Post by Virga on Dec 25, 2011 9:54:42 GMT -5
Time: Day
Time Placement: After the Solstice.
Cast: Firefly, Luna, Rainbow Dash, Virga
Story Begins: From the Night, of Reaches Unknown
Preceded By: Light & Dark
Followed By: Baubles
New logs are below THOU!
----
FIREFLY
Upon the balcony there arose a slight breeze, enough to swirl the curtains slightly. A rustle of wings and a clop of hooves heard as Firefly enters the room, She knew the princess was elsewhere at the moment and chose to make a casual entrance today, knowing there was an injured flier present. Her duties were done for now and she was very curious at to just what aside of a dragon could take a flier from the skies. "Are thee awake Virga of the Unknown?" she asks rather quietly just in case he was sleeping.
VIRGA
Virga had fallen asleep after his talk with Celestia, and right into one of the books he was in the middle of reading. He wasn't the bookish sort like Twilight, but he was in an unfamiliar land. The assortment of books he read included titles such as: Canterlot Weather Oddities, Equestrian Aerial Tactics, Equestrian Storm Conjuring, Dragons in Equestrian History, Advanced Pegasi Tactics, Night Flying In the Fog. What he couldn't do physically, he read about. Something in him wanted to know this culture's methods regarding things he was familiar with, but still--he wasn't familiar with them. The book in which his head rest was one solely regarding Royal Tongue.
FIREFLY
Firefly walks up to the sleeping pegasus. She takes another look at the various things done to his wings with a quiet shudder. A flier that was grounded. She'd been grounded for a time herself, though not like this, and it drove her crazy. She peers now at the various titles strewn around him, lifting an eyebrow at a few of them. She herself was in the midst of reading one on ancient customs of Equestria. A gift from her Princess Luna. This new visitor was certainly a bewilderment. She knew all the elite fliers from Butterfy Island back home...she'd bested every one of them, often three or five to one. They had fought dragons galore back home and heard of a few here. Most curious indeed.
VIRGA
Not far from Virga and the books was a dresser on which the light padded armor lay. It didn't draw much attention to itself, except that it appeared old and heavily used. Either he obtained it old or it had served him through that much--hard to say. It was a light armor that thoroughly lacked metal, being made of a leather and little more. His wings looked better than they did the last time Firefly saw him, but they still looked fairly bad. It was a wonder they could even be healed. he stirred a little, moving his head from the book, not quite awake just yet.
FIREFLY
Firefly eventually lifts her head, looking around. He seemed to be healing rather well considering, but this IS the royal Palace, only the best of the best served here. The guards were on station, there had been no reports of anything found in the air or anywhere near here. She turns and walks over to the dresser after noticing the armor, the lack of metal getting her attention more than anything. Her own combat equipment was a blend of metal, stone and crystal, She had never seen leather armor before outside of a history book or a play. She investigates the armor a little closer, looking for any marks or insignia, any clue to the origins of this unusual visitor.
VIRGA
Virga's armor bore marks left by hooves, claws, the elements, and in one particular place, what looked like bite marks of some small creature. The pony, of course, didn't interrupt her perusing the only belonging he had though his eyes did blink open. He didn't notice Firefly,and closed his eyes again.Was it day already? "The sun is bright..." he mumbled. "Could somepony pull the curtain? It's too bright."
FIREFLY
Firefly does not touch the armor, but ponders the individual marks in time, thinking of the situations and possible battles leading to each mark. She is standing still, though her ears turn upon hearing a voice. His voice. He was awake. She turns and spreads her wings, lifting effortlessly to the balcony trimmings, grabbing the drape latches and pulling them mostly closed, landing again. "There. The sun is indeed to bright in this room. It should face another direction with less...sun." cupping her ears forward as she lands in the middle of the room. "I trust your sleep was restful?"
VIRGA
Virga kept his eyes shut until the curtain blocked the sun. That was better. He could see in day just as well as any other pony, but he didn't much care for it. He felt naked in the day, exposed because of how much his dark colors contrasted it. "It was," he answered, warily turning his head to face her. He'd fallen asleep while reading and slept deep. "When did you arrive? Princess Celestia was here shortly before I slept."
FIREFLY
Firefly says "I have been here but a little while." she replies quietly. "You were sleeping after a deep read it looks like." pointing a wingtip to the book that was his pillow. "The titles I find interesting in themselves," looking to the dresser. "And your armor is unlike any I know of. I have only seen such in books of history and the occasional play." cracking a small grin. "You shun the light. This is a good thing I think." giving a laugh. "Far to many relish in the blinding thing and thus can not see the beauty of the night. I know of nothing in the night skies that burns the eyes and blinds a pony whom looks upon it, as does the Sun."
VIRGA
Celestia found it intriguing that he was familiar with Royal Speak, along with several other things he didn't tell Dash. What would Firefly make of it? Would it get around Canterlot and beyond that he had these interests and unusual armor as well? Being in the spotlight was not exactly something he was accustomed to very well. He recalled--it led to trouble at times. "That armor has been with me for as long as I remember," he said, flicking his tail. "The metal armor I see here is strange to me."
FIREFLY
Firefly says "And yet the metal armors of this land of Equestria are ancient in themselves, according to local history books." walking back over to the dresser. "I am not from this side of Equestria, I am from another land far far away. Butterfy Island. While I knew nothing of this place or its customs, I learned fast." turning back towards the wounded pegasus. "Much the same way YOU are." aiming a wing towards the books. "While ways here are...different, they have a common ancestry somewhere in history. Much is the same, much is different. Having been one in your position, I can relate to this a bit better perhaps than ponies who were born and raised here. I do not have the clouded mind of generations of pony tales to frighten me to behave."
VIRGA
"Thou maketh point pristine," Virga responded. He slipped again into that tone, like he had with Dash. This time, however, he didn't act like he just now caught himself on the matter and motioned to one of the servants that he needed something hot to drink, preferably tea. "I'm still unsure of my origin. I remember things, my skills, but not the experiences that gave them. I remember that I normally sleep in the day and awake at night."
FIREFLY
Firefly blinks, then cracks a small smile. "Thou Speaketh warily in thy lines, flier of the Night." she returns. "I have already read that book, and a few others akin to it. Though some terms I know how to use, many have vague usage so I do not use them until I learn the proper conjugation and placement. I find the old words...soothing in a way. Clear. True." folding her wings away. "So some memory has returned? This is a good thing. Is there anything at all of the cause of your wounds? After searching and searching, none of the guards have found any threats above Canterlot. Well, there was Diamond, but she's back in Ponyville, and was not flying in this area at the time, so you didn't meet her face to face. Lucky for you."
VIRGA
"There was nothing in the sky," he answered. The servant returned with a tray of tea and pastries, specifically apple pasties. He thanked the servant and pulled the tea closer for a hot drink. So his speaking in that manner wasn't too strange for her...good. As he sipped his tea, the muscles in his back cautiously pulled on his wings for the first time in days. He winced as they hurt, but the basic structures that were smashed had regrown due to the medicines the Doctor gave him. Still, he was a long way from flight. The length of his wings were hard to determine in their current stage, but the build was swift, angular and made for speed, sharp turning. He managed to stretch them all the way up with some difficulty. "That's all I know."
LUNA
Luna points out solemnly, "A swift pegasus and a strong wind can cover vast distances in a short time. He might have obtained his wounds anywhere." The princess walks in with clipped hoofsteps, peering down at Virga curiously as she steps up to Firefly's side. "Thou are our sister's foundling, then? Thy speech marks thee as coming from some land either closely sheltered or far away. Although we find that our Firefly slowly drifts into our own way of speaking."
FIREFLY
Firefly watches carefully as Virga tries to lift a wing. Just thinking of falling like he did makes her wince. She studies him carefully, not missing the fact his wings were very much like her own, built for extremely intricate manuevering, this meant combat flight or extreme storm control as both required that soft of ability to survive. The third option, she dismissed. An aerial acrobat would not bear such armor except in costume. She starts to say something as Luna speaks. She turns to nod to Luna, smiling a bit to the Princess. "Ah. I had understood he fell after breaking his wings, so assumed little lateral movement."
VIRGA
Virga breathed sharply inwards. His wings now stretched upwards, pulling the muscles in his back. He had regained a minute control over them whereas since crashing he had none. Slowly, he bent them down and tucked them against his back, covering the Moon Ring Mark on his flanks. And then he flexed his wings up again a second time, still with difficulty."I am the foundling," he answered. "For all I know, I simply came into being. I recall no encounters or fights, only loud and vague noise before being alone in the sky with broken wings. No other Pegasi or creature was up there that night. I was high...very high."
LUNA
Luna's horn glows faintly, and a soft blanket of magic encircles Virga, lifting him up into the air so that she can step up and inspect his injuries. "There is little mystery in it. Memories can be broken by injury the same way that bones can. As with bones, sometimes they heal, sometimes they are forever crippled. The only mystery is thy origin, and Equestria is vast and holds many secrets. Thou are obviously descended from ourself, but alas that puts thee in a group with every other pony in the world. The blood is merely strong, in thy case."
FIREFLY
Firefly looks from Virga to Luna. "He is of the Royal Line?" widening her eyes slightly not having thought of that at all. "This adds a new thought or five to the quandry." looking him over a little as well. "His wings indicate extensive combat or extreme weather training. The leading edge alone is impressive, not counting the sweep of them." walking to one side. "And the sweep must be majestic, even crippled it is impressive...it must be amazing to see in flight."
VIRGA
Being off the ground again, even if by magickal means, was something that relieved Virga of the 'earthen confines' that bothered Pegasi if they stayed on the ground for too long. Virga's injuries were surprisingly isolated to his wings and back with bruising along the legs and stomach from the impact. Some how, even with crippled wings, he had managed to slow himself down enough to avoid a paralyzing or fatal impact with Celestia's balcony. A mere analysis of his wings proved correct. Virga was a strong flyer, though he was too humble to say as such. "She who is centuries old knows more than mine self," he said. "I cannot speak my age for I remember naught of it."
LUNA
Luna chuckles mildly, "We invite thee to remember our age, beloved Firefly. There is not likely a pony in the world who is not of the royal line by now. We merely wonder if there is significance that he shows our blood so strongly. It is a curiosity, nothing more." The magic slowly rotates Virga onto his back, then back over onto his stomach, and finally lays him down again. "The wisdom of centuries advises this: Build a new life, pegasus. Thy old one will come looking for thee, or it won't. Chasing it is futile."
FIREFLY
Firefly watches as Luna rotates and examines the flier. She tilts her head and takes mental notes. He was built indeed. Top to bottom, a war machine. "Of course My Luna. I do forget your yesterdays are not as ours." watching as the Princess puts him down again. "I still wonder...*something* hurt him. But what?"
VIRGA
Whoa, now, what was she doing putting him onto his back? Fortunately it didn't last long and soon he lay on the ground once more. "I hadn't thought of seeking anything," he said. "It is the party that which visits who seek to know more than I." He resumed his tea drinking. Now that he had a basic motor control in his wings, he felt the power within stirring. Wings and flight were the power of Pegasi, though many Pegasi these days, according to the books he read during his stay, said many pranced and hopped on their clouds whereas he did more with them. He stared hard at the tea, its reflective surface and raised his wings again. Did he still have it? Memories could be damaged, but he had to know. He had to know very much! He winced as the very ends of his wings snapped under his command; the water in the tea mixture thrust up like a spear from the cup and solidified to ice, which shattered to pure mist, evaporating before his eyes. "Yes," he said. "I feel it again. How I bent the vapors..."
LUNA
Luna scowls abruptly as the ice freezes, and she has a hard stare, blue-green eyes that are like ice beneath flat brows. "By our beloved moon. Not another one. We will find whoever has found a way to bring out a pegasus's magic like a unicorn's and make certain it is forgotten permanently." Her wing swings out, pointing a pinion straight at Virga's nose. "THOU!" she declares, "What know thee of the strength and extent of that power?"
RD
Having swooped her way in from Cloudsdale, Rainbow Dash is sans armor this time, and carrying a basket in her muzzle. With a quick flutter of her blue wings, she lands out in the hallway and trots into the room that Virga was being held in. "Hefff Vrrrrguh! Guff yah' sumfing!" She mumbles with her mouth full of handle, giving a pause at the sight of Luna and Firefly. Dropping the basket with a thud to the ground, she gives an awkward grin as her brows shoot up. "Oh. Hey, didn't know you had company. Err -- I can take off.."
FIREFLY
Firefly is just standing there, gazing with a silly little grin where the ice column had exploded into vapor. Another one. A storm pegasus like herself. This alone was amazing. It wasn't until Luna snapped a wing towards Virga that she refocuses on the here and now. "Wait....what?!?!" she asks in a startled voice then almost disbelieving. "Princess...that...that was an elemental weather control not unlike my own, not Unicorn magic!" then immediately going quiet, wincing, berating herself mentally for saying anything at all.
VIRGA
As relieved as he was to know he could still perform his innate talent, the reaction in Luna caught him off guard. The loud Voice and pinion at his nose had him staring up at the Princess with unsure look. Was she upset about this or taken by surprise and unsure of how to express herself? His ears focused toward Dash's arrival for a brief moment before Firefly spoke, and then his attention went straight back to Luna. "My...Mark, Princess," he said. "It enables me greater control over clouds than the average Pegasi, like a baker's Mark may permit him to achieve cooking in ways one without would not. Forming Moon Rings as a means of protection is my strongest capability." A Royal asked, as as such his blood thought to be stronger than usual, he provided answer as appropriate.
LUNA
Luna's eyes study Virga's expression minutely, and as they do the pupils twitch, narrowing just for an instant. Slowly she takes a step back, and her wing folds against her side. "Very well," she concedes suspiciously. "The power of thy cutie mark is a thing to be embraced and not feared, but the magic that makes the storm ponies must not spread. Thy memories are still broken, but if thou find such power is given to thee after all, thou will treat it with caution." She stomps one hoof, the silver shoe ringing, and adds in a louder tone, "Let us be clear about this. If these unnatural powers are allowed to harm innocent ponies, thus shall we ensure it does not repeat." With that her horn shines. Blue light grabs the room's heavy wooden wardrobe, but it does so in a blink, and with a slamming, grinding, screeching noise the wardrobe is stomped flat into a new dent in the floor. Wood splinters out the sides, metal is folded flat, and bits of ceramic from the nicknacks inside are scattered around, but the top is as flat as a board now.
RD
" So.. this is .. a bad time for me to drop by. I'll just put these right here." Rainbow Dash says as she scoots the basket of surprise over to the side of the wall, hopefully out of the way from flying projectiles. ".. And.. Yeah, I'm going to play some windball with the Wonderbolts or somethin'." Wit a flutter of her wings, she starts creeping for the entrance. Creep. Creep. Creep.
FIREFLY
Firefly stands at station, saying or doing nothing at the moment. She catches sight of Dash and offers a slight nod, but remains where she belongs for now, reminded far to easily of the apple barrel warning.
VIRGA
If Virga didn't know any better, Luna was much unlike her sister in the regard of power. He had a feeling Celestia would have no suspicion curiosity in his ability rather than one in which she demonstrated her own power. He watched without flinching as something about her power was familiar to him long ago in whatever place he came from. "One thing I do recall, Princess," he said, "is that demonstrations like mine and yours were great causes of fear and that those with Marks were often hunted to ensure their power wasn't used at all. Princess Celestia assures me the ponies here bear Marks and they don't fear other's abilities." He lowered his wings in a defensive manner, as if to shield himself from whatever wrathful display this Princess of the Night could muster, though he still looked pitiful with them in such a state. "If I might observe, you speak as if you've a deep fear of those who might possess Mark abilities much closer to Unicorn magic."
LUNA
Luna tells Virga sternly, "We are aware of the strength of pegasus magic, far more than the pegasi are. Someone has developed magic to channel it directly as a weapon, and those weapons are being drawn to our power now that we are returned." Her horn shines again, much more dimly, and now light and a grip settles around Rainbow Dash and her basket. Rather than dragging her in or pinning her, it merely urges her forward as she concludes, "Do not flee, Element of Loyalty. Thy good cheer is necessary that this pegasus understand that he is welcome, merely warned."
RD
Almost out of the room, Rainbow Dash has an uncomfortable look on her face. She's not used to seeing furniture get destroyed by magic, and maybe somewhere in the back of her mind, she still thinks Luna is going to flip out and go Nightmare Bruce Willis Mare on their butts again, and so getting flattened is not on her Christmas list. As the magic starts gently pulling her back, she lets out an 'Erk!' ".. Uh, oh, I don't want to intrude or anything, you know, if you guys are having fun smashing things and all. I can always come back..."
FIREFLY
Firefly is used to most of the magical outbursts, though something in Luna's word stuck in her mind. She only lifted one wing slightly to ward off some flying splinters, tucking it away almost immediately after the great flattening was completed. She smiles to Rainbow as Luna urges her in, then offers Virga a gentle nod and smile as well, to reassure him, though she was impressed by the fact he had not panicked or reacted without thought.
VIRGA
Getting Dash to stay was important, but for some unknown reason Virga felt it best to keep Luna's attention as best as he could so she could slip away if she felt it was important to do so. This Night Princess didn't scare him,but the fact he was still technically a patient undergoing wound treatment while being confronted with this display. "If I might suggest, Princess," he said, "I've received nothing but kindness from those living here. There's no reason for me to harm anyone. Seeing as Dash is more or less inclined to depart under these circumstance, I implore you to ask yourself if a warning is truly necessary. These displays and speakings would unsettle any pony not used to them, and you'd not want your subjects to fear you...am I right?" He wasn't sure where this came from, advising a Princess prone to outbursts when it really wasn't his place to do so. "That and...what if Princess Celestia saw you smashing a wardrobe to make a point in front of an injured pony?"
LUNA
Luna answers Virga coldly, "That thou do not understand is the best sign of thy innocence." Her expression is certainly not remorseful and hasn't gotten any friendlier. Her pupils keep twitching and jumping, too, even when her eyes are focused. Lifting her head, without looking over at Dash she announces, "We apologize for this peremptoriness, Rainbow Dash." The apology is for that grip on her tightening, scooping Rainbow off the floor and floating her into the room to dump her into Luna's place. Luna herself is no longer using it. She turns and walks back to the door she came in, the one that leads to her own apartments next to Celestia's suite. Over her shoulder, she instructs, "Make him comfortable again, Firefly, but we would be grateful if he understands where the line of insolence is drawn."
RD
"Errrk!" Again. Rainbow Dash finds herself fluttering over without her free will and deposited on the floor. She is by now, hugging the basket she brought with her. "Uh, no problem Luna!" She calls over before looking back over to Virga and Firefly with a confused look on her face. "Soooo... anyways, Virga, I brought you stuff! Hoping that some of it can help you remember." She says as she trots over to him and flops down in front of him, shoving the basket over with a push of her hoof.
FIREFLY
Firefly's attention turns to Luna. "Of course Princess." nodding to Luna as she takes her leave. Firefly sighs quietly, barely lifting her own wingtips to stir up three very small vortices along the floor, the three whirling wisps forming very small foot tall tornadoes, sucking up the debris along the floor and pulling it into the air a bit to be carried by a longer thinner 'tunnel' of wind and cloud out the balcony to a trash receiver below. She tilts her wingtips slightly, looking around and moving the mini-twisters along to ensure the entire thing was cleaned up. The dent in the floor she could do nothing about however.
VIRGA
Virga was comfortable until the younger Princess arrived. He tried reasoning and coaxing, but it didn't seem to work too well. He didn't quite hear Dash over his own immediate thoughts regarding the very last piece of work stated forth from her. Lines of insolence? For the first time, Virga was displeased about something. As Firefly cleaned the place, his wings violently snapped out, resulting in a strain in his back that took whatever little control he had in them. He slammed a hoof on the floor in pain as his once-again-limp wings hit the floor. "Spare me this talk before I'm the one drawing lines of insolence," he said, though shaken by the pain. It was too much.The pain coursed his back and froze him in place. The first time Virga had been angered here was also one of the most painful since the crash. The shock of once again losing motor control in his wings forced him to breath hard until he lay down his head and went still. The pony passed out.
RD
Ears perking upwards as Virga gets upset, Rainbow Dash holds out her hooves a bit. "Woah, hey, calm down, she riles everyone up, don't worry so mu-" As he passes out, her eyes look worried and she leans over to tuck her muzzle into his neck, giving him a gentle nudge. "Virga? Are.. are you alright?" She asks as her wings give a slight flutter behind her, then looks agitated.
FIREFLY
Firefly finishes cleaning up and dispells her little twisters out of the balcony where they fade away. She returns and walks up to Dash, looking to Virga. "I heard the stress in his wings....the pain must have been strong." looking him over. "He'll be all right, if he doesn't over stress himself so. He is not from around here, and even Celestia has thin limits when a guest acts so. The princess's ARE the supreme authority here, together, as sisters. can you help him understand this? I think he was in a position of power himself back in his home, to speak so."
RD
"Well, if he wakes up, then I'll talk to him about it." Rainbow Dash says as she looks over him worriedly for a moment, before letting out a heavy breath. With a flutter of her wings, she leaps up into the air, if anything to just feel more comfortable off the ground.
FIREFLY
Firefly nods as she sits there, carefully folding her own wings away. Un-natural. Being drawn out. She never knew why she found the forest so comforting that night. It certainly makes her think. "Blacking out from pain is usually a short lived thing, I've known it a few times." then walks over to the dresser. "Say, Rainbow, have YOU ever seen an armor like this? Leather, with no metal or crystals?" indicating Virga's flight armor.
VIRGA
"Nuh uh, no one has need to wear armor about Ponyville or Cloudsdale. Only armor I've ever seen is the kind the guards wear here, and the armor that Luna gave me the other day." Rainbow Dash says as she continues to hover in the air, giving a bit of a helicopter circling in the air above Virga. "He is sweet though, in a amnesic royal posh kinda way."
FIREFLY
Firefly says "I have armor, but nothing as fancy as yours." nodding to Dash. "Mine is just wing and chest, neck and back, and black. All of the night fighters got black, day fighters got silver. Though the wing bits were weapons too." looking at all the marks in the leather armor. "His wings and armor speak of a strong fighter, very fast and agile. His words speak of the Courts on High, and his attitude speaks of being one used to giving orders and not hearing words returned." lifting off and rolling upside down to face the sleeping Virga. "Just WHO are you, Storm Pegasus of the Night."
VIRGA
Virga did stir as Firefly said he would, though it was slow. He heard their voices, but nothing else came. Why exactly had he blacked out again? He couldn't think. The region between black out and consciousness meddled with knowing his surroundings, and typically Virga was a light sleeper. The last few days had been the heaviest sleep he had known. He stirred, but only opened an eye, staring out at the floor and the tray where his untouched pastries still awaited him, and further to the flattened cabinet. Oh...yes. That's right. He slowly pressed his front hooves against the floor and pushed. There was no denying it. He couldn't move his wings once again, thanks to Luna aggravating him enough. It didn't matter if she was royal or not, and it didn't matter to him if he had once held power or not. Her behavior was inappropriate before someone in his condition.
RD
"Hey, take it easy!" Rainbow Dash calls out as she zips down to his side, looking to usher him gently back down. "Don't push yourself, you passed out again. You should really take it easy." She says as she tucks her muzzle in behind his jaw, giving him a soft press before leaning back and looking worried. "Do you need me to find a healer for you?" She asks.
FIREFLY
Firefly rolls right side up and lands. "He lives." she smiles, tucking her wings in, feeling a bit bad using them before a pony who could not. "It takes much more than a wee bit of pain to take a storm pegasus out." nodding matter of factly, sitting quietly as Dash checks him out.
VIRGA
If it hadn't been for Dash, he'd had forced himself to stand with his limp wings and risk damaging them even more. The touch of her muzzle behind his jaw eased him back down. "No," he said softly, "Just the palace Doctor will do. And keeping her away from me. I did nothing but test myself with my tea cup, and she reacted the way you saw."
RD
"Yeah.. she's uh.. pretty extreme.." Rainbow Dash says in a soft voice as she presses her muzzle against his ear to softly whisper, followed by a soft nuzzle. "Hey, I brought you some things, which are still intact it looks like. I'm hoping that maybe something can jog your memory." Grabbing up the basket once more, she opens it up and starts to pull out a few things. "So, I got cupcakes, waffles, a slice of the best chocolate cake you'll ever have. And.. just other things." She says, plucking out a toy doll in the shape of a rabbit, soon followed by a ball in a cup game, a couple of books, and a rainbow colored blanket. Something to keep warm with.
FIREFLY
Firefly lays down and faces Virga. "She reacted so because of the history here." closing her eyes a bit. "There was a time, as I have read, where those like us took a violent turn here, and hurt many many ponies. Perhaps overreacted, a little yes, but she herself has been away 1000 years Virga, to her those ancient wars and memories are as vivid as yesterday. I can only ask understanding of this." looking to Dash, then back to Virga. "Or at least, a consideration." looking to Dash. "Nice blanket..," she comments idly.
VIRGA
Extreme. That would have been a perfect word for Luna. She was extreme like those vague figures he recalled from his very early days, the ones that readily put others under the axe. Dash's nuzzling and whispering melted some of the apprehension coursing his body, but not all of it. He watched the things being pulled from the basket, tilting his head at them. She went to the trouble of collecting all of that in an effort to help him remember who he was before the incident--how nice of her. For a moment he listened to Firefly.Even if Luna experienced culture shock, there was little excuse for the behavior. "I will give it consideration, Firefly," he said, "but if those like us caused fear and terror then she is in the same category as us, which means her mannerism is unwarranted. Princess Celestia will hear about it, I assure you." He faced her then, his voice remaining as soft and non-authority as ever. "We don't even know if I might have been sealed off for a number of years before appearing. I could have been unfrozen from any time." Such an idea would match with his armor, but still there was so little known about it. Dash's blanket drew his attention and he readily brushed his muzzle along its fabric. "This is so soft...I can feel the warmth in it."
RD
"Oh, yeah.. it's pretty soft. I've had it since I was a kid. Uh.. you can have it now. Thinking you could use an extra blanket tonight. It's going to get real cold. I'm bringing the snow, a lot of snow." Rainbow Dash says as she plucks up the end of the blanket and then flips it over and on top of him. "There, no cold ponies here!" She says with a wide grin on her face. "And I brought the waffles, which are these." She motions to the breakfast that looks like criss cuts. "Friend helped me made them this morning, and I got the cupcakes from Pinkie Pie earlier. And, uh, I got this doll from a local store. I had one like it when I was young."
FIREFLY
Firefly nods to Virga. "I thank you for that. We are learning many things, all of us. Luna is adjusting and learning as well. You may not see it, having just met her, but this is actually quite an improvement for Luna in the time I have known her." smiling with a tilt of her head. "Yes, I have been considering that you might be displaced from time as well as you seem to mirror much of what Luna displayed back then. "Dash has a penchant for sleeping, so she knows the most comfortable blankets and pillows in all of Equestria." grinning slightly. "Please forgive my own curiosity...you are just the first storm pegasus I have seen since I left the Islands, my old instructor Flashfire being the only other one." peering at the doll with a questioning look to Rainbow. "You gave a warrior....a doll."
VIRGA
"I just...as long as I'm trying to recover, Firefly,it is likely best that Princess Luna and I don't see each other as we seem to have some royal-based tensions." He offered her a smile, though there was still the issue of his wings, which he moved! It hurt, but he could move them still, and he pulled them close, up against his back. "Dash, thank you for the blanket, and these waffle things. Cupcake--I've never heard of this mysterious...cupcake...before. And this doll. I'm not so sure I could take something like this from you. If you had one like it when you were young, then at some point you must have lost it somehow. This doll is a figment of your youth, while it is not the exact same one you had, and it would be unbecoming for me to take it. I suggest you keep it as something that might represent me bringing to you something of your youth that you lost."
RD
"Psh, it's just a doll, Virga, I got like..a billion more at home shoved in the closet somewhere. Didn't you have a doll when you were a young colt?" Rainbow Dash asks, plucking up a pink frosting cupcake and handing it over to him for a bite. "Cupcakes are delicious. They are the best treats in the world." A smile continues to spread along her face as she noses a cupcake over to Firefly as well. Reaching over and tugging the blanket a bit higher on him, she tucks it in against his body, then smiles. "There, now you look like me, but not as awesome."
FIREFLY
Firefly blinks. "Never.....heard....of....a....cupcake???" she gets out. staring at him in the most disbelieving manner. "Then it is settled. Dash, would you agree visiting Sugarcube Corner could be defined as 'comfortable' in many ways?" smiling a bit. "And were not the last order I was issued to help make him more comfortable?" smiling. "When you are better of course, Virga. We are all Pegasi, so we could easily tow a cloud with you on it to town, but that might be to risky at this point. BUT....Sugarcube is THE place to experience Cupcakes. You may never want to leave." taking the cupcake Dash offers and flipping it up with a wingtip to catch it in her mouth, chewing it quietly, snickering a bit. "Hmmmm."
VIRGA
This would be a test of his pronunciation abilities. Yes, very much. This Sugarcube place they discussed was unlike any place he had heard about before because it specialized in sweet treats, apparently. "This..shoo-gar kyuub...is an interesting concept," he said, eying the two. "There is a way to make me comfortable, but one of you would likely become jealous." Hey, Dash started teasing him yesterday. Today was his turn to start that. YES. It was a dirty joke, unbecoming of anyone with royal connections...and he still said it. "This blanket does warm me a lot, Dash."
RD
Oh ho. Rainbow Dash gets a wide grin upon her face as she turns her attention over to Firefly. "Oh really, are you sure about that?" She says, sauntering over to the other filly as she leans in to rub her cheek along her neck. "You sure one of 'us' would be jealous, Virga?" She croons to him before bursting out with a loud laugh, stomping her hooves on the ground. "Well, what did you have in mind, handsome?" She teases him. "What would make 'you' comfortable, hm?"
FIREFLY
Firefly snickers and is still chewing on her cupcake, then swallows it. She cleans her muzzle off before saying anything, just giving a laugh at Rainbow's actions. "Hmm...seeing as YOU Rainbow Dash, are taken, I imagine only one of 'us' would be qualified to partake in any such comforting actions." laughing quietly while continuing to clean her muzzle of frosting. "Though Bardigan might be jealous, he is not one of the two indicated."
VIRGA
Virga looked between the two, curious about them both. Dash was taken? He wouldn't have known if nobody said anything, and nobody in fact said anything. If Dash chose to flirt, then he had no problem with it though he knew he liked her. Firefly--he was curious about her too. He considered his cupcake, eying Dash particularly strong. "Well, just think about it, Firefly. Unknown, mysterious stallion such as myself. For all you know my 'abilities' in that department may outshine modern performance." His ears turned red at the notion. He wasn't used to this sort of chitchat. "Bargidan?"
RD
There is a quick 'look' over towards Firefly as she brings up Bardigan. Oh c'mon, she's playing around! That is a total buzz kill. Though it does not seem as if Rainbow Dash is going to let it drop. "Oh, Virga, I don't think she would have anything to compare it to." She says with a waggle of her brows in his direction. "Though I on the other hand, am an expert." She says with a preen of her feathers. "Perhaps you and I can have some friendly competition to see how your skill set rates." With a wink, she relents. "Bardigan is my.. plus-one.. err.. boyfriend.."
FIREFLY
Firefly grins a bit to Rainbow, "While I tend to keep such matters to myself...." taking a breath and looking to Virga. "Dash is correct. On both counts I am afraid." flicking an ear. "Here ponies are more...open about such things. Not so where I am from." standing up and flicking her wings a bit to remove any crumbs of cupcake. "In my land, such things are not competed for. When one cannot compete, one merely stands aside." looking to see if there were any more cupcakes. "It still confuses me how an element of Loyalty can be so.....flirty." laughing a bit. "But there is much about this side of Equestria I do not understand. I am however, learning as I go."
VIRGA
"Well, let's say one can be loyal to the sense of flirtations," he said, finally deciding to nibble on this cupcake. What a strange taste it had--not bad at all, thought he wasn't quite sure if frosting was his thing. Either way, he ate the entire thing in two bites. That's right. Two bites. He regarded Dash on one side, and Firefly on the to her; he took that cupcake, and ATE IT. "I can't say I have anything to compare to either, as I don't recall ever being in a relationship." He wriggled his brow at both of them upon that remark.
FIREFLY
Firefly lifts an eyebrow to Virga. "You must be joking. A pelt so sleek and wings like that and you've...ahhhhh." she catches herself. "Memory loss, you don't recall either way. My apologies." watching a cupcake find its demise so abruptly. Heh. Maybe glomping cupcakes was natural to storm pegasi. Or Pinkie. Or both. She watches Rainbow and nods. "I think I should check on things in town." spreading her wings and taking off out the balcony. "I still have a few reports to deliver. Enjoy the evening!"
Time Placement: After the Solstice.
Cast: Firefly, Luna, Rainbow Dash, Virga
Story Begins: From the Night, of Reaches Unknown
Preceded By: Light & Dark
Followed By: Baubles
New logs are below THOU!
----
FIREFLY
Upon the balcony there arose a slight breeze, enough to swirl the curtains slightly. A rustle of wings and a clop of hooves heard as Firefly enters the room, She knew the princess was elsewhere at the moment and chose to make a casual entrance today, knowing there was an injured flier present. Her duties were done for now and she was very curious at to just what aside of a dragon could take a flier from the skies. "Are thee awake Virga of the Unknown?" she asks rather quietly just in case he was sleeping.
VIRGA
Virga had fallen asleep after his talk with Celestia, and right into one of the books he was in the middle of reading. He wasn't the bookish sort like Twilight, but he was in an unfamiliar land. The assortment of books he read included titles such as: Canterlot Weather Oddities, Equestrian Aerial Tactics, Equestrian Storm Conjuring, Dragons in Equestrian History, Advanced Pegasi Tactics, Night Flying In the Fog. What he couldn't do physically, he read about. Something in him wanted to know this culture's methods regarding things he was familiar with, but still--he wasn't familiar with them. The book in which his head rest was one solely regarding Royal Tongue.
FIREFLY
Firefly walks up to the sleeping pegasus. She takes another look at the various things done to his wings with a quiet shudder. A flier that was grounded. She'd been grounded for a time herself, though not like this, and it drove her crazy. She peers now at the various titles strewn around him, lifting an eyebrow at a few of them. She herself was in the midst of reading one on ancient customs of Equestria. A gift from her Princess Luna. This new visitor was certainly a bewilderment. She knew all the elite fliers from Butterfy Island back home...she'd bested every one of them, often three or five to one. They had fought dragons galore back home and heard of a few here. Most curious indeed.
VIRGA
Not far from Virga and the books was a dresser on which the light padded armor lay. It didn't draw much attention to itself, except that it appeared old and heavily used. Either he obtained it old or it had served him through that much--hard to say. It was a light armor that thoroughly lacked metal, being made of a leather and little more. His wings looked better than they did the last time Firefly saw him, but they still looked fairly bad. It was a wonder they could even be healed. he stirred a little, moving his head from the book, not quite awake just yet.
FIREFLY
Firefly eventually lifts her head, looking around. He seemed to be healing rather well considering, but this IS the royal Palace, only the best of the best served here. The guards were on station, there had been no reports of anything found in the air or anywhere near here. She turns and walks over to the dresser after noticing the armor, the lack of metal getting her attention more than anything. Her own combat equipment was a blend of metal, stone and crystal, She had never seen leather armor before outside of a history book or a play. She investigates the armor a little closer, looking for any marks or insignia, any clue to the origins of this unusual visitor.
VIRGA
Virga's armor bore marks left by hooves, claws, the elements, and in one particular place, what looked like bite marks of some small creature. The pony, of course, didn't interrupt her perusing the only belonging he had though his eyes did blink open. He didn't notice Firefly,and closed his eyes again.Was it day already? "The sun is bright..." he mumbled. "Could somepony pull the curtain? It's too bright."
FIREFLY
Firefly does not touch the armor, but ponders the individual marks in time, thinking of the situations and possible battles leading to each mark. She is standing still, though her ears turn upon hearing a voice. His voice. He was awake. She turns and spreads her wings, lifting effortlessly to the balcony trimmings, grabbing the drape latches and pulling them mostly closed, landing again. "There. The sun is indeed to bright in this room. It should face another direction with less...sun." cupping her ears forward as she lands in the middle of the room. "I trust your sleep was restful?"
VIRGA
Virga kept his eyes shut until the curtain blocked the sun. That was better. He could see in day just as well as any other pony, but he didn't much care for it. He felt naked in the day, exposed because of how much his dark colors contrasted it. "It was," he answered, warily turning his head to face her. He'd fallen asleep while reading and slept deep. "When did you arrive? Princess Celestia was here shortly before I slept."
FIREFLY
Firefly says "I have been here but a little while." she replies quietly. "You were sleeping after a deep read it looks like." pointing a wingtip to the book that was his pillow. "The titles I find interesting in themselves," looking to the dresser. "And your armor is unlike any I know of. I have only seen such in books of history and the occasional play." cracking a small grin. "You shun the light. This is a good thing I think." giving a laugh. "Far to many relish in the blinding thing and thus can not see the beauty of the night. I know of nothing in the night skies that burns the eyes and blinds a pony whom looks upon it, as does the Sun."
VIRGA
Celestia found it intriguing that he was familiar with Royal Speak, along with several other things he didn't tell Dash. What would Firefly make of it? Would it get around Canterlot and beyond that he had these interests and unusual armor as well? Being in the spotlight was not exactly something he was accustomed to very well. He recalled--it led to trouble at times. "That armor has been with me for as long as I remember," he said, flicking his tail. "The metal armor I see here is strange to me."
FIREFLY
Firefly says "And yet the metal armors of this land of Equestria are ancient in themselves, according to local history books." walking back over to the dresser. "I am not from this side of Equestria, I am from another land far far away. Butterfy Island. While I knew nothing of this place or its customs, I learned fast." turning back towards the wounded pegasus. "Much the same way YOU are." aiming a wing towards the books. "While ways here are...different, they have a common ancestry somewhere in history. Much is the same, much is different. Having been one in your position, I can relate to this a bit better perhaps than ponies who were born and raised here. I do not have the clouded mind of generations of pony tales to frighten me to behave."
VIRGA
"Thou maketh point pristine," Virga responded. He slipped again into that tone, like he had with Dash. This time, however, he didn't act like he just now caught himself on the matter and motioned to one of the servants that he needed something hot to drink, preferably tea. "I'm still unsure of my origin. I remember things, my skills, but not the experiences that gave them. I remember that I normally sleep in the day and awake at night."
FIREFLY
Firefly blinks, then cracks a small smile. "Thou Speaketh warily in thy lines, flier of the Night." she returns. "I have already read that book, and a few others akin to it. Though some terms I know how to use, many have vague usage so I do not use them until I learn the proper conjugation and placement. I find the old words...soothing in a way. Clear. True." folding her wings away. "So some memory has returned? This is a good thing. Is there anything at all of the cause of your wounds? After searching and searching, none of the guards have found any threats above Canterlot. Well, there was Diamond, but she's back in Ponyville, and was not flying in this area at the time, so you didn't meet her face to face. Lucky for you."
VIRGA
"There was nothing in the sky," he answered. The servant returned with a tray of tea and pastries, specifically apple pasties. He thanked the servant and pulled the tea closer for a hot drink. So his speaking in that manner wasn't too strange for her...good. As he sipped his tea, the muscles in his back cautiously pulled on his wings for the first time in days. He winced as they hurt, but the basic structures that were smashed had regrown due to the medicines the Doctor gave him. Still, he was a long way from flight. The length of his wings were hard to determine in their current stage, but the build was swift, angular and made for speed, sharp turning. He managed to stretch them all the way up with some difficulty. "That's all I know."
LUNA
Luna points out solemnly, "A swift pegasus and a strong wind can cover vast distances in a short time. He might have obtained his wounds anywhere." The princess walks in with clipped hoofsteps, peering down at Virga curiously as she steps up to Firefly's side. "Thou are our sister's foundling, then? Thy speech marks thee as coming from some land either closely sheltered or far away. Although we find that our Firefly slowly drifts into our own way of speaking."
FIREFLY
Firefly watches carefully as Virga tries to lift a wing. Just thinking of falling like he did makes her wince. She studies him carefully, not missing the fact his wings were very much like her own, built for extremely intricate manuevering, this meant combat flight or extreme storm control as both required that soft of ability to survive. The third option, she dismissed. An aerial acrobat would not bear such armor except in costume. She starts to say something as Luna speaks. She turns to nod to Luna, smiling a bit to the Princess. "Ah. I had understood he fell after breaking his wings, so assumed little lateral movement."
VIRGA
Virga breathed sharply inwards. His wings now stretched upwards, pulling the muscles in his back. He had regained a minute control over them whereas since crashing he had none. Slowly, he bent them down and tucked them against his back, covering the Moon Ring Mark on his flanks. And then he flexed his wings up again a second time, still with difficulty."I am the foundling," he answered. "For all I know, I simply came into being. I recall no encounters or fights, only loud and vague noise before being alone in the sky with broken wings. No other Pegasi or creature was up there that night. I was high...very high."
LUNA
Luna's horn glows faintly, and a soft blanket of magic encircles Virga, lifting him up into the air so that she can step up and inspect his injuries. "There is little mystery in it. Memories can be broken by injury the same way that bones can. As with bones, sometimes they heal, sometimes they are forever crippled. The only mystery is thy origin, and Equestria is vast and holds many secrets. Thou are obviously descended from ourself, but alas that puts thee in a group with every other pony in the world. The blood is merely strong, in thy case."
FIREFLY
Firefly looks from Virga to Luna. "He is of the Royal Line?" widening her eyes slightly not having thought of that at all. "This adds a new thought or five to the quandry." looking him over a little as well. "His wings indicate extensive combat or extreme weather training. The leading edge alone is impressive, not counting the sweep of them." walking to one side. "And the sweep must be majestic, even crippled it is impressive...it must be amazing to see in flight."
VIRGA
Being off the ground again, even if by magickal means, was something that relieved Virga of the 'earthen confines' that bothered Pegasi if they stayed on the ground for too long. Virga's injuries were surprisingly isolated to his wings and back with bruising along the legs and stomach from the impact. Some how, even with crippled wings, he had managed to slow himself down enough to avoid a paralyzing or fatal impact with Celestia's balcony. A mere analysis of his wings proved correct. Virga was a strong flyer, though he was too humble to say as such. "She who is centuries old knows more than mine self," he said. "I cannot speak my age for I remember naught of it."
LUNA
Luna chuckles mildly, "We invite thee to remember our age, beloved Firefly. There is not likely a pony in the world who is not of the royal line by now. We merely wonder if there is significance that he shows our blood so strongly. It is a curiosity, nothing more." The magic slowly rotates Virga onto his back, then back over onto his stomach, and finally lays him down again. "The wisdom of centuries advises this: Build a new life, pegasus. Thy old one will come looking for thee, or it won't. Chasing it is futile."
FIREFLY
Firefly watches as Luna rotates and examines the flier. She tilts her head and takes mental notes. He was built indeed. Top to bottom, a war machine. "Of course My Luna. I do forget your yesterdays are not as ours." watching as the Princess puts him down again. "I still wonder...*something* hurt him. But what?"
VIRGA
Whoa, now, what was she doing putting him onto his back? Fortunately it didn't last long and soon he lay on the ground once more. "I hadn't thought of seeking anything," he said. "It is the party that which visits who seek to know more than I." He resumed his tea drinking. Now that he had a basic motor control in his wings, he felt the power within stirring. Wings and flight were the power of Pegasi, though many Pegasi these days, according to the books he read during his stay, said many pranced and hopped on their clouds whereas he did more with them. He stared hard at the tea, its reflective surface and raised his wings again. Did he still have it? Memories could be damaged, but he had to know. He had to know very much! He winced as the very ends of his wings snapped under his command; the water in the tea mixture thrust up like a spear from the cup and solidified to ice, which shattered to pure mist, evaporating before his eyes. "Yes," he said. "I feel it again. How I bent the vapors..."
LUNA
Luna scowls abruptly as the ice freezes, and she has a hard stare, blue-green eyes that are like ice beneath flat brows. "By our beloved moon. Not another one. We will find whoever has found a way to bring out a pegasus's magic like a unicorn's and make certain it is forgotten permanently." Her wing swings out, pointing a pinion straight at Virga's nose. "THOU!" she declares, "What know thee of the strength and extent of that power?"
RD
Having swooped her way in from Cloudsdale, Rainbow Dash is sans armor this time, and carrying a basket in her muzzle. With a quick flutter of her blue wings, she lands out in the hallway and trots into the room that Virga was being held in. "Hefff Vrrrrguh! Guff yah' sumfing!" She mumbles with her mouth full of handle, giving a pause at the sight of Luna and Firefly. Dropping the basket with a thud to the ground, she gives an awkward grin as her brows shoot up. "Oh. Hey, didn't know you had company. Err -- I can take off.."
FIREFLY
Firefly is just standing there, gazing with a silly little grin where the ice column had exploded into vapor. Another one. A storm pegasus like herself. This alone was amazing. It wasn't until Luna snapped a wing towards Virga that she refocuses on the here and now. "Wait....what?!?!" she asks in a startled voice then almost disbelieving. "Princess...that...that was an elemental weather control not unlike my own, not Unicorn magic!" then immediately going quiet, wincing, berating herself mentally for saying anything at all.
VIRGA
As relieved as he was to know he could still perform his innate talent, the reaction in Luna caught him off guard. The loud Voice and pinion at his nose had him staring up at the Princess with unsure look. Was she upset about this or taken by surprise and unsure of how to express herself? His ears focused toward Dash's arrival for a brief moment before Firefly spoke, and then his attention went straight back to Luna. "My...Mark, Princess," he said. "It enables me greater control over clouds than the average Pegasi, like a baker's Mark may permit him to achieve cooking in ways one without would not. Forming Moon Rings as a means of protection is my strongest capability." A Royal asked, as as such his blood thought to be stronger than usual, he provided answer as appropriate.
LUNA
Luna's eyes study Virga's expression minutely, and as they do the pupils twitch, narrowing just for an instant. Slowly she takes a step back, and her wing folds against her side. "Very well," she concedes suspiciously. "The power of thy cutie mark is a thing to be embraced and not feared, but the magic that makes the storm ponies must not spread. Thy memories are still broken, but if thou find such power is given to thee after all, thou will treat it with caution." She stomps one hoof, the silver shoe ringing, and adds in a louder tone, "Let us be clear about this. If these unnatural powers are allowed to harm innocent ponies, thus shall we ensure it does not repeat." With that her horn shines. Blue light grabs the room's heavy wooden wardrobe, but it does so in a blink, and with a slamming, grinding, screeching noise the wardrobe is stomped flat into a new dent in the floor. Wood splinters out the sides, metal is folded flat, and bits of ceramic from the nicknacks inside are scattered around, but the top is as flat as a board now.
RD
" So.. this is .. a bad time for me to drop by. I'll just put these right here." Rainbow Dash says as she scoots the basket of surprise over to the side of the wall, hopefully out of the way from flying projectiles. ".. And.. Yeah, I'm going to play some windball with the Wonderbolts or somethin'." Wit a flutter of her wings, she starts creeping for the entrance. Creep. Creep. Creep.
FIREFLY
Firefly stands at station, saying or doing nothing at the moment. She catches sight of Dash and offers a slight nod, but remains where she belongs for now, reminded far to easily of the apple barrel warning.
VIRGA
If Virga didn't know any better, Luna was much unlike her sister in the regard of power. He had a feeling Celestia would have no suspicion curiosity in his ability rather than one in which she demonstrated her own power. He watched without flinching as something about her power was familiar to him long ago in whatever place he came from. "One thing I do recall, Princess," he said, "is that demonstrations like mine and yours were great causes of fear and that those with Marks were often hunted to ensure their power wasn't used at all. Princess Celestia assures me the ponies here bear Marks and they don't fear other's abilities." He lowered his wings in a defensive manner, as if to shield himself from whatever wrathful display this Princess of the Night could muster, though he still looked pitiful with them in such a state. "If I might observe, you speak as if you've a deep fear of those who might possess Mark abilities much closer to Unicorn magic."
LUNA
Luna tells Virga sternly, "We are aware of the strength of pegasus magic, far more than the pegasi are. Someone has developed magic to channel it directly as a weapon, and those weapons are being drawn to our power now that we are returned." Her horn shines again, much more dimly, and now light and a grip settles around Rainbow Dash and her basket. Rather than dragging her in or pinning her, it merely urges her forward as she concludes, "Do not flee, Element of Loyalty. Thy good cheer is necessary that this pegasus understand that he is welcome, merely warned."
RD
Almost out of the room, Rainbow Dash has an uncomfortable look on her face. She's not used to seeing furniture get destroyed by magic, and maybe somewhere in the back of her mind, she still thinks Luna is going to flip out and go Nightmare Bruce Willis Mare on their butts again, and so getting flattened is not on her Christmas list. As the magic starts gently pulling her back, she lets out an 'Erk!' ".. Uh, oh, I don't want to intrude or anything, you know, if you guys are having fun smashing things and all. I can always come back..."
FIREFLY
Firefly is used to most of the magical outbursts, though something in Luna's word stuck in her mind. She only lifted one wing slightly to ward off some flying splinters, tucking it away almost immediately after the great flattening was completed. She smiles to Rainbow as Luna urges her in, then offers Virga a gentle nod and smile as well, to reassure him, though she was impressed by the fact he had not panicked or reacted without thought.
VIRGA
Getting Dash to stay was important, but for some unknown reason Virga felt it best to keep Luna's attention as best as he could so she could slip away if she felt it was important to do so. This Night Princess didn't scare him,but the fact he was still technically a patient undergoing wound treatment while being confronted with this display. "If I might suggest, Princess," he said, "I've received nothing but kindness from those living here. There's no reason for me to harm anyone. Seeing as Dash is more or less inclined to depart under these circumstance, I implore you to ask yourself if a warning is truly necessary. These displays and speakings would unsettle any pony not used to them, and you'd not want your subjects to fear you...am I right?" He wasn't sure where this came from, advising a Princess prone to outbursts when it really wasn't his place to do so. "That and...what if Princess Celestia saw you smashing a wardrobe to make a point in front of an injured pony?"
LUNA
Luna answers Virga coldly, "That thou do not understand is the best sign of thy innocence." Her expression is certainly not remorseful and hasn't gotten any friendlier. Her pupils keep twitching and jumping, too, even when her eyes are focused. Lifting her head, without looking over at Dash she announces, "We apologize for this peremptoriness, Rainbow Dash." The apology is for that grip on her tightening, scooping Rainbow off the floor and floating her into the room to dump her into Luna's place. Luna herself is no longer using it. She turns and walks back to the door she came in, the one that leads to her own apartments next to Celestia's suite. Over her shoulder, she instructs, "Make him comfortable again, Firefly, but we would be grateful if he understands where the line of insolence is drawn."
RD
"Errrk!" Again. Rainbow Dash finds herself fluttering over without her free will and deposited on the floor. She is by now, hugging the basket she brought with her. "Uh, no problem Luna!" She calls over before looking back over to Virga and Firefly with a confused look on her face. "Soooo... anyways, Virga, I brought you stuff! Hoping that some of it can help you remember." She says as she trots over to him and flops down in front of him, shoving the basket over with a push of her hoof.
FIREFLY
Firefly's attention turns to Luna. "Of course Princess." nodding to Luna as she takes her leave. Firefly sighs quietly, barely lifting her own wingtips to stir up three very small vortices along the floor, the three whirling wisps forming very small foot tall tornadoes, sucking up the debris along the floor and pulling it into the air a bit to be carried by a longer thinner 'tunnel' of wind and cloud out the balcony to a trash receiver below. She tilts her wingtips slightly, looking around and moving the mini-twisters along to ensure the entire thing was cleaned up. The dent in the floor she could do nothing about however.
VIRGA
Virga was comfortable until the younger Princess arrived. He tried reasoning and coaxing, but it didn't seem to work too well. He didn't quite hear Dash over his own immediate thoughts regarding the very last piece of work stated forth from her. Lines of insolence? For the first time, Virga was displeased about something. As Firefly cleaned the place, his wings violently snapped out, resulting in a strain in his back that took whatever little control he had in them. He slammed a hoof on the floor in pain as his once-again-limp wings hit the floor. "Spare me this talk before I'm the one drawing lines of insolence," he said, though shaken by the pain. It was too much.The pain coursed his back and froze him in place. The first time Virga had been angered here was also one of the most painful since the crash. The shock of once again losing motor control in his wings forced him to breath hard until he lay down his head and went still. The pony passed out.
RD
Ears perking upwards as Virga gets upset, Rainbow Dash holds out her hooves a bit. "Woah, hey, calm down, she riles everyone up, don't worry so mu-" As he passes out, her eyes look worried and she leans over to tuck her muzzle into his neck, giving him a gentle nudge. "Virga? Are.. are you alright?" She asks as her wings give a slight flutter behind her, then looks agitated.
FIREFLY
Firefly finishes cleaning up and dispells her little twisters out of the balcony where they fade away. She returns and walks up to Dash, looking to Virga. "I heard the stress in his wings....the pain must have been strong." looking him over. "He'll be all right, if he doesn't over stress himself so. He is not from around here, and even Celestia has thin limits when a guest acts so. The princess's ARE the supreme authority here, together, as sisters. can you help him understand this? I think he was in a position of power himself back in his home, to speak so."
RD
"Well, if he wakes up, then I'll talk to him about it." Rainbow Dash says as she looks over him worriedly for a moment, before letting out a heavy breath. With a flutter of her wings, she leaps up into the air, if anything to just feel more comfortable off the ground.
FIREFLY
Firefly nods as she sits there, carefully folding her own wings away. Un-natural. Being drawn out. She never knew why she found the forest so comforting that night. It certainly makes her think. "Blacking out from pain is usually a short lived thing, I've known it a few times." then walks over to the dresser. "Say, Rainbow, have YOU ever seen an armor like this? Leather, with no metal or crystals?" indicating Virga's flight armor.
VIRGA
"Nuh uh, no one has need to wear armor about Ponyville or Cloudsdale. Only armor I've ever seen is the kind the guards wear here, and the armor that Luna gave me the other day." Rainbow Dash says as she continues to hover in the air, giving a bit of a helicopter circling in the air above Virga. "He is sweet though, in a amnesic royal posh kinda way."
FIREFLY
Firefly says "I have armor, but nothing as fancy as yours." nodding to Dash. "Mine is just wing and chest, neck and back, and black. All of the night fighters got black, day fighters got silver. Though the wing bits were weapons too." looking at all the marks in the leather armor. "His wings and armor speak of a strong fighter, very fast and agile. His words speak of the Courts on High, and his attitude speaks of being one used to giving orders and not hearing words returned." lifting off and rolling upside down to face the sleeping Virga. "Just WHO are you, Storm Pegasus of the Night."
VIRGA
Virga did stir as Firefly said he would, though it was slow. He heard their voices, but nothing else came. Why exactly had he blacked out again? He couldn't think. The region between black out and consciousness meddled with knowing his surroundings, and typically Virga was a light sleeper. The last few days had been the heaviest sleep he had known. He stirred, but only opened an eye, staring out at the floor and the tray where his untouched pastries still awaited him, and further to the flattened cabinet. Oh...yes. That's right. He slowly pressed his front hooves against the floor and pushed. There was no denying it. He couldn't move his wings once again, thanks to Luna aggravating him enough. It didn't matter if she was royal or not, and it didn't matter to him if he had once held power or not. Her behavior was inappropriate before someone in his condition.
RD
"Hey, take it easy!" Rainbow Dash calls out as she zips down to his side, looking to usher him gently back down. "Don't push yourself, you passed out again. You should really take it easy." She says as she tucks her muzzle in behind his jaw, giving him a soft press before leaning back and looking worried. "Do you need me to find a healer for you?" She asks.
FIREFLY
Firefly rolls right side up and lands. "He lives." she smiles, tucking her wings in, feeling a bit bad using them before a pony who could not. "It takes much more than a wee bit of pain to take a storm pegasus out." nodding matter of factly, sitting quietly as Dash checks him out.
VIRGA
If it hadn't been for Dash, he'd had forced himself to stand with his limp wings and risk damaging them even more. The touch of her muzzle behind his jaw eased him back down. "No," he said softly, "Just the palace Doctor will do. And keeping her away from me. I did nothing but test myself with my tea cup, and she reacted the way you saw."
RD
"Yeah.. she's uh.. pretty extreme.." Rainbow Dash says in a soft voice as she presses her muzzle against his ear to softly whisper, followed by a soft nuzzle. "Hey, I brought you some things, which are still intact it looks like. I'm hoping that maybe something can jog your memory." Grabbing up the basket once more, she opens it up and starts to pull out a few things. "So, I got cupcakes, waffles, a slice of the best chocolate cake you'll ever have. And.. just other things." She says, plucking out a toy doll in the shape of a rabbit, soon followed by a ball in a cup game, a couple of books, and a rainbow colored blanket. Something to keep warm with.
FIREFLY
Firefly lays down and faces Virga. "She reacted so because of the history here." closing her eyes a bit. "There was a time, as I have read, where those like us took a violent turn here, and hurt many many ponies. Perhaps overreacted, a little yes, but she herself has been away 1000 years Virga, to her those ancient wars and memories are as vivid as yesterday. I can only ask understanding of this." looking to Dash, then back to Virga. "Or at least, a consideration." looking to Dash. "Nice blanket..," she comments idly.
VIRGA
Extreme. That would have been a perfect word for Luna. She was extreme like those vague figures he recalled from his very early days, the ones that readily put others under the axe. Dash's nuzzling and whispering melted some of the apprehension coursing his body, but not all of it. He watched the things being pulled from the basket, tilting his head at them. She went to the trouble of collecting all of that in an effort to help him remember who he was before the incident--how nice of her. For a moment he listened to Firefly.Even if Luna experienced culture shock, there was little excuse for the behavior. "I will give it consideration, Firefly," he said, "but if those like us caused fear and terror then she is in the same category as us, which means her mannerism is unwarranted. Princess Celestia will hear about it, I assure you." He faced her then, his voice remaining as soft and non-authority as ever. "We don't even know if I might have been sealed off for a number of years before appearing. I could have been unfrozen from any time." Such an idea would match with his armor, but still there was so little known about it. Dash's blanket drew his attention and he readily brushed his muzzle along its fabric. "This is so soft...I can feel the warmth in it."
RD
"Oh, yeah.. it's pretty soft. I've had it since I was a kid. Uh.. you can have it now. Thinking you could use an extra blanket tonight. It's going to get real cold. I'm bringing the snow, a lot of snow." Rainbow Dash says as she plucks up the end of the blanket and then flips it over and on top of him. "There, no cold ponies here!" She says with a wide grin on her face. "And I brought the waffles, which are these." She motions to the breakfast that looks like criss cuts. "Friend helped me made them this morning, and I got the cupcakes from Pinkie Pie earlier. And, uh, I got this doll from a local store. I had one like it when I was young."
FIREFLY
Firefly nods to Virga. "I thank you for that. We are learning many things, all of us. Luna is adjusting and learning as well. You may not see it, having just met her, but this is actually quite an improvement for Luna in the time I have known her." smiling with a tilt of her head. "Yes, I have been considering that you might be displaced from time as well as you seem to mirror much of what Luna displayed back then. "Dash has a penchant for sleeping, so she knows the most comfortable blankets and pillows in all of Equestria." grinning slightly. "Please forgive my own curiosity...you are just the first storm pegasus I have seen since I left the Islands, my old instructor Flashfire being the only other one." peering at the doll with a questioning look to Rainbow. "You gave a warrior....a doll."
VIRGA
"I just...as long as I'm trying to recover, Firefly,it is likely best that Princess Luna and I don't see each other as we seem to have some royal-based tensions." He offered her a smile, though there was still the issue of his wings, which he moved! It hurt, but he could move them still, and he pulled them close, up against his back. "Dash, thank you for the blanket, and these waffle things. Cupcake--I've never heard of this mysterious...cupcake...before. And this doll. I'm not so sure I could take something like this from you. If you had one like it when you were young, then at some point you must have lost it somehow. This doll is a figment of your youth, while it is not the exact same one you had, and it would be unbecoming for me to take it. I suggest you keep it as something that might represent me bringing to you something of your youth that you lost."
RD
"Psh, it's just a doll, Virga, I got like..a billion more at home shoved in the closet somewhere. Didn't you have a doll when you were a young colt?" Rainbow Dash asks, plucking up a pink frosting cupcake and handing it over to him for a bite. "Cupcakes are delicious. They are the best treats in the world." A smile continues to spread along her face as she noses a cupcake over to Firefly as well. Reaching over and tugging the blanket a bit higher on him, she tucks it in against his body, then smiles. "There, now you look like me, but not as awesome."
FIREFLY
Firefly blinks. "Never.....heard....of....a....cupcake???" she gets out. staring at him in the most disbelieving manner. "Then it is settled. Dash, would you agree visiting Sugarcube Corner could be defined as 'comfortable' in many ways?" smiling a bit. "And were not the last order I was issued to help make him more comfortable?" smiling. "When you are better of course, Virga. We are all Pegasi, so we could easily tow a cloud with you on it to town, but that might be to risky at this point. BUT....Sugarcube is THE place to experience Cupcakes. You may never want to leave." taking the cupcake Dash offers and flipping it up with a wingtip to catch it in her mouth, chewing it quietly, snickering a bit. "Hmmmm."
VIRGA
This would be a test of his pronunciation abilities. Yes, very much. This Sugarcube place they discussed was unlike any place he had heard about before because it specialized in sweet treats, apparently. "This..shoo-gar kyuub...is an interesting concept," he said, eying the two. "There is a way to make me comfortable, but one of you would likely become jealous." Hey, Dash started teasing him yesterday. Today was his turn to start that. YES. It was a dirty joke, unbecoming of anyone with royal connections...and he still said it. "This blanket does warm me a lot, Dash."
RD
Oh ho. Rainbow Dash gets a wide grin upon her face as she turns her attention over to Firefly. "Oh really, are you sure about that?" She says, sauntering over to the other filly as she leans in to rub her cheek along her neck. "You sure one of 'us' would be jealous, Virga?" She croons to him before bursting out with a loud laugh, stomping her hooves on the ground. "Well, what did you have in mind, handsome?" She teases him. "What would make 'you' comfortable, hm?"
FIREFLY
Firefly snickers and is still chewing on her cupcake, then swallows it. She cleans her muzzle off before saying anything, just giving a laugh at Rainbow's actions. "Hmm...seeing as YOU Rainbow Dash, are taken, I imagine only one of 'us' would be qualified to partake in any such comforting actions." laughing quietly while continuing to clean her muzzle of frosting. "Though Bardigan might be jealous, he is not one of the two indicated."
VIRGA
Virga looked between the two, curious about them both. Dash was taken? He wouldn't have known if nobody said anything, and nobody in fact said anything. If Dash chose to flirt, then he had no problem with it though he knew he liked her. Firefly--he was curious about her too. He considered his cupcake, eying Dash particularly strong. "Well, just think about it, Firefly. Unknown, mysterious stallion such as myself. For all you know my 'abilities' in that department may outshine modern performance." His ears turned red at the notion. He wasn't used to this sort of chitchat. "Bargidan?"
RD
There is a quick 'look' over towards Firefly as she brings up Bardigan. Oh c'mon, she's playing around! That is a total buzz kill. Though it does not seem as if Rainbow Dash is going to let it drop. "Oh, Virga, I don't think she would have anything to compare it to." She says with a waggle of her brows in his direction. "Though I on the other hand, am an expert." She says with a preen of her feathers. "Perhaps you and I can have some friendly competition to see how your skill set rates." With a wink, she relents. "Bardigan is my.. plus-one.. err.. boyfriend.."
FIREFLY
Firefly grins a bit to Rainbow, "While I tend to keep such matters to myself...." taking a breath and looking to Virga. "Dash is correct. On both counts I am afraid." flicking an ear. "Here ponies are more...open about such things. Not so where I am from." standing up and flicking her wings a bit to remove any crumbs of cupcake. "In my land, such things are not competed for. When one cannot compete, one merely stands aside." looking to see if there were any more cupcakes. "It still confuses me how an element of Loyalty can be so.....flirty." laughing a bit. "But there is much about this side of Equestria I do not understand. I am however, learning as I go."
VIRGA
"Well, let's say one can be loyal to the sense of flirtations," he said, finally deciding to nibble on this cupcake. What a strange taste it had--not bad at all, thought he wasn't quite sure if frosting was his thing. Either way, he ate the entire thing in two bites. That's right. Two bites. He regarded Dash on one side, and Firefly on the to her; he took that cupcake, and ATE IT. "I can't say I have anything to compare to either, as I don't recall ever being in a relationship." He wriggled his brow at both of them upon that remark.
FIREFLY
Firefly lifts an eyebrow to Virga. "You must be joking. A pelt so sleek and wings like that and you've...ahhhhh." she catches herself. "Memory loss, you don't recall either way. My apologies." watching a cupcake find its demise so abruptly. Heh. Maybe glomping cupcakes was natural to storm pegasi. Or Pinkie. Or both. She watches Rainbow and nods. "I think I should check on things in town." spreading her wings and taking off out the balcony. "I still have a few reports to deliver. Enjoy the evening!"