So Uh - Visual

[helpintwilightwinthecrown]

Is Honor Guard really all about standing around? I know it's part of our assignment but even via the panic of deployment, I was wondering about all of this.

It's not that my team is impatient or anything, it just seems like we're just here to stay out of trouble. Inquiring minds want to know really.

Comments

[noxequus]

This is... extraordinary circumstances even for Canterlot Guard, Flash Sentry. However, yes, a large portion of a guard's duty is holding their ground.

Your task is to protect the citizens of Equestria first and foremost, and as the diplomatic matters present are quite tense, there is little you can do under the royal banner to assist.

[helpintwilightwinthecrown]

All right, I just wanted to make sure and all. I realize these are trying times and it's a diplomatic mess, so I didn't want to-- Blaster put that down, that's not a toy!

But it looks so delicious!

Sorry, we've got a patch of Helheim fruit growing nearby. Gonna get the team to clear it out and bring it to, uh, well I suppose Miss Yayoi is out at the moment...

[noxequus]

[Cripes, there's more of that stuff cropping up? At this rate, she's beginning to seriously regret her sister unsealing the royal archives...]

If you need someone to safeguard it, I shall see to it until Lady Yayoi is available to dispose of it. Protecting Ponyville from those vile fruits is of utmost importance, as you assessed, and may at the least provide a break from the monotony.

[helpintwilightwinthecrown]

Thank you, Princess Luna. Blaster, I said no. Midnight, get a sack. And Smokescreen a flamethrower.

Yayoi said that they have incredible spread and growth, in any conditions. So I'm guessing as soon as a crack opens up, we've got spores coming through. The best thing to do is to either incinerate the lot or pick them. I've got a buckle from the archives so I can turn them into lock seeds.

[noxequus]

If it can be done so safely, burn them. Twilight should be able to provide assistance with that task should you need it; she is growing quite capable with elemental magic.

[helpintwilightwinthecrown]

We'll see about burning at least the plants before they take bud. I'm worried that something might eat the ashes, and who knows if that terrible power is behind it. [Even Flash hadn't missed the Lyra rampage after all.]

Here we go, we'll get to picking as soon as possible, and put in a call to Twilight then.

[shyformerassistant]

[Here's a pony that might be semi-recognizable (assuming she has a younger counterpart in Flash's world). ]

Maybe you're the back-up in-case it gets worse? Or at least it's to make sure the princesses are safe?

[helpintwilightwinthecrown]

I guess so. I mean, all we're doing is fetch work for the officials. Not that that's a bad thing though...

... you look familiar... Coco? Is that you? [The junior was semi-recognizable with her hair like that.]

[shyformerassistant]

[Coco blinks in confusion. She doesn't really recognize him since she's never been to the Crystal Empire and has only been to Manehatten besides her home town.]

Um yes, that's my name. Have we met somewhere before?

[helpintwilightwinthecrown]

Ah, took me a few seconds to recognize you. I'm from an alternate world where you're a student at Canterlot High. I'm Flash Sentry, a Senior at the school.

[shyformerassistant]

Oh I see. It's been a while since I was in high school.

It's nice to meet you, Flash.

[helpintwilightwinthecrown]

Really? A lot of ponies here don't seem to even go to High School unless they want to.

Nice to meet you too, Coco. Still into fashion I assume?

[shyformerassistant]

Oh really? I guess it's only Hollow Shades then. It's a pretty small town a few miles from Fillydelphia.

[She nods.] Yes. I've worked as an assistant for designers and I'm currently working for Miss Rarity. Um, the one that hasn't disappeared that is.

[helpintwilightwinthecrown]

Huh, that's a pretty small town, but I'd imagine it's a pretty easy trip to Fillydelphia.

[He grins a little.] Dame Rarity then. A shame about the other Rarity though, I hadn't even thought that locals could vanish like that.

[shyformerassistant]

It is, though walking there to Manehatten isn't as easy. I've had to do that once.

[She didn't have the money to take a train then since she was pretty much kicked out of the house.]

I've only heard about it recently, so I don't know the details.

[helpintwilightwinthecrown]

Ick, I wouldn't want to walk to a city from there either. If I know my geography and all that.

[The terrible thing about him being from Earth is that the landmasses were so much bigger than Equestria.]

Yeah same here. I was going to visit with a friend who also vanished. Some of the guard are looking around every so often.

[shyformerassistant]

It's quite a few miles and it took me a day and a half to reach there because I didn't head to Fillydelphia first. Mainly because I had no idea where I was going at the time.

Hopefully she'll be found soon.

[helpintwilightwinthecrown]

... Okay, my geography is really skewed then. I keep forgetting landmasses are so much smaller here... a trip to Philadelphia to Manhattan back in my world would take weeks by foot.

I hope so too.

[magicalrealist]

Guards generally have to...well, guard. That means a lot of standing around. On the bright side, if all you're doing is standing around, then things are okay.

I got the call from one of your teammates a moment ago. Is something wrong?

[helpintwilightwinthecrown]

Yeah, we ran into some fruit. You know, the bad kind. We need someone to come down and immolate the plant-life while we package these things up. And keep Blaster from eating them.

[magicalrealist]

...You mean from the Inves incident.

(It's less of a question and more of a statement. Her expression even hardens.)

[helpintwilightwinthecrown]

Yeah it is. There's some small cracks opening and spores coming through. It has rapid growth and we need to keep atop this sort of thing. It was in our briefing.

[magicalrealist]

You mean it's naturally growing in Equestria?

[helpintwilightwinthecrown]

Yeah it is. Which is why part of our duties is to scour the city on routine patrols and the surrounding area removing and burning the flora.

SUDDENLY ACTION

[magicalrealist]

(Shortly after Flash finishes his sentence, a flash of magic appears next to him as Maytwi takes its place. Yup, she totally just teleported to him.)

Where do we begin?

ALL THE ACTION

[helpintwilightwinthecrown]

Over here. [He pointed to a fence that was covered in vines and his team, a pegasus pony and two unicorns were working on packing up the stuff.] Okay, I think we've got everything stored away. Let it have it.

[magicalrealist]

(Twilight nods as she forms a barrier around the area, ensuring that the flames won't go reach anywhere they don't have to go.

And once that's taken care of, an orb the size of a beach ball drops in the middle of the area, setting it all ablaze as it lands. It's about as fantastic as it sounds.)

[helpintwilightwinthecrown]

[Flash puts on some sunglasses as the ball impacts and the flora is immolated quite nicely. When its done, there's nothing, not even ash left.]

Nice job. We'll take these fruits and get them converted as well.

[magicalrealist]

(Twilight calms down considerably once the plants are razed to nothingness. It's less pyromania and more ensuring something won't harm others.)

I have a driver as well, so I can convert them.

[helpintwilightwinthecrown]

Sounds good. And sorry, I know this is frustrating. Ever since those archives were opened, crazier things are happening all the time now. It's gotten so bad that the new ROTC cadets are being issued stuff now.

[magicalrealist]

Don't apologize; it's not your fault. It's just something that has to be done, right?

I'm glad to see you're coming along well, too.

[helpintwilightwinthecrown]

Yeah, that's true. And I suppose we can be better off with more things to look into.

Thanks, I'm glad I'm doing so well. I still mess up history and geography classes though.

[magicalrealist]

I can help you with those, if you'd like. You are dating a book-savvy unicorn, after all.

[helpintwilightwinthecrown]

That would be great. I keep having to visit the library lately for borrowing books on those subjects and I wanted to ask you about it as well.

[magicalrealist]

Well look no further, Flash; with my help, you'll become a historical and geographical expert.

[helpintwilightwinthecrown]

A better result than just passing grades I'd imagine. Thanks for the help, Twilight!

[magicalrealist]

Anytime, Flash. We should save the lessons until after this weather gem incident gets resolved.

[helpintwilightwinthecrown]

That'd be great. I'm stationed here in Ponyville until this is resolved after all. So I'll be around for a while longer after that.

[magicalrealist]

That sounds great. You've been pretty busy with guard training, lately...which is great! Your training is showing...

(Protip: your girlfriend missed you.)

[helpintwilightwinthecrown]

Well it'll just be for a couple more weeks and then I'm off for a longer vacation actually. Then I'll be home for a much longer time.

[He missed her too honestly. Distance makes the heart grow fonder isn't it?]

[magicalrealist]

(That it does...that it does.)

Then when you come back, may be could...go on another date? An actual one, this time.

[helpintwilightwinthecrown]

I'm up for that. It's been a while since we haven't been together for business anyhow. So I'll be looking forward to it. Do you have an idea of where to go for it?

[magicalrealist]

I think something simple would be nice. Going somewhere to eat, relaxing at home...things like that.

(Basically anything that'll let them be close.)

[helpintwilightwinthecrown]

Dinner and a movie? I can do that. It sounds like a nice date actually.

[magicalrealist]

Yeah...nice and simple. And peaceful, too. I think we could both benefit from some peace.

[helpintwilightwinthecrown]

Yeah I think we could. It would really be nice all around.

[Action]

[neighfeni]

[Meanwhile, after Twilight got rid of one area of them, more decided to pop up elsewhere, and Nephenee is just hoping that her hunch was right and that the Flame Lance does, in fact, have more uses. Fire erupts from the orange lance as it cuts through more of the plant matter, turning it to ash, and she grimaces, sweeping the ash up into a pouch for disposal with her tail.]

How's it over there, guys?

Re: [Action]

[helpintwilightwinthecrown]

We're doing pretty good actually. We've just cleaned up the last of them. I tell you these things grow way too fast.