Roleplay with Captain Lunar Blood
Starlight Umbra
"Oh wow! You're the Captain of the Special Tactics Unit!"
I feel as though I'm about to burst with all the excitement I'm feeling right now!
"I'm training right now to be worthy of the Royal Guard. Is it true that you were always a BatPony? I heard rumours of a ritual that turns you into one and there was that incident at Sweet Apple Acres a while back..."
Capt. Lunar Blood
*startled by the ponies excitement* Oh hello.*salutes* I've never encountered a pony that was this excited to see me before.*smiles* I'm flattered. I'd introduce myself but you already know who I am. May I ask who you are?
Starlight Umbra
"My name is Starlight Umbra, and as you can guess I'm quite the fan." *I point to my armour*
"I even had my armour made to look like it would fit in the Royal Night Guard, not to mention my mother forged it out of the Royal Metal, just like Princess Luna's!" *The Royal Metal was discovered by the Royal Night Guard over a thousand years ago in Saddle Arabia, if correctly forged it can be near indestructible, but if not it is brittle as glass*
"My father forbid me from applying to the Guard until I'm strong enough, and to him that means taking first place in the Canterlot Jousting Tournament..."
Capt. Lunar Blood
You've done your research. I'm impressed. It's nice to meet ya, Starlight Umbra.
So you really want to be a guard, huh? How's your jousting skills?
Starlight Umbra
"Better than most" *I grin*
"I came in third out of fifty contestants last year, first of my age to reach that far! I lost to the Unicorn Captain Swift Strike, who's got a Cutie Mark in lancing... He was really tough."
Capt. Lunar Blood
*claps* Third out of fifty, I'm impressed. I think you might have a chance of winning this year. I'd love to see somepony beat Swift Strike. The look on his face would be priceless.*tries to hold in his laughter*Do you have a trainer?
Starlight Umbra
"I mostly train under my parents, my father is a member of the Royal Day Guard and my mother was a well known sword dancer in Cloudsdale before she moved here to Canterlot. Despite the fact that I can't stand the daytime, she still makes me fly from here to Manehattan and back every other morning while wearing this armour." *I sag as if emphasizing the weight of the armour*
Capt. Lunar Blood
*let's out a laugh* you'll get used to the weight. So you don't like sunlight either?
Starlight Umbra
"Nope, my doctor says that its probably because of my Cutie Mark." *I flick up the side of my skirt to show the Captain my crescent moon with a pawprint Cutie Mark*
"I have an affinity for nocturnal creatures so I guess it makes sense, but I've felt this way as long as I remember..."
Capt. Lunar Blood
Huh. It's like you're basically a bat pony. You should take that as a complement.*smiles*
Starlight Umbra
"Thank you! Actually... That's what brought me here to Ponyville. I heard a rumour that involved a Pegasus being transformed into a Bat Pony. I haven't found many leads though..."
Capt. Lunar Blood
Hmm? I heard about that incident. Though most bat ponies including me were born this way.
Starlight Umbra
"I see... After I join the Royal Night Guard I was hoping that I could become one as well." *I look up at the sky wistfully*
"If I can confirm that it really happened then I'll be one step closer to having my dream realised... From what I heard from the rumours, there were some nasty side effects to the transformation, I hope that part was just a rumour..."
Capt. Lunar Blood
I heard the one that was transformed went Feral...
Starlight Umbra
"That's what I heard as well... Not a good sign." *I soon realised the conversation was becoming somber and decided to turn the topic to brighter things.*
"Have you ever been with the Princess on one of her patrols? I hear she found a companion in the form of a possum on patrol once. I'd love to meet it some day."
Capt. Lunar Blood
*laughs* Back when I was a lieutenant and stationed in Canterlot I had the honor of patrolling with the Princess, though I never got to meet that possum.
Newcomer Bat Pony
*Suddenly another BatPony flies down next to the Captain*
"Captain! We have a report that a group from the White Hawk Gryphons attacked a small holding not too far East from here."
Capt. Lunar Blood
Damn Gryphons.*holds in his anger*I need to know how many gryphons are there and how many men do we have in the vicinity?
Newcomer Bat Pony
"We believe there are five of them sir and the only men we have avvailable are me, yourself and this Pegasi recruit with you." *He points his hoof at me and I shake my head*
Starlight Umbra
"Oh I'm not a recruit!"
Newcomer Bat Pony
*The Bat Pony eyes my armour and the spear neatly socketed in the groove on my shoulder*
"But your armour and weapon?"
Capt. Lunar Blood
*lies to the guard*she's a private not a recruit.*turns around and whispers to Starlight* We need all the help we can get. You said you wanted to be a guard so here's your chance to prove it.*turns back around* Alright, lead the way soldier.
Starlight Umbra
*Squee!* "Yes sir, Captain, sir!"
Bat Pony Soldier
"It's right this way Captain Blood, sir. They've hidden themselves away down in the forest over that hill." *The soldier points towards a small rise on the horizon*
Starlight Umbra
"What did they steal?"
Bat Pony Soldier
"Gryphons..." *The Soldier pokes the ground uneasily* "Gryphons, they're carnivores you see? They kidnapped the Carrot family's pigs... I fear they'll be eaten if we don't hurry."
Capt. Lunar Blood
We're outnumbered. We will need to ambush them. We will surround them in a triangle formation. You both have spears so you will be taking them head on. I on the other hand got a set of hoof blades, so I will need to sneak up from behind and get up close.
Is everypony ready? If so let's head out there.
Starlight Umbra
*We three take to the air, Captain Lunar Blood in the lead, me following close behind and the Bat Pony soldier following in the rear. We soon spot smoke rising from the forest below and the mocking 'Oink Oink' of the Gryphons rise into the night air like a foul smell. We fan out and get into position. The Gryphon's may have eagle eyes during the day but at this time of the day they're no match for our eyes comfortable with the gloom.*
*My father had made me do countless battle drills with him but this was my first real combat situation outside of his training and the competitions and tournaments I'd entered.
We were all in position, one of the Gryphons took to the air, maybe to check if any danger was coming from the sky. It was a clear night, even without night adapted eyes he could have seen us if we weren't already on the ground. Two more were chasing a pig around the campfire while the other two prodded it with a sharp fork when it strayed too far away*
Capt. Lunar Blood
*Lunar gets closer to the gryphons and signals the others to do the same*
Starlight Umbra
*Spotting the Captain's signal, I move a bit closer.*
Grey Gryphon
"Oi! What's Ackley doing up there?" *One of the Gryphon's asked, pointing up to the Gryphon that had taken flight.*
Capt. Lunar Blood
*while the gryphons were distracted, Lunar grabbed one from behind and took him out. Hiding him in the bushes*
Starlight Umbra
*I was amazed at the Captain's speed... The Royal Night Guard were clearly on a totally different level.*
Grey Gryphon
"What the..?"
Ackley the Gryphon
*The Gryphon that had taken flight landed hard and fast.*
"You fools! We're surrounded. Byrdson was just taken out!"
Starlight Umbra
*The four remaining Gryphons gathered in a tight circle. I looked at Captain Lunar Blood and he gave a nod... Well, it's now or never. The three of us launch out of the bushes, the Soldier and I brandishing our spears while the Captain darted in like a puma. The one the others reffered to as Ackley darted into the sky once more, leaving us in a three on three battle. These Gryphons are strong fighters, easily dodging my attacks.
Grey Gryphon
"That all you got, lil' Pony? Think I might make you my meal as well!" *The Gryphon lunges at me with his claws and I only just have time to block it with the pole of my staff.*
Starlight Umbra
"I'm not seeming so little now, am I?" *I say as I push him back.*
"Well, now is as good a time as any to try out that new skill I've been practicing. Time for you to face my Spear Dancing!" *I had been developing this style of fighting for a while but had never been able to try it out. It took the movements of my mother's sword dancing and adapted it to work with my spear*
Grey Gryphon
"Ooh! A dancing Pony, can you do tricks?" *The Gryphon didn't seem threatened...
Starlight Umbra
I started moving my spear around in slow steady movements, the movements were like water merging into each new step when suddenly... I strike! The blade end of my spear sinks deeply into the shoulder of the Grey Gryphon, the instant change from the slow movements to the attack fooled even his quick reflexes. I pull the blade out and slice at his hind legs just as fast, incapacitating him.*
"How's that for a trick?"
Capt. Lunar Blood
*Distracted by Starlight's fighting techniques Lunar got tackled to the ground. He managed to push the gryphon off and got back up. The gryphon lunged at him again. This time Lunar got him in a choke hold and snapped his neck* Starlight, I need you to take out the gryphon in the sky. Don't let him escape!
Starlight Umbra
*Hearing the Captain, I dart into the air as fast as I can*
"You can't hide from me!" *I shout into the sky but a hard blow from behind knocked the wind out of me as soon as the sentence was complete.*
Ackley the Gryphon
"I don't hide, little Pony, I'm here for a reason. The sky... The sky is my friend, is she yours?" *I turn towards the voice, my wings flapping hard. It looks as though he's just floating in the air, his wings hardly flap*
"You've done quite a number on my brothers down there..." *He looks down, seeing an opening I lunge forwards with my spear ut it was as if he vanished into thin air and suddenly another hit from behind knocks me down several feet.
"You, with your heavy armour, think to match the speed of the great Ackley of Featherhall? Poor little Pony..."
Starlight Umbra
"I'm not that little!" *I lunge again But this time he drops like a stone... I spot his trajectory and see the Bat Pony Soldier beneath him...*
"NO! LOOK OUT!" *I scream, but it was too late... The Bat Pony's skull and helmet had been crushed under the claws of the Gryphon. With speed almost equal to his descent he was up in the air again, reaching me in seconds.*
"You MONSTER!" *I shout as I lunge at him once more but he easily evades my attack like before.*
Ackley the Gryphon
"Monster? Ha! You don't know the meaning of the word! How 'bouts letting me teach you?"
Capt. Lunar Blood
Starlight, evade now! *Lunar lunges at Ackley and clips the gryphon's left leg with his hoof blades. Lunar lunges again and tackles the gryphon scum. Lunar ready's his blade, but before he could eviscerate Ackley the gryphon grabbed a rock and smashed it into Lunar's head. Incapacitating him*
Starlight Umbra
*I manage to dart out of the way fast enough for Captain Lunar to make a move on the Gryphon, the Captain moving almost as fast as the Gryphon but not fast enough... They tumble to the ground and the Gryphon bashes the Captain's head with a rock.*
"NO! CAPTAIN LUNAR BLOOD!!" *I can't tell if the Captain is still alive but I know that while the Gryphon is on the ground, it's the only chance I have of tipping the scales in my favour.
I stop flapping my wings and drop down as fast as I can, hitting the ground so hard it feels like my hooves would shatter. The impact shakes the ground, causing the Gryphon to stumble and that's when I lunge, slicing clean through the Gryphon's wings.*
Ackley the Gryphon
"My... MY WINGS! I'll rip you limb from limb you little Pony wallfly!"
Starlight Umbra
*The Gryphon slams it's claws into me, sending me flying into a nearby tree. If it were not for my armour, his claws would have cut clean through me.*
Ackley the Gryphon
"You've done it now... You've done it now... I was originally going to let you go, thank you for increasing my profit by taking care of my men, but noooo, you had to go and over step your mark, didn't you?!"
Starlight Umbra
*The Gryphon raises his claws over me, I try and move but the impact earlier mixed with my being knocked into a tree have left my muscles unresponsive...*
Capt. Lunar Blood
*Lunar attempts to get up but falls back down seeing that Starlight's life was at stake he tried again. This time he managed to get to his feet. Lunar inched closer but fell to the ground.* Hey gryphon scum. Look over here I'm still alive. Leave here alone and come finish what you started.*gets back off the ground* Thats it. Over here you worthless animal.*The gryphon lets go of Starlight and limps over to Lunar. The bat pony trows a punch but misses and the gryphon throws him to the ground.*
Starlight Umbra
*The extra time Captain Lunar Blood bought wasn't much but it was enough. The Gryphon, proud of his speed wasn't wearing any armour at all. All it took was a weak thrust and my spear went right through the Gryphon's heart.*
Capt. Lunar Blood
*Re-leaved that the gryphon was dead Lunar tries to get up but he didn't have enough energy.* You got him. I'm sure you'll make a great gua-*Lunar coughed out blood* I think he might have broke a rib or two.*begins to laugh but the pain stopped him* To think this was how the night was going to be this bad...
Starlight Umbra
"Ha ha... Thanks, I can barely move... I don't think I've ever fallen from that high, that fast before..." *I cough a bit and try moving my legs again.*
"I don't think anyone could have guessed that such a strong fighter would have been hanging around with a group of common thieves. He said he was from Featherhall, what in Equestria is that place?"
Capt. Lunar Blood
Its a *coughs* a part of the gryphon kingdom...
Starlight Umbra
"Hopefully they don't hold grudges..." *I'd regained enough strength to stand and caught a glimpse of the fallen Bat Pony Soldier. I winced at the sight and instead turned to the cage in which the pigs were imprisoned.*
"You guys are going to be alright now." *I set them free and then moved over to help Captain Lunar Blood. I tore off some of the clothing on one of the Gryphons and used it to bandage the Captain's wounds.*
"Do you think you'll be able to walk?"
Capt. Lunar Blood
I think i'll manage.*Gets up and wobbles a bit* That was some nice work out there. * Looks over at the dead guard* Poor soldier... He deserved better. I hope you join the guard once you can. Ylou saved my life.*salutes*
Starlight Umbra
*I return the salute*
"All in a day's work! Once I win the next jousting tournament I'll be sure to be able to join. But right now, let's get these pigs home.
*The wounded party and the Carrot family pigs make their way back to Ponyville with the light of the new day beginning to leak out over the horizon*