1/31/16; Getting Started

[The Wastelander]

Spring Serenade had fallen asleep sometime in the night. She saw no point in waking an old man or a foal from sleep for the next watch shift, not when they both needed sleep. As did she eventually, but by the arrival of the first morning light nothing dangerous had befallen them in the night. The fire had reduced to ash, but it mattered little. The rising sun reassured her that Autumn still lived, too, and Spring forced herself to uncurl from the cramped sleeping position she had been in on the worn seat, stretching out her legs and turning or tilting her head this way and that to work out any kinks in her neck. She fought the urge to flex her wings, too, and looked over to see if either of the two companions had woken yet either.

Bygone Echo had shifted about at some point during the night... Or perhaps he sleep-walked a little? Whatever it was he was perched up on the back of the dark colored unicorn all curled up and his own hat was on said stallion's head! Why? Well... how would he know? In any case movement is what started to rouse the foal from his sleep. His eyes blearily blinked open and he raised his head from his perch and looked around. Oh ~ His hat! "Huh... Wonder how I got up here." he'd yawn only to try to pluck up his hat and put it back upon his own head.

Dark Strife did not sleep, as one would think a stallion his age would. He lay on the uncomfortable debris covered ground, seemingly unable to fully lay due to the foal. He seemed attentive to such a thing, that many ponies perhaps had forgotten. The very act of sacrificing a good sleeping position so the young may dream. His legs were ticked beneath him, head low and eyes closed. His ears danced around against the touch of wind and noises that stirred across the barren wastes. He had been waiting, hoping to catch sight of the sun bringer-- yet once more he only earned silence. When the foal move his focused mind kicked with a start. "The spoon ain't rusty! Y-ye git!" He sniffed, head lulling back in his self-induced confusion that seemed more confused waking than the general babbling of a kook.

Spring Serenade observed as the foal was first to awaken, and found himself confused as to the location of his hat. "Good morning." The unicorn greeted gently, an ear flicking back as Strife was the next to wake with a rusty shout. She snorted, though it was difficult to tell whether it was in amusement or something else. "I have food in my saddlebags if you are hungry, or if you need to eat before we start off." Spring offered, turning to the bags in question and levitating them by their back strap in front of the seat she'd slept on. She didn't mind sharing a little bit of food with strangers, especially the old and young; she would be damned if she let herself become as cruel and selfish as those in the wastes.

Bygone Echo gave a bit of a start with Strife's sudden yell into the waking world. He hadn't been able to tell that the unicorn wasn't actually asleep. The little unicorn inclined his head some to Serenade, though, and perked his ears. "You'll give... food?" he asked with an owlish blink. Indeed! he'd met very few who would actually offer up food! He could count them with his hooves maybe? The foal slid from Strife's back and hopped over to the other unicorn and couldn't help but smile. "I'll... take some. I ran out of food." he scuffed his hoof as he looked to the large saddlebags he managed to lug around somehow. There was actually little in the way of food in 'em since he'd been out scavenging. What's in the bag was what he found.

Dark Strife smacked his lips together, a tongue brushing over his lips, moistening the drying folds of flesh. He felt the foal slide off so was granted a chance to stand. It was no easy feat! It was like watching a newborn foal try it's limbs out for the first time. Raising his rump, his chin would hit the ground. His back hooves scuttled forward before he finally unfolded his creaking forelimbs and pushed to stand. His black, short cropped tail gave a flick before his shook out his head and mane. He glanced back at the mare. "It's mornin'." He seemed to be complaining about something as he stared toward the sky. Eventually he simply turned his back to whatever he was staring at and skulked toward them with an attitude that could assert he was no morning pony! His head lowered, muzzle slipping over the straps of his saddlebags, which were off to the side. A flash of his pearly whites and one could mistake them for fangs at the angle he turned his head to slip the bag over his back.

Spring Serenade smiled back down at the little foal, so eerily alike in look to somepony she once knew, when he expressed such. It was tinted with a little sadness, and he was food-less! The unicorn opened both saddlebags to the varied canned foods she'd managed to buy off of a merchant and gestured to it with a hoof. "Pick something you are interested in eating. I can heat the can over the fire, once I get it started, but I have no pots nor pans I fear." Spring told him and moved off to fetch a few more dried branches and twigs. She returned, placing them over the ashes of the old and lit them ablaze easily. Spring glanced towards Strife, quizzical, while he struggled with his own bags. "Yes. Are you not hungry? You need the strength."

Bygone Echo could hardly help but smile as he hopped forward to hug the nice pony's leg! She was giving him food! He'd try not to eat too much! The foal looked to the saddlebags of food and eventually pointed to one of the cans only to hear the comment about not having pans. "Oooh! I might have some." Thus the little unicorn started to dig through his own large saddlebags in search of pans. Of course he did have one, or three actually... But the problem was they were likely dirty? Then again this was the wasteland... His attention turned to Strife and the unicorn nodded quickly. "Yeah! If we're gonna be traveling we need the fooood!"

Dark Strife stared at the mare dead in the eye. He motion his shoe covered hoof at her. "Don't play games with me witch." He walked around, head low to sniff at the cans. Everything tasted foul to him, this chaos burning the flavour that was life from his tongue. While he did not wish to drive them away, he knew they wouldn't be around forever. Kind ponies, but ponies withered away and died. He sighed heavily. "Sorry Eve, not much sits well in my stomach these days. Ever tried eating squirrel?!" No, ponies did not eat squirrels, though that could have been part of his problem. When the foal called to him, looking rather excited about the venture he laughed a raspy old laugh. "Spirited lad, careful you don't outshine the sun. She gets jealous in a pinch." He winked, laughing wheezingly before coughing. It all tasted and smelled of excrement, but-- he liked the way they -- felt.

Spring Serenade had been quite surprised when the foal hugged her foreleg. She didn't know how to respond to it other than with a pat on the head- er, hat. The unicorn levitated out the can of food he'd picked out, and a can of beans for herself. To Strife's comment, her brow furrowed. "I am not a witch, I am a unicorn, as are you and the foal." Spring replied bluntly, using her magic like a can-opener and peeling the lids of the cans off partway. She levitated them over the flames, holding them there so they could heat and cook within their metal containers. Whatever the pots the foal did have, they probably were dirty- no matter, this way was cleaner. "No! Who would eat that?" Spring burst upon hearing Strife speak of squirrel. Eugh! "I think not, she has never been the jealous type. Bygone, do not worry about the pots, either. Spoons may work, however."

Bygone Echo wouldn't have been able to help but grimace. "I-um... tried it." he'd say as he was actually turning a little green from the memory. "I ran out of food one winter and, well... there was nothing to eat for leagues." he nearly retched before a shiver racked his body and he grimaced. "I never-ever-ever-ever wanna deal with that again! It was naaaaaasty!" The colt shook his head quickly and turned his attention to the two cans that were now being levitated over the fire. Then the little unicorn's head quirked to the side as he heard strife's comment about not outshining the sun. How could he ever outshine the sun! It was just so giant and bright! He liked to lay in the sun every so often just like he liked to lay out in the cool night! To be honest he adored the night but also enjoyed the day. The night was the time that he could go out amongst the monsters of the wasteland in moderate safety. Very few creatures could seen in the darkness provided by the dear night.
Bygone Echo was forced to pause, however, whenever Serenade spoke up again. While Strife spoke in jest (with a wink to boot) about the sun, perhaps it was just the way the unicorn spoke about the sun in such familiarity to... Did she know the sun!? Was it possible to meet the sun itself?! How he'd like to give the sun a hug! He went ahead and put the pans back in his bag and retrieved a few spoons. Spoons that were somewhat nice and clean? Better than the pans. "Sooooooo you know the sun miss Serenade? Do you think I could meet her?! Does she like hugs!" He finally spoke his mind and focused all of his gaze intently upon the unicorn sitting there with him!

Dark Strife did not want to lay back down, but did not want to seem idle either. Stuck between forward and back, the old unicorn rocked in place. He turned his rump to the pair, short cut tail flickering out as his ears pricked up. "Yes... those squirrels." His eyes narrowed. "Sneaky beasts. Never liked them. They make terrible friends!" He suddenly barked out that last bit. They were gross. "Full of fleas, rotten, emaciated things." Though from this view the male looked quite emaciated himself, like he never age, but it sometimes came with age. The body was no good at retaining fat anymore and with a diet of rotting greens, flavorless hay and tea cups --! He turned and looked over his shoulder Bygone, his tail lashing about.
Dark Strife held a moment of silent thought he turned about. "Don't you? A foal your age should have since come face to face with the sun." He raised his shoe covered hoof and poked at Bygone's horn if he did not retreat. "Hugs? I don't know. She never hugged me. Bet if I tried I'd roast up no different than a squirrel on the spit!" Nod nod nod. He looked to his shoe. "Shh, no. Can't be worth a damn your opinion." The shoe shoved against his face, smooshing it. "She's so sensitive, though she may not show it." He looked up. "And you stay out of it! I needn't a mother at this age!" He trotted around as they ate, talking to himself.

Spring Serenade looked away from the heating cans to grimace at little Bygone as he told his story of eating a squirrel. She felt pity too, that he had to stoop to such a thing in a time of hunger. It pained her to know how far Equestria had fallen, to know that foals starved! "It is not safe to eat what creatures remain in Equestria. The poisoning of dark magic has fouled everything." Spring said in a detestful tone. She started at the questions, realizing she said too much.. but neither of her companions made any connections. At least, the foal didn't. She had concerns about Strife. "N-No. You cannot, I fear." Spring answered hesitantly and glanced to the older stallion. "Do you want a hug, then?" Her tone was neither mocking nor sincere, but even she wasn't sure which she'd meant more. Shrugging to herself, Spring withdrew the cans to test their temperature before passing off one to Bygone, perhaps in exchange for one of his spoons.

Bygone Echo hovered over one of the spoons only to incline his head and dig into the food. Ooh that tasted good it did! "I mean the sun up close! I see her up there and wouldn't it be lonely? At least the moon has the stars for friends!" he'd say with a pout only a foal could make. However he just dug back into the food and let the two older ponies speak. Yes, he was distracted by the goodness for now....As it should be.

Dark Strife turned to face to Spring. "Oh little Eventide. Hugs are quite wonderful. But you smell of feces." He tilted his head. "Or is that my hoof?" He looked down, raising his back leg over his head. Nothing. After almost tipping over he settled on all four hooves. He let out a laugh, a rattling sound that sounded -- unstable. "Of course she's lonely!" He sunk a bit, ears folding forward. "Twas fault of mine though." He lamented. "If I didn't forget the cupcakes. The Faust-damned cupcakes." He whorled around and looked at the sky, raising his hoof to shake it.
Dark Strife inhaling deep he let out a shrieky noise that was supposed to be a cool shout. "You maniacs! You blew it up! Damn you all! Damn you all to Tartarus!" He seemed to puff up, his thin, patchy fur bristling as he made a face, but seemed to calm down and face them. "What were we talking about?" There was something definitely not right with the old stallion.

Spring Serenade stirred the contents of her can and took a little test bite. She found the beans to taste.. okay; good enough for a meal to start off the beginning of their trip, in any case. She glanced towards Bygone, watching him out of the corner of her eyes while she listened. What he had to say.. well. Her eyes moved down to her food, looking almost.. saddened. Such innocence. Her gaze snapped up to Strife next. "It is no doubt you. I at least try to wash!.. when I have the soap." Spring's voice lowered to a mutter. "The sun is not lonely when she has the moon." A solemn correction, and one broken quickly by Strife's screaming and cursing. "What do you know of such an old goddess? Knowledge of her in the wastelands has long since died since the war tainted everything! And keep your voice down, before you draw raiders."

Bygone Echo flicked an ear as he might just have caught what was muttered, however that was quickly forgotten as he just about jumped out of his fur when the dark pony screamed and cursed at the sky! The foal watched on until the stallion fell quiet and then asked what they were talking about. He blinked and inclined his head. "The - uh... oh! How good those beans are!" he'd say with a bit of a grin as he motioned towards Serenade's beans. However the foal did catch something else.... "Sooooo if the knowledge of these goddesses were lost.. How do you know of them?" he squinted at the unicorn before his eyes went wide. "Oooh! Are you a cultist?! Hokey religions seem to be their thing right! ~ I've never met a cultist before!"

Dark Strife glanced at the child of Spring, brow arching. His eyes narrowed. His muzzle began to part, his snaggled, crooked teeth almost showing before he snorted. "I smell peachy. In fact I roll in dust daily." He assured before looking to Bygone, rolling his eyes. "I found it of course." Snorting at such a crazy concept. Lunacy really! "And how would you know about the moon? Do you peek while she was preparing? Barbarian. Bathe you may, but a --" Moved his hooves to cover Bygone's ears. "Pervert." He snorted and set his hooves down before sitting. "Stories don't die. It's an idea. What dies is the body. What dies is happiness."
Dark Strife glanced off, turning his head to the sky as he squinted a bit. "A lot of things die, but ever seen the sun or moon die? Ever seen a spirit die? Ever seen hope die?" His face distorted. "I tried killing hope once, felt bad. So I don't do that anymore. But never did say sorry." He thrust a hoof at Bygone. "Always say sorry, even if you don't mean it!"

Spring Serenade glanced back at Bygone, at a loss of how to answer. Her sister and herself didn't often interact with ponies, and it was out of a need for survival that they could pretend to be unicorns. Beyond that, lying came difficult. "No, not cultists." She answered, but dared not go further than that. Spring turned back to her beans and ate while the old man rambled, giving herself time to think, time to get her thoughts together. Was he really more than just.. crazy? He was obsessed with the sun and moon, spoke with familiarity like herself.. or maybe she was just looking at him in the wrong light. There was so much about him that was odd, though! Ugh. "I have seen hope die, but apologizing when you do not mean it makes it false. Regardless, we should get moving soon. It is not wise to linger too long in one spot in the wasteland. Trouble has a knack of seeking you out."

Bygone Echo blinked some at Serenade whenever she denied being a cultist. He deflated a little. "Drat... I'm never gonna meet a cultist at this rate." he scuffed a hoof upon the wasteland soil before he immediately perked back up and finished up his can of food with a delighted slurp? "Yeah... I passed by a few raider camps to the northeast of here! Hopefully we don't wind up running into them on they way to... well, wherever!" The little unicorn cared rather little just where they were going to be perfectly honest. He was just happy for the company. His expression fell a little, though. "Granpappy said that in the stories Dissy lived with the Sun and Moon sometimes... Maybe he is with them?" he asked with uncertainty... He didn't necessarily truly believe the old tales himself, but... What was a foal without a little foolish hope?

Dark Strife snorted at Spring. "Oh, I see. You killed his hope quite quickly. My mistake." He chuckled before pushing to his hooves, bones popping. He tilted his head at the thought. Raiders huh. He pushed to lead along, the road most traveled a familiar one to him. "The sun, the moon, and the stars, are always together, but the only star you'll find on the ground, is a fallen one." Shaking his head the stallion let out a nicker as a shiver rode up his knickers. "Toasty!" He stumbled along, pausing. "Come now foals, reckon' staying any longer may cause the chaos ta settle." He snorted and ambled ahead!

Spring Serenade shot Strife a look before she finished up her own can of beans and stood up. She offered the spoon back to Bygone, but she wasn't sure what to do about the can. It wasn't like there were available trashcans anymore.. The unicorn gave it one look before simply tossing it into the campfire- the camp itself was already littered with bits of paper and glass bottles, half of them shattered. Spring moved over to her saddlebags and levitated them up and over her cloak, securing the straps around her middle. "Raider camps.. ?" Her gaze turned to the foal, surprised. "This information is quite useful, very good, Bygone." Spring complimented. "We will do well to avoid them." She moved off after Strife, after making sure the foal was following close behind. It'd be up to her to protect these two, as they were both very obviously helpless to defend themselves.

Bygone Echo couldn't help furrow his brow a little at what Strife said. He was... confused? This just prompted a shake of his head. He had no idea what the old pony was talking about! But he did know what happened to elder ponies like his granpappy when they got old! They started acting all funny.... He turned to Serenade and took the spoon back, setting it in a second bag of 'used spoons' for washing the next time he was well... able to. He usually just cleaned with spells. When he found himself complimented the foal could only bounce happily. He did something good! "Oooh, these raiders are stupid though. Think some of their brains have rotted." he piped up only to quickly follow the mare and the old stallion. What a strange group they be but he loved it!

Dark Strife glanced back, his head lifting up as a white aura appeared over the discarded cans. As it was scooped up it took a few of the hot tinder with it, crackling a bit as the top was pushed down. "Now, now, a messy camp ain't no excuse 'ta litter an' waste." He nodded his head at Spring. "Don't be a bad influence. Dont'cha follow her bad habits." He settled the empty cans, one full of smoldering tinder, into his saddlebags. The old stallion ambled along, humming a little lullaby as he went. "Ye'know a lot of dem stories went down in the lullay ye mammies sang!" He nodded authoritatively. As he scraped along the old, black shoe would lightly click, which would get kinda annoying after a while.
Dark Strife paused occasionally to look around and give a whistle. "W'ere'ya ya lil brat?" He sucked his tooth and continued on. "Reckon though I ain't had no mam proper, t'was thee songs I listened to from others that kept me from forgetin'." He had forgotten a lot of things in time. He had become focused on reaching the sun and moon, chasing them to and from these roads across the horizons. He was tired, but he had to say sorry. "Even if'n ya don't mean it lad. Sorry can mean a lot to another pony. Jus cuz everything's gone into the pooper -- don't mean you can't apologize. Don't let ol' Eventide bring ya down." Dark Strife laughed out a bit, a cackle rumbling between his twisted teeth. "Aye, cuz it's never too late lad. When you find that fallen star, gotta make your wish on it. E he he hee he."

Spring Serenade. A faint smile touched the lady in hiding's lips when the foal showed obvious joy. It was as familiar as the changeling she knew all those years ago- those that oft grew up without hardly a kind word said to them were made happiest by them. The idea of it hurt, but.. she brought happiness nonetheless. "This is very true," She agreed with him, "raiders are not known for being very bright.. only for their viciousness." Spring looked ahead to Strife with a little frown as he brought those cans back. She.. supposed he was correct, but the environment wouldn't get better by cleaning up pollution! The dark magic, perhaps.. Spring grunted softly, ears flicking while Strife went on about lullabies and apologies. "Why do you keep calling me Eventide? What does that mean?"

Bygone Echo stared as the old stallion cleaned up the discarded cans and even part of the still crackling fire. Wouldn't that get hot in his pack and... like... catch it on fire? The little unicorn stared at this sight but then just shook his head. He should be fine.... right? He let the adults talk while he let his gaze and attention wander. Did'nae need any raiders sneaking up on them while they spoke!

Dark Strife walked for a bit before he stopped at a bit of a crossroads, at least some rough patches of trail. His ears swiveled back at her question before turning his head, tilting it ever so. "The day's end." He spoke softly. "Yer fur, ain't nothing like the spring. Reminds me a 'ta evenin's tide. Ever seen that moment the moon come up? Bringin' with it a wash'a lilac?" Well he felt it looked like her. Tucking his left hoof up against his form he raised his head as if listening. Though he seemed a crazy ol' man, he did have moments of clarity, that breezed through his madness. He seemed to be looking, listening, acting as a stallion who was once a leader, or always a follower.
Dark Strife setting his hoof down he sighed. "I taught me critter that lullay, though ain't seen her in a moon's age!" He huffed before resuming his walk, distraught that he was, once again alone. The other two didn't matter much to him. They were just ponies the wastes would eventually corrupt. But he still clung. He clung to that bit of happiness they seemed to covet even in this sour, fetid environment. He felt dirty, using them of his own satisfaction. It was a sensation that sunk deep in his belly, empty as it was. He wasn't hungry. He just wanted to tease them for a little while. Dark Strife began to hum. "Up goes the mother, followed by her children," Though one would expect the haggard old man to shrill his words, the were a soft whisper on his muzzle, as if bading a scared foal to his side. "Never seen by father who yearned to fall from heaven," He sprang ahead, jumping to peek behind a bush with surprising agility, only to stagger forward when naught was found. "Feared by the ignorant and cursed by the blind," Whispering the line almost silent. "Led to a Paradise, loss be the price," He thinks he recalled it. Maybe he missed lines. "Reckon them lullay's told stories to young'uns so they didn't forget!" He laughed out, springing ahead. "Lookie foal, you can see an elephant's graveyard!" Though it was just slang for a general field of ruin and destitution. A good place to find some useful garbage!

Spring Serenade faltered a little when he explained its meaning. Of.. of course. She knew that color, saw it every night when the moon rose. She knew every intimate thing about the moon, about the night.. it'd been so long that she'd almost forgotten. The sky wasn't like that anymore. It was often overcast, and what you could see of it during the day was a shade of sickly orange. When came night, all was darkness, no pretty display or pastel rainbow hue when the sun set and the moon rose. Just dark sky and silver-lined clouds. She missed it. Spring looked down at the ground in front of her in silence while they walked, at least until Strife came to a halt. She looked up at him when he began to hum, something that sounded.. familiar. And then the singing started. It took but a few moments for her to recall where she'd heard it, bringing to her an old memory. Her moon showing its silver face up beyond the horizon by the hooves, or rather the mismatched paws, of another while he sang that song, melancholy. "Discord." The name slipped from her lips before her thoughts even formed it. Why was her vision blurry? She never thought something would evoke emotion like this in a long time, desensitized by the ruin the world had wrought.

Bygone Echo found his head whipping to look at Serenade whenever she said the name! His ears perked and fell a few times as he looked between the two ponies and... he didn't really know what to do. Some part of the foal felt like he was...intruding or something, as silly as that might be. It was a somewhat disconcerting feeling. However his attention was thus grabbed whenever Strife mentioned an... elephant's graveyard? He'd heard that term coined before and with a glance that direction he smiled some. He could always use more loot! With hardly a second thought the foal all but disappeared! Was he noticed? He was hopping in the direction of the ruins that had been spotted. What if he found crystals there or... hmm... pre-fall bits? He could get a few things for valuables when he went into towns. The promise of loot all but made him forget to stick with the party.

Dark Strife's swiveled back at the sound of that curse. Curse. He smirked as the foal set off. "Don't go too far lad! Hear summat Dogs like ta scarpered off foals like ya!" He seemed to smile, but that muzzle filled with fangs as he frowned, brows twisting up. His horn shone with a strong, intense light as he turned his magic on Spring with a frightening force, an attempt to choke her and pin her on the nearest object, though if he missed her, said object would be pulled clean out of the ground and slammed over. He approached her, either way, a dark glare over his features pressing his mad gaze to the brink of psychopathy. "DOn't yOu sAy suCh a f'keN RecKlesS shIt lIke thAt agAiN lass." His magic would seek to tighten over her muzzle, or crush the fallen object, before releasing it and spinning around, tripping! Dark Strife scampered to his hooves. "Don't go lootin' on yer own lad!" He followed to help search for anything useful. Bright as the day!

Spring Serenade hardly noticed as Bygone left her safety, her eyes still blurred by tears. As such, she wasn't expected to have his name met with such violence, and shortly after Strife had called after the foal. She found a choking force around her neck, preventing her from voicing a yelp as she was slammed into something. Her vision cleared at once, though wetted her cheeks, just in time to meet the madman's gaze as he advanced on her. She couldn't speak, not with the force on her muzzle, but it was soon released as Strife-.. no, Discord, went after Bygone. It had to be Discord. Who else? Spring gasped and slowly rolled to sit up, her legs tightly curled against her body. "No, but it is.. me." Soft. That had been frightening, jarring, after such a vulnerable moment.. Spring slowly forced her shaky legs to stand and went after the two, determined.

Bygone Echo hopped over to some of the trash and began to dig through it. Decaying parchment, some bits of metal... pretty much a bunch of junk that is somewhat like most junk. Aaaabsolutely worthless. However he'd just begun only to look back towards his companions to see the old pony.... hurting the nice pony! The little unicorn was wide-eyed at the sight and stayed that way as Strife went to search. But the damage was well ~ done. The little unicorn was now rather mildly... absolutely terrified! Old pony wasn't just old pony! He was deranged and maybe even a raider in disguise! It was because his thought ran amok that the little unicorn waited for Strife not to be looking before he try to outright bolt into the wilderness like Cerberus might be on his tail. He was a speedy little creature even with the pack on his back too...

Dark Strife had unceremoniously dropped Spring, turning to see the foal's expression. He tilted his head, the madness quietly slipping away as it had appeared. His own had not change from the smile, which had only made his actions more unsettling. His brow arched as Bygone made like a banana peel and brown himself. The foal was quite quick, given his burden. Why did it remind him of somepony? "Did he have to potty?" The old stallion looked down and began to nose through the garbage, occasionally biting into something to eat whatever mess seemed good. It explained his emaciated form. Nopony could survive on garbage alone -- but he wasn't just any pony was he? His horn rifled through the garbage. He felt a tug. Wholly expecting to pull out something speared through, was a saddlebag. He settled on his rump and poked around. He would stick his entire head in the bag without stretching, quite emphasizing the factual possibility he could be that which Spring felt he may be.
Dark Strife cackled and started putting his things into the new bag, all the odd items! Cans, stick, pieces of metal, a shard from a gem that may look familiar, and some more cans! He probably -- ate those. Settling the new bag on his back the spry old stallion chortled. "Where's that foal? We gotta be off. Sun won't be up forever. She always kept a tight clock." Though guy seems to have rusted all the gears in his. That magic though -- was far too powerful for a feeble old man, yet by all accounts... "Foal, where ye be off to?" He looked to his shoe. "Nah, he's always fine as can be." He glanced up at the horn. "No, I will not apologize, slander, she spoke slander! He's dead!" The shoe worried about Bygone, the horn felt he went too far and was mean to the poor mare.

Spring Serenade pushed her shaky legs to a trot, working it out as she followed the two to the junk. She hadn't seen the look on the foal's face, but the way he'd quickly glanced their way and made off told her.. he'd seen. He'd seen what Discord had done, and it frightened him. The stallion himself didn't seem concerned, digging through the trash and finding himself a new saddlebag. Spring caught up to him while he transferred his odds and ends, her sharp eyes catching the glint of amethyst. Was that.. ? If he had her shoe, he must have snatched that too, right off her discarded gorget. "You must have frightened him." Spring scolded, ignoring his ramblings; she was sure it had to be a trick now. "I know who you are, I knew you, back when the land was green! Surely you know who I am?" The fallen one snorted and shook her head. "No matter, we have to find him before he runs into danger." And on that note, Spring turned and chose to run after the foal rather than dig through garbage, calling his name.

Bygone Echo looked somewhat ridiculous... A large bag seeming to scoot across the wasteland at a run for a foal which was truthfully rather impressive given that the bag was somewhat larger than he was! Some part of him heard the nice pony call his name but he had to get out of there! Old pony was a danger! He'd seen the look in his eye as he held Spring up with his magic! Even from there he could see it, and the smile hadn't helped things! It was the same type of demented combination he saw on raiders as they slew settlements!

Dark Strife's eats twitched as he looked over to the mare in question. "Oh come now, foals that age doesn't afraid of anything." Yes he said that in such a way with purpose. His head leaned back when she professed to know him. Green? Of all the colors she could have used? "Green isn't a very creative color you know." He spat before chuckling, shaking out his mane. His steps had become more leisurely, hardly in a rush to find the foal. He was young, he'd spring back! "The land was never green. All sorts of grey -- and vomit." He chuckled. "You're Eventide." He professed, tail flicking up as the stallion marched along with a flash of arrogance. "You are too young to have known me when my pelt was still silver." Wasn't that -- still grey? "Everypony I knew, was dead." All he chased were shadows now. "Which that foal'll be if'n he keeps gallivanting around like that. There are a lot of pitfalls in this area." He warned before chuckling. He watched as Spring turned her back to him.
Dark Strife pulled back his lips over his fangs, head lowering as he watched her tail. The temptation to snap it off with a frightening pop was almost too nice, but he sulked instead and followed. His horn scolded him for his aggression, the shoe expressing an equal measure of disappointment. "Why must you two always ruin my fun?" He hissed, a forked, snake like tongue slithering over his snout before he regained his appearance of tired achiness. Could probably raze a few settlements, but in earnest all that kept him going was seeing other ponies smile when he came through with his silly tales and antics. It was all he had. "Come on foal...I'm sorry. I was only playing with your auntie." He soured and looked to the mare. He wasn't really sorry. "She deserved it for spitting such a curse toward me, but she won't do it again right?" He whispered toward, eyes pinching up in a smile.

Spring Serenade had heard what he'd said to her before she was out of earshot, and half of her was almost tempted to turn around at shout at him out of frustration. She knew his tricks, and she knew how he liked to lie, to pretend what was going on wasn't actually happening! Pah! "Bygone! Please, come back! It was nothing, I frightened him on accident!" Spring called after him desperately, when the foal showed no sign of slowing or turning back. With all this noise and movement, it was a wonder that raiders or another of the wasteland's monsters didn't swoop down upon them. Swoop. It was almost tempting to just shuck her bags and cloak to fly after him.

Bygone Echo didn't feel all that mollified by what Spring said, but... he did start to slow when he heard old pony. He looked back.... Perhaps he was just panicking for no reason? Maybe they were playing! Old pony 'did' look harmless.... Perhaps nice pony did scare him like she said... However the foolish foal wasn't paying attention where he was going and ran right off the edge of a slope! Thankfully it wasn't a full steep drop but the cry of the foal as he dropped out of sight was quite filly-like. Then there were the various 'oomph' and 'ouch' sounds as he tumbled down the incline. Pots, pans, and various junk littered the ground where they'd be toppling from his bag.

Dark Strife perhaps did play a game, or perhaps he had become old and bitter with this foul, false chaos constantly permeating the air. The spirit had lost his meaning when he lost the sun and moon. What was the point in causing chaos when none would enjoy it? It had only been when the horizon woke with the light of familiar celestial bodies. At first only one had shone, leaving him with anxiety til the second showed face. He became obsessed in his search, depressed, but overall hopeless. All he could do to disrupt this blasphemous chaos was to do the very opposite of what became 'the order'. Happiness and fun was something found far and in between, and wherever he roamed he had done well to disrupt the caustic lifestyles ponies had placed themselves in. He lost his identity as the prince of chaos the day he had lost his sun and moon, his only reason to continue after his mortal friends... He rumbled with mirth hearing the foal tumble and lose his shit, quite literally!
Dark Strife trotted toward the edge where the foal had lost his hoofing. Pricking up his ears the old stallion shook his head. "Told ya they bounce." Oh... well damn. He still seemed to have that wit about him, however distant it seemed to be. "You okay lad?" He chuckled a bit, ears folding back as he looked to the mare, his expression souring toward her for whatever reason. Was it perhaps because she figured it out, or even considered that he would know some spineless wench hiding in the shadow of chaos and darkness so impure. Or he was just a crazy, violent old man that hated unicorn. That was a thing too.

Spring Serenade was sure Bygone had faltered a little, though she didn't know it was because of Discord more so than her own shouting. Before she could be positive he would stop and turn back, he disappeared from view. There was a rattle and clanging, amidst a few yelps- he must have fell down a ridge, or something. The not-unicorn slid to a halt at the edge once she'd reached the location, peering down to where the poor foal lay. The sound of hooves told her that Discord had joined her and she looked at him with something like anger- it was steadily returning the more her shock from being attacked whilst vulnerable receded. "He could be hurt." Spring pointed out and turned back- perhaps at the right time too. The racket had drawn a couple of feral changed out to investigate, their movement visible against the dull dirt. Once ponies with no-color shaggy coats, white staring eyes and bared teeth. Jagged teeth. Spring shucked her saddlebags then, half cantering half stumbling down the incline.

Dark Strife twisted his expression when the mare was worried for his well being. "He may be, but it is the Waste." He expressed in a noncommittal sort of fashion. The old man had not seemed too concerned with the others from the start of the journey, though the journey alone seemed fun for him. Maybe it wasn't Discord, or maybe said spirit had just always been this hateful. He slowly lumbered down the incline. He was old after all, if anything a clumsy brute. His horn would levitate the can from earlier from the bag. Perhaps he had expected this, planned this for it was as Bygone had assumed: the can was hot, and only growing hotter. He blew into the tin, rousing the still smoldering tinders until they lit inside the can. He would attempt to toss it into the ferals, redirect them from the foal and panicking mare.

The flames from the can manage to burn the feral changed, causing them to shriek and turn their attention to the two approaching ponies.

Spring Serenade ignored the older stallion for the foal, who didn't seem to be moving. He must have gotten knocked out, hit his head on a rock or one of his pots. She supposed it was a good thing, since it meant he wasn't panicking or running away- and should she reveal herself, she had no reason to fear such a secret getting out. The mare slid to a halt by the unconscious foal, flinching when a flaming can went by her towards the changed. Oh good, they had their attention now. Spring aimed towards the nearest one and sent a searing spell towards it.

Dark Strife chuckled as the fires washed over two of the feral beasts. "Tsk, tsk, tsk. Picking on a pair of foals." At least to one as old as he. "And we were having such a nice -- walk." He rolled his shoulders as he came to a stop a bit away. "I don't like my walks being interrupted." He complained. "I have spent the last span of my lifetime just trying to-- get along." He raised his left hoof, an old habit that he had. The feral charged and the old stallion let out a snort. Rearing up he slammed his hooves against the ground, lowering his head to gore the feral with his horn.

Spring Serenade flicked an ear Discord's way as she positioned a forelimb over the unconscious foal in a protective manner. One of the changed seemed to have moved off towards the old stallion, which left her with only one problem to deal with. Good. She felt bad knowing that these creatures were once thinking, feeling ponies.. but now they were little more than zombies. It seemed best to put them out of their misery. Spring struck out with the same searing spell for her target, considering it'd worked well the first time.

It seems monster #2 isn't having a great time of facing off with a caster. It makes another lunge for Spring.. and stumbles, missing again.

Dark Strife's no longer felt the small bit of joy he had while on their little venture. Damn mare slipping with such a curse, the brat taking a spill. All he wanted to do was go home. He was tired, he was annoyed, and he just wanted it all to end already. Stamping his shoe-covered hoof against the dirt, a Cheshire grin curling over his face baring a full set of fangs and a snaggled tooth, the old spirit could feel a bit of amusement rumble in his chest as the beastie bit into his shoulder. The pain was hardly comparable to hundreds of years of emptiness. "Shh... no more tears, only dreams." With his horn still impaled in the beast, the ruby eyes of the old unicorn seemed to glow as his graying brows furrowed and eyes widened. He concentrated a spell into his horn to burn the beast from the inside out. Regardless of result the stallion would pull his head back from the beast and slowly stumble back, his hoof steps unsteady, knees wobbly.

The searing heat does quite a bit of damage to the creature's innards and it shrieks, not yet fallen. It lunges for the old stallion, covering up his retreat and goes for another bite for 13 damage.

Autumn Aubade was taking a huge risk by flying in broad daylight, but awakening from a terrible vision had compelled the pale horse to take to the sky in search of her sister. Her hood was pulled up, so at least her horn might have been vaguely invisible to any nosy wastelanders. Though it had taken most of the morning to do so, she'd at long last located the campsite- and the brewing trouble within. So, it hadn't just been a paranoid dream... She wasted no time in folding her wings and diving down from above, intent upon landing out of the line of sight of the unknown stallion so that she could tuck her wings beneath her cloak before she stepped out to lend her strength. Hopefully the few seconds it would take her to do that wouldn't be too unfortunately eventful.

Spring Serenade cringed when the other changed shriek; how she hated the sound. It was so.. inequine. The alicorn shook her head and struck out at the beast again, using a searing spell for the third time. Hopefully she could finish with it.. although it seemed distracted now, looking past her with its pale eyes. No matter..

The creature flinches back from the strike and takes off, seemingly on the retreat.. its buddy soon follows. Such ferals weren't known for retreat, but it might soon become apparent they'd found a new target- one that might not fight back like these. They are clearly damaged and shambling, but nonetheless they have a new target.

The more coordinated of the two manages to lash out for 20 damage~

Dark Strife winced when he was struck again, turning his eyes to the feral's distant expression. Some days he felt no different for these creatures, and as with himself -- he felt no pity for them. They had put themselves in this sorry state. They had all forgotten harmony, forgotten friendship -- forgotten him. It was as his shell depicted. He was an delirious old stallion chasing his past, turning as grey as the land and as feeble as the concept of good will had become. Striking this beast dead was like taking himself out -- just another worthless piece of the Waste. Refuse. Litter. Garbage. He looked up, a trickle of blood rushing down the front of his face. He was not quick enough to evade any of the feral's attacks, nor run if he wished it. His face pinched up in a warm smile that was as icy as the empty wind kicking up around him.
Dark Strife was point blank with the beast he would attempt to rip apart the gravity around them, hopefully keep his madness in check to tear the beast apart with his telekinesis. He wasn't going to let that one twink get off so easily. The waste turned the jovial spirit cruel, twisting his humor cold and tasteless. Mercy was for those who felt no pity for the weak. Whatever they found more appetizing, wasn't going to deter the angered stallion, who had just been out for a good ol' walk!

The first changed is prevented from getting far to join it's comrade, tripped up by the gray stallion's strike~

Autumn Aubade honestly should have known better than to be surprised by how quickly the ferals took her mere presence as an invitation, but alas. She wasn't fast enough in the midst of hurrying to resume her humble unicorn disguise to avoid the more nimble of the two changed - a sharp cry the tainted creature's insidious reward - but she was quick to shove the bitey once-pony away with a hoof to give herself some space to retaliate. A fiery golden glow licked up her horn in the manner of actual flame, before being directed outward in a blinding beam of light at the beast in front of her. Hmm, wasn't that a distinctive sort of attack?

Such a strike was enough to knock the changed on its ass, for the time being. The second rounds on the troublesome stallion to lash out at him for 14 damage.

Spring Serenade had to feel some relief that the changed ran, it meant she didn't have to guard Bygone so aggressively. However, when she turned, she couldn't quite see the newcomer who had approached, but she did manage to catch the bright flash of solar magic. Had Autumn come looking for her after all? She felt a little relief at the idea and turned to help Discord with his opponent, as little as she felt like doing so to start with. Not after being thrown. Spring aimed and blasted at it.

Dark Strife would not be a kind pony, for he was no pony at all. With Spring's miserable failure he froze --? He looked up, taken a moment by the light, but looking up she was still there. the moment of confusion angered him. He did not like being confused, so as a result he sent out a full blast of energy. His magic seemed to have no element of its own, but his aura was always a white, pure and chaotic form of energy. He aimed to the prone feral to obliterate it.

Autumn Aubade had not moved her eyes from the changed struck down by her reflexive show of force. She should have been more mindful that there was a pony she didn't know nearby, lest she make her paper-thin disguise any more blatantly obvious, whoops. The incoming blast was a magic colour she didn't recognise, which meant it could only have come from said stranger. The help was definitely appreciated, as it gave the unicorn time to get her bearings and prepare what she could only hope would be a decisive strike. Her second blast was of a far darker shade, greatly resembling the common battle magic of most wastelanders in a muddy gradient across its fireball-like magical surface. Would this be it..?

The changed is blasted from both sides before it could manage to stand back up- the latter strike wipes it clean out and drops its smoking body to the lifeless dirt. The first changed has turned its sights onto Spring after her failed attack and lunges, managing a bite for 23 damage. About time!

Spring Serenade could spy the flashes of magic out of the corner of her eye, but she was too focused on her current opponent to focus on what was going on. The changed came after her before she knew who it was gonna go for next- apparently her. She snarled when its teeth sank into her, but she didn't waste time trying to kick it off. Instead, she focused her magic on blasting it in close quarters- hopefully she could get rid of this one while she had the chance.

Dark Strife satisfied his original target was no more he would come to the attention that the little Eventide and foal were in jeopardy. He began to pant heavily and reared up, flashing away in - a teleport spell? Well regardless he sought to rear up and jack the fiend from behind, gouging it with his horn. That wouldn't be pretty if he struck, for the stallion's goal, old or not, was to whip that sucker from the pair with a brutal, callous attack.

The changed is successfully torn away from Spring~ Huzzah.

Autumn Aubade finally got to look beyond her assailant to behold Spring in trouble, as well as a foal that she'd somehow missed the presence of before. Oh. The paler sister kicked forward to dash toward the others. It'd take her too long to close the entire distance on hoof, but she'd at least move close enough to take a potshot at the changed from the top of the ditch. Hopefully the stallion - who'd gotten there rather quickly, huh - wouldn't be hit instead.

Spring Serenade had to be grateful, that time, that Discord came to her.. rescue? She had nothing else she could have called it if she had a chance to call it anything. Her wound was left to bleed freely, something that'd have to be tended to, and she turned to face the changed. A flash of magic from somewhere above struck the beast next, and a quick glance told her that the newcomer was indeed her sister. Thank goodness. Her strike had no doubt help, and now Spring could take another crack at it. She released another searing bolt of magic.

The last blast takes the changed down, and not without tearing a smoking hole through its head. It falls and all is well~

Dark Strife was in a place between bad, and pretty terrible. First his walk is ruined, now to magic blasting pony all up in his business! As soon as the feral was a smear on the ground the elder stallion stepped over where Spring guarded Bygone. His head was low, presenting his sharp horn. A smirk painted on his face as his eyes pinched closed. "Might wanna step back there darlin', a might likely to step in some face there." Referring to the painted feral. Though he was a raggamuffin with greying fur and scruffy mangled features, as well as a bleeding face to boot, fellow was quite charming and did not seem a threat, regardless of his earlier show of brutal goring.

Autumn Aubade let go of the breath she hadn't previously been aware she was holding as the other feral dropped dead, a sigh of relief that the conflict was over... or... not, as now there was a grizzled old pony posturing at her as if she was some kind of threat. For a moment she wondered at his logic, before deciding that it wasn't worth getting riled up over. The wasteland was a mess of a place, that much she was very well informed of. Honestly she'd had maybe an hour's rest the previous night and, among other things, now this? She really wasn't feeling like dealing with it. In a sharp display of condescension, she opted to direct her gaze from the stranger to where Spring stood. "Sister," she acknowledged pointedly, "Making new friends, I see." Such as they appeared to be. "Why don't you introduce us?"

Spring Serenade hadn't expected Discord to suddenly place himself between her and her own sister. An expression of annoyance flickered over her face and she glanced up at Autumn with a raised eyebrow. "Indeed. You will be pleased to know that this be Discord, but he seems to have.. changed over the years." The alicorn replied smoothly, daring to say his true name again despite his display of power towards her earlier. Spring turned briefly to scoop up the few scattered belongings of Bygone's and shoved them back in their little saddlebags just so she could start levitating him out of the ditch. Provided that Discord didn't flip. She made to move past him, and paused, considering something. Spring was certain he was who she thought he was, considering everything that pointed that way.. so she felt assured in doing this: Spring lifted a wing beneath her cloak, enough to move the fabric to bare her black-marred flank with its crescent moon. If he wouldn't listen to proof, he would have to settle on seeing it.

Dark Strife glared up at the white mare who -- ignored him! Little incensed the attention whore quite as much. He kept his patience, but his tongue was another thing. "I see white doesn't always mean purity, shame." He sucked his tooth before pushing to stand on his knobby knees. On his left hoof sat a familiar black, metal shoe. Over his back he wore a rather beat up looking set of saddlebags which had replaced his old ones. Short, mangled tail was likely full of lice, fleas, mites, or all three, given that his coat was nothing but matted dirt and dust. His cutie mark was hardly cute: a twisted tornado, as crooked as his posture. Felt the chill run up his spine as the former princess again, so haphazardly, spewed that disgusting title, the fiendish curse. "So this piece of shit, is yours?" His horn began to glow, as the madness mixed despair filled his eyes once more. He whipped around to attempt and snap her muzzle closed once more, feeling his flesh crawl.
Dark Strife hissed out, jaws parting revealing a mouth full of fangs, something not expected from a pony. He was quite tempt to drag the feisty little Eventide to the ground. She just didn't learn. it would not be until her cloak shifted that he would freeze, staring at the mark. His breathing became heavy, the wing only doing well to make him lose what little shit he had left. He kicked back to get away from them both, stumbling on his own legs, though if it were Discord, t'would be normal his capacity to amble about was quite restrictive. "Alicorn! I knew you was a fukken witch!" He crumpled to the floor and pulled his left hoof to his chest with his right. "This is my shoe! You ain't gettin' it." He was trembling, eyes filled with disbelief, fear, and terror. "Y...you're fukken dead!" He bellowed in a voice that had not been the old stallion's. He wanted it to be true, but the sun was still in the sky, the moon asleep. Neither could be here. Nope. He pulled his hooves over his head terrified.

Autumn Aubade's ears flicked back at the name spoken. A name she hadn't heard in... longer than she could even rightly recall. Centuries, at least. She lifted one hoof at the wave of uncertainty that washed over her, before replacing it on the ground. She looked a little... lost? Dropping the continued existence of someone a pony'd long thought dead had the tendency to do that. She'd mourned him, as she'd mourned all of their friends from that era long gone. She felt anger biting at her throat, but resolved just as quickly not to let it show. It wasn't his fault that he'd never shown himself, right..? Just like it wasn't their fault that they hadn't run into him sooner. The wasteland was a big place. That bitter fire was quick to flare up as the one alleged to be Discord seemed about to make some sort of hostile move toward Spring; before Autumn could rightly stop herself she was in a defensive posture with her wings flared out impressively to either side of her as she had once commonly done in the face of pre-war enemies. Old habits, and all that. But just as quickly the odd one's reaction to her sister seemed to quell the tension and she was left to awkwardly let her wings drop to her sides. She lifted her hoof again as she regarded the unfortunate soul before them. It took her a few seconds more to think of the right words, but she finally spoke in a subdued sort of voice, "Time has not been kind." It was addressed directly to the being in question, though it still seemed like more of an aside to Spring. Autumn's social skills had perhaps notably lapsed in the sisters' isolation. At least she sounded concerned for him.

Spring Serenade stood firm in the face of his sudden movement, although she minutely flinched; a quick blink of her eyes. She'd been thrown around once earlier by the spirit, she didn't fancy it happening to her again. The sight of her cutiemark made him falter, and to further rub it in she jerked her wing up, flinging the cloak to the other side of her body where it hung sideways. Bygone, forgotten, was levitated up to the top of the ditch near Autumn. Spring had noted her sister's defensive posturing, but most of her attention was on Discord, and seeing his denial in the face of utter truth finally incensed her. It should not be the way of the cold moon to be angry, but angry she was. "I am no witch, I am Luna!" Spring, Luna, brought her hoof down in a heavy stomp as she shouted at him, short of the Royal Canterlot Voice that she once used. She shouldn't make so much noise in the wastelands, but at this moment she cared not. "I am the princess of the night and that was mine!"
Spring Serenade couldn't help but snarl at him; she shouldn't, who knew what would provoke him now, but she had no patience. He'd attacked her during a moment of vulnerability, which hurt more emotionally than physically; could you blame her? "Stop thy snivelling in the dirt and snap out of it!"

Dark Strife pulled his head into his forelimbs, as if it were enough to make it all just -- go away. His body, though perhaps only an illusion, reflected what remained of his heart: a broken spirit. He was just a feeble old stallion now who had plum lost his mind. Thin, nearly lifeless body could barely hold the wandering pony together. Chipped hooves and dirty fur only pressed on his lack of self-care, his obsession taking precedence. How long had it been? How long had he simply been on his own, talking to the memories it had of them? He traveled in hopes of finding them again, but in time it just became something to do: following the sun, following thee moon, back and forth til there was no more of him to spend. He had no hope, no joy, no life. It was all naught but a memory. He was in tears, pain he hadn't felt since he watched everypony he knew and even, perhaps, loved -- wither away. It was like a hammer being thrust onto his exposed heart.
Dark Strife began to mutter. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry. Please, don't say such cruel things. I'm sorry." He wasn't the prince of chaos, just a worthless toy discarded, forgotten, the moment it all ended. Perhaps there were those who may have blamed him for it all, but this was never the sort of world he wanted: devoid of laughter, of screams, of emotion. In a way he was little different from Changelings who fed on emotions. He was nothing without others, without Harmony. Real Chaos could not survive without it. Without Harmony, Chaos became nothing but --- Darkness and Death. It was painful seeing he lies he told himself -- were lies. It was easier if they were dead, because than he wouldn't have failed. He wouldn't have cried for so long. He didn't think he had any tears left after it all, yet they flowed and refused to stop. His body hurt, bones feeling the agony of traveling for nothing, of being forgotten and unknown, but worse of all ...
Dark Strife was alone. "Please, I'm sorry. Just let me go home. If I'm late again they'll think me tardy and I'll have missed tea." He wept. So many times he had replayed that day. If only he had come a bit sooner. He had been so desperate at one point that he considered just turning back time, but he knew the horrors met by such an act. It was taboo -- it was evil to steal away someone's fate and destiny. He shakily reached up his hoof, struggling a bit, he removed the shoe from his hoof before his horn lit up and levitated the shard of gem from his pack, discarding it beside the shoe. "Please -- I just want to go home." He didn't want to see them, he didn't want them to see him, like this.

Autumn Aubade's stance further shifted from awkward to just plain saddened at the exchange between her sister and their old friend. She was left to resume her usual silence, utterly uncertain of how to react to the once embodiment of chaos itself there in the dirt as if he barely had life left to live. Would that have been her, or Luna, if they had not had each other to keep their sanity relatively intact through the deepening darkness of the wastes? She slowly started to make her way down the ridge toward the both of them, only stopping when she was close enough to sit calmly near the distressed stallion. She focused her golden magic with thoughts of the draconequis she'd held so dear - now no longer fueled by a desire to harm, the magic's fiery flicker was gentle and warm - and formed it into a shape of his true self. Magic could never truly be tangible, but he'd be able to manipulate it as if it were for as long as she was casting the spell. Maybe it would express better than words the depth of emotion she was feeling. Regret that she had not been able to help. That she'd missed him terribly. That, despite all that had occurred, there was still a feeling of friendship that even the apocalypse could not tear away from her. Would any of it matter to him? She didn't know. It seemed like it was worth a try, at least.

Spring Serenade. Some of the moonbringer's anger pulled back on its own when Discord broke under her rage, or perhaps stress or memory. She was still angry, she still wanted to stomp and thunder to release centuries-old pent up frustration, and may it be, underlying hurt from her own failures and shortcomings. This, though. This dampened the flames. She'd never seen the spirit weep openly. He'd always been at the top of it all, manipulating, pulling tricks and playing pranks.. of course, she was also lucky enough to bear witness to the few moments of sincerity. Never weeping. She looked away when her sister descended the incline, her teal gaze focused elsewhere as though in shame. Luna probably shouldn't have let her anger go so fiercely, nor on him. She folded wings she hadn't realized she'd extended and slowly forced herself to look back around at them, at the magic Autumn had conjured. "Keep them." Luna muttered and dug at the faded dirt with the tip of one toe. "You are home, and we are here. Alive. Together." She paused and looked down at his teary face. "I am sorry."

Dark Strife would have remained upset if not for the white mare's warmth. He stopped trembling, slowly raising his head up from behind his hooves, body still in a defensive posture. His hind legs were raised and ready to kick, but he was just a crumpled old pony with no more strength. His tears still flowed, his heart still hurt, but he was calm enough to listen. It was bizarre feeling these things he had - forgotten, or perhaps threw away to survive as long as he did. Though it was hardly surviving, nor existing. He was whittling himself to nothingness, so that he could follow them to wherever it was they had gone... He finally lowered his limbs, settling them on the ground. For whatever reason, the guise he wore did not dissipate, but he, at the least now: seemed somewhat lucid. His eyes no longer showed fear just -- a lost confusion. He stared at the white mare, before looking towards the lilac one as she spoke. He blinked his ruby eyes.
Dark Strife would slowly push to stand, finding purchase on the ground. Ever so slowly he walked toward them as if, at any moment, they would vanish! It was like a foal seeing a parent for the first time. There was great caution, cause for worry, but a desire for it to all have been a lie. When she said this was his home he looked around, a weak smile spreading over his features. "Y...you're a terrible liar." As the tears rushed down his face, which had seemed to slow, only increased. "Everything's gone." He moved forward to brush his face against the sisters, like someone who had come home from a war, but they had been the ones to, hadn't they? "Where have you been?" His voice was normal, at least by standards to their memories, but it was dry from disuse, from pain. "I looked everywhere..." He weeps once again became audible. What would he do now though? Lose them again?

Autumn Aubade was plenty used to dealing with nervous beings, in another life- but never in any era did she think the spirit of chaos would be the one in need of such a delicate approach. It was not out of her way to oblige, however, so she made sure not to make any sudden movements and did her best to keep a soft smile on her face despite the depressing scene. Maybe if she tried hard enough she could recapture that reassuring aura she'd once effortlessly exuded? She moved to stand as he stepped forward, letting the figure of light dissipate between them so he'd step through the warm, hopefully comforting magic just before reaching them. At the offered nuzzle, she tilted her head to press softly into the unkempt coat of the other and closed her eyes. The question was a lot bigger than an immediate answer, alas. All the reply he'd get for the time being was, "I'm sorry..." spoken muffled into his fur.

Spring Serenade watched Discord struggle to his hooves, still weeping openly he was, and approached them like a frightened animal. Or a wounded one; that was most likely. She took to her sister's example and remained as still, hesitant, until he'd cracked that little.. joke? The fallen alicorn couldn't be sure, but it was hearing his voice again, not the claimed voice he'd been using but his real voice, that made her eyes sting with tears. It'd been too long. Far too long. Luna tried to smile, but all she could manage was a weak twitch at the corners of her mouth. She leaned in at his closeness, pressing her cheek to the other side of his face, seeking reconnection. "Lost and in hiding, shunned forevermore." Luna murmured. "We are sorry we never.. so much happened in such a short span of time."

Dark Strife didn't know what to do with himself. It was like everything he had been doing was -- gone? He felt lost and all he could do was stay close to them. His ears folded back, tail since tucked behind him as if any beast would try and take them from him! He gave them each a horse kiss on the cheek! A nibble here, and a nibble there! He did not remove himself from their side, terribly afraid this was just a nightmare. "It was terribly long for me..." He had always lived in a different flow of time. Be it due to his irregular connection with the world, or simply due to the fact he had lived it alone once before. He looked down to the unconscious foal, shaking his head, eyes still full of tears. "Don't tell him!" He lowered his head, trembling a bit. "Don't tell him." He seemed to diminish in his presence, as if trying to run away. "I'm not -- that anymore. I'm not anypony you knew..." He looked to his hooves. Ugly replacements of what he once had thought hideous parts.

Autumn Aubade startled very subtly at the unexpected nibble. That sort of affection was almost alien to her now, it had been so long. She remained where she was standing, though, but eventually sat down again when it became clear this cuddle-huddle was going to be a sustained thing. She was so very tired from lack of sleep and flying over half the northern wasteland worrying about Spring's safety and helping in that fight and realising her dead friend was in fact alive, after all. She'd lean a little more heavily on the stallion's shoulder if allowed, almost as if she meant to fall asleep right then and there. The mention of the foal went outwardly unnoticed by her, given that she'd only barely gotten to acknowledge the kid's entire existence before and nopony had yet bothered to explain him to her. She didn't have enough information to understand Discord's sudden concern. It sounded like he too had adopted a facade to face this new world with, though. She could relate. Oh... But quite suddenly the exhausted princess had toppled over- whether onto Discord or onto the dirt below them -and seemed to be fast asleep. She must have been even more tired than she'd looked.

Spring Serenade found that she could be perfectly content to stay like this, sharing such time with those she was closest to. The only two she was close to. She gave a little start too upon being nibbled on the cheek, and she looked at Discord's face out of the corner of one eye. Huh. A new experience, and not a bad one. "We will not. He would not understand. He only knows the stories passed down to him by great grandfathers, no matter who he may resemble." Luna murmured, turning her head a little to return a horse nibble to Discord's own cheek. He probably deserved a little affection, no? "It is still you." She added quietly. The princess lowered herself to a sitting position, and right before she heard the soft whump of her sister falling over. Luna looked over with concern; she must have been exhausted to fall like that. ".. Perhaps we shall rest here awhile. You could.. stay in our cave, it is safe for us. For the foal, I do not know. The Rusty Shoe still seems likely, but.." Spring trailed off and shrugged a shoulder. A foal meant another mouth to feed, and they couldn't really entertain one could they?

Dark Strife squinted at the returned affection. Before he knew it the white mare lost her bout with sleep. He frowned, troubled they must have gone through a lot to, but to cordially express as such was beyond him at this time. His brows furrowed before he moved to stand and do as any stallion should. Even in such a world -- just a little kindness. He would pick up the foal by his scruff and set him close before he moved to lay, limbs tucking beneath him. He looked to the lilac mare expectantly, and if she did not meet his silent demands in haste he would lean his head forward to lay over her neck to pull her close. He brushed his face against her mane. "No more tears, only dreams." He softly spoke. He didn't need to sleep like them, nor could he. He'd watch them, protect them this time. He wouldn't let them go ever again.

Spring Serenade felt Discord withdraw and finally focused her gaze upon him fully as he moved Bygone close to them, rather than where she'd last laid him. This was probably safer, now that their circle had been complete again. Bygone was probably going to be very confused when he woke up, but no matter.. Luna could see the look Discord was giving her and moved close, folding her own limbs beneath her. She leaned her head against his shoulder, where she would rest for the time being. It wasn't too long ago that she'd awoken, but.. after all of this? She felt physically and emotionally drained. It wouldn't hurt to have a nap, at least for a little while. Luna closed her eyes, comfortable and perhaps a little more content.

Dark Strife laid with them making sure part of him touched part of them, remiss, now utterly defiant of ever letting go again. A dark gaze played over his eyes. He gave a dragon-like huff of possession, but a fond clinginess. He'd lean against the Spring, his hinds clutched around the Autumn, and the foal pulled to his chest.

The End.