Having a properly functioning community was a dream of mine.
If only so I wouldn't have to look after it anymore.
Snow Fluff and Deluge kept the weather more or less stable.
Since we didn't have any pull with Cloudsdale, ponies first wrote up what they wanted out of a weather schedule on a massive list.
Snow and the other pegasi did what they could to tame the weather and make sure that everyone got the weather they actually needed.
Another change from our little community was that instead of one farm, everyone grew something.
What with Venus adepts every few hundred feet willing to trade their services in Growth for a few bites to eat from the garden, it all worked out. Somehow.
We even managed to get a store up, along with an inn slash tavern.
Of course, we had an issue with the second one.
Flowing Tap and Irish Charmer, both former bar owners, argued for a little bit about who was best suited for running the darn thing.
Eventually I stepped in. Seriously? The both of you can't see the most obvious answer?
They looked from each other to me and shook their heads. I would have facepalmed, but, no face.
If I have to hold your hooves into seeing the answer that satisfies everyone, then what makes you any different from they that live under the sun princess?
They looked to each other and gulped. It was Irish who made the first move then.
"Perhaps we should run it together? We both have experience in being brewers."
Flowing nodded at the suggestion.
"Aye, seems like a good idea. Dunno why we didn't think of it sooner. Maybe we can even swap recipes."
After that it was fairly quiet in the village, save for one monumental event.
The Newvale Adventuring Troupe, as I called them, were ready.
Talos the griffin had bonded with a Venus Djinn named Bark, who could increase the defense of many, and he himself had mastered the use of Ragnerok. Moonfire the changeling had bonded with Core, a Mars Djinn that cared not for defenses, and he had mastered all the basic attacks, along with Guard and Impact.
Frostfall the pegasus had quickly mastered her basic training, along with the Reveal Psynergy, and bonded with Scourge, a Jupiter Djinn who could conjure poisonous winds. And finally, Flare the unicorn had bonded with Absolute, a Mercury Djinn who could freeze foes so deeply that they had trouble moving. I had taken her aside to make sure she knew all of the tricks of her trade, and she'd demonstrated surprising affinity for all of them.
The four stood at the entrance to the town, I stood before them, and the community stood behind me.
This is not exile, I started my speech with, for you will always be welcome to return here. Rather, this is a task I ask of you. A favor. You do not have to complete it any more than I have to breathe.
A few chuckles then. Good, humor would be important.
The task is simple to state, but may never be complete. I wish for you to travel these lands, finding Djinn, and spreading our message to all who will listen.
The four shared a look, then looked back to me.
It is simple enough as to say why I wish for both these things. If more Djinn are found and brought back here, then we will be able to do more to help this community grow, which it surely will when you spread word of us.
They nodded a slow, shared nod.
I will not say goodbye, because I know you will return. Instead, I will say fare you well, and return to us more learned and powerful.
The adventuring group turned and ventured out into the world.
I knew they would return to us one day.
Probably.
-----
It was a few days before we got any more excitement in the town.
"Dragons!"
But oh, what excitement.
Jupiter, Mars Adepts, on me! To the town square! Everyone else, get in the town borders, pegasi, get DOWN!
The small group I had called for gathered quickly as I kept scanning the skies, seeing the winged forms draw closer.
We need to do this fast and right! Picture the town, the whole town! Hold that image in your mind! Jupiter Adepts, call up Ward, Mars Adepts, call up Guard!
This was the only solution I could think of at the time that might even remotely protect the town.
Once again, using things in ways they were not meant to be used. Still, it was our only option.
A mixture of red and violet slowly sprung up around the town before merging into a lavender bubble. I watched as a few fireballs bounced off the shield before the dragons responsible flew off.
Clearly, when faced with something they couldn't understand, something that could withstand their attacks, the dragons chose to bugger off rather than try to tear it down. Except for one.
It was massive, it looked like it could easily tear down Canterlot Castle, and it sat on the mountain and plinked at the shield with one claw. Its scales were red, its underbelly was golden, its wings were crimson, and its eyes.
Oh sweet gods, its eyes.
Orange, slitted things that seemed full of malice and hatred. It was like all the world was burning beneath those eyes.
"Hmm. What power is this, to resist the might of dragons?"
I was shaken, hell, we all were by the sheer strength behind his voice. At least, at the time, I assumed it was a he. I swear I heard a few landsides go off.
I rallied my courage and answered. Mine, which I have taught to they that can learn it. Alone, I could be stopped. Together, we stand united against the sun princess.
At this, the dragon chuckled. I was pretty sure this wasn't any better than him being curious.
"How interesting. And who are you to stand against the might of the sun?"
I am he who walks the dark, I am the shadow, the elemental wraith, the bogeyman that scares ponies into behaving. I am he who fights the corrupt and brings justice back to they who were wronged. I am Dullahan, and I am not amused, drake.
The dragon snorted, and great clouds of smoke erupted from its nostrils. "I have heard of you. And I too am not amused. You serve lesser beings and command strange powers, but know you this: I know of the jewels you hold. And they will be mine, or else my name is not Lady Skycleaver."
Okay, so to recap: I've just stood up against a dragoness who is incredibly massive, incredibly powerful, and was only kept out by twenty or so ponies combining their strength to keep the town Warded and Guarded. I've insulted her and basically said 'come at me bro' and she's responded with 'bitch I will cut you and steal your shit.'
Why do I think of that as a normal day?!
-----
It had taken me a little while to track the dragon migration.
Then again, that whole 'not needing to sleep' thing helped a bit.
I could also swear I saw a few wild Djinn watching my trek, but frankly, I only had eyes on one thing.
Namely, making sure no dragons ever came back to the community in search of any of its treasures. Especially mine.
I found a trio of adolescent dragons at the base of the mountain a majority of them were using on this migration.
It'd only taken me a few displays of my mastery over fire for them to listen.
It'd taken slightly more displays of my mastery of lightning for them to tell me what I wanted to know.
Fun fact: Dragons are naturally fireproof. Dragon wings are also fireproof. Dragon wings are not shock-proof. And it hurts when a couple thousand volts are jammed into their nerve endings there.
Apparently, Lady Skycleaver was some big-wig amongst dragons. One of the elder ones, hated all other non-dragon life, and loved taking artifacts, especially jewels, and adding them to her hoard.
Only someone who had a larger hoard than her or could defeat her in combat was worth her attentions. Consequentially, she had very few children, and those she did have were old and didn't get along with her at all.
All fine and dandy with me. The less vengeful family members that would show up on my doorstep, the better.
I managed to find the mountain the youths had directed me to and get to the top of it. I had no illusions about being undetected, and the first words spoken by the dragoness proved it.
"So, you have come, headless one. Why did you seek me?"
I 'looked' towards the dragoness sitting atop her hoard, and she stared at the flames dancing out of my neck-hole.
You threatened me and mine for trinkets that you would never understand. And if you make a threat and get away with it, who knows how long it would be before younger and younger drakes come to raid the town in search of that which they may never possess? An example must be made, a line must be drawn. This far, no farther. You were the first, and you will be the last.
I drew my blade and pointed it at her, and she laughed. "You have a line as well. You do not do physical harm to they that do not deserve it. And as for making an example of me, good luck. I have felt the sting of battle far too many times to count, and I remain, while my foes do not. Magic cannot penetrate my scales, and weapons will bounce off. To mortals, I am unslayable."
I would have grinned. First, I'm not exactly mortal anymore. Second, true, magic bounces off, but my powers aren't quite magic. They're something a bit different.
Ah, there, the flicker in her eyes. Genuine concern.
And third, my rule is no harm to PONIES that do not deserve it. And I dunno if you've looked in the ocean lately, but you ain't a pony!
The barb at her weight made her roar at me in anger, and that was when I struck.
I used an ability I had never cause to use before.
Lady Skycleaver, THOU ART CONDEMNED!
A candle winked into existence over her head before vanishing, and she looked at it, then at me.
"What did you just DO, you upstart?!"
I shook myself a few times to clear the anger from my mind.
Your life will end sometime soon. The Reaper himself will come for you. I have marked you as his prey, and he will come to take you away. You said I could not slay you, but that is what I've managed to do.
She roared even louder and charged right at me. "If I go, YOU GO!"
Then she stopped, her eyes glazing over. She fell to the ground with a mighty thud, causing silence for a few moments. And I'm not just talking about 'local area' silence, I'm talking about the sort of silence you can feel pressing down on you. All the ambient noises stopped, hell, I think even the wind stopped.
Standing atop Skycleaver's body was the Grim Reaper.
He nodded at me once, then looked down at the body. And in a voice I felt in my mind more than heard, he said, "This one has been stubborn for some time. Thank you."
Before I could get a word in edgewise, he vanished, and I was alone with a massive dragoness corpse. A few dragons seemed to be coming over to check on things, and I decided to amscray.
Not before I left a message in the rock wall with my Fulminous Strike, though.
NEWVALE IS PROTECTED.
THREATEN IT NOT,
LEST YE SHARE HER FATE.
And with that, I took my leave of the Great Dragon Migration.
-----
When I arrived back in Newvale, there was a surprise waiting for me.
Six individual surprises, all bundled together into one large surprise at the entrance of the town.
The Bearers had come to visit. What had Solaire called them? Ah yes, the Mane Six.
Of course, the first question that came out of my 'mouth' was What the bloody hells are you lot doing here?!
Pinkie responded first. "We came to see where all the grumpy ponies had gone, silly!"
At that, Rainbow Dash scoffed. "No, we came to see how these ponies are taming the Everfree's weather!"
Applejack butted in then. "Actually, we came to see how they're managing the forest."
Finally, Twilight spoke up. "In a way, they're all right. We came to see how this little community of yours was possible from every angle. From the mundane parts of living to the more sophisticated."
I waved a hand at them. Well, for the more mundane bit, we depend on Psynergy at the moment. Once we've got this area good and tamed, we probably won't need it as much, but we'll still use it to make our life a lot easier.
Twilight cocked her head at that. "Psynergy? Is that what you call your brand of magic?"
I snorted then. Magic is only usable by unicorns. Psynergy is usable by any with the will and capacity, and its a simple enough test to see if you have it.
Dash's eyes widened. "Whoah. So wait. Could I use it to make myself even faster than I am normally?"
I slowly nodded. It's doable with psynergy, but as to if you can use it, I have no idea. I doubt it, though. It requires a lot of training, and a lot of patience.
At this, Dash let out an indignant "Hay!" and the rest of them giggled briefly.
As to the more complex bit, well, I can answer that with a sentence as well. We have gathered because we all have no love for the princess of the sun.
The six's jaws dropped at the very idea. Fluttershy recovered first. "You all...all of you...don't like Princess Celestia?"
I shook my upper body in the negative, and Twilight spoke up next. "How? How can any pony not like Princess Celestia?"
She is blind. She raises her sun every day thinking only the best of her ponies, when every single one of those gathered here has been wronged. And she has done nothing to correct this, nothing to provide justice to they that have been wronged. I have already taken care of one case, and will continue to help do so. But just as we have no love of her, we also have no love of you, her most loyal weapons.
Their jaws dropped again at the implications, and I filled in the silence. Oh yes, don't deny it. You all bear a portion of the most devastating weapon Equestria has, one that turns any major villain into a harmless kitten or locks it away to be dealt with at a future date. Which, quite frankly, disgusts me that you all require that one device to deal with all your problems. I would have come up with a fallback plan at least. Or several.
As their jaws closed and their minds started working again, I pointed towards the forest, towards Ponyville. I suggest you all leave. Until you've learned not to praise your princesses in every other sentence, then you will find no hospitality here.
And one by one, they did. It was the right thing to do, really. Nobody in town would have looked on them favorably, considering how close they were to the throne.
But if it was the right thing to do, then why did I feel so bad doing it?
Oh~
This updated!
It has a purty mouth~
Is there a difference?
Mark a target for Death itself? Sounds pretty OP.
USE IT ON CELESTIA!
I think, "Damn that's some scary psynergy there." and then I remember playing the game and all the crazy powerful stuff you get to do.
All of my yes, I honestly wanted to see him condemn someone ever since I read up a little on the game...
I've forgotten what it's called.
cool story bro.
I'm not usually one for suggesting things like OC's but I had an idea for a while after Reading your story you might find Interresting.
I have two Golems thought up you can maybe use in your story during the wedding thing.
Their names are Relentless Onslaught (Onslaught for short) and and Impervious Guard (Impervious for short).
Their names should already suggest that they work best in Tandem with each other. Impervious is using two massive shields mounted on his also bigger than usual Torso (they both crudely resemble humans but are made of roughly shaped ebony ore, the black one from skyrim) while Onslaught the more thinner and faster one is using anything that can be wielded in one hand, dagger's, axe's, swords... you name it he uses it singlehandedly.
Their backstory is that in the distant past somepony (doesn't have to be a pony if you want to change it) wanted the best possible offense and defense as his security. And in creating these two it actually worked. (I'll let you flesh out the story more if you want to.)
However it worked so well that when he ordered them to bar anyone from entering a place they really kept everyone (him Included) out of it.
After a while their creator grew fed up with this kind of taking orders by the word that he attempted to destroy them, only ranting them their own consciousness.
While the smoke was still in the air these two fled and have been wandering ever since yearning for a purpose again, and being the guards to your newly created society would certainly fit the bill.
What do you think?
I'd like to see some more interaction between them. While I get that this is your story, it's important to note that- WOAH, you've got a lot to work with… oi, vey… Nevermind, do whatever you can...
4025287
I'll consider it.
Would be nice to have guardians for the room of Summons.
I make no promises.
Is it a bit of an oxymoron that a unicorn named Flare gets ahold of a mercury djinn?
4025294
Hold on, wait.
Lemme edit that AN real fast.
4025302
That's all I ask. Like I said I usually don't make suggestions like these but for this awesome story I thought 'ah what the hell let's give it a try, if it works awesome, if not; still awesome'
The Wedding? We still haven't seen Dully here talk to Chryssy yet...
4025323
He hasn't met her yet, the wedding is when they will meet. Rather dramatically.
Oh wait, are you suggesting that Dully and Chryssy would-?
...
And now I need brainbleach.
4024958
Except she should, if her system was working right. There are many ponies who have been wrongfully searched and had their things taken, and she hasn't even looked to see what the source of the problem is.
For example, the rapist Dullahan cursed went to Celestia to whine about his curse, and she immediately thought Dullahan was the bad guy, instead of asking whether or not the pony in front of her might have done something to provoke him.
4025340 Whoa, WHOA no. Wat.
It was mentioned earlier that Dully would talk to the Horse-Bug Queen, but never when. Now we know it'll be the wedding
And so the flowing one settled his differences with the Irish one, and both became gloriously drunk in the process.
Amen.
And I like the confrontation between The Mane 6 and DullaMAN here. (he earned that MAN there a the end.)
i still want to know what would happen if a timberwolf used grown on its self
OC side stories? oh man i have some ideas coming for mine
4025313
That's the beauty of life. Sometimes things don't go the way you think they'd go.
So, to late for more to Apply?
But how will the community grow?
*Hhhrrrnngggg*
Really want to do this, but my own laziness and fear of incompetency is holding me back..... AAAAARRRRRGGGGHHH!!!! The pressure of deciding!!!!!!!!
Happy to see Flicker confirmed for later!
Wait! Ideeeeaaaaa! Maybe I can do a one-shot of my OC getting their djinn....... after dinner that is.
img.pandawhale.com/post-11133-Procrastination-Spongebob-H1Tu.png
4025419
Oh no, people can still apply.
SOME of you were just getting antsy about if your OC was accepted or not.
So I gave you the list of what I had to work with. I.E. the survivors of my constant winnowing.
4025462
Remember - docile djinn don't have proper names until they develop their particular talent.
And wild djinn...
We don't talk about the wild djinn.
Dully vs Lady Skycleaver
FIGHT!!
...
Dully wins.
Fatality.
Welp, looks like I'll have to apply again... oh well, I have plenty of OCs.
Dayum! That was brutal! But then again, if she was a Venus or Mercury adept she could've just gone "Restore" and no more Condemn, so it's not really that OP. That feeling guilty part could come into play in the wedding chapter, when after rescuing the main six and Celestia, Cadence and Shining Armor (or some combination of them if that's what you intend) and they ask why he saved them and maybe even apologize for being so harsh he could be like:
I might have no love for your Princess, but I only punish evil ponies. And unlike Sunbutt I'm willing to admit I've made a mistake, and fix it.
OH MAN, I SOOOOO want to do side stories, but I'm afraid of interfering with the continuity of the main one. Then again, if I do something that doesn't have a huge impact, and if I get help of the other authors, I don't think they'd mind.
4025294
Hey! Want to help me with a short fix focused on a talk between Aboyami and Cross?
encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSc4-gRNKL15PYiek66Llj3DOIHaQ1HO304V-V7lPWM-9LoL62q bitchen
4025630 I'll PM ya, lad!
It's a good thing that Dreamer wasn't around when Twilight visited otherwise he would be PISSED. XD
Also, what goes under the definition of side story?
Like, as in how their Djinn got their powers or just some other regular day activity?
4025630
Hey man, if it messes up my planned storyline, I'll let you know and also tell you why.
And y'did notice the color-change, right?
Somethin' be happening with Dully...
4025667
Either, anything. Slice-of-life or mini-adventures. Romance or drama.
The only thing that y'can't do is progress the plot faster than moi.
Keep up the great story. Sadly I am no writer to share the proper story of Snow Fluff., but that saves it up for being easy to go with the flow. Gots to point out again though I think Deluge is best friend ever. Hard to beat a friend that helps you do what you love and with awesome powers.
4025233 Golden Sun. Seriously, play it, you will not be disappointed.
4025668 Huh? Wait, color change? Like, in the main picture or something? Or in the story? No, I didn't notice at all.
4025694
In the story, right around when Dully went up against Skycleaver.
There was a slight change in the text color.
Just a small one.
But it's important. Or will be.
4025684
I see...
Also, if Dullahan went just a ways farther from the Dragon Migration site (Which I am assuming is the Badlands) then he would've ran into the old ruined Izzet League guild, or at least some of the structures that rare still standing... I still need to write that part...
Maybe if I have time I'll write something for Dreamer on the side.
Also, it sounds like you already planned out what the Ponies and their Djinn's powers would be. Could you maybe tell me what Dreamers would be? Maybe I could write about a thing for him getting his...
4025708
Actually, no, I haven't.
Beyond the ones I have named and written, I have to come up with them on-the-spot.
Meaning if you want to write how your character's djinn earned its name, feel bloody free!
Channelling Picard? "This far! No further!"
4025708
I envy you writer types. I am good with word and stories but too overly critical to write a story myself. I will eventually try to be an editor of stories or proof reader but it ain't the same.
4025719
I have no idea how or what it should be so it might take a while...
4025703 Oh right! That was the little voice that kept talking to him before!
Uh oh , that was the little voice that kept talking to him before. Please don't let this be bad and cause Dully to slip out of "Dark is Not Evil" territory.
4025751
I make no promises.
It will at the very least be interesting.
I may even have a plan to stop the little voice.
But it won't be pretty.
4025764 Gulp
And BTW, how should I notify you if my plan interferes with your cannon?
4025839
PM the chapter to me, then I'll take a look.
4025509 You forgot to say "flawless victory"!
i like how the grim reaper just nodded to dully, i imagined it as the grim reaper saying "sup"
Yep... I doubted I'd make it in, the backstory I wrote for my oc for this sucks like rotted apples. I prefer her original backstory.
4026052 Did I forget or did I leave it open in case someone else wanted to have some fun?
Aw, it looks like mine didn't get in :(
Oh well, maybe some other time.