Scene #3314: The Ebon Side

Owner	Pose
Jayale	Suffice it to say, Jayale had found herself coming to this land after hearing about a certain 'Rarity' here who was a fashion type and had their own store and figured it might be a chance to branch out, use it as a business opportunity. Try to find a steady customer to supply with 'otherworldly materials' as she had begun to coin such. Even if the materials she knew were quite worldly to /her/. Then again others probably found her just as strange. But here she was, spending the night in an inn, thinking to herself as she had been the entire time that something about this place was strange. Especially considering she was different. Transformed, it seems, as others had informed her. Apparently it was commonplace. While normally a Miralukan, Jayale found herself in the body of a Unicorn. She still had the white silken blindfold wrapped around where her eyes would be, and was wearing an outfit similar enough to what she normally wore, with saddlebags and all. But otherwise? She just seemed like any other middle-aged mare possibly with a vision problem. Something kept nagging her, though. Something just didn't feel right, enough that she left the confines of the Inn and wandered along the streets of Ponyville, just feeling out through the Force, trying to figure out exactly what it was that had her feeling like she should be there.
Ebon Ribbon	There is definitely something in the dark which seems different. Something that feels different. Most pony's force and magical energy is quite cheerful and bright. But, something in this town is much more malevolent. To Jayale's force and energy senses, whatever this creature is it's force signature is decidedly dark, and whatever magical senses she gets would be of a much more twisted variety than a typical pony. As Jayale walks through the streets, her senses would likely pick up that the source is moving closer to her, and soon after that a very light tapping of hooves on stones would reach her. It sounds like someone is trying to move quietly, but with the stone paths of Ponyville and hard hooves it is rather difficult. Of course, the biggest alarm might be when five ribbons of dark energy suddenly lash out from the blackness of a nearby ally, and attempt to snare Jayale!
Jayale	Indeed, sensing such was rather simple, it was how she existed. Sensing the world around her. Feelings, emotions, life existing nearby. Though this particular method of attack caused the mare to react as if she had some knowledge of what was coming, moving to the side and stumbling a bit, still not quite certain of her footing on four hooves over two feet. Though the movement was able to avoid a couple of the ribbons, the rest managed to wrap around a leg, her body, leaving her indeed feeling a bit tired. It was a strange feeling for her. She wasn't unused to feeling exhaustion, feeling the effects of too much effort pulling on her. She was actually rather old even if it didn't show terribly well, and while she still had life about her, this... had her feeling more her age. Enough that fabric of her own in the form of a fold of about twenty lengths of silk that she had in one of her saddlebags floated out and quickly attempted to wrap around the ribbons to try and pull them up and away from her. Not the most /effective/ method of attack, since it was hardly an attack at all, more defending herself, though with the silk attempting to grab and manipulate the ribbons, it's possible there might be some effect on whatever lay on the other end of them.
Ebon Ribbon	When Jayale's fabric wraps around the ribbons, and when they grab her leg, Jayale would find that they are not normal at all. In fact, they are entirely composed of negative energy. The dark purple energy ribbons glow with their own light, yet seem to have a halo of darkness around them. Despite that, they are quite solid. When that fabric wraps around them and pulls, the ribbons wriggle like serpents caught around their heads, and a sharp yelp can be heard from the shadows before the energy ribbons simply disappear. "Was that your defense?" a haughty, high-class female voice mocks from the shadows. The pony steps forward, making her a bit clearer. She is taller than most of the local ponies, probably a bit older, and definitely much darker both in color and in attitude. "I was hoping for a bit of a challenge. But, a meal with little effort is the most productive, I suppose." she says. Then, her horn glows with a neon purple light and those ribbons shoot out again, right from her horn. They don't wrap around Jayale this time, though. Instead, they lash at her like whips, causing some pain and some more weakness with each strike. "You may as well accept your fate! You are my prey this lovely evening~" The pony actually sounds cheerful about what she is doing.
Jayale	The moment the ribbons were off of her Jayale struggled to her hooves and wobbled a bit, not quite looking towards Ebon as others might. She didn't turn to face her, didn't look her way, didn't even seem to acknowledge her. Instead she started to step back, the fabric she had bunching up near her. She was quiet, thoughful, letting the other talk for the moment as she tried to focus on figuring out how she was going to attack and in what way. This time she moved just as quickly as if she knew what was going to hit and where, her hooves carrying her back and to the side, close to avoiding them though the fluid movements of the ribbons managed to chase her down, unable to truly escape in time. She gasped, feeling it certainly and mumbling something only to finally say, "Whatever my fate may be, it is already decided, indeed. Such is the way of life. However, that does not mean I am going to just let this happen." Her voice, her tone, was tired. It was obvious the attacks were taking their toll. However, as she regained her composure she moved quickly, crossing the distance to close in on Ebon Ribbon. However, she didn't attack as others might, she didn't try to ram the other, didn't try to use standard magic, the fabric she had with her came forward and flared out, pushing forward like a wall to block out vision and possibly block her ability to retalliate with her own ribbons. And in the process the silk fluttered and from beneath a metallic canister of some kind flew forward and attempted to connect with the underside of Ebon's chin, trying to smack up hard enough to disorient her. At least in most sentient beings, there was various weak points in certain spots on the bodies. Who knew with ponies, but perhaps it was similar?
Ebon Ribbon	Ebon is surprised by the wall of fabric. She even takes a moment to notice how lovely the material is. Just before that canister pops out of nowhere and slams into her chin. The blow definitely disorients Ebon. The pony stumbles back, holding a foreleg over her muzzle as she sees stars in her vision. "Owwww! Was that really necessary?!" she whines. "My lovely face could have been scarred! How inconsiderate!" Her ribbons draw back, then Ebon runs around the wall of fabric. It is true, she can't hit what she can't see, but she is certain that her opponent is right...there! Two of her ribbons lash out before she is fully around the wall, trying to wrap around it and catch the jedi off guard. Once she is around the wall she lashes with the rest of the ribbons.
Jayale	"I have no desire to fight you, nor scar you, whoever you are. I simply wished to dissuade you from this nonsense further. However..." It would seem like talking might not have been the best idea, because even though the wall was present those ribbons flew around and began to strike at her. Jayale trotted forward, jumping up a bit and started to respond only to realize she hadn't leapt hard enough, the drain on her setting in, leaving the ribbons to grab her legs and leave her to hit the ground beneath her again unable to land on her own hooves. Once again she could feel her energy being drained, once again finding herself beset by beings with strange magics that she couldn't exactly defend against traditionally. Here in this land where these beings seemed quite happy and cheerful and carefree. Was there really such beings here too? "Stop this, then, before you get injured. I am no injured animal, nor an easy target for a predator. If you so wish to avoid scarring... then give this up and use words over attacking me! What is it you even wish? How would I be your prey?" As she speaks the same metallic object, despite her laying on the ground while wrapped up, suddenly projects a silvery glowing 'light' from one end, slicing at the ribbons that were holding her before another pair of the weapons fly out towards Ebon. This much would be obvious now, she /was/ armed, and apparently the canisters housed something - the very thing that hit her chin. But would she even see it through the fabric that was raised? Or, for that matter - would she associate it in time to be extra cautious with the two more that were coming at her, this time one aimed at her horn in an attempt to see if hitting that might jar Ebon, and another once again fly at her chin, going for a point that she'd already hit once.
Ebon Ribbon	The ribbons are cut quite easily by the silvery glow, causing Ebon to stumble a moment as her leverage is lost. Then, her horn is struck, knocking her head back, and her chin is once again smashed. She cries out in pain from the hit, then mmphs angrily and covers her muzzle with a foreleg, perhaps trying to protect it. "But, you are an elite, and elites make the best meals." she says, her voice a bit muffled by her own leg and one eye closed against the pain and the stars in her vision. Her ribbons disappear when her horn is hit, but it is a momentary distraction. Soon she produces more, and they again lash out at Jayale. "I am a very special pony, you see." the strange pony says even as her ribbons roll together to form a stronger ribbon and attempt to smash Jayale into the ground. This would hurt physically rather than merely draining her as before. But, of course, her strength would still be sapped if it hit. "I feed off of the energies of others. If I did not, I would become sickly and weak, and lose my ravishing beauty! I cannot allow that." Ebon grins after that. "Do not worry. You will not be killed. Only weakened for a few days. I may be a pony predator, but that does not mean I am a bloodthirsty animal."
Jayale	She was an Elite? How was this other able to tell? Because she was resisting? Some aura she herself could not perceive? She was far too weak at this point to properly dodge, trying and crying out softly as she was toppled over the moment she stood, unable to do anything against the force of the thicker ribbon smashing into her. Instead she just stopped moving, almost as if she was giving up. Had Ebon won? Her prey was laying there, quietly, unmoving on the hard surface that was the darker-than-normal alleyway. Unmoving, conscious but unmoving, weak, the damage from the short fight showing heavily in her breathing. She was actually waiting, reaching out through the force but not immediately acting. She was giving Ebon a chance to overstep, a chance to expose herself and act. It was a dangerous play, but it was a risk she had to take at the moment. "If... if that is true, we all have to eat."
Jayale	Of note, the fabric wall had fallen and so had the canisters of metal, the ignited one deigniting as well.
Ebon Ribbon	Ebon Ribbon laughs triumphantly as Jayale seems to fall unconscious. "Excellent! Accepting your fate is wise in this instance. Do not worry. This should not hurt a bit." The pony walks forward, confident in her triump, unaware that Jayale is planning something. "Perhaps I was mistaken about your status as an elite. Regardless, you will make, and have made, an excellent meal. Ebon's ribbons unfurl from each other, then snake foreward quickly and wrap around Jayale's legs, as well as her neck. They tighten, but not enough to cause her pain or suffocation. Just a firm grip. Then, the energy drain begins. Jayale can feel her energy flowing through those ribbons and into the pony attacking her.
Jayale	Having left herself open to be wrapped up, confined, it did cause her to feel the sudden lack of energy even more. She was actually starting to find herself unable to really focus all that well, way too tired, as if she just wanted to pass out. She was still awake enough, however, to react. She instinctively started to move despite it not doing terribly much and just when Ebon Ribbon finally got the upper hoof...! What was that creak? Oh, that was the dumpster from further down the alley floating towards her, suddenly turning over and dropping right on top of where the mare was. It probably wouldn't do terribly much damage given everything inside was likely soft, terrible-smelling, dirty refuse in bags or containers of some kinds, perhaps boxes and such. But the SMELL! And garbage!
Ebon Ribbon	Ebon's ears perk at that creak, and she looks around. "...huh...must have been-" She is cut off mid sentence when a huge pile of garbage is dropped on her, along with the dumpster it came in. Ebon's energy ribbons disappear when the dumpster lands on her, and for a moment everything is quiet. Then, there is an ear-splitting scream of terror from within the dumpster followed by wild thrasthing as Ebon tries to escape. But...she can't! She isn't a normal unicorn pony! She can't levitate things! And she isn't a super-strong earth pony who could kick the dumpster off of herself! Or a pegasus that could fly up and carry the dumpster away! She is quite trapped! Her struggle to escape the dumpster probably does a lot more harm to herself than the actual dumping, but eventually her ribbons manage to break through the metal and create a gap large enough for her to squeeze out. She looks terrible when she finally makes it out. Various peels and discarded vegetable pieces are sticking to her, some kind of sauce has drenched her, spagetti has claimed her head where her mane is, and the SMELL!! Ebon looks on the verge of a nervous breakdown. Heavy breathing, panicked eyes, gritted teeth, hooves that won't stop moving. "..no...No...NOOO!!" she screams again, then looks at herself, tears forming in her eyes. "I...I am...dirty! There is garbage..nngk..." Her left eye twitches a few times, then she looks at Jayale. "Y-you! You did this! How dare you!!" Ebon's horn practically explodes with magical energy, and her ribbons lash out once again. But this time, they don't try to lash Jayale or wrap around her. Instead, they converge on a point right above her. All five ribbons intersect at a single point, and...they don't seem to impact each other or emerge on the other side. Instead, a hole forms in the air where they are intersecting. Then, they draw back quickly. A shockwave explodes outward from the point in the air, distorting the light around it for dozens of feet. Contact with the bubble of negative energy would drain Jayale greatly. The sudden loss of energy would definitely be easily painful. But, that is not the end. The energy bubble suddenly contracts down to its smallest point before... There is a powerful explosion. Like a bomb went off right above Jayale. Unlike all the ribbon attacks, this is definitely capable of physical harm.
Jayale	Jayale was not one to delight in others misfortunes, even such as this. Even if it was just the shrieking of disgust that came with such an attempt at ceasing the fight. It was enough time for Jayale to push herself to a stand and start to gather her things towards herself only for the dumpster to be pierced and the other pony to pull herself out. "Yes, I did do that." She states the obvious softly as she starts to take a step back. This time she was caught by surprise, however, unable to really sense the first shockwave properly due to not really being able to see the light or judge things such as that, though the most of it, however, she realized quite well and dove forward to duck behind the dumpster and let /that/ take the brunt of the assault. The container flew away and crashed into the alleyway further in, thumping loudly and banging as it looked quite bent out of shape. She was carried with it, though she was able to use the Force to separate herself away from it before it impacted, pushing herself upright and barely managing to land, even if she ate a fair bit of pain from landing so abruptly on all fours. She still wasn't used to this pony form. Though the pile of garbage was still there, albeit scattered, enough so that Jayale decided to continue with a good thing. "No meal is worth walking away smelling so badly!" And with that, the remnants of the garbage raised and sprayed towards Ebon, tearing open in the process if it wasn't already. She had /no/ qualms about getting dirty if she needed to, going so far as to grab and pelt towards Ebon with her 'magic' or whatever she was using to try and smack her directly with the worst of the refuse, trying to smear it on her, in her mane. Sure, she was stronger, but even the strongest, when distracted in such a fashion if they were really bothered by it, could slip up.
Ebon Ribbon	Ebon's can hardly believe it when Jayale lands with barely a scratch after her attack. Then...eeek! The larger pony is sent scrambling for cover as the nasty trash is used as a weapon yet again! She leaps, ducks, dives, and finally trips and rolls into a wall as she avoids all the trash like it is plague-riddled. "Ew! Ew! Ewewewewew!" Everytime she has to avoid something, she squeaks out that word, along with some scattered "No!" or "Eek!" As she huddles behind a nearby cart, Ebon lashes out with her ribbons. "Stop that! That is icky! How can you even touch those things! Or...whatever you are doing to them! Stopitstopitstopitstopit!" As refuse continues to fly at her, Ebon starts trying to whip Jayale an equal amount of times.
Jayale	The attacks were coming and by this point Jayale wasn't trying to fully avoid them. Instead she was trying to move just enough to let them slip by, finally starting to get used to moving in this body even if she's sluggish enough that she /knows/ she can't really keep this up. "Then... I suggest a truce. I... I stop trying to shove this rotten food down your throat, since you want a meal so much... and in return you stop trying to feast on me. You have... drained me enough already. ...I will even allow you to clean yourself off in my inn room. It has a shower in it." As an attempt at a show of peace, Jayale stops doing anything and stands there, the trash dropping as if meaning to truly offer peace. It was obvious they were both not wanting to continue this at this point, for entirely different reasons.
Ebon Ribbon	Ebon keeps flailing with her ribbons until she realizes...the garbage has stopped? She blinks, then peeks over the top of her chosen barricade. "..n-..no more trash..?" she asks, sounding like a fearful little filly. She might even have tears in her eyes. When it is clear that Jayale is no longer throwing trash around, Ebon Ribbon lets out a relieved sigh. "Unusually generous of my prey, but..wait, I cannot go home and risk getting any of this on my carpet!" She sighs heavily, then nods. "Very well. I will accept your truce. You have proven rather energetic, and a worthy prey." she says, trying to sound regal and proud despite her current condition. But, after accepting, she whimpers. "N-now lead the way quickly! I must get this out of my mane and coat before it sets!!"