring bait don't you?"

Shining stares at you for a moment before letting out a sigh, "Normally I'd say no, but I know you can take care of yourself, although," he glances up at you, smirking, "you do realize that suggesting we use you as bait is dangerous, right?"

You give him a grin that can only be decribed as predatory, "Traps are always dangerous for the ones being hunted."

Shining leans back in his chair - and away from you - as he pulls a map out onto the table, "We don't have many ideas for where to start," he says as he waves a hoof over the map while you and Chromia step closer, "The most obvious points are the Market District - where you and I met - and the near the theater district by the cafe. Given how fast and with how many ponies they acted, they have to have something nearby. The other option is to sweep the palace district - given what they want, I'd wager they have something near the castle."

"What about here?" Chromia asks, pointing to what looked like a warehouse district, "Villains always have bases in those sorts of places, right?"

"At this point, thats as valid a basis for conclusions as anything," Shining says with a shug before turning to you, "What do you think, Trixie?"

You continue staring at one area of the map for a moment before saying, "Captain, you understand that Trixies theatrics in relation to your romantic life are in jest, yes?"

"I... suppose," Shining Armor says slowly, obviously caught off-guard, "What brings this on?"

"Trixie is about to ask you a favor," you reply, glancing up from the map and at the captain, "and Trixie has found that apologizing for any possible slights before asking for such tends to work best."

Shining give an amused snort at that, "I'm pretty sure you aren't supposed to explain all of that, either," he gives a small shake of his head before glancing back at you, "So - what's the favor?"

You rest a hoof on the market District, "Silver Spoon's parents were killed the same night you and Trixie met."

"And you want help finding them, right?" Shining asked.

You shrug, "Silver Spoon needs some sort of closure, we think - and this is the best Trixie can come up with. It shouldn't be a problem, since they were in the same area as our hunt will be taking us."

Shining Armor considers it for a moment before nodding, "I'll do what I can - but where do you want to start?"

Pick one:
[ ] Let Shining choose. So let the bluenette pick at random? got it.
[ ] Market District
[ ] Theater District
[ ] Palace District
[ ] Warehouses
[ ] Write-in

Any sort of plan?
[ ] Write-in

Install Combat Mod Y/N? (N)

Sorry about the delay - internet went out last night.

-----------

"The Market District," you settle on after a moment of thought, "Silver Spoon aside, it is where Trixie first ran into these... ruffians."

"Fair enough," Shining replies, nodding as he rolls up the map and tucks its away under the desk, "So - lets get going."

He waves a hoof, beckoning for you and Chromia to follow. You glance at the bat pony, who simply shrugs and moves to follow the captain as he heads for a door on the other side of the room. You follow after a moment.

You stop and blink as you find yourself suddenly in the bright morning light. You recover after a moment - far faster than your semi-nocturnal compatriot, at least - and take in the scene.

A small contingent - perhaps a platoon? - of a couple dozen guards stand in formation before you. Shining Armor just looks back at you with a small smirk, "What? You thought we were going to do this alone?" Oh yes - I haven't had underlings in ages!

"Trixie had assumed we were going to be more... subtle than this," you reply after a moment. ...I'm not sure if either of us can even do subtle.

"Subtle stopped being in the plans when they attacked my city," Shining replies, "And if you want to find somepony in this city, then the 24th Special Investigation Division is who you want."

"Trackers?" Chromia asks from just behind you. It seemed that she's decided to match the platoon's formality and had taken position just behind you and to the left. oh - our own group of royal guards and a retainer; even better!

"That and more," Shining says. "the 24th is one of the best inteligence and reconnaissance groups in Equestria," the captain turns around to face the unit as he continues, "Alright, fillies and gentelcolts, listen up!" he nods back in your direction, "Miss Lulamoon here has had a few too many run-ins with a local cult and is looking for some help making the problem go away. What sorts of guards would we be if we said no?" A small wave of chuckles ripple through the group, but vanish instantly as Shining's expression turns grim, "This group attacked a cafe yesterday and we have reason to suspect they might be involved in the Silver murder. These lunatics have been kidnapping ponies and using them for who-knows-what. Do not underestimate them. Understood?" Two dozen steely gazes and firm nods answer him back, "Good - We're starting in the Market District. Standard aerial and magic sweeps and watches. Anypony finds anything, they report it to me. Move out."

A chorus of hooves snapping to attention, followed by twenty-four hooves saluting in unison makes for an impressive sight. You wait for the platoon to disperse before stepping up to Shining Armor, "And what of us, Captain?"

"Us?" he replies, "We're going to retrace your route through the market."

"Sounds fairly basic," Chromia quips.

"But effective," you add in, "And if they were in the area before, Trixie bets they will be there again."

Shining sighs, "I've never met a mare so willing to be bait." We aren't the bait, remember? We're the trap.

The walk to the market district is, thankfully, uneventful. Ponies glance in your direction as you pass them, murmuring amongst themselves as they watch your little trio. A great deal of the attenion is directed in Shining Armors attention, as is expected - its not often that the captain of the Royal Guard moves through town fully armored, let alone with two lovely mares close behind. Chromia attracts a fair bit of stares as well - bat ponies aren't that common after all.

But a good chunk of the attention is directed at you, and you can't help but smirk as you notice that. A few caught snippets of conversation confirm you suspicion - word of your show last night has gotten around town. You can't be sure if its becuase of how amazing your show was or because it ended with a giant brawl against a group of cultists, but hey - fame is fame. Thats it, mortals - gaze at us in awe. Watch us like you always should have.

"Alright," Shining says, cutting you out of your subtle preening as your group comes to a stop at a vaguely familar corner, "Here's where you and I met," Shining turns to you, "So - where did you come from?"

"Hrm..." you glance around for a moment, wracking your brain for the right memories. Let me help you with that...

After a moment, the memories rush forth with crystal clarity, "This way," you say, pointing down a side alley, "Trixie is certain of it."

"Lead the way then," Shining says as he steps aside, and you do just that. The unicorn and the bat pony follow behind you as you lead them through the twisting alleys, crossing the occational street. You ignore passing conversations along with the comments of your companions as you retrace your steps through the markets of Canterlot.

Your pace slows though as you reach a street that stands out from the others you've cut through. This one lacks the traffic of the others; instead it appears the a small group of royal guards have beaten you to this particular spot. And none of them are guards you recognize.

You step forward slowly, approaching the crime scene with the sort of caution you usually reserve for manticores. Yellow tape cordons off a large section in the middle of the street, and a larger circle of empty street surrounds that as ponies give the scene a wide berth - or simply turn around and walk the other way. most ponies are not acustomed to death, after all.

You cross the dead-space to approach the nearest of the guards, "Excuse me, guard - is this where the Silver murders occured?"

The guard raises an eyebrow at that, "Ma'am, we are not allowed to share details-"

"She's with me, lieutenant," Shining cuts in as he approaches, "Miss Lulamoon is assisting with the investigation."

"Sir," the lieutenant replies with a salute before turning back to you, "In that case... yes, it is Ma'am."

"When was the... crime?" you ask with only a hint of hesitation as you peer around the guard and at the crime scene. To your untrained eyes, it looks like just another section of street. That's what I'm for - but later...

"Evening," the guard replies, "Apparently they had been coming back from the theater."

"Trixie had come through here in the morning," you murmur to yourself.

"Yeah, but that this happened where you'd cut through..." Shining Armor adds his own musings.

"Was the couple out that morning?" Chromia suddenly asks, causing you, Shining, and the guard to look up.

"Um... yes, actually," the now confused lieutenant replies, "They were out shopping that morning." Thats it!

"What are you getting at, Chromia?" you ask, raising an eyebrow at the bat pony.

"That Mister Silver might have gotten curious," Chromia replies, "And that it might have cost him dearly." Cold, but very acur-wait!

You are about to retort that no amount of curiousity should make a filly an orphan when a chill runs up your spine. You spin around in time to spot a cloaked figure vanishing through a cellar door. "Captain!" you snap out, already moving forward, "It seems we've found our prey."

Shining nods before he starts to charge a spell, his horn flaring a moment later as a series of arcane bolts seep into the ground. "Alight," he says, "Back-up is on its way. Lets move." A secure signaling spell - clever.

You start to move forward again before Chromia stops you, "Please, allow me," she steps forward, swinging the cellar doors open and peering into the darkness beyond, "Royal Guard, come out now!" She shouts into the darkness. No response. Cautiously, she slips down the stairs and into the pitch-black cellar. You loose sight of her for a moment before she shouts, "All clear! Looks like they bolted."

You cast a light spell, horn glowing like a lantern as you head down the rickety wooden steps, Shining a few steps behind you. In the pale blue of your mage light, the cellar looks more like a tomb as long shadows are cast off by stacks of dusty barrels and cob-web covered shelves. Grey stone walls stretches out into the blackness and leave the far corners of the wall shrouded in darkness.

"It looks like-" Shining starts to say, but is cut off as the cellar doors slam shut as a jolt of static runs through you. The jolt snaps your concentration just long enough for your spell to fail.

The last thing you see before your light vanishes is a quartet of cloaked ponies decending from the rafters.

pick one:
[ ] Counter-attack. The best defense is leaving everypony attacking you drooling into the tiles.
[ ] Evade and escape. Back-up is enroute. Just feed this fools to the guards.
[ ] Regroup. Meaning get back to the one pony in the room whose both on your side and armed.
[ ] Reflexes. These foals are nothing. They want to see their goddess so badly? We're more then happy to oblige.