Post by Bardigan on Nov 21, 2012 13:02:38 GMT -5
Bardigan, Twilight Sparkle, Diamond Dancer, Spike, and Clara begin an adventure to retrieve a mystical gem known as a firestone. Their chosen course: visit a Diamond Dog cave system, which is rumored to have uncovered a vein of just such a mineral.
/=/
Bardigan gives a few experimental flaps of his wings as he steps out the door of his house, staring at the lights of Ponyville not far off. The saddlebags are a bit cumbersome... he's brought everything he thinks he might need. Rope, a grappling hook, food, sleeping roll, a trusty pickaxe that hasn't seen so much as a speck of dirt on its head since he bought it for some method acting, and various other supplies (like a journal to record their adventure!). Well. This is actually it. They might not see Ponyville for a good few weeks. It reminds him of his traveling days, really... except, he's going somewhere he'll be quite out of place in. "Diamond?" he calls over his shoulder. He promised her this. It's time. "Are you ready back there?"
Diamond_Dancer trots out of house with her head up, and eyes bright and shining. She's PROMISED to be on her best behavior...or at least promised herself, but how can one keep calm when one's dream is so close at hoof?! "Ok! Ok! We's find Clara, we's get directions to da Diamond Dogs, we get Fyrestones, we gets my star powered up! I get inducted into da Midnight Knights, I get my star, I get my wish, I head back to Noosegu..."She trails off, coughs, and shakes her head. "...Don't worry bout dat part. "She adds, and puffs out her chest. "Alright, if I know Clara, she's gonna be...probably hangin' round da outskirts of town, although I DID send a note dat she ought meet us round here...I don't know if it got to her. Do Diamond Dogs gots mailboxes?
Clara doesn't have a mailbox, but she is distinctive. In a town where mail is delivered in part based on how well the primary mail carrier recognizes you. So, yes, she got the note, and she's here, waiting on the skirts of Whitetail Woods, not far from the brook running near the doctor pony's cottage. She stands with one foot over the other, leaning on a tree, her pickaxe and a tough-looking burgundy sack--that's new--at hand. Her nose twitches as the other would-be quester approach. "DiIAmoNd?" calls the dog's voice cautiously.
"And brother," Bardigan announces as they come closer. It's the crack of dawn, and the world is still only half-lit by the rising sun. "Clara... it's been too long since we talked," he greets the Dog, doffing his hat (she is a lady, after all). "Thank you for coming... this could mean a lot to all of us, in spite of the inherent risks." He glances meaningfully at Diamond Dancer. "There's a lot of hope riding on this mission."
Diamond_Dancer nods her head. "Definetly! Long n' skinny of it, Clara!! Bardy says he found a lead on bringin' back da star! Says dare are some fyrestones down undaground, in da possession of Diamond Dogs! Da mission, is ta see if I can't borrow some of 'em! I figured you'd make for a great guide, what, seein' as you is a Diamond Dog n' all! Whadda say, wanna help?!" She beams brightly.
Clara is hit with a lot of information at once. This wasn't in the note she got! She uncrosses her legs and shifts her position from one side to the other before even looking over at the pegasi. "BroOtHeR?" she asks, eyes widening. "You I reMmEMberR," she says, pointing to Bardigan. "You jOoineD us in skIirRting the eNneMY to heLp my WoUunDed sisTers and bRoOoTheRs. But are you brOthEr in that seNse, or in the seNSe of bloOOod?" She peers between Diamond and Bardigan, looking for similarities, for now ignoring the rest of what she's heard.
"Brother in that I took Diamond Dancer into my family, such as it is. We are as close as we can get without blood." Bardigan lays a protective wing over Diamond's back. He wonders if Diamond Dogs know much about adoption. "In any case, I swore I would do everything I could to help her in this. That includes going on this mission."
Diamond_Dancer smiles quietly, even if she looks a bit ...unsettled when Clara brings up the point about blood. Still, she draws in a breath of excitement. "Yeah! Bard is my bruddah, no mattah what happens, and I'll protect him even if he does wanna come on dis quest wif me! It'll be dangerous, but if you can help us, I'll owe ya one!
Clara nods slowly. She finishes her examination and draws back slightly, the internal mechanisms within her turning. Who knows what Diamond Dogs have instead of gears? "So you aRe BarD. I am ClAara, as you knOw. It is a pleasure." She falls to all fours and sniffs at Bardigan from various angles...thankfully, not from any terribly compromising ones. She turns to Diamond Dancer. "I kneW thaT you haAd plaAns, as yOu muSt, SkYydANceR, until your pUrpoSe is CompleEte. I did Not kNow that yoU deSireD fiIiresToones. ThOse are a PrecioUs reSourCe for oUr kiInd. Yet I wiLl gLadly hElP you, as is my AppOOOintmEnT." Her ears flop, perk, and flop again.
"Precious for many kinds... I'm not exactly sure how we're going to get the Diamond Dogs to part from them," Bardigan laments quietly. "We aren't exactly swimming in other valuable gems." But he doesn't come off as too pessimistic, shrugging his shoulders. "But, like Dancer said... we figured you'd be the best guide on how to go about this. We can't thank you enough for agreeing to help us."
Diamond_Dancer nods her head. "Hey, I bet we could ask some ponies around town for some gems. Rarity always gots lots! She helped redesign my splotches! "she explains, pauses and then frowns.
"...This is gonna turn into a tradin' game ain't it?" She pouts. "Humph...lets just go down dare and see what dey want. Clara, can you dink of anyding more valuable den dose Fyrestones?
Clara wanders slightly into the woods, as if trying to avoid attention and scrutiny. They aren't being cramped by trees, though--not yet. "GeMs, we HAaVe. It is UnliIkely that PoONies, howeVer Wiise, would KnOw which GemS could bUY a FiRrEsToOne. PerHaps your RaArity would proOve otheRwIse...but iT is douUbtfuL." The Diamond Dog turns about on all fours, peering backward past her own tail. "But There aRe wiIIld fiReStoOnes, waiIting to be miINed. For ThoSe who are BrAaVe and ShAArp of KeN."
"There's a pony who I promised could help us. And may be able to give us exactly what help we need," Bardigan says, scuffing his hoof. "Twilight Sparkle. She will be coming with us, Clara. You've met her before. I should go and fetch her, and then we'll be on our way."
Diamond_Dancer's ears fold down quietly and she gives a little huff. Clara- sure. She trusts her underground, and they've been on enough adventures. Bardigan...well...he's a stage pony, but...meh. But A bookworm like Twilight? Diamond bites her lower lip nervously. "...Dis...I hope Bard knows what he's doin. "She mumbles. -- This was Diamond's last pose.
Bardigan, supply bags and other various sundry jingling and clanking on his back, leads Twilight to the appointed meeting area. He doesn't catch Diamond's last comment, but he does look more enthusiastic with every step he takes, a rather daring smile on his face by the time they meet up. "Well, here we all are," he says. "Goodness, I can hardly believe we're going on another adventure. Again, underground... but there's not much to be done about that."
Twilight_Sparkle nods, taking a deep breath. "Underground is not my favorite of places. But I do believe in this. I think it's important." Twilight herself is wearing stripey legwarmers on all four legs, and a matching scarf; the bookworm's making an attempt at some sort of fashion.
Clara has been chatting with Diamond Dancer for a while. But the brash young pegasus apparently had another last-minute idea--she flies off just as Bardigan and Twilight return, visible exiting the treeline. Clara is standing and staring after her, her pickaxe being used for support. She also has a new burgundy sack with her. Her nose and ears twitch, and she turns. "OhH," she says, recognition coming to her when she sees Twilight. "MaAgicC poOnY. I remMeMber yOouU."
Twilight_Sparkle smiles. "Clara, isn't it? Pleasure to see you again."
Bardigan looks back and forth between everypony else, honestly feeling a little overdressed. With his vest and supply bags and rope he looks more like he's ready to cross the southern desert than travel to a Diamond Dog clan! "Hopefully our prior experience together will make this easier. But there's no time like the present." He whips out a map. "We go south, judging by the last sightings of Diamond Dog activity, skirting the Everfree Forest."
Twilight_Sparkle nods. She helpfully lights up the end of her horn, an orb of light brightly illuminating the path. "All right, then. Let's go save ourselves a star."
Clara settles herself on her posterior in the mostly dry, slightly grassy ground. She shakes her head slowly. "We caNnoT depArT without the DaAnceR. But mORe than thAt. We must DiscUSs our GooalS and PuRRpoSe." She crosses her legs, peering at the orb of early morning light. Seriously, she faces the ponies before her. "WhaT ExAactly is DIiaMond DaNCer in poSseSion of, and How does She tHiink a FireStOone will AiiId heR?"
Bardigan, just about ready to head off down the path (he knows Diamond would follow them), stops mid-step. He was afraid these kinds of questions would come up... better sooner than later. He puts his hoof back down with a sigh, still looking down the long road out of town. "Only Princess Luna truly knows," he says. "But I have seen it. It is a black, dead stone... hardly looks like a star, but who are we to question Luna? And firestones... well. Twilight can probably tell you more. But if dragons desire them for their hoards, ancient unicorns thought they were fallen stars themselves, and even your people know the inherent value in them... they must do *something* to help. This is deep magic, as Twilight called it. So I believe old stories are a good place to start."
Twilight_Sparkle turns, to face Clara, her horn-light warmly illuminating the clearing like, well, twilight. She looks to Bardigan to answer that question first; it's his wheelhouse. She nods, as he answers. "I'm fond of reminding ponies that we used to think Nightmare Moon was just a legend. We have short memories sometimes, as a species. Those of us who aren't princesses, at least." Twilight glances over her shoulder, at the place where wings would be if she had them. "A star that can't shine is a tragedy, but this is something that hasn't been tried since times of legend. So I've been doing some reading. In some pretty old books."
Clara nods slowly, taking in both speeches. She seems content to sit right here until Diamond returns, and maybe even after. Her weapon/cane seems like an old friend, the way she holds it. "YoU are a WiSe wiZard, PurpLe poOny--I can tasTe the wIsdom as It flOoWs from yOu. But I am nOt coNVinnced of the tRaAgeDy of thIs alLegGed sTaAr. TeLl me, BaaRd--if a FireStOone is a falLen StAr, then WhY dOes the dAnceR reQUiRe her dEeaD Lump? She ClaiMs to deSitre only a StaAr--would a FireStoNe alOone not sufFiIce?"
"Because we're not entirely sure what we're dealing with. I'm not, at least," Bardigan mutters, his head bowed, still facing the path. He suddenly feels a small bit devious, dragging friends and family on a wild chase like this. "And Luna said it had to be that star. The firestones are the only thing we've read about that might even have a chance of reigniting one."
Twilight_Sparkle nods. "We might...be leaning pretty heavily on Princess Luna's say-so," she admits. "But, she's been right about a lot of things recently. And...this is something I've always wanted to do. As pure magic, it intrigues me. I want to see if we can do it."
Clara narrows her eyes when Luna's name comes up. She looks from Twilight to Bardigan as though sizing up adversaries, and, gripping her axe tighter, says: "PaRRdoN me, BarRd pOny. But whAt eXaActly diD the uSUrPer gOdDeSs say hAd to bE tHaat StaAr?" She shifts a little on the ground. Hoo boy.
Twilight_Sparkle winces, and exchanges glances with Bardigan.
Bardigan turns back to Clara with ominous slowness, raising an eyebrow at the words 'usurper goddess.' "The one that Diamond is carrying," Bardigan says plainly. "Are you implying that Luna might be trying to lead us false? Or is giving us information not worth pursuing? Because I can assure you that you would not know what you're talking about if that's true."
Clara sighs, her furry body rumbling. She sets down the pickaxe on the soil. "ThAt s Not whAt I am imPlyYing," she responds calmly. "At tHis tIme, I am aASking you to ClaRifY what You meaNt when yOu said thAt the oNe caLleD LuUna told you..." And she points in the direction of Diamond..."...that It Had to Be thAt Star." Her face is tense.
Twilight_Sparkle tilts her head. "Is there another star you'd prefer? I mean, I don't want to be dismissive of your concerns, but...falling stars don't grow on trees." She winces at her own mixed metaphor. She looks at Bardigan. "WAS Luna specific about that? You spoke to her more directly about it than I did," she says, addressing him more quietly, although still perfectly within Clara's hearing.
Bardigan's eyebrow remains raised. "I mean exactly what I said. Diamond Dancer was given a dead star by Luna, and that is the star we are to revive. I don't really *see* how this can get any clearer. Unless you're saying that Diamond is that star, which *rather* removes the point of her being given a fallen one."
Clara's mouth moves at the 'trees' line...whether it's a smile or a grimace? Who can say? Perhaps both. Then Bardigan speaks, and her ears flop languidly. "No, a PoONy is nOt a StarR. NeEiItheR is a FiirRestOne, to mY knNowleDge. Yet tHis puzzZlLes me. The MooN usUrRper says wE 'arRe to revIVe' this Dead sTar of DiAmond's...yet diD she saY whY? What clAim does shE hAve to know the DaNcer's DeSstIny?"
Twilight_Sparkle speaks up, at that. "The princesses are very old, and seem to know a lot about destiny. They are worth listening to on the subject." She glances back, momentarily, at her own back again.
Bardigan takes a deep breath to rein in a sudden spike of temper and looks Twilight's way as well, giving her a knowing glance. "The Princesses are puzzling. That's really all we can be certain of," Bardigan murmurs. "But... they know many great and wonderful things. Have a little faith, won't you Clara? And stop calling her usurper. She has made mistakes, yes. But she is more than what your stories say. Luna wouldn't have stepped in if she didn't know what she was doing." He closes his eyes. "She wouldn't play such games with ponies' feelings," he whispers, seemingly to himself. "Now then. Are you with us or not? Because it's all I know that may help this filly, who I love very much. You saw what she's willing to do to herself. I don't see any other options here."
Clara lowers her muzzle. She seems to be in contemplation. Then she takes a deep, slow breath and looks up again. "I wIlL fOrBeaR frOm the tiTle of UsuUrRpEr in the iNterEst of PeEace," she declares. "BuT thAt is whAt she iS. In AnY caSe, I am wIIth you. I siMply tHink there Is More to DIsCUSs...but That is a bOoN on the RoOAaD." She stands up in a lithe motion and looks toward the sky, wistful.
Diamond_Dancer trots along quietly, head down, ears folded back against her skull, looking particularily unsure about inviting Twilight Sparkle Along. Of ALL ponies, why on EARTH would Bardigan decide it was alright for HER to come? " I'll never be able to forgive myself if something happens to any of dem! Espcially Twilight! no way would Luna let me be part of her court if someding happened to HER. UGH. Wait...What does Luna haff to do wiff Twilight? Well, duh, Twilight is Celestia's personal student. ...and? Well, Luna is Celestia's sister. I'm not following. Well if Celestia gets mad, Luna will be mad, den Luna won't want you'se to be part of her royal court! Ooooooo! Espcially with Twilight bein' an Element of Harmony n' all! Yeah she totally-...wait, Twilight is an element of Harmony? Where were you ten seconds ago? So...what your saying...is you DON'T want Twilight, an Element of Harmony, a pony who saved the world not once, but TWICE, to come with you, to fetch your star?" All this internal monologing leads to Diamond (Whom has been making the strangest of faces in her little internal debate) to smile brightly at Twilight when she approaches and Griiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiins! "Twilight! SO glad you'se could join us!! "
"And there's the missing member of our party," Bardigan says, standing up on all fours, the previous discussion forgotten. He hefts up his bags and points down the path. "We're burning moonlight, ponies! Let's get this started."
Twilight_Sparkle smiles back, brightly, although it kind of seems like, on some level, she's also taking in the ambivalence; she adds, "Luna thought I ought to be involved in helping you with this," matter-of-factly but also with a hint of awareness that this information might be reassuring. "I've been wanting to test some of my theories about stars and firestone for a while, now. I'm happy for the opportunity to make my research useful."
Spike eyes Diamond Dancer with a concerned look on his face, from Twilight's back. He leans forward and whispers in Twilight's ear, "She seems a bit...crazy tonight. I mean, more than usual. Are you sure she's okay?" It's apparently dawned on the little dragon that many of the ponies around him are just a TRIFLE unstable.
"As did I," Bardigan adds to Twilight's explanation, stepping up beside the unicorn. "Don't *worry*, Diamond. I trust her, so you can too."
Twilight_Sparkle whispers in Spike's ear, "If anybody's in danger here, it probably isn't either of us. But stay close to me."
Clara is standing now, having recently risen from a cross-legged pose of interrogation. She eyes the new arrival, the spiky little dragon, with suspicion. But she nods, even bows her head toward him and rasps: "DrAaGooN ChiIlLd. I wELcoMe you To oUr coMPpAny. You are AdjUutAnNt to the MaAgic pOony, yyEEss?" And with Diamond's return, the Diamond Dog's fur stands up and she swivels halfway, her reflexes now on double duty. "WeLlcome BAacK, DaAnceR."
Diamond_Dancer nods her head. "Yeah! I trusts her! No problem! If Luna likes ya, den I likes ya! "She exclaims. "Welcome ta da adventcha Twilight!" She explains, spits into one of her hooves, and holds it out with a great big beamin' smile. "We go down, we get da stones, we come back, and we bring back a star! I'm sure dis'll be real good for yer studies n's tuff!" She explains. "But if you take my star...I'll kill ya. "she says- just as cheerfully!
Bardigan reaches out with a wing to baff Diamond's head. "Be nice," he says in his best big-brother voice. "They wanted to be here."
Spike tilts his head, having a little trouble sorting out Clara's choice of words given her accent. "Well, I'm her number-one assistant, if that's what you mean! Besides, I wasn't gonna pass up the chance to see a star up close." Diamond Dancer's comment does nothing to minimize his concern, though; he leans back a little, as if trying to edge away without getting off of Twilight's back.
Twilight_Sparkle nods at Spike. "And having a dragon along might be important. Firestone can be dangerous for a lot of creatures, but not dragons! And...not me, because I've taken some magical precautions. So you and I are pretty important here." She smiles at Spike, a little condescendingly but also warmly.
Clara lowers herself, letting her chunky arms take th brunt of her weight, and making her look something like a misshapen bear. She address the purple duo directly. "NumMber oNne AssiStaNt? How MaNy AssSissstantS does the Magic uuUniCoOrn hAave?" She shifts her eyes down to Twilight. "YoU seeEm to Know a lot abOut FiiResTOnes. Or you thIinK you doO. This wiLl be IinNterestiNg." She glances at Diamond Dancer. "DaNncerR? You have nnOt yYet tOolld me where you AcQuIireD the DeaAd stAAr."
Diamond_Dancer nods her head slowly, sloooowly pulling her hoove back and staring at Twilight with a empty, Pinkie-like Smile pasted across her lips. "...SURE! Lets go get us some firestones! Dis'll be...dis'll be fun." She says quietly, even if she's not entirely too sure about it herself. "Princess Luna gave it to me! She said it's a test...a challenge! I've been workin on fixin' it for MONTHS now, but dis is da first real lead I've ever had! "She exclaims, eyes twinkling with adoration for Bardigan. "So, waitin' any longa' is gonna make me explode! Clara, whats da easiest, and quickest route to da Diamond Dog Tunnels? "She quips quietly.
"It's not exactly the ones we've visited before," Bardigan is careful to point out. "Otherwise this would be much easier." He pulls out the map-again-for everypony's benefit. "We head south in the direction of Ghastly Gorge, and follow it to the end before turning west towards the mountains. It shouldn't take more than a few days to get there. A trip of a couple weeks at most, if we're very lucky. And with the Element of Magic, an expert on Diamond Dogs, a dragon, and an invincible filly, I'd say the odds are rather stacked in our favor."
Spike nods. "Will there be diamond dogs trying to attack us again, this time?" His tone is worried, although he's trying to put on a brave face. His last two visits to the Diamond Dog tunnels have been less than pleasant.
Twilight_Sparkle lights up her horn like a lantern! We're probably visible from space, but we are in no danger of tripping in the dark.
Diamond_Dancer shakes her head in liu of Spike's query. "Naw! We'll be fine! We's got Clara wiff us! AND Bardigan, who ain't gonna let nuffin bad happen, EVER! "She explains proudly. "And, and, ANNNNND, A dragon! "She grins quietly. "Ain't no Diamond Dogs gonna mess wiff us!
Clara's eyebrows and general posture are forbidding as she replies carefully to Diamond Dancer. It seems the canine has some reservations about this trip. "A LEead. IndEeEd. It dePenDs WHiCh tunneLs you mEean. MY famIly and Our NemeSeEs live to the southeEast." She points. "But they HaVe lOOng sinCe freeEd me of DuuTies to tHem, thAt I mIghT foLlow my QuEest. And as this is now YooUR Quest, it is aLso mIine." She starts walking slowly southward, loping with her pickaxe and sack. "I expeCt there wiLL eiTHer be DanngeR or FAailLure ahEead," she says. "PerhaPs bOOoth."
"We'll soon see," Bardigan whispers, and turns to head off down the trail. Not towards anything he's ever been to before, unless you count the flying route to Los Pegasus. In spite of everything the Princesses have done, Equestria can still be a dangerous place to travel in the wrong areas. He flips his tricorn off his head and replaces it with a safari cap, setting his jaw before leading the way, careful not to leave the light of Twilight's horn lantern.
Twilight_Sparkle keeps close to Bardigan, walking close beside him. Close enough, in fact, that the two ponies' flanks occasionally touch. She also frequently turns her head to make sure the others are within her sight: mainly Diamond dancer and Clara, because she knows Spike's there so long as she feels his weight on her back.
Spike hunkers down closer to Twilight's back. He doesn't like the sound of this -- danger and failure are two of his least-favorite things -- but he's not going to abandon her now.
Diamond_Dancer follows alone, but keeps an eye on Twilight and Bardigan. She's not super keen on 'romance' but she gets the jist of ponies making eyes at one and other. Oh, this will be a VERY interesting adventure indeed. She keeps close to Clara, occasionally glancing at the Diamond dog, when she's not stealing a glance at Bardigan and Twilight. Grrrr.... "Hey, Clara...what excatly is da deal with Diamond Dogs n' Firestones? you'se dink they'll be keen on givin' e'm up?
Clara falls into the motif of grim silence easily and immediately. She looks back at Diamond Dancer after a slight pause, not breaking her quadrupedal step. "GiViing them uPp? I Should thInk NoOOt. That Is wHy I mentIoNed dAAnger and FaailuRe." She keeps plodding before adding: "I exPecCt the GroUp has soOMe PreCIous iiIIteMs to BArrTeR?"
Bardigan doesn't seem to react to the flank touching, being the level-headed stallion he is, but maybe a few times his tail happens to swing towards Twilight's, purely because of the way he's trotting, of course. "Nothing that might add up to the value of a firestone," he says over his shoulder, "but I do have a few gem-oriented knick-knacks that could stand to be given away." He gives a little hop and one of his bags gives a loud jingle. "You won't believe all the things my parents hoarded when we were on the road. You'd think they were part dragon. No offense, Spike."
Twilight_Sparkle nods, and says, simply, "I know how to make some things of value," without elaborating. She times her own tailswishes to meet bardigan's, once or maybe twice.
Spike shakes his head. "No offense taken. Just as long as no one thinks I'm going to, you know, be part of the deal." He remembers all too well how curiously interested some of the dogs were in him as a potential weapon, last time.
Diamond_Dancer rolls her eyes. "Dis is gonna be a cake walk you'se guys! Look, all we's gotta do, is offa some of da gem's Rarity gots! She's got dat magic, uh, horn ding, when she can ya know, find gems anywhere whenver she wants! ...I dink dats how it works! Anyway, it'll be fine!" She cants- as if she's rehersed this to herself over, and over and over again. It HAS to be fine...
"VAllLuUe?" asks Clara, canting her ears back. "WhAt ingrEdIenTs do you ReQuiiIRe? And bEFore we gOo too FaaR, DiAmond--should We be vIistinG tHis RaaRriTyY?" She ignores Spike, having deduced that he may be the wizard pony's number one assistant out of only one, and thus no big kahuna. "No FiiRe RuUbiies?" She flicks her tail. "DepeENding on WhaT you've GooT, we mAAy be betTer off...stEeEEalLing."
"Given the experiences Rarity's had with Diamond Dogs, I doubt she'd be much willing to give up a sizeable part of her stash to them," Bardigan remarks, tail all a-tingle from the swishing touches. "And we can't turn back now. She's likely asleep, we're already out of Ponyville, and we don't have time to haggle over such things. We'll cross that bridge when we come to it. Twilight, you mentioned it was a vein waiting to be tapped. If they haven't even mined it out yet..." He blinks and glances back at Clara. "Why *wouldn't* they have mined it all for themselves, yet?"
Twilight_Sparkle turns to face Clara, looking her in the eyes. she's questioning Luna's integrity, and that's bad enough...she's developed a closeness with her mentor's sister, in recent months. But Luna can take care of herself. Spike is another story, and Spike is where Twilight puts her hoof down, and now the violet unicorn has a point to make. "Spike," she says to her assistant, "Would you blow the Summoning Flute, and summon my Number Two Assistant? We both know he'll ONLY answer to you." She winks at him, and materializes a small reedy flute in her dragon's hands.
Diamond_Dancer's eyes light up at the suggestion, and she immediately barks out: "Oh, I can definetly steal dem! I usedta be a-" she catches herself, stops mid sentence, and draws herself back- as if physically setting herself back a few paces. There are somethings she hasn't quite discussed about her past with Bardigan. "...W, Well be fine. "She explains, and stops when Twilight materializes a flute out of no where. Well now, if she can just make stuff appear, they'll give the Diamond dogs THAT stuff!
Spike puts the flute to his lips and blows a short tune, then waits expectantly, arms folded smugly. Soon, an owl can be heard calling in the distance.
Clara turns around swiftly, no longer walking, and shifts her body quite a bit forward toward Diamond Dancer. SO much for the youth setting herself back. Her nose twitches. "UsSed to bE a tHIiEeF?" she asks sharply. She waits a moment for the answer. Then Clara turns to the dragon and mage, looking puzzled. She turns to ken the owl's call, then back to Bardigan. "FIireStOones are StroNgesT when FreEsSH," she explains, leaving it at that.
Bardigan quickly matches Diamond's pace and folds a protective wing around her when Clara rounds on the filly. "*Used* to be," he says sternly, not wanting Clara's combativeness to become an issue again. "And whatever she was before, she's part of my family now and doesn't need to be reminded of mistakes." He glances up at at the owl's hoot, eyes widening. They have their own early warning system now! "Will he follow us all the way there?" he asks in amazement.
Diamond_Dancer's ears fold back and her eyes BLAZE. "I NEVAH SAID...I...I NEVAH SAID I WAS A..."She stops herself, huffs, and trots forward, past the group and peers at them over her should. "I ain't nevah said nuffin. WE, will talk about dat latah." She snorts, glancing at Bardigan, before pointing her head towards the continuing gloom down there path. "...Were wastin' moonlight. "She grumbles, and trots off.
Spike holds out his arm as a perch as Owlicious swoops in, carrying a fire ruby. He grins and says, "Meet Twilight's *other* assistant." He ruffles the owl's chest feathers a little with his free hand, affectionately -- apparently Spike's gotten over his insecurities about Twilight having another helper.
Twilight_Sparkle teleports the ruby over to herself, offering it to the diamond dog with a smile. "Spike and I have access to anything we need, if it comes to that."
Clara peers with pointed...something...at the owl. Or rather, its fire ruby. Her eyes shine red for a second. "I SeEeE," she says. "It is an OWWwl. It doeS not TalK...or doEs iT?" She spins around and starts hurrying to keep up with Diamond. "We ^will^ talk lAAter. To be a ThIief is not ShaAmefUl...nEcesSarRilY." She wags her tail twice, making better time.
Bardigan tips his safari cap back, sincerely impressed. "Well, well. You librarians are just full of surprises," he says to dragon, unicorn, and owl. He looks back at Diamond, matching her gaze to give her a concerned look, ears wilted. And then they are off again, until they are forced to make camp the following night near the lip of Ghastly Gorge. An all day walk does do a number on any pony, and Bardigan's no Rainbow Dash as far as pegasi go! A warm fire, and especially some food brought from home, keep Bardigan's thoughts from straying too close to negativity, though by the way he stares at the stars instead of the fire, his thoughts could literally be anywhere right now.
Clara has been out for a while, engaged in some mysterious activity. She's away from the fire for now, anyway, allowing the others, if they so choose, to gossip about her.
Spike is curled up next to the fire -- practically in it, actually, the flames nearly touching his back spines. It's been a long day for him, and he's already starting to doze off.
Twilight_Sparkle curls up just behind Spike, by the fire. She feels protective of her little helper, and friend, who will live a thousand years and probably be fifty yards long eventually. but for now he's this little warm thing who's...well, whatever he is to her, he's nice to have around on these sorts of trips.
Bardigan is across the fire from them both. But that's probably just as well. It gives Bardigan's thoughts room to wander. And they eventually go so far they come back around again to the very ponies he's with. He looks over his shoulder at them all, Diamond especially, wherever she chose to lay her head down. "I didn't really think I'd end up here, you know," he whispers to nopony in particular, apparently thinking that they're all asleep. "It's strange how often we don't know which path we're taking until we're already well on it." He glances Diamond's way. "But I didn't think I'd end up here. This particular point in life. Nor did I think I'd be happy with it, but I am. And that's strange to me. I don't feel like I have to be happy. I just sort of am. I guess I have you all to thank for that. Mindful friends makes for mellow pony."
Spike opens one eye, peering up at Bardigan. "Me, I never thought I'd be following a Diamond Dog into the woods. But just right now, with the fire and all, things seem pretty okay. Where did you think you'd end up, anyway?"
Twilight_Sparkle sits up a little, stretching her front legs out. She closes her eyes...her horn glows softly, and the air fills with a soft tune, that seems to weave in and out of hearing, dancing with the crackling of the fire. It's a song that feels peaceful, and safe, like the edges of it are the edges of the world itself and the night could never get in.
"...Angrier. Lonelier. Worse," Bardigan answers Spike simply, and lifts his ears to listen to the tune Twilight is creating. With magic. He closes his eyes and takes a deep breath, letting the tune touch him like only music can. It's a beautiful thing, being able to *hear* the magic inherent in any act of creation. "But now..."
There's a rustle in the nearby bushes that disturbs the soft music and the peace it promises. Is it a menace from the bleak environs of Ghastly Gorge? No, it's only Clara. She steps through the stand of bushes backwards on three limbs, dragging a rather horrid object with her. The flop, smell and sheen of it indicate that it's a bloody corpse of something or other. A wild boar? Hopefully not a baby deer--that would just be murderous.
Spike lifts his head, watching Clara with a mix of horror and curiosity. His eyes glow with reflected firelight in the darkness. "Is...is that your dinner?" he asks, wide-eyed.
Twilight_Sparkle's eyes widen a bit, too. Subtly, the pace of the music picks up, and it shifts into a minor key. She winces a little, but remembers quickly that she's...not supposed to be judgmental...She scoots a little closer to Spike, either for his sake or her own.
There really aren't words for something like that. Bardigan's never seen an actual dead thing before, and his experience with blood is minimal at most. He grunts and looks away quickly, trying not to seem too disturbed. "Are you at least going to eat that out of sight?" he wonders, knowing it sounds rude. But really, it's not as if ponies are well versed in the art of killing and eating other living creatures!
( The dog's voice is especially gruff when she finds it, as though she had to dig it out of a pool of ink. "DiNNeR? NoO. SusSteNaANcCe. MeeEat serRvVes aS All meEeaLS." She seems to smack her lips once or twice, or that's what it sounds like. With her claws, she treats the meat somehow, cleaning or sectioning it. Then she pads to the campfire. "I WiLl, if You DeSiIre iT," she replies to Bardigan. "BuT maY I cOOk oVer the fiIrRe?" she asks the party. )
Spike squirms a little as the sight and smell of the meat triggers some deep-seated, instinctive cravings that he'd rather not admit to himself, much less his pony friends. "I, um, guess it's okay with me," he says, quietly, then tucks his face under his tailtip.
/=/
Bardigan gives a few experimental flaps of his wings as he steps out the door of his house, staring at the lights of Ponyville not far off. The saddlebags are a bit cumbersome... he's brought everything he thinks he might need. Rope, a grappling hook, food, sleeping roll, a trusty pickaxe that hasn't seen so much as a speck of dirt on its head since he bought it for some method acting, and various other supplies (like a journal to record their adventure!). Well. This is actually it. They might not see Ponyville for a good few weeks. It reminds him of his traveling days, really... except, he's going somewhere he'll be quite out of place in. "Diamond?" he calls over his shoulder. He promised her this. It's time. "Are you ready back there?"
Diamond_Dancer trots out of house with her head up, and eyes bright and shining. She's PROMISED to be on her best behavior...or at least promised herself, but how can one keep calm when one's dream is so close at hoof?! "Ok! Ok! We's find Clara, we's get directions to da Diamond Dogs, we get Fyrestones, we gets my star powered up! I get inducted into da Midnight Knights, I get my star, I get my wish, I head back to Noosegu..."She trails off, coughs, and shakes her head. "...Don't worry bout dat part. "She adds, and puffs out her chest. "Alright, if I know Clara, she's gonna be...probably hangin' round da outskirts of town, although I DID send a note dat she ought meet us round here...I don't know if it got to her. Do Diamond Dogs gots mailboxes?
Clara doesn't have a mailbox, but she is distinctive. In a town where mail is delivered in part based on how well the primary mail carrier recognizes you. So, yes, she got the note, and she's here, waiting on the skirts of Whitetail Woods, not far from the brook running near the doctor pony's cottage. She stands with one foot over the other, leaning on a tree, her pickaxe and a tough-looking burgundy sack--that's new--at hand. Her nose twitches as the other would-be quester approach. "DiIAmoNd?" calls the dog's voice cautiously.
"And brother," Bardigan announces as they come closer. It's the crack of dawn, and the world is still only half-lit by the rising sun. "Clara... it's been too long since we talked," he greets the Dog, doffing his hat (she is a lady, after all). "Thank you for coming... this could mean a lot to all of us, in spite of the inherent risks." He glances meaningfully at Diamond Dancer. "There's a lot of hope riding on this mission."
Diamond_Dancer nods her head. "Definetly! Long n' skinny of it, Clara!! Bardy says he found a lead on bringin' back da star! Says dare are some fyrestones down undaground, in da possession of Diamond Dogs! Da mission, is ta see if I can't borrow some of 'em! I figured you'd make for a great guide, what, seein' as you is a Diamond Dog n' all! Whadda say, wanna help?!" She beams brightly.
Clara is hit with a lot of information at once. This wasn't in the note she got! She uncrosses her legs and shifts her position from one side to the other before even looking over at the pegasi. "BroOtHeR?" she asks, eyes widening. "You I reMmEMberR," she says, pointing to Bardigan. "You jOoineD us in skIirRting the eNneMY to heLp my WoUunDed sisTers and bRoOoTheRs. But are you brOthEr in that seNse, or in the seNSe of bloOOod?" She peers between Diamond and Bardigan, looking for similarities, for now ignoring the rest of what she's heard.
"Brother in that I took Diamond Dancer into my family, such as it is. We are as close as we can get without blood." Bardigan lays a protective wing over Diamond's back. He wonders if Diamond Dogs know much about adoption. "In any case, I swore I would do everything I could to help her in this. That includes going on this mission."
Diamond_Dancer smiles quietly, even if she looks a bit ...unsettled when Clara brings up the point about blood. Still, she draws in a breath of excitement. "Yeah! Bard is my bruddah, no mattah what happens, and I'll protect him even if he does wanna come on dis quest wif me! It'll be dangerous, but if you can help us, I'll owe ya one!
Clara nods slowly. She finishes her examination and draws back slightly, the internal mechanisms within her turning. Who knows what Diamond Dogs have instead of gears? "So you aRe BarD. I am ClAara, as you knOw. It is a pleasure." She falls to all fours and sniffs at Bardigan from various angles...thankfully, not from any terribly compromising ones. She turns to Diamond Dancer. "I kneW thaT you haAd plaAns, as yOu muSt, SkYydANceR, until your pUrpoSe is CompleEte. I did Not kNow that yoU deSireD fiIiresToones. ThOse are a PrecioUs reSourCe for oUr kiInd. Yet I wiLl gLadly hElP you, as is my AppOOOintmEnT." Her ears flop, perk, and flop again.
"Precious for many kinds... I'm not exactly sure how we're going to get the Diamond Dogs to part from them," Bardigan laments quietly. "We aren't exactly swimming in other valuable gems." But he doesn't come off as too pessimistic, shrugging his shoulders. "But, like Dancer said... we figured you'd be the best guide on how to go about this. We can't thank you enough for agreeing to help us."
Diamond_Dancer nods her head. "Hey, I bet we could ask some ponies around town for some gems. Rarity always gots lots! She helped redesign my splotches! "she explains, pauses and then frowns.
"...This is gonna turn into a tradin' game ain't it?" She pouts. "Humph...lets just go down dare and see what dey want. Clara, can you dink of anyding more valuable den dose Fyrestones?
Clara wanders slightly into the woods, as if trying to avoid attention and scrutiny. They aren't being cramped by trees, though--not yet. "GeMs, we HAaVe. It is UnliIkely that PoONies, howeVer Wiise, would KnOw which GemS could bUY a FiRrEsToOne. PerHaps your RaArity would proOve otheRwIse...but iT is douUbtfuL." The Diamond Dog turns about on all fours, peering backward past her own tail. "But There aRe wiIIld fiReStoOnes, waiIting to be miINed. For ThoSe who are BrAaVe and ShAArp of KeN."
"There's a pony who I promised could help us. And may be able to give us exactly what help we need," Bardigan says, scuffing his hoof. "Twilight Sparkle. She will be coming with us, Clara. You've met her before. I should go and fetch her, and then we'll be on our way."
Diamond_Dancer's ears fold down quietly and she gives a little huff. Clara- sure. She trusts her underground, and they've been on enough adventures. Bardigan...well...he's a stage pony, but...meh. But A bookworm like Twilight? Diamond bites her lower lip nervously. "...Dis...I hope Bard knows what he's doin. "She mumbles. -- This was Diamond's last pose.
Bardigan, supply bags and other various sundry jingling and clanking on his back, leads Twilight to the appointed meeting area. He doesn't catch Diamond's last comment, but he does look more enthusiastic with every step he takes, a rather daring smile on his face by the time they meet up. "Well, here we all are," he says. "Goodness, I can hardly believe we're going on another adventure. Again, underground... but there's not much to be done about that."
Twilight_Sparkle nods, taking a deep breath. "Underground is not my favorite of places. But I do believe in this. I think it's important." Twilight herself is wearing stripey legwarmers on all four legs, and a matching scarf; the bookworm's making an attempt at some sort of fashion.
Clara has been chatting with Diamond Dancer for a while. But the brash young pegasus apparently had another last-minute idea--she flies off just as Bardigan and Twilight return, visible exiting the treeline. Clara is standing and staring after her, her pickaxe being used for support. She also has a new burgundy sack with her. Her nose and ears twitch, and she turns. "OhH," she says, recognition coming to her when she sees Twilight. "MaAgicC poOnY. I remMeMber yOouU."
Twilight_Sparkle smiles. "Clara, isn't it? Pleasure to see you again."
Bardigan looks back and forth between everypony else, honestly feeling a little overdressed. With his vest and supply bags and rope he looks more like he's ready to cross the southern desert than travel to a Diamond Dog clan! "Hopefully our prior experience together will make this easier. But there's no time like the present." He whips out a map. "We go south, judging by the last sightings of Diamond Dog activity, skirting the Everfree Forest."
Twilight_Sparkle nods. She helpfully lights up the end of her horn, an orb of light brightly illuminating the path. "All right, then. Let's go save ourselves a star."
Clara settles herself on her posterior in the mostly dry, slightly grassy ground. She shakes her head slowly. "We caNnoT depArT without the DaAnceR. But mORe than thAt. We must DiscUSs our GooalS and PuRRpoSe." She crosses her legs, peering at the orb of early morning light. Seriously, she faces the ponies before her. "WhaT ExAactly is DIiaMond DaNCer in poSseSion of, and How does She tHiink a FireStOone will AiiId heR?"
Bardigan, just about ready to head off down the path (he knows Diamond would follow them), stops mid-step. He was afraid these kinds of questions would come up... better sooner than later. He puts his hoof back down with a sigh, still looking down the long road out of town. "Only Princess Luna truly knows," he says. "But I have seen it. It is a black, dead stone... hardly looks like a star, but who are we to question Luna? And firestones... well. Twilight can probably tell you more. But if dragons desire them for their hoards, ancient unicorns thought they were fallen stars themselves, and even your people know the inherent value in them... they must do *something* to help. This is deep magic, as Twilight called it. So I believe old stories are a good place to start."
Twilight_Sparkle turns, to face Clara, her horn-light warmly illuminating the clearing like, well, twilight. She looks to Bardigan to answer that question first; it's his wheelhouse. She nods, as he answers. "I'm fond of reminding ponies that we used to think Nightmare Moon was just a legend. We have short memories sometimes, as a species. Those of us who aren't princesses, at least." Twilight glances over her shoulder, at the place where wings would be if she had them. "A star that can't shine is a tragedy, but this is something that hasn't been tried since times of legend. So I've been doing some reading. In some pretty old books."
Clara nods slowly, taking in both speeches. She seems content to sit right here until Diamond returns, and maybe even after. Her weapon/cane seems like an old friend, the way she holds it. "YoU are a WiSe wiZard, PurpLe poOny--I can tasTe the wIsdom as It flOoWs from yOu. But I am nOt coNVinnced of the tRaAgeDy of thIs alLegGed sTaAr. TeLl me, BaaRd--if a FireStOone is a falLen StAr, then WhY dOes the dAnceR reQUiRe her dEeaD Lump? She ClaiMs to deSitre only a StaAr--would a FireStoNe alOone not sufFiIce?"
"Because we're not entirely sure what we're dealing with. I'm not, at least," Bardigan mutters, his head bowed, still facing the path. He suddenly feels a small bit devious, dragging friends and family on a wild chase like this. "And Luna said it had to be that star. The firestones are the only thing we've read about that might even have a chance of reigniting one."
Twilight_Sparkle nods. "We might...be leaning pretty heavily on Princess Luna's say-so," she admits. "But, she's been right about a lot of things recently. And...this is something I've always wanted to do. As pure magic, it intrigues me. I want to see if we can do it."
Clara narrows her eyes when Luna's name comes up. She looks from Twilight to Bardigan as though sizing up adversaries, and, gripping her axe tighter, says: "PaRRdoN me, BarRd pOny. But whAt eXaActly diD the uSUrPer gOdDeSs say hAd to bE tHaat StaAr?" She shifts a little on the ground. Hoo boy.
Twilight_Sparkle winces, and exchanges glances with Bardigan.
Bardigan turns back to Clara with ominous slowness, raising an eyebrow at the words 'usurper goddess.' "The one that Diamond is carrying," Bardigan says plainly. "Are you implying that Luna might be trying to lead us false? Or is giving us information not worth pursuing? Because I can assure you that you would not know what you're talking about if that's true."
Clara sighs, her furry body rumbling. She sets down the pickaxe on the soil. "ThAt s Not whAt I am imPlyYing," she responds calmly. "At tHis tIme, I am aASking you to ClaRifY what You meaNt when yOu said thAt the oNe caLleD LuUna told you..." And she points in the direction of Diamond..."...that It Had to Be thAt Star." Her face is tense.
Twilight_Sparkle tilts her head. "Is there another star you'd prefer? I mean, I don't want to be dismissive of your concerns, but...falling stars don't grow on trees." She winces at her own mixed metaphor. She looks at Bardigan. "WAS Luna specific about that? You spoke to her more directly about it than I did," she says, addressing him more quietly, although still perfectly within Clara's hearing.
Bardigan's eyebrow remains raised. "I mean exactly what I said. Diamond Dancer was given a dead star by Luna, and that is the star we are to revive. I don't really *see* how this can get any clearer. Unless you're saying that Diamond is that star, which *rather* removes the point of her being given a fallen one."
Clara's mouth moves at the 'trees' line...whether it's a smile or a grimace? Who can say? Perhaps both. Then Bardigan speaks, and her ears flop languidly. "No, a PoONy is nOt a StarR. NeEiItheR is a FiirRestOne, to mY knNowleDge. Yet tHis puzzZlLes me. The MooN usUrRper says wE 'arRe to revIVe' this Dead sTar of DiAmond's...yet diD she saY whY? What clAim does shE hAve to know the DaNcer's DeSstIny?"
Twilight_Sparkle speaks up, at that. "The princesses are very old, and seem to know a lot about destiny. They are worth listening to on the subject." She glances back, momentarily, at her own back again.
Bardigan takes a deep breath to rein in a sudden spike of temper and looks Twilight's way as well, giving her a knowing glance. "The Princesses are puzzling. That's really all we can be certain of," Bardigan murmurs. "But... they know many great and wonderful things. Have a little faith, won't you Clara? And stop calling her usurper. She has made mistakes, yes. But she is more than what your stories say. Luna wouldn't have stepped in if she didn't know what she was doing." He closes his eyes. "She wouldn't play such games with ponies' feelings," he whispers, seemingly to himself. "Now then. Are you with us or not? Because it's all I know that may help this filly, who I love very much. You saw what she's willing to do to herself. I don't see any other options here."
Clara lowers her muzzle. She seems to be in contemplation. Then she takes a deep, slow breath and looks up again. "I wIlL fOrBeaR frOm the tiTle of UsuUrRpEr in the iNterEst of PeEace," she declares. "BuT thAt is whAt she iS. In AnY caSe, I am wIIth you. I siMply tHink there Is More to DIsCUSs...but That is a bOoN on the RoOAaD." She stands up in a lithe motion and looks toward the sky, wistful.
Diamond_Dancer trots along quietly, head down, ears folded back against her skull, looking particularily unsure about inviting Twilight Sparkle Along. Of ALL ponies, why on EARTH would Bardigan decide it was alright for HER to come? " I'll never be able to forgive myself if something happens to any of dem! Espcially Twilight! no way would Luna let me be part of her court if someding happened to HER. UGH. Wait...What does Luna haff to do wiff Twilight? Well, duh, Twilight is Celestia's personal student. ...and? Well, Luna is Celestia's sister. I'm not following. Well if Celestia gets mad, Luna will be mad, den Luna won't want you'se to be part of her royal court! Ooooooo! Espcially with Twilight bein' an Element of Harmony n' all! Yeah she totally-...wait, Twilight is an element of Harmony? Where were you ten seconds ago? So...what your saying...is you DON'T want Twilight, an Element of Harmony, a pony who saved the world not once, but TWICE, to come with you, to fetch your star?" All this internal monologing leads to Diamond (Whom has been making the strangest of faces in her little internal debate) to smile brightly at Twilight when she approaches and Griiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiins! "Twilight! SO glad you'se could join us!! "
"And there's the missing member of our party," Bardigan says, standing up on all fours, the previous discussion forgotten. He hefts up his bags and points down the path. "We're burning moonlight, ponies! Let's get this started."
Twilight_Sparkle smiles back, brightly, although it kind of seems like, on some level, she's also taking in the ambivalence; she adds, "Luna thought I ought to be involved in helping you with this," matter-of-factly but also with a hint of awareness that this information might be reassuring. "I've been wanting to test some of my theories about stars and firestone for a while, now. I'm happy for the opportunity to make my research useful."
Spike eyes Diamond Dancer with a concerned look on his face, from Twilight's back. He leans forward and whispers in Twilight's ear, "She seems a bit...crazy tonight. I mean, more than usual. Are you sure she's okay?" It's apparently dawned on the little dragon that many of the ponies around him are just a TRIFLE unstable.
"As did I," Bardigan adds to Twilight's explanation, stepping up beside the unicorn. "Don't *worry*, Diamond. I trust her, so you can too."
Twilight_Sparkle whispers in Spike's ear, "If anybody's in danger here, it probably isn't either of us. But stay close to me."
Clara is standing now, having recently risen from a cross-legged pose of interrogation. She eyes the new arrival, the spiky little dragon, with suspicion. But she nods, even bows her head toward him and rasps: "DrAaGooN ChiIlLd. I wELcoMe you To oUr coMPpAny. You are AdjUutAnNt to the MaAgic pOony, yyEEss?" And with Diamond's return, the Diamond Dog's fur stands up and she swivels halfway, her reflexes now on double duty. "WeLlcome BAacK, DaAnceR."
Diamond_Dancer nods her head. "Yeah! I trusts her! No problem! If Luna likes ya, den I likes ya! "She exclaims. "Welcome ta da adventcha Twilight!" She explains, spits into one of her hooves, and holds it out with a great big beamin' smile. "We go down, we get da stones, we come back, and we bring back a star! I'm sure dis'll be real good for yer studies n's tuff!" She explains. "But if you take my star...I'll kill ya. "she says- just as cheerfully!
Bardigan reaches out with a wing to baff Diamond's head. "Be nice," he says in his best big-brother voice. "They wanted to be here."
Spike tilts his head, having a little trouble sorting out Clara's choice of words given her accent. "Well, I'm her number-one assistant, if that's what you mean! Besides, I wasn't gonna pass up the chance to see a star up close." Diamond Dancer's comment does nothing to minimize his concern, though; he leans back a little, as if trying to edge away without getting off of Twilight's back.
Twilight_Sparkle nods at Spike. "And having a dragon along might be important. Firestone can be dangerous for a lot of creatures, but not dragons! And...not me, because I've taken some magical precautions. So you and I are pretty important here." She smiles at Spike, a little condescendingly but also warmly.
Clara lowers herself, letting her chunky arms take th brunt of her weight, and making her look something like a misshapen bear. She address the purple duo directly. "NumMber oNne AssiStaNt? How MaNy AssSissstantS does the Magic uuUniCoOrn hAave?" She shifts her eyes down to Twilight. "YoU seeEm to Know a lot abOut FiiResTOnes. Or you thIinK you doO. This wiLl be IinNterestiNg." She glances at Diamond Dancer. "DaNncerR? You have nnOt yYet tOolld me where you AcQuIireD the DeaAd stAAr."
Diamond_Dancer nods her head slowly, sloooowly pulling her hoove back and staring at Twilight with a empty, Pinkie-like Smile pasted across her lips. "...SURE! Lets go get us some firestones! Dis'll be...dis'll be fun." She says quietly, even if she's not entirely too sure about it herself. "Princess Luna gave it to me! She said it's a test...a challenge! I've been workin on fixin' it for MONTHS now, but dis is da first real lead I've ever had! "She exclaims, eyes twinkling with adoration for Bardigan. "So, waitin' any longa' is gonna make me explode! Clara, whats da easiest, and quickest route to da Diamond Dog Tunnels? "She quips quietly.
"It's not exactly the ones we've visited before," Bardigan is careful to point out. "Otherwise this would be much easier." He pulls out the map-again-for everypony's benefit. "We head south in the direction of Ghastly Gorge, and follow it to the end before turning west towards the mountains. It shouldn't take more than a few days to get there. A trip of a couple weeks at most, if we're very lucky. And with the Element of Magic, an expert on Diamond Dogs, a dragon, and an invincible filly, I'd say the odds are rather stacked in our favor."
Spike nods. "Will there be diamond dogs trying to attack us again, this time?" His tone is worried, although he's trying to put on a brave face. His last two visits to the Diamond Dog tunnels have been less than pleasant.
Twilight_Sparkle lights up her horn like a lantern! We're probably visible from space, but we are in no danger of tripping in the dark.
Diamond_Dancer shakes her head in liu of Spike's query. "Naw! We'll be fine! We's got Clara wiff us! AND Bardigan, who ain't gonna let nuffin bad happen, EVER! "She explains proudly. "And, and, ANNNNND, A dragon! "She grins quietly. "Ain't no Diamond Dogs gonna mess wiff us!
Clara's eyebrows and general posture are forbidding as she replies carefully to Diamond Dancer. It seems the canine has some reservations about this trip. "A LEead. IndEeEd. It dePenDs WHiCh tunneLs you mEean. MY famIly and Our NemeSeEs live to the southeEast." She points. "But they HaVe lOOng sinCe freeEd me of DuuTies to tHem, thAt I mIghT foLlow my QuEest. And as this is now YooUR Quest, it is aLso mIine." She starts walking slowly southward, loping with her pickaxe and sack. "I expeCt there wiLL eiTHer be DanngeR or FAailLure ahEead," she says. "PerhaPs bOOoth."
"We'll soon see," Bardigan whispers, and turns to head off down the trail. Not towards anything he's ever been to before, unless you count the flying route to Los Pegasus. In spite of everything the Princesses have done, Equestria can still be a dangerous place to travel in the wrong areas. He flips his tricorn off his head and replaces it with a safari cap, setting his jaw before leading the way, careful not to leave the light of Twilight's horn lantern.
Twilight_Sparkle keeps close to Bardigan, walking close beside him. Close enough, in fact, that the two ponies' flanks occasionally touch. She also frequently turns her head to make sure the others are within her sight: mainly Diamond dancer and Clara, because she knows Spike's there so long as she feels his weight on her back.
Spike hunkers down closer to Twilight's back. He doesn't like the sound of this -- danger and failure are two of his least-favorite things -- but he's not going to abandon her now.
Diamond_Dancer follows alone, but keeps an eye on Twilight and Bardigan. She's not super keen on 'romance' but she gets the jist of ponies making eyes at one and other. Oh, this will be a VERY interesting adventure indeed. She keeps close to Clara, occasionally glancing at the Diamond dog, when she's not stealing a glance at Bardigan and Twilight. Grrrr.... "Hey, Clara...what excatly is da deal with Diamond Dogs n' Firestones? you'se dink they'll be keen on givin' e'm up?
Clara falls into the motif of grim silence easily and immediately. She looks back at Diamond Dancer after a slight pause, not breaking her quadrupedal step. "GiViing them uPp? I Should thInk NoOOt. That Is wHy I mentIoNed dAAnger and FaailuRe." She keeps plodding before adding: "I exPecCt the GroUp has soOMe PreCIous iiIIteMs to BArrTeR?"
Bardigan doesn't seem to react to the flank touching, being the level-headed stallion he is, but maybe a few times his tail happens to swing towards Twilight's, purely because of the way he's trotting, of course. "Nothing that might add up to the value of a firestone," he says over his shoulder, "but I do have a few gem-oriented knick-knacks that could stand to be given away." He gives a little hop and one of his bags gives a loud jingle. "You won't believe all the things my parents hoarded when we were on the road. You'd think they were part dragon. No offense, Spike."
Twilight_Sparkle nods, and says, simply, "I know how to make some things of value," without elaborating. She times her own tailswishes to meet bardigan's, once or maybe twice.
Spike shakes his head. "No offense taken. Just as long as no one thinks I'm going to, you know, be part of the deal." He remembers all too well how curiously interested some of the dogs were in him as a potential weapon, last time.
Diamond_Dancer rolls her eyes. "Dis is gonna be a cake walk you'se guys! Look, all we's gotta do, is offa some of da gem's Rarity gots! She's got dat magic, uh, horn ding, when she can ya know, find gems anywhere whenver she wants! ...I dink dats how it works! Anyway, it'll be fine!" She cants- as if she's rehersed this to herself over, and over and over again. It HAS to be fine...
"VAllLuUe?" asks Clara, canting her ears back. "WhAt ingrEdIenTs do you ReQuiiIRe? And bEFore we gOo too FaaR, DiAmond--should We be vIistinG tHis RaaRriTyY?" She ignores Spike, having deduced that he may be the wizard pony's number one assistant out of only one, and thus no big kahuna. "No FiiRe RuUbiies?" She flicks her tail. "DepeENding on WhaT you've GooT, we mAAy be betTer off...stEeEEalLing."
"Given the experiences Rarity's had with Diamond Dogs, I doubt she'd be much willing to give up a sizeable part of her stash to them," Bardigan remarks, tail all a-tingle from the swishing touches. "And we can't turn back now. She's likely asleep, we're already out of Ponyville, and we don't have time to haggle over such things. We'll cross that bridge when we come to it. Twilight, you mentioned it was a vein waiting to be tapped. If they haven't even mined it out yet..." He blinks and glances back at Clara. "Why *wouldn't* they have mined it all for themselves, yet?"
Twilight_Sparkle turns to face Clara, looking her in the eyes. she's questioning Luna's integrity, and that's bad enough...she's developed a closeness with her mentor's sister, in recent months. But Luna can take care of herself. Spike is another story, and Spike is where Twilight puts her hoof down, and now the violet unicorn has a point to make. "Spike," she says to her assistant, "Would you blow the Summoning Flute, and summon my Number Two Assistant? We both know he'll ONLY answer to you." She winks at him, and materializes a small reedy flute in her dragon's hands.
Diamond_Dancer's eyes light up at the suggestion, and she immediately barks out: "Oh, I can definetly steal dem! I usedta be a-" she catches herself, stops mid sentence, and draws herself back- as if physically setting herself back a few paces. There are somethings she hasn't quite discussed about her past with Bardigan. "...W, Well be fine. "She explains, and stops when Twilight materializes a flute out of no where. Well now, if she can just make stuff appear, they'll give the Diamond dogs THAT stuff!
Spike puts the flute to his lips and blows a short tune, then waits expectantly, arms folded smugly. Soon, an owl can be heard calling in the distance.
Clara turns around swiftly, no longer walking, and shifts her body quite a bit forward toward Diamond Dancer. SO much for the youth setting herself back. Her nose twitches. "UsSed to bE a tHIiEeF?" she asks sharply. She waits a moment for the answer. Then Clara turns to the dragon and mage, looking puzzled. She turns to ken the owl's call, then back to Bardigan. "FIireStOones are StroNgesT when FreEsSH," she explains, leaving it at that.
Bardigan quickly matches Diamond's pace and folds a protective wing around her when Clara rounds on the filly. "*Used* to be," he says sternly, not wanting Clara's combativeness to become an issue again. "And whatever she was before, she's part of my family now and doesn't need to be reminded of mistakes." He glances up at at the owl's hoot, eyes widening. They have their own early warning system now! "Will he follow us all the way there?" he asks in amazement.
Diamond_Dancer's ears fold back and her eyes BLAZE. "I NEVAH SAID...I...I NEVAH SAID I WAS A..."She stops herself, huffs, and trots forward, past the group and peers at them over her should. "I ain't nevah said nuffin. WE, will talk about dat latah." She snorts, glancing at Bardigan, before pointing her head towards the continuing gloom down there path. "...Were wastin' moonlight. "She grumbles, and trots off.
Spike holds out his arm as a perch as Owlicious swoops in, carrying a fire ruby. He grins and says, "Meet Twilight's *other* assistant." He ruffles the owl's chest feathers a little with his free hand, affectionately -- apparently Spike's gotten over his insecurities about Twilight having another helper.
Twilight_Sparkle teleports the ruby over to herself, offering it to the diamond dog with a smile. "Spike and I have access to anything we need, if it comes to that."
Clara peers with pointed...something...at the owl. Or rather, its fire ruby. Her eyes shine red for a second. "I SeEeE," she says. "It is an OWWwl. It doeS not TalK...or doEs iT?" She spins around and starts hurrying to keep up with Diamond. "We ^will^ talk lAAter. To be a ThIief is not ShaAmefUl...nEcesSarRilY." She wags her tail twice, making better time.
Bardigan tips his safari cap back, sincerely impressed. "Well, well. You librarians are just full of surprises," he says to dragon, unicorn, and owl. He looks back at Diamond, matching her gaze to give her a concerned look, ears wilted. And then they are off again, until they are forced to make camp the following night near the lip of Ghastly Gorge. An all day walk does do a number on any pony, and Bardigan's no Rainbow Dash as far as pegasi go! A warm fire, and especially some food brought from home, keep Bardigan's thoughts from straying too close to negativity, though by the way he stares at the stars instead of the fire, his thoughts could literally be anywhere right now.
Clara has been out for a while, engaged in some mysterious activity. She's away from the fire for now, anyway, allowing the others, if they so choose, to gossip about her.
Spike is curled up next to the fire -- practically in it, actually, the flames nearly touching his back spines. It's been a long day for him, and he's already starting to doze off.
Twilight_Sparkle curls up just behind Spike, by the fire. She feels protective of her little helper, and friend, who will live a thousand years and probably be fifty yards long eventually. but for now he's this little warm thing who's...well, whatever he is to her, he's nice to have around on these sorts of trips.
Bardigan is across the fire from them both. But that's probably just as well. It gives Bardigan's thoughts room to wander. And they eventually go so far they come back around again to the very ponies he's with. He looks over his shoulder at them all, Diamond especially, wherever she chose to lay her head down. "I didn't really think I'd end up here, you know," he whispers to nopony in particular, apparently thinking that they're all asleep. "It's strange how often we don't know which path we're taking until we're already well on it." He glances Diamond's way. "But I didn't think I'd end up here. This particular point in life. Nor did I think I'd be happy with it, but I am. And that's strange to me. I don't feel like I have to be happy. I just sort of am. I guess I have you all to thank for that. Mindful friends makes for mellow pony."
Spike opens one eye, peering up at Bardigan. "Me, I never thought I'd be following a Diamond Dog into the woods. But just right now, with the fire and all, things seem pretty okay. Where did you think you'd end up, anyway?"
Twilight_Sparkle sits up a little, stretching her front legs out. She closes her eyes...her horn glows softly, and the air fills with a soft tune, that seems to weave in and out of hearing, dancing with the crackling of the fire. It's a song that feels peaceful, and safe, like the edges of it are the edges of the world itself and the night could never get in.
"...Angrier. Lonelier. Worse," Bardigan answers Spike simply, and lifts his ears to listen to the tune Twilight is creating. With magic. He closes his eyes and takes a deep breath, letting the tune touch him like only music can. It's a beautiful thing, being able to *hear* the magic inherent in any act of creation. "But now..."
There's a rustle in the nearby bushes that disturbs the soft music and the peace it promises. Is it a menace from the bleak environs of Ghastly Gorge? No, it's only Clara. She steps through the stand of bushes backwards on three limbs, dragging a rather horrid object with her. The flop, smell and sheen of it indicate that it's a bloody corpse of something or other. A wild boar? Hopefully not a baby deer--that would just be murderous.
Spike lifts his head, watching Clara with a mix of horror and curiosity. His eyes glow with reflected firelight in the darkness. "Is...is that your dinner?" he asks, wide-eyed.
Twilight_Sparkle's eyes widen a bit, too. Subtly, the pace of the music picks up, and it shifts into a minor key. She winces a little, but remembers quickly that she's...not supposed to be judgmental...She scoots a little closer to Spike, either for his sake or her own.
There really aren't words for something like that. Bardigan's never seen an actual dead thing before, and his experience with blood is minimal at most. He grunts and looks away quickly, trying not to seem too disturbed. "Are you at least going to eat that out of sight?" he wonders, knowing it sounds rude. But really, it's not as if ponies are well versed in the art of killing and eating other living creatures!
( The dog's voice is especially gruff when she finds it, as though she had to dig it out of a pool of ink. "DiNNeR? NoO. SusSteNaANcCe. MeeEat serRvVes aS All meEeaLS." She seems to smack her lips once or twice, or that's what it sounds like. With her claws, she treats the meat somehow, cleaning or sectioning it. Then she pads to the campfire. "I WiLl, if You DeSiIre iT," she replies to Bardigan. "BuT maY I cOOk oVer the fiIrRe?" she asks the party. )
Spike squirms a little as the sight and smell of the meat triggers some deep-seated, instinctive cravings that he'd rather not admit to himself, much less his pony friends. "I, um, guess it's okay with me," he says, quietly, then tucks his face under his tailtip.