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Post by Lucent Leer on Apr 17, 2013 2:24:09 GMT -5
The unicorn had spent most of the night thinking of where he should go next, though he honestly didn't have the slightest clue. He recalled that Baxter mentioning that he was heading towards Trottingham. Trottingham...people and goods of all sorts traveled through that colony. Perhaps he could find something relevant there. Sure, it was a gamble, but at the very least he'd have access to a ship if he formed a better plan! ---------------------------------------------- Even without his maps, he still knew his way around Stone Valley and had a rough idea how to reach Trottingham. With that knowledge, he hoofed it across the Griffon Kingdom, reaching the island city with little trouble. It was certainly was a change of pace from the serene Stone Valley. The place was vibrant and alive, with all kinds of wonder coming into view just as he got off the ferry. Ponies managed a variety of stalls, loudly declaring the quality of their goods. Massive ships dwarfed the modest boat he came in on as they idled in the docks. Lucent swore he even saw a hippogriff! He strolled along the harbor attempting to take it all in. The unicorn almost felt completely overwhelmed as each wonderful detail seemed to sing to him.
Lucent briefly wondered if Baxter had arrived as well, but quickly pushed the thought from his mind. He certainly didn't want another run-in with that wolf. Best case scenario was that he had come and gone already!
He'd almost the main reason he had come, until the music stirred softly in his thoughts, seeming to give him a gentle reminder. Lucent snorted; its sudden call had put a damper on his enjoyment of the colony. He continued to trot on, taking note of every aspect of the town.
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Post by Red Charge on Apr 19, 2013 5:10:57 GMT -5
The city of Trottingham was beyond impressive, at the very landing he could see the majestic seaports and the massive galleons that sailed across the ocean as well as the Hippocampi Coral Carriers, which could submerge underwater and advance beneath the waves. The massive shipyard almost had its own skyline with the dozens of masts and sails sticking out into the air, on the pier a multitude of pony, griffon and hippocampi workers were ferrying large containers, crates and wares to the nearby markets.
Even from where Lucent had landed he could spot the Airship Bays at the other edge of the island, massive zeppelin hangers in rows, one atop the other, occasionally opening to let a blimp out to sail through the sky across the world with its goods. it made even the shipyard appear tiny and caused Lucent to feel miniscule.
And there he was, in the great Trottingham Market, streets and streets full of stores, stands and bazaars where all sorts of surplus, international and exotic goods were up for sale. If there was anything to be found anywhere, it would be found in the Trottingham Market. One could spend a whole day in it and still not go by every stand. Merchants shouted at the top of their voices to attract customers - mostly tourists to their stands. Prices were yelled and discounts offered.
"Looking for something to... grant you some peace and quiet?" Asked a merchant standing next to a mostly empty stand. The merchant was wrapped head to toe in bandages and dark cloths, two eyes glinted from the shadow under a hood, it was obviously a pony, albeit one that seemed to have gotten in a bad scrape with a dragon, at least judging by the amounts of bandages he was wearing. No part of him was visible to determine if that indeed was the case.
"I have cures for every affliction..." He purred at the unicorn.
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Post by Lucent Leer on Apr 19, 2013 15:58:34 GMT -5
The place was an absolute spectacle! Lucent was impressed by the sheer size of the ships at the dock, but when a zeppelin roared overhead, he was truly in awe. He had never gotten a chance to ride on one of those those massive, airborne vessels, but the opportunity was very enticing. It seemed like such a wonderful way to travel...
The unicorn pulled himself from his musing and started browsing the stalls. There were goods of all kinds! Intricate woodwork, extravagant jewelry and fresh food that tantalized the senses. It was all so wondrous, but sadly was not what he was looking for. That was until a rather unusual pony put forward an appealing deal.
Lucent knew better than to trust the claims of the merchant, but his peculiar appearance and promising pitch drew him in nonetheless.
“F-for anything?” he asked curiously.
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Post by Red Charge on Apr 20, 2013 2:39:26 GMT -5
"A-ny-thing." The merchant said with due accentuation, as the hooded pony raised his head Lucent hoped to see under his hood, only to find that bandages covered his face as well, save a slit for his eyes and nose, almost mummy-like.
"Transfiguration, Transmutation, Obfuscation, Divination, Conjuration, Invocation, Abjuration, Alteration, Restoration... all stopped in a fine flask or bottle. Life at the tips of your hoof, death a glassy barrier away, wings for all occasions, become one with the shadows, find the strength to smash any boulder, relieve your minds of all concerns..." The merchant seemed to spot something in Lucent's Eyes as he said the last one, "Even those that never go away..."
He quickly and gracefully slipped out a flask from under his robe a substance with pearly sheen swam inside. "Here, have a free sample..." He said, handing the vial over to Lucent. Surely he would not poison the pony in a crowded marketplace for all to see, right?
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Post by Lucent Leer on Apr 20, 2013 12:53:16 GMT -5
Lucent listened intently as the merchant spoke. A magic cure-all that would fulfill any desire he had? It was obviously too good to be true, especially to be peddled simply on the common market.
He was about to turn down the miracle potion, until the pony emphasized the final benefit. This was getting strange now. Could he really read his mind?! No, it had to be just a coincidence, but still...
The offer of the sample also through the unicorn off. If the concoction was a hoax, he would be able to find out right here. He accepted the vial with a brief “thanks”, but eyed the tiny sample for a moment. This brew could be anything. Fancied up water, a psychotropic drug, or even poison! There was the smallest of chance that he could be telling the truth as well.
Was he really in a position to at least not try it? Lucent nervously fiddled with the bottle in his grasp. Was it worth the risk? The merchant wouldn't try anything funny with so many witnesses, right? That was all the convincing he needed. The unicorn uncorked the vial and swallowed the mysterious liquid inside.
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Post by Red Charge on Apr 20, 2013 13:09:02 GMT -5
And the music stopped, entirely, the burdening weighty presence in Lucent's mind evaporated as though it was never there. For the first time in what seemed like eternity he was at peace, it's like the sounds of the market came in full force, as though he could never hear them clearly before.
There was a ringing in his head where the music played before, attempting to fill the void it was in before subsiding into silence. The merchant was right, it worked, it stopped the music entirely.
The merchant grinned at Lucent's expression, "Yes, peace and quiet are so underrated are they not?" He whispered, wrapping a hoof and pulling Lucent closer, "But this solution is only temporary... The real cure however is also available... for a price..."
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Post by Lucent Leer on Apr 20, 2013 13:35:20 GMT -5
He imbibed the sample and prepared himself for the worst. However, what followed was...nothing? No, it was more than that. The song, it was gone! He couldn't believe it! The hymn that had haunted him had vanished, just as easily as that. Lucent could feel tears welling up in his eyes. It wasn't some mysterious curse that he had no hope of escaping. His condition was curable and the antidote was lying right here in front of him!
His whole body was trembling with a mix of all kinds of emotions. Relief, joy, disbelief; he could hardly pin it down to just one. “I-I-I....w-....” Words were failing him, the syllables seeming to be caught in the moment as well. Lucent finally managed to compose himself after some struggling. “What price would that be?” he asked eagerly.
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Post by Red Charge on Apr 20, 2013 13:38:31 GMT -5
"Well, if we're looking at the illness... very dangerous... eventually you'd have lost all reason, went insane, became a danger to everyone you met. Oh the carnage that you'd cause. The worst thing is, you'd like doing it! Yes, by that stage even a cure might not erase the mental damage, no..." The merchant said, giving Lucent's shoulder.
"Of course, I alone know where the permanent cure lies, so that adds a bit more to the price, all in all your total is.... one game." The merchant declared.
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Post by Lucent Leer on Apr 20, 2013 13:48:38 GMT -5
That was what he had ahead of him? Insanity? Murder?! He wouldn't have any control of himself, or rather, it's what he'd want to do. Lucent froze at the thought of it all. If he'd had wandered any longer, he might have been a goner.
“A game?” the unicorn asked, incredulously. A strange cost to say the least. He couldn't let that deter him though. The pony had the one thing prevent him from tipping over the edge of sanity. Whatever challenge he had, Lucent had to accept it! “Please, tell me more!”
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Post by Red Charge on Apr 20, 2013 13:52:01 GMT -5
"Well, it's a game but it's also a public service see... You're going to help the world by playing a game... for life and death! But what is life if you're a deranged psychopath?" He asked, "After all, you'll still have your memories.. how long will it be before you go looking for the ones you love?"
The merchant stepped back to his stall, "Instead I offer you a game, in the game you will fight and think for your life while trying to beat murderers to the cure. They want to use it for their own selfish ends... they don't care that you're sick. Play the game, kill the murderers, obtain the cure. Or else, well, it's only a matter of time before you start infecting others with what you have..."
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Post by Lucent Leer on Apr 20, 2013 14:09:33 GMT -5
As the peculiar pony began to explain the game, Lucent noted that this was no mere test of skill. It was a feat of survival! He had never killed a pony before. It was this same cure that he wanted to avoid such a loathsome act. Could he do that, even if they were just contemptible criminals?
It would either be them of his loved ones though. His mom, his dad...he had told neither of them of the illness he had. His friends back in Hoofington and those that he had made in Canterlot...he would hunt them all down if he let his condition progress. The infectious detail was especially unsettling. Was he spreading this madness by leaving it uncured?! “Is there really no cure elsewhere?”
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Post by Red Charge on Apr 20, 2013 14:13:41 GMT -5
"Not unless you know of a way to talk to the goddesses themselves!" The merchant said, "If there were, surely you'd find a book about it, find someone who knows, wouldn't you? Oh no my friend, this affliction is very dangerous, very dangerous indeed. The dragons believe that it might even bring about the end of all time!"
"So what say you, friend? Help your country, your world, for a chance to return your life to normal, to recieve the ultimate cure? Or will you risk infecting others, isolating yourself until you no can no longer control yourself... and go hunting, or be hunted?"
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Post by Lucent Leer on Apr 20, 2013 14:26:47 GMT -5
Lucent knew he wasn't dealing with some simple, silver tongued trader anymore. How did this pony know so much?! An affliction that only the divine could cure, a lunacy that could spread through the masses that even dragons feared. Just what he had stumbled upon all those weeks ago?
This game was a dangerous one, but it was the only lead he had and time certainly was not on his side. The cure was practically in sight, but did he even have a shot at it?
“I...I want to try, though I don't think I would stand a chance. I've never even been in a real fight in my life.”
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Post by Red Charge on Apr 20, 2013 14:34:53 GMT -5
"Wit, luck and preparation are all more important than fighting skill. Don't worry friend, you'll have time to prepare. You'll receive a note telling you when to be ready. For now, feel free to keep going your way, it'll find you when it's time, don't worry." he wave his hoof in Lucent's face, causing him to blink.
And in that blink, the merchant was gone, his stall was now abandoned and no one seemed to pay much attention to the spot, as though he was never there, however, Lucent noticed he still had the empty flask in his hoof... how bizarre.
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Post by Lucent Leer on Apr 26, 2013 4:47:28 GMT -5
With a blink of an eye, the merchant and his goods had vanished. Lucent frantically scanned the area, hoping to catch a glimpse of where the mysterious stallion had gone. It was no use, however. He had disappeared and no one seemed the wiser of his presence. The only proof that the unicorn had that the encounter had even really happened at all was the now empty flask he held. At least he wasn't hallucinating yet.
The merchant's offer hung heavily in his thoughts as he spent the rest of the afternoon in the marketplace. Could he even go through with it? If he did one thing was for certain: he needed to be ready. Lucent was positive he would be slaughtered if he went in unprepared. The obvious question from there then was...how? He didn't have an answer for that one. Lucent booked a room at a modest inn after he finished browsing the stalls for the day. The accommodations were nothing special, but there was one quality it had that made the unicorn grin broadly.
It was quiet.
The sample elixir’s effects were still persisting, but there was no telling how much longer they would last. It didn't matter though. A cure existed and he had a chance at it. Lucent laid down on the bed and simply laughed, the same tears reaching him again. It was such a relief.
Later that night, he rolled out a sheet of parchment in front. Levitating a quill, Lucent stared intently at the paper. He knew what he had to write, but he was finding it difficult to start. He began the letter with an professional address to his employer.
I will not be returning from my requested vacation because of a sudden emergency. Due to the nature of this matter, I would not be back until a considerable amount of time. Please consider this my two weeks notice.
He would be lying if he said he hadn't grow a little attached to all his coworkers. Could everything really go back to the way it was?
It was a pleasure working with you all.
Lucent wanted to think so. He signed off his resignation with a sigh. He had to hold onto this hope.
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