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Post by Deleted on Aug 4, 2012 0:30:38 GMT -5
The full moon cast a soft glow over the land of Equestria. Large shadows were cast from the large castle overlooking the glorious city of Canterlot. The city was asleep, but the guards patrolling the castle gates were very much awake. They marched past the gates to the beloved home of their princesses. Suddenly, a dark figure appeared at the gate. "Who goes there!?" one of the guards called out, weapon poised, ready for attack. The figure's only response was to narrow it's glowing green eyes. "Oh." [/i] The guard relaxed his stance and lowered his weapon, "It's you, Viper Strike. You know you're not supposed to be around these parts anymore. What are you doing here?"[/i] The black pegasus shuffled his wings so that they lay comfortable against his fake-leather jacket. His head turned off to the side as he spoke. "You know why I'm here, officer." Viper Strike said calmly, "I've yet to speak with the princesses about being allowed back into my old career."[/b] "I'm afraid that's impossible-" "I was your Captain!" Viper interrupted, "They have to hear me out! The guard looked at the shaken stallion with what looked like pity in his eyes. "I'm sorry, Viper Strike. The princesses just won't have it. I suggest that you leave now." The dark black pegasus reclined his chin slightly and a soft hiss was heard escape through his scaly slits of nostrils. He realized he wasn't getting anywhere with this guard. His large wings stretched out and he was silently rocketed into the night sky, propelling away from the castle he had once called his home. It's only been a week since he had been presented to the princesses as the "perfect soldier", a result of a horrid and involuntary experiment that he had been forced to suffer through. The whole purpose of the experiment was to combine a soldier of the castle with the DNA of a venomous serpent. The scientists believed that if they took one of the toughest guards, they could create the perfect soldier, and gain access to experiment on multiple guards and inhabitants of Canterlot. They took Viper Strike, the night guard Admiral, not only for his status, but because he was taller, stronger, and overall larger than the rest of the guards at the castle, and because he was there for the night, a less conspicuous time. Normally at night, guards were given orders in the beginning, and kept their duties for the rest of the night, never speaking to one another. Had he known what the plan had been, he would have never agreed. He had been given a letter that looked like it was signed by Princess Luna, ordering him to take part in this experiment. He regrets now not confirming it with the princess herself. Once he had been brought into the laboratory, he was given the first injection. He knew at that moment that it had all been a trap, but at that time, it was too late. His muscles eased and his body gave way onto a waiting table, used to prop him up. He had no way of resisting what came next. More needles were thrust into him, injecting serums of altered viper venom that burned through his veins like live fire. He had no means of screaming in pain or fighting for release. His limp body stayed there frozen while the monsters kept injecting more and more of the painful substance. The next step had been throwing him into a completely glass housing unit. He was left there without any food or water, not that he could do anything with either. Radio-active waves were shot through the room, burning the fur off of his skin and activating the serum within. This time movement had begun to return to him, but so were most of his senses. The burning sensation hit the hardest. Everything felt like it was on fire, both inside and out. He could see nothing but bright burning flames. The pain was the most intense that he had ever felt. This went on for the rest of the day, and by night time, it was done. he was left on the floor, his skin completely bare. His feathers, mane, and tail had managed to hold together, but that was all. His fur was gone, nothing more than scarred, scaly tissue in its place. His eyes burned, and no amount of tears could clear them up. Nothing could stop him from collapsing from exhaustion. When he awoke, he found he was shackled to the floor by wrought iron. It was dark in the room, but he found he could see perfectly, more than before. "Yes, yes. I do believe our dear Celestia and Luna would approve. Good job, everyone!" a voice belonging to what looked like the head scientist had spoken, "Though, we do have our setbacks, our experiment was a success![/i] Setbacks? Viper thought. He looked at his damaged pelt and burned hair. The burning had ceased, but the emotional pain was still tender. He blinked and pulled gently at the shackle around his left fore hoof. It clinked slightly, but he felt like he could break through them as easily as if they were a soft rubber. He didn't test that theory, knowing that was crazy-thought. "What setbacks do you speak of, scientist?"[/color] he asked angrily. Before the scientist could answer, Viper let out an audible hiss. "Take me back to my home. Bring me to the castle. Let me leave this Hay!"[/color] The scientist seemed to smile behind his dust-mask. "That is just what we intend to do, Admiral"[/color] When they had indeed presented Viper Strike to the princesses, they were in shock over the whole procedure and the experiment was immediately shut down and the scientists were forbidden from practicing anymore. Viper Strike had begun looking more reptillian than pony, since none of his fur had regrown. He was relieved of his duties and banned from entering the castle grounds, labelled emotionally unstable and potentially dangerous due to his newly developed skills and talents. Banned from the castle. Banned from his duties. Banned from his home. Take away all of that, what does a stallion have left? He now glided over the sleeping city of Canterlot, his sensitive glowing snake-like eyes capturing everything that he flew over. He still guarded this place that used to welcome him like a hero, though this was the only time he was able to visit. The daytime sun was enough to make him wish to rip his eyeballs out with his bare hooves. He silently glided to the entrance of town and touched down lightly, folding up his wings against him to try and trap in some of the heat that he had left. He patrolled the streets of his once-called home, protecting it like it was once his job to do. Nopony would notice him if they were asleep, though he had to admit, it did get rather lonely at these hours. Silently, he made his way through the royal city, picking up bits of rubbish and throwing them away, wishing a silent good night in his mind to all of the citizens. After his rounds were complete, he started to make his way to that of the city's most famous flower garden that had become his temporary home. However, he couldn't shake the sense that he was being followed..[/color][/size][/blockquote]
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Post by Mortar Retort on Aug 4, 2012 15:21:26 GMT -5
And, perhaps, Viper Strike was being followed. Trotting gleefully up the path towards the garden was a blue unicorn stallion donning a burgundy cape and bright red fez. He hummed a little indistinguishable tune to himself, muffled by the basket carried in his teeth. Despite the late hour, the biting chill on the air and the tranquility of the night, the pony was quite awake and clearly chipper at the prospect of entering the garden. He also seemed obvious to the unusual pony on the path – in fact, passing Viper completely and entered the garden. From there the stallion went straight to harvesting flowers and other flora.
The unicorn trotted over to a bed of flowers, setting his basket down with a unpleasant gag. With a burst of magic, he flipped the basket’s lid open and removed a set of sheers, a few glass containers with screw-on lids, and some glass vials. He laid the materials out around him and went to work.
”Little snip from you… leaves from you and petals from you and you and you.” He muttered to himself, suddenly, he stopped and looked up. ”What was that?” He quickly looked at the ground around him. ”Ah-ha! Found you!” Without warning, the stallion suddenly darted a meter to his right, his face nearly planting itself in the grass as he stared at a slug, slowly crawling along the ground. With a glow of his horn, one of his glass containers floated from its resting spot to the air above the slug before it was quickly snatch up in the jar, the lid slammed on top and twisted closed. ”Excellent.” With the slug containing jar, he walked back over to his basket and begun to pack away the flora he had collected, cataloging everything carefully before putting them away.
His head then immediately shot up and looked directly towards Viper, ”You, the dark Pegasus fellow, be a gent and fly up there –“ Pointing a hoof to the top of a tree, ”And snag a sprig with some the little red berries on it? My range isn’t so good in the dark and the ones closer to the ground are just atrocious, I tell you.”
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Post by Deleted on Aug 4, 2012 20:29:40 GMT -5
Viper Strike stood still for a moment, ears flicked back. Those were definitely hoof steps behind him. Instead of turning around, he stood quietly, waiting for whomever it was to approach him. The owner of the sound, trotted past him, completely oblivious to the black pegasus observing him. The owner of the hooves was a blue unicorn with a basket in his mouth, who seemed to have the same destination in mind. Quietly, Viper followed the stallion. The blue stallion seemed to be collecting something in the garden. Curious, but wary, he watched from a small distance. With his keen sight, he watched as the unicorn clipped off a leaf here, a petal there, and then captured a slug. Viper narrowed his eyes slightly as it was obvious that this stag wasn't here just to get pretty flowers for an at home vase. Suddenly, it seemed as if he was discovered, not that he was hiding.
He was asked to retrieve some berries. It was a strange request, but he didn't seem any harm in helping this stranger. With a swift swoop, his large wings launched him silently into the air towards the said berries. He gently plucked the small branch from the tree and glided down, laying down the small stick near the basket. "So, um..." he tried to sort out his words, "What exactly is all of this for, if you don't mind me asking?" he asked, waiting for an answer.
[/size][/blockquote]
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Post by Mortar Retort on Aug 6, 2012 12:18:29 GMT -5
Retort’s magic enveloped the newly acquired stick, giving it a good once more, before nodding and stowing it away. ”Reagents, my dear fellow, alchemical reagents. Admittedly, these are rather common and banal materials, but crucial and it’s inordinately convenient that the garden has them. Though, feel rather bad for the gardener… with all the clipping and pruning by the cover of night…” He trailed off, thinking for a moment on the implications of continual destruction of Canterlot property by way of tree sheers. ”Oh well! Anyway, names Mortar Retort, Alchemist Extraordinaire. And thank you for your assistance.” He returned Viper a little bow, forehoof tucked against his chest.
The stallion begun to collect his things, stowing away the snips of leaves, buds, and one slug and as he did this, his eyes couldn’t keep from drifting towards Viper. Every glance was filled with wary curiosity, the leathery like skin and those strange, reptilian eyes. It puzzled Retort with itching curiosity. ”I didn’t cause that, did I?” He asked apprehensively, ears folding, though still keeping focuses on his work. ”You are – or were a pony, correct? Not some Hoofacabra come here to suck the precious bodily fluids from unsuspecting pony-folk? ‘Cause, if so, I am literally brimming with a slew of nasty chemicals brewing inside me – likely taste right awful.”
Once done, Retort turned back to Viper, ”If you don’t mind me inquiring, I take it you’re not out here at this hour admiring the Night Gladiolus? Though they are rather lovely.” He mentioned as his head turned to look at a patch of the creamy yellow flowers – ones that he hadn’t snipped the petals from. ”If you haven’t a proper place to stay, my store and laboratory are welcome to you. Consider it wage earned for retrieving that sprig for me.”
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Post by Deleted on Aug 6, 2012 21:54:38 GMT -5
Viper was rather wary of the seemingly friendly unicorn, but he couldn't quite put a hoof on the reason why. He listened quietly for a moment as the blue pony spoke, using big words that the pegasus knew but rarely heard from others. He nodded curtly to the blue unicorn's bow, but then the words sunk in. Alchemist. He was a scientist, No wonder why Viper felt uneasy around him. Scientists were the reason why he was treated like such a monster! The reason why he was out of his career, his home, his everything. He couldn't help but flatten his ears, but he didn't say anything. He was judging too soon. An alchemist is a chemist. The old profession involved turning metals into gold or creating the elixir of life or some nonsense like that. Nowadays, that could be the study of any chemicals and medicines, which would explain why he was there collecting plant matter. His mind wandered back to the slug that Mortar Retort had entrapped in the jar, now located in the basket. He vaguely wondered if it was going to be tortured and mutated just like he had been, just to see if there was a possibility of a positive outcome. His attention snapped back to the present time when he noticed that the unicorn was quietly studying him.
"I'm Viper Strike." he said, unsure of what else the talkative stag would expect him to say. He remained silent when he was asked if his appearance was the fault of this newly registered stranger. He narrowed his eyes slightly, but he had a feeling that the alchemist wasn't quite finished talking. He then wished he had spoken up since he was correct, and was now being scrutinized. "I'm not a monster."[/color] he started, "I was experiment 154 of Project: Perfect Soldier. It was a government condemned operation where my DNA was infused with that of a venomous viper."[/color] he was surprised that he hadn't known about the experiment. Most every pony had, hence the reason why he was treated like such an outcast. It was announced over all of Canterlot and most of Equestria that the practice was not to be conducted again, and he was living proof of the outcome. His scaly hide made it nearly impossible to keep in any body heat, so he was forced to wear that jacket nearly all of the time. His eyes gave him perfect night vision, but he was easily blinded in the sunlight. He had his quick reflexes and strength still, but what good is that when he lost his call of duty? "As if any of this was your fault, I wouldn't know. All of my kidnappers and scientist wore white masks and bright blue scrubs."[/color] He ignored the question about the flowers, but his eyes did dart up to the tree where he had spent the past few nights. Not much has been left there from him. Just a few indents in the wood from his hooves and some broken sticks from where he had cleared the branch to make room for his large body. "I suppose one day can't hurt..[/color] he paused, realizing he was missing something. "Thank you."[/color][/color][/size][/blockquote]
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Post by Mortar Retort on Aug 7, 2012 18:16:32 GMT -5
Retort nodded with each of Viper’s assertions, what a spectacular story, he thought. Tragic, almost fanciful, but the proof was standing before him. Not even his potions could cause such an abnormal reaction – and Retort potions were notorious for abnormal reactions. He could also breathe easy that this was indeed not the result of one of his way-ward concoctions, despite the wavers he supplied with all purchases, this type of violent mutation would like end him up in a high-court for a slew of crimes against pony-kind. Thank Luna for the unscrupulous use of experimental practices by the government, it kept him off the higher authority radar. It demonstrated that even his failed experiments would soon have merit in the sciences – if they, the Equestrian government, was willing to go to such lengths in the interest of national-defense.
”So you’re the pariah that has been buzzing about? Yes, I remember that research paper – absolutely terrible. Typical that the Academy of Sciences would jump right into pony trials – unethical hacks, every last one of them. And here, they call me mad because I tried to make Ambrosia.” He scoffed recalling how his experimental formula labeled him a quack by the Academy, but least his test subjects were still ponies – in body at least. ”Well glad, for my own sake, this wasn’t done by my hoof – have enough weight on my shoulders as it is. Still, puzzles me the Princess reacted as she had – suppose you’re a victim of the times.”
Retort took up his basket, this time wrapping it in a telekinetic field so he could continue to converse. ”Don’t mention it, friend. This way, just down the road near Pony Joe’s. Have plenty of space, if you don’t mind a permeating smell of apple cider and Mugwort.” With a gleeful step in his hoofs he begun trotting towards the exit of the garden, his basket floating beside him. It had been some time since he had company and was excited for it. Secretly, however, his scientific mind burned to get a better look at the effects of “experiment 154” – though he wouldn’t tell Viper that. In all truth, what burned Retort the most was his desire to see if he could be helped – it was, in Retort opinion, to use his science for the betterment of pony-kind and if there was ever a case of irrefutable transgression imparted upon another, Viper Strike was the poster-foal. "Oh I keep the place rather dark, better for my chemicals, hope that won't be a problem?! I assume you're nocturnal now, anyway."
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Post by shuteye on Aug 8, 2012 9:57:26 GMT -5
Shut Eye had to admit that this particular pair of foals was beginning to get on his nerves. The twins Ruby Twinkle and Sapphire Twinkle always misbehaved for him and for him alone. When their parents were around they were the most angelic little ponies anyone could imagine, but as soon as they were alone with Shut Eye they became merry little pranksters.
Today they had taken to a game of hide-and-seek against Shut Eye's will. It was dark and it was late and he was tired and yet they had the energy to keep playing games. Unfortunately, the pranksters were good at misleading and opened-then-shut a door most of the way. Shut Eye had heard the sound and went to the door. With a sigh, he had left, assuming that the foals had gone outside into the night.
Now he was looking all around the sleeping Canterlot for the young ponies who were now actually back in their own beds well asleep. Shut Eye would check back at the house in an hour or so, but for now he had to keep scouring the city.
As he made a round taking him nearer the flower gardens, he heard voices. Perking his ears up a bit, Shut Eye turned about and headed towards them. He quickly came to spot a black pegasus and a blue unicorn. Unfortunately, they were not the Twinkle Twins. But maybe they had seen them? The thought of addressing a pair of strangers was not a comforting one to the shy unicorn, but he had little choice. It was his job to babysit the foals and he needed to find them!
Approaching them timidly, Shut Eye spoke up. "Erm...uh, excuse me, sirs," he said, "Have either of you two seen a red or blue foal running around?" The thought of trying to explain how he had lost a pair of children was enough to make his stomach churn.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 8, 2012 22:47:47 GMT -5
The one named Mortar Retort seemed to be strangely at ease, walking, almost prancing next to him with that glowing basket full of plant matter and a possibly terrified slug. He walked silently, looking around at the night as Retort talked about the sights and smells of where he was to be staying. The smell wouldn't be a problem to him. He did like the smell of cider, though the taste was a bit biting to his tongue, so he tended to avoid it. Kind of odd since candy apples were his favorite treat.. Unfortunately, they were kind of an impossibility for him now since the gooey red candy substrate got stuck to his now slightly pointed teeth and he had to wait for it to dissolve in his mouth for him to continue eating properly. At least with the whole experiment, it hadn't changed the type of food he ate. If he was anything different than a vegetarian, he would have to live in the Griffin Kingdom, where he'd most likely be even more of an outcast than he already was.
"That's fine." he said, not really saying much to the fact that he couldn't see at all in the light. In fact, daylight gave him such massive migraines, his body almost shuts down from the pain. Why couldn't the scientists cross him with a more diurnal snake species at least like a cobra or a mamba? At least his eyes would look more normal and less like a changeling. He knew that his eyes weren't the problem that other ponies saw. The nighttime chariot pullers had cat-like eyes at night time, but the spell always wears off in the morning. It must be nice to know everything in the morning would be alright. Viper's "mornings" were when every pony went to sleep. So Retort was correct in saying that he was nocturnal, but that was a forced habit. Nothing he could break. There is so much that he missed out on with this schedule. And so much more time to waste as well. His thoughts were broken by the sound of a door closing a few blocks away. His sensitive hearing picked it up well before he could see it, but he found it strange that someone else was up at this hour. Sure, Retort was awake, but he was a peculiar kind wasn't he? Soon he heard hoofsteps coming closer, still a block away. Before any pony was seen, Viper already had his head turned toward the sound. "We're not alone."[/color] he simply stated. Soon enough, a tan and green colored unicorn approached, asking about some lost foals. "No pony's been out besides the two of us, and yourself in the past four hours." he said, knowing that two young ponies would definitely make enough noise for his ears to pick up. He saw how troubled the young stallion looked and breathed out softly. "I could lap the city if that would put your mind at ease, but when was the last time you had seen them?"[/color][/size][/blockquote]
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Post by Mortar Retort on Aug 9, 2012 17:49:01 GMT -5
Shut Eye’s sudden appearance made Retort nearly jump out of his fez and slip onto his flank, even at such a timid approach – Retort was so captivated by his own thoughts he failed to see the colt’s approach. He quickly collected himself, playing his spook off as nothing – readjusting his fez and trying to reply. ”Wha!? Who? No- foals here. Thank bloody heavens no, repulsive little things with their runny noses and sticky hooves.” Demonstrating the fact by wildly flaying his forehooves before him. ”Why would they be out at this hour anyway? Too much sugar; bad dream; foalnapping gone awry? Ya’ know I have chloroform for that – 35 bits, on sale. Even throw in an expired potion and a slightly used hoofkerchief for free! Best deal in Canterlot.” He pitched, no matter the situation, hour or individual – Retort had a deal or sale for them ready on the fly. It was part of his business model and brand recognition.
Then the realization hit him at how dire the situation was, two foals running around the sleeping city at this hour. What sort of horrible things could they get themselves into – his mind went straight to his shop. His jaw suddenly went slack and he gasped as a flood of imagination slammed right into brain. Horrible scenarios. Two icky foals rampaging around his shop, knocking over bottle after bottle of dangerous chemical. Drinking any and all ichors they could get too… explosions, spontaneous growth, the creation of some sort of vile monstorious beast made of soft squishy foal meat and every magical reagent his shop contained storming through Canterlot, smashing building and ponies alike – drooling the whole while. Lune would have to intervene, only to be captured and used as a living binky. He’d be ruined, a spittle encrusted Princess would exile him to some faraway land – like Hoofington! The horror!
”My Goddess… MY SHOP! What if they’re in my shop!?” Retort was growing frantic. He jumped to his hooves, eyes pleading for reassurance from Viper Strike and Shut Eye. ”WHAT IF THEY DIDN’T READ MY RULES!?” He bit his forehoof. ”I’d be ruined – again! I got to check on my shop!” Without another word, the frantic blue pony galloped with all his might past Shut Eye and down the street with surprising speed from a otherwise unauthentic individual. He made as quick a beeline he could towards his shop, Pony Joe’s giant donut sign like a warning beacon to light his path.
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Post by shuteye on Aug 9, 2012 19:08:32 GMT -5
Shut Eye's confididence was far from bolstered by the two rather different appearences of the pony's he was coming to. The black pegasus with bright green eyes was more than intimidating and quite massive where as the blue unicorn seemed to jump, startled by Shut Eye's approach. While uncomfortable under the somewhat venemous gaze he felt bad for startling the other pony.
"Oh, um, sorry there," he said to Retort, "Didn't mean to startle you. Um, they left the house while we were playing hide and seek. I was trying to get them to bed but they're, um, kind of a handful." he gave the other two night walkers a sheepish smile. He ignored the offer of chloroform and let it slide as a joke.
Shut Eye gave Viper a hopeful look when he offered to fly around the city. "Would you?" he asked, "If its not too much trouble, it'd be a lot faster than me trying to find them on my own. The red one is Sapphire and the blue one is Ruby. I don't think they could have gotten-"
He was cut off when Retort exclaimed his worry over his shop. Not knowing that Returt was an alchemist, Shut Eye nevertheless understood his fears. A pair of troublesome hyperactive foals loose in any place was a bad idea. When Retort took off at a gallop Shut Eye followed as best he could, but his panic was not nearly as great as Retort's and he couldn't quite keep up.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 9, 2012 22:37:00 GMT -5
The reptilian pegasus stayed silent when Retort began talking about the foals as if they were slobbery little blob monsters. When he talked about the chloroform, Viper flattened his ears, sickened at the thought. It wasn't right to force someone to go under against their will. He would know. He listened to the unicorn ask him to fly around and described them. So the red one was named after a blue stone and the blue one after a red stone. So be it, he wasn't one to judge. He nodded and without a word, his extra-long wings whipped out and he shot silently into the air at an extremely fast rate of speed.
Once he was in the air, he barely had to beat his wings due to the high wind current. He was glad to have worn his thick leather jacket since the wind was particularly chilly now, especially at his altitude. His glowing green eyes swept back and forth, his ears perked to receive any sounds from down below. Occasionally, he would lean to the side to steer around a building, dipping low by pulling in his wings slightly and then flexing them to be lifted higher again. There were absolutely no ponies out at this hour. He circled back only to see Retort galloping frantically to what he assumed was his factory considering it was right next to the donut shop the blue unicorn had mentioned earlier. The place was dead silent except for the sound of something bubbling. The stallion was an alchemist after all.
"They're not in there. I just have the east side of Canterlot to check." he said, leaning to the left to turn around. He flapped his wings once to gain more speed and shot forward. Suddenly, the muffled sound of giggling caught his attention. He flattened his wings out to act like a parachute and slow down. His ears turned out and he could hear more giggles coming from a window, along with some whispers. He soared in closer and peaked in. There were a couple of foals laying in separate beds. The red one tossed a pillow and soon a pillow war was started. He smiled slightly, missing the more simpler days. He didn't let his presence be known and he returned to the ground where the tan and green unicorn was at. "Would their home be a tall two story blue building that happens to be sitting a block away?"[/color] he asked calmly, waiting to see the unicorn's reaction.[/color][/size][/blockquote]
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Post by Mortar Retort on Aug 12, 2012 18:55:21 GMT -5
Retort galloped with all the energy could muster, though not being the most athletic pony around by the time he rounded Pony Joe’s, skidding to a stop before his shop, he was panting heavily. He sighed a little sigh of relief, shop still there, no lights on, nor fires, nor colorful smoke. All was as it should be. He wiped the trickling sweat from his brow and sat down upon his flank to collect himself.
”Good, very good.” He replied in response to Viper’s assertion, “That’s the problem with foals, their blatant disregard for the decency and privacy of ponies. Why, if they had just trotted in there without want of worry, we’d be in deep problems, I can assure you. Anyway, come back when – where did you go?” Retort only now realized he had been talking to himself. Viper had already moved on and that chubby colt was still falling behind.
Shrugging off the little embarrassment, Retort took up his basket and stepped towards his shop’s threshold, unlocking the front with a click from his horn’s magic and pushes the door open with a hoof. Steeping just inside, he set his basket down, giving the front of his store a look over, nothing out of place, not a thing amiss. Turning back, he stuck his head from out the open door, giving a few quick glances up and down the street – eyes scanning for the wayward foals.
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Post by shuteye on Aug 14, 2012 11:19:27 GMT -5
Shut Eye slowed down a bit when he saw Retort calm down and enter his place of work. He yawned a bit and looked up, wondering if Viper would be able to find the children. He still felt incredibly foolish for letting them get away from him the way they did. For the most part he liked watching kids, but these two.....they might have him asking for an increase in his normal pay rate if he accepted another job watching them.
There was a soft clop clop of hooves landing on the ground and Shut Eye turned a bit to see that Viper Strike had returned. Shut Eye gave him a hopeful look before the black, almost reptillian pony asked him about the home of the Twinkle foals.
"Oh, yes, thats their home." he said, a mixed feeling of hope and dread mixing within him. There was hope that he had spotted the two foals near the house or returning to it, but there was also the slight dread that in his absence they had started a fire.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 14, 2012 12:38:49 GMT -5
The scaled pegasus looked at the unicorn as he confirmed his assumption. "They are both in their beds, alive, safe, and awake. I doubt they're going to go to sleep on their own." he nickered. A hint of a smile formed at the corner of his mouth. "I'm Viper Strike, by the way. Let me know if you're ever in need of my assistance again."[/color] he said. It felt good to help out the innocent again, though he doubted he would ever be able to return to his normal duties. Suddenly, a thought came to his mind. "Mortar Retort,"[/color] he said suddenly, barely turning his head to the stallion in question. "I don't suppose a great alchemist such as yourself would have anything to allow a nocturnal-doomed stallion to see in the light, would you?"[/color] he asked. He was hesitant to reveal his weakness about seeing in the sunlight, but at least if he was able to change that, he could return to his normal duties, even if it were outside of the castle and without Luna's consent. While he was waiting for the blue unicorn's reply, an owl swooped by overhead, rather close. Instead of ducking, he glanced up without moving his frame, wondering vaguely if it was Owlicious from Ponyville. There were rarely any owls around Equestria as they were an endangered species, and it would be strange to see this particular animal all the way in Canterlot. Owlicious belonged to Twilight Sparkle, and only seemed to travel with her at night. If she was here at this hour, that meant that something was probably going wrong in Ponyville. He flattened his ears, he hated never being informed about what was going on. His ears flickered back forward as he reminded himself it was possible it was another owl. The thoughts about Ponyville's being were forced from his mind as he waited for Mortar Retort's answer.[/color][/size][/blockquote]
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Post by Mortar Retort on Aug 15, 2012 19:04:00 GMT -5
”Oh, good, they’re found – right? We’re safe? No roving band of foals slinking through the streets to destroy me?” He nervously asked, eyes darting left and right. ”Excellent, brilliant work, Viper Strike. You’re a good Pony-Snake-Hoofacabra…, if no pony has said before. Well anyway, now that is settled.”
Retort nodded with increased vigor while Viper spoke, he was teeming with ideas, a slew of potions, drops and solutions. His whole catalog streamed past his thoughts, he had plenty of things to help – in theory. Most of Retort’s potions worked in theory. ”Oh, yes, yes of course! Have just the thing! Come in, please. Enter.” Retort slipped back into his store – then promptly popped his head back out. ”Shut-In… Aaah-Eye! Yes, about my offer for the chloroform. Remember, it’s on sale!” He called to the chubby pony with a wide-smile.
The front of the shop is lined with shelves filled with hundreds of potions in bottles of shape and sizes. Their tops marked with various waxes of different colors – which correlate to a chart near the register. Blue for the least toxic all the way to red for ‘Almost certainly deadly…’ with the subtext, ”Try one today!’. It was hard to tell if Retort was trying to drive costumers away for their safety or outright egging them on to tempt fate. There was also a separate category for white capped bottles under the title of ‘specials’. The rest of the shop was littered with plagues, most of them warnings against thieves, foals, the Academy of Sciences, all mixed in together with signs promoting the sales. The whole place was rather dusty and lingering on the air, in subtle notes under the strong scent of apples and anise was the pungent smell of old wood and mildew.
”Make yourself comfortable, please. As the Zebras would say, ‘Kay mwen an se lakay ou’!” As he spoke, the blue pony begun to rummage around through his shelves, looking for the proper bottle or vial that would be just the ticket for Viper.
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