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Post by Draft Design on Apr 25, 2013 22:05:39 GMT -5
Draft turned back to look at Gilda, the raging griffon finally breaking his lock on the changelings. How could she not? Gilda looked like she was about to explode, and she was launching fiery verses left and write. Had Starling not been standing in the way, she probably would have been going for Chrysalis's throat. Of course, she stood no chance against the changeling queen and her two guards (not to mention the countless bugs surrounding them in the walls). And it wasn't like Starling was going to help her any.
"Gilda," he spoke, staying exactly where he was standing. "If you attack Chrysalis, then this entire mission, everything you just went through, all that goes down the toilet. We either end up dead or come back with as much of a changeling problem as we started with. Not only that, but I'm gonna be ticked, Starling's gonna be ticked, and you can bet your tail Rainlock's gonna be ticked. So please, don't let any of that happen. Restrain yourself."
Draft was lying, but he was hoping Gilda would buy it. He wasn't going to tell her the real reason he didn't want her fighting Chrysalis: that the queen or Starling would just hand her tail to her. That would just fire up the griffon even more. The pact was done. Starling had accomplished what he wanted. Whether or not Gilda got another beating wasn't going to change anything, and another beating was not something she deserved right now.
"But with that said," Draft continued, now turning towards the field marshal, "She has every right to be angry, and I sure hope you haven't chosen to ignore what just happened to her. These bugs launched an attack on Canterlot during the Royal Wedding. Less than a few weeks ago they were aiding our enemy. And now look what they've done to Gilda! To say they're untrustworthy is an understatement. I don't know how binding that pact is you just made, but regardless, something needs to be done about what's happened. At the very least, something needs to be done to every changeling who's responsible for what happened to Gilda. And something needs to be done to keep something like this from happening again."
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Gilda
Griffons
Acolyte Griffon
I'm half-eagle, half-lion and all awesome!
Posts: 213
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Post by Gilda on Apr 25, 2013 23:37:51 GMT -5
Gilda snapped her head towards the Pegasus, snorting like an enraged bull and begging for an excuse to snap. The weight of consequence had long since sailed, all she cared about was satisfying her own desrite to right the wrong against her. She was dangerous, volatile and even if her enraged actions would cost her, her life so be it, so long as she could die feeling vindicated and rectified. ”Buck the mission! Buck Rainlock and buck all of you! They did… things to me that you couldn’t even comprehend!” She clawed at her chest feathers, pulled a few crumpled ones off and tossing them aside. ”All to slate their insatiable lust to feed. They only deserve death, no creature worthy of forgiveness would ever do what they had done.”
Gilda’s breathing grew quick and pained as her heart raced, bringing her rage to every corner of her being. ”I don’t care what lame condition or pathetic accord you have come too, Starling.” She said, beating her wings and rising above the armored pony, shadowing casting down upon Chrysalis. ”These bugs aren’t deserving of anything we have to offer. They must suffer, they must feel the pain they saw fit to inflict on me. You either dole it out, or I will.” In a momentary bout of restraint, and with a crack of her knuckles, Gilda offered her ultimatum.
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Post by Red Charge on Apr 27, 2013 13:46:49 GMT -5
Starling turned to Gilda and then back to Draft, punching him in the face straight out of the blue, causing the changelings to cringe in surprise.
"There, doled out the pain." Starling said, moving back to Gilda, "Now let's calm down and I'll be with you in a minute, alright?" He asked, "Chrysalis, I want all your changelings out of wherever they are and I want all the information you have on the Diamond Dogs as soon as possible." He ordered, then took a moment to look over at Ranger.
"You... I still need to think about what to do with you..." He said threateningly, causing Ranger to shuffle back towards Chrysalis. "Now I'm taking my allies back to Equestria and when I'm back I want everything I asked for done, are we clear? There better not be any funny business."
"You may have entered me into a pact Starling but you do not ORDER me around." Chrysalis insisted, suddenly choking on her own words, she found herself in a strange coughing fit.
"My dear Chrysalis, I think you will find that I can order you around. You know the consequences of failing to uphold the pact as well as I do. Now as I said, when I'm back I want everything I asked for ready."
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Post by Draft Design on Apr 27, 2013 17:11:29 GMT -5
Draft kept silent as Gilda continued to throw words at him and Starling, merely frowning a bit at what she said about his employer. He didn't blame her for being so upset. In fact, he agreed with pretty much everything she was saying. He just didn't want her to get kicked across the room, and Starling certainly wasn't going to-
The pegasus was caught off guard by the sudden blow of a hoof knocking him in the face. It took him several seconds to process what had happened before finally turning towards Starling. "What the heck is your malfunction?!" he asked, clearly very ticked off at what had just happened. He couldn't even begin to imagine why Starling had just punched him, unless he was just trying to shut Glida up. Of course. And Draft was just the bystander Starling used to sate the griffon's desire for punishment, undeserved or otherwise.
Of course Starling would never hit a changeling. Oh no no no. Not when he was too busy playing patty cake with their queen. All he had wanted was to keep Draft and Gilda quiet so he could continue ignoring them while he talked with Chrysalis. "Punching me isn't going to change anything. These bugs don't deserve amnesty just because you're trying to sign a truce with them. What they did is inexcusable, changeling or not, and I want assurance that the insects responsible for what happened are going to be dealt with."
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Gilda
Griffons
Acolyte Griffon
I'm half-eagle, half-lion and all awesome!
Posts: 213
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Post by Gilda on Apr 28, 2013 23:03:55 GMT -5
Gilda muffled her chuckle with her clenched talon, to see Draft take a nice wallop to the face was surprisingly therapeutic. So glad she was that least someone was suffering in some manner as she was, and since shes saw Draft at least partially responsible for her befalling into the ichorous hooves of her would be tormenters. She relaxed her stance and plopped back to the floor, shifting her wings as she quelled her anger.
"Whatever, Draft totally deserved that for leaving me behind but it still doesn't address what they-" Beak directed at Queen Chrysalis, "Did. Want to rectify this, then she or they all need to feel the pain that they inflicted on me. Let them stave and suffer, I say. Kill them, rip their wings for their body, whatever." Gilda turned and begun to walk away, still trembling from anger. Her burning hate only new ebbing to give way for the pain in her chest from the two fang marks. "I'm out, dweebs. Come and find me when you're done having this lame party. And Queeny!" She said, turning back to Chrysalis. Her talon clutching her chest in pain. "If so much as one of your gnats looks at me, I'm coming back here, ripping that gnarly horn off your head and using it to beat you into a messy pulp. We understand each other?" Without another word, Gilda exited, leaving behind an obscene gesture as she departed.
Once she was away and believed herself to be secluded from anyone could hear, she slumped to the floor. Her tough exterior sloughing away as she let the gravity of what befell her consume her once more. She hated the Changelings, she hated Draft, Rainlock, and even to an extent Starling. Though her saved her, where was he when he needed her and how could he enter into a pact as he had done with such horrible creatures. Was he not a pony, did he have no compassion, so earning for righteous fury? She sank then, wallowing into her own self pity, least no one was watching.
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Post by Red Charge on Apr 30, 2013 14:31:41 GMT -5
Starling turned and left, muttering to Draft, "Don't worry, they're going to repay us for everything they did. But there's proper timing for everything." He gave Chrysalis one last threatening look and made his way out.
He got out to Gilda and crouched down next to her, "We're going back..." He said softly, "Rainlock can fix you up. Don't worry, I'm not letting this slide, bear with me. I promise you they'll repay us for everything. But for now, it better be constructive help that keeps our own from dying. After that, we can sort out all the... debts."
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Post by Draft Design on Apr 30, 2013 14:55:32 GMT -5
"Whatever, Draft totally deserved that for leaving me behind..."
Draft glared over at Gilda, but kept silent. Where the heck did she get off? Here he was trying to make sure those responsible for what had happened to her got what was coming to them, and she thought a punch from Starling was deserving, like it was his fault they had gotten separated. It was hard to feel sorry for her when the stupid bird was being so self-centered and short-sighted.
The pegasus's eyes followed her out of the room, then turned back to Starling just to find him turning to leave, muttering to Draft as he did so. Finally, a response. Immediate retribution would have been more ideal rather than trying to put off action while a truce was still fresh, but at this point it wasn't worth making more of a fuss over. The changelings would get what was coming to them. He'd see to that himself if he had to.
Draft followed Starling out of the room, standing a good few feet away when the field marshal approached Gilda. The griffon looked a lot more pathetic now that she was out of the public eye, but Draft new better than to dole out pity points. In a moment she would be back to bad-mouthing the two of them, probably furious that they had dared to catch her off guard. And until she had an attitude adjustment, he'd be converting most of his sympathy into anger at the changelings responsible.
The pegasus remained quiet as he watched the two. As much as he had wanted throw his word out back in the throne room, now didn't seem like the time to say anything.
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Gilda
Griffons
Acolyte Griffon
I'm half-eagle, half-lion and all awesome!
Posts: 213
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Post by Gilda on May 3, 2013 9:23:56 GMT -5
When hoofsteps echoed into the hall, Gilda immediately put up her tough-girl shield once more. Stifling tears and trying to ignore the pains throughout her body and her chest, her front was little more than a simple band-aid over a hemorrhaging wound. She could deny it all she wanted, curse and throw punches, but it would be clear to anyone it was a front. She was a miserable looking creature, no amount of denying it could convince otherwise.
From her resting spot on the cold floor, which was of the few things that felt nice right now with its soothing chill, she looked towards them. Watching in silence with just a hint of disdain for them both; for Draft seemingly leaving her to her fate and Starling for willing to overlook what had been done to her for an alliance, but really she hated herself more. She felt weak, helpless. As Starling crouched beside her, she turned her head so he couldn’t see the last signs of her tears. ” About time…” She hissed bitterly. ”So you think Rainlock can fix this; with what? A few bits? Some sprinkling of magic? Don’t make me gag.” Her talon scratched absently at the floor, whittling away her worry. ”They’re monsters, short of burning them all to ash; little more could repay this back. But fine, whatever you say Starling. Now, can we get out of here?”
She stood, stretching her wings and muscles – she kept forgetting how much the bite marks hurt, flinching with grinding of her beak as the wounds shot pain through her chest. One had apparently reopened and was trickling blood down her chest. She cursed as she ran her talon over the blood, flicking it from her talon to the floor. ”Least I know she can fix this.” Referring to Rainlock; she caught Draft’s gaze, then cocked her brow of her magenta eye. ”Take a picture, it’ll last longer, dweeb. So where’s the exit, Starling? I want to blow this scene as soon as possible. You coming, Drafts, or waiting for the grand tour of this place to begin?”
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Post by Red Charge on May 6, 2013 12:27:53 GMT -5
Starling led them both out of the hive, changelings scurrying out of their way whenever they saw them. It wasn't long before they were already walking on a strand of resin back to the forest and then back to Manehattan. It was evening by the time they finally arrived back at Rainlock Mansion, to a very displeased Lady Rainlock.
She immediately sent Draft to submit his report and take the day off tomorrow while she was reviewing it. Before she talked to Gilda she turned to Starling.
"I think some explanations are in order." She said coldly, "You were ordered to assassinate the queen and keep my employees safe."
"First, and I can't make this clear enough, so I'll say it as simply as I can - I don't take orders from you, your father, or anyone else in the world except Princess Luna, Celestia and Cadence." For the first time since Gilda knew Starling, he seemed incredibly threatening, not just aggressive, but just flat out frightening far more so than when he was talking to Chrysalis. Rainlock scowled and opened her mouth to speak but before she could Starling cut across her.
"I don't care how much power you have, how many soldiers you hire, or how smart you think you are. I do what's in the best interest of Equestria, if you do not share that interest, perhaps it would be in the best interest of Equestria if you were no longer as powerful." A pointblank threat. Starling radiated power that moment much more so than Rainlock, who usually gave the air of royalty. Starling's tone and choice of words made it clear what he was meaning and that it was no mere talk. If Rainlock went against him, it wouldn't end well for her.
"I see." She said finally, "Your decision to ally with the changelings, as questionable as it is, does not excuse your neglect of your teammates."
"It was an ambush and we were expected. I was forced to lead the majority of the hive away while the rest impersonated diamond dog forces, including Blackmane to try and fool us. I almost fell for it myself."
"I put Gilda in the trust of your soldier," Starling said firmly, "Who left her behind to go and search for the queen. Who failed to protect her after she was wounded and was attempting to abandon the mission after seeing the Queen with the Blackmane and the Warlord impostors. You can read it all in my report. If you are dissatisfied with my performance and with the outcome of the mission you are most welcome to file a complaint with the Princesses." He leaned forwards, "Though I assure you, being privy to the enemies' spy network is something they, like me, would consider an exceptional performance."
"Now if you don't mind," Starling said, turning his back on the outraged mare, "My friend Gilda here needs medical attention, I believe you have more than adequate faculties to accommodate her."
At that he left the area, giving Gilda a shoulder nudge and muttering, "Don't worry, you're a barb-tailed blighter in my book."
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