TheImaginaryAlicorn

~snip~

The rest of the world was obliterated. Actius didn't care about anything else, just the pounding of his heart and the spectacular kiss. Truthfully Actius had only kissed one other mare before, but that was when he was in high school, and it wasn't anything serious. This was different. He was in love and he now knew it with absolute certainty.

Then Silent spoke. Talked. Created words by moving her mouth and tongue and exhaling simultaneously. He stared at her with his mouth ajar, bewildered. She could talk?! Since when? "Hhh...how did you...did you just...?!" He just stood there then, lost in thought. I...she...but...we...what?!

Silwnt tried to keep up. Favorite color? Points to wall. Least favorite movie? Charades "Titanic." Soon, she was able to just get back to the dance, trying to speak with emotion. Mainly, her gratitude and thanks for Actius, and her love. She needed him to understand, as she found herself wrapped in his hooves as the music ended, and she closed her eyes as her head rest on his shoulder. She saw what she was doing and quickly opened them, and turned her head to look at Actius.

Actius danced along with Silent, and he felt her trying to convey feelings, deep emotions, one emotion in particular...love. Silent was in love with Actius. At first, he didn't know what to think. Did he love her? Was it for real? But at one point or another he just got lost in the dance, just letting everything out. Right then, nothing mattered but him and Silent. When they stopped, he had Silent in a close embrace. She looked at him and he looked at her. Oh, her eyes were dazzling. The choice is yours, buddy. He closed his eyes, leaned in, and kissed her.

((FINALLY))

~snippity-snip~

The Cult of Laughter - The Fillydelphia Hideout - Wherever Tondrak is

Tondrak nodded to the Composer, noting that she seemed rather sensible (although not too much, considering that she had just insulted a being of unknown power), and led her and the Artist to two vacant rooms. "Rooms two thirty-five and two thirty-seven in the East wing of the main building, connected by a door in the wall between them. I think you'll like it here, although I'm sorry for the...the mess." Despite it being an honest apology, Tondrak grinned slightly. He opened the doors, each revealing a large room with scenic views of the graveyard. The walls were blood red, the carpets pitch black and tooth white, and the curtains a dark shade of gray. The beds were simple versions of four-poster beds with gray sheets and white pillows. In the room to the right was a silvery grand piano, and the room to the left had an empty easel. The "mess" no one would really notice at first glance, but if a pony took a second look, they would see that several objects had been used...improperly - a vase of flowers in the corner of the right room had blood in it instead of water, which had turned red the center of the white lilies in it; the rugs had a few unidentifiable stains; the legs of the easel looked like they had been used to whack a few ponies; etc.

"Enjoy your stay. Now Blood, where is Cookie?"

House Everfree - The Everfree Forest - To Fluttershy and Rain

Jade saw some birds approaching and stared at them befuddled while they whistled at her. She turned to Lily, figuring that they were delivering a message from Fluttershy. She didn't really speak bird.

She nodded, as that was what she initially wanted to do. After all, the announcement had come on to get back to the train, and this could be her chance. She began to walk back towards the train, as she used her magic to put her notepad and pen back in her saddlebag.

Actius walked with Silent until they reached the train, and then the ballroom.

Then they danced. It was a nice chat, really - stuff like, "What's your favorite color?" or "Least favorite movie?" and even just simply "Today was pretty fun." They danced and danced...

((Sorry for the not-too-great post - I haven't done my homework yet...))

The Cult of Laughter - The Fillydelphia Hideout - Wherever Everyone Is...

The Prophets stood shocked, not one moving a muscle (although some didn't have muscles to move). The Laughing Mare backed away, almost clumsily, as if drunk, and continued to grin, speaking slowly and deathly quiet as She faded into shadow.

"Believe what you will, what you think I am.

Take your guess, musical Ma'am."

Once She could not be seen, a dull thud was heard, and the head of Pinkies' corpse came into the light. Several Prophets rushed to pick it up and set it in its' proper place. The Mares' reasons for withdrawing from the body were not only for scare, but also so that She could observe the Composers' mind. Her being was already partially withdrawn from the body since She had been listening in on their conversation, so the body did not move effectively. She had not been able to hear the thoughts of the ponies, however, which was why She fully withdrew. Her consciousness rested upon that of the Composer and the Artist. They would not feel very...sound so long as She was there.

Her new plan was to let the "Gifted" take their land before she killed them off, but She was well aware of their abilities and how difficult the task would be. She decided not to tell anyone of this plan, not even her most highly trusted prophets, so that none could be tortured into giving away information. It was a devious and risky plan, She knew it, but She had a very good idea for the plan...

*  *  *

Tondrak nodded to Blood, saying in a whispered tone, "After this," before clearing his throat. "Well, if everything's settled then, shall I show you to your rooms?"

House Everfree - The Everfree Forest

Jade panted, having finally caught up with Fluttershy and Rain, hoping that Lily was behind her.

Silent nodded, and looked back at Actius as she trotted back to the train. Darn it! I was going to find something romantic for us to do, so maybe he and I could actually become....a thing. Guess not. She decided one last attempt at this. She grabbed her notebook and scribbled, "Dance?" And levitated it over to Actius.

Actius looked one last time to the stage, his eyes filled with so much longing it was almost funny. Oh, how he wished he could perform on that stage..

A notepad suddenly appeared in his face, and he was rather startled. He backed up into the table behind him, spilling someone's coffee that they had left there. "Oops." He laughed and cleaned up the coffee via magic and looked at the notepad. "Dance? Sure, I'd love to! We have to go back to the train soon, so how about the trains' ballroom?"

((I was sure I'd have less homework this week, and I'm seriously angry to find that I was wrong, but April vacation is next week, so that's good...Sorry!!))

The Cult of Laughter - The Fillydelpia Hideout

Tondrak waved off Blood wind impatiently. "Hold on!" he whispered in a harsh tone. "This is important."

The other Prophets had remained mostly silent throughout the talking, simply listening to the conversation. At the Composers' rule of "no killing random innocent civilians," a few cultists laughed (some more maniacally than others) and the rest stood dumbfounded. At the questioning of their slaughter, a few ponies gasped - who would say such a thing to their beloved Mare? The Mare herself, however, just gave a a short chuckle that somehow managed to sound sinister. Then she spoke, stepping closer with every verse.

"Ms. 'Composer', you clearly do not see-

Some lesser-minded refuse to bow to me.

So they are of no use to us not dead,

So why waste a body when you can make it serve as undead?

Now I insist, you really must stay.

What's wrong with staying for the night? A couple of days?"

Pinkies' corpse was now nose-to-nose with the Composer. It grinned freakishly, intimidating, and a black widow spider slowly crawled from the corpses' mouth.

House Everfree - The Everfree Forest

"It's okay," Jade said, "but we've got to move quickly to catch up. Come on." She turned back in the direction from which they had come, kicking up dirt as she went. To her dismay, she found that the tracks left were rather easy to follow.

House Everfree - The Everfree Forest - Going to Manehattan

Jade shuddered horribly - she had felt it, like everyone else, a fear so deep and horrid that it made even the bravest cower in fear. The animals nearby sat with their ears down and their paws covering their faces. The birds flew from their trees, and the forest was silent, save for the sounds of whimpering. She bolted up ahead with the rest, fearing that whatever had caused the wave of terror drew nearer.

Eventually, Rain had slowed to a stop and turned to see if everyone was there. Jade too did a head count and found that Lily was missing. "Oh, no, not good...Lady Fluttershy, as you said, we must stick together, and one of us isn't here, so maybe I should go find her. I'll catch up soon." Without another word, she ran back the way she had come, searching as best she could for Lily.

The Cult of Laughter - The Fillydelphia Hideout

"Questions?" said Prophet Glitter, angry as always. "Oh, quite a few! First of all, how do you expect us to believe that-" Then it hit. Fear and terror washed through everyone gathered like a sword slicing through flesh - it was painful, and everyone was left with something missing. Some of the Prophets stood there, a little stunned, while others felt like weeping, and yet still others wanted to jump and shout in a frenzy, for horror was just what the Cult loved. Prophet Darkblood, who was masking his urge to taste blood better than the others, took the opportunity to put wods into Glitters' mouth so that the Laughing Mare would not be upset.

"What she was going to say was that we would like to know what it is we must do first, Artist. We would also like to know what part we play in this and what your 'team' will do." Glitter glared at him deeply with her entirely pitch-black eyes, but said nothing. That stare was punishment enough.

Hey, guys. I've been really busy, and I've lost track of things. Where are we, and what all have I missed?

I dunno' about everyone else, but the people PONIES with Encore are about to go backstage. You've only missed a couple of posts, I think.

Silent looked at Actius, not sure which was the better idea. She was afriad of getting caught if they went on stage, but to dance up there would be spectacular. But the last time she got caught...she squeezed her eyes, not wanting to remember that day so many years ago. She simply nodded, hoping that at least being in a group would help.

Actius noticed that Silent seemed to be even more scared than Encore, and he thought he'd try to make the idea sound a little better. "If anyone notices us, It'll be easy to lie - I have an acting cutie mark and could pretend to be an actor, Encore and Accent both have music cutie marks and could pretend to be the hired musicians, Silent's the dancer, and Flame could pretend to be a stunt double. Yeah, we're pretty well disguised." He chuckled a bit.

The Cult of Laughter - The Fillydelphia Hideout - Someplace (?)

"Yes," said Tondrak, "I can get you to all of those ponies. Lila lives over there," he made a vague gesture with his hoof, "but I can just call her over via the Laughing Mare if she allows it, and I can get the Prophets in a similar manner. Cranky is still where he was a few seconds ago -" Cranky waved from the back of the room, "-and I'm sorry, but who are we fighting? No one has really attacked us recently aside from Whitegold, but that was in defense. Still, I wouldn't mind seeing some of those fancy castles burn to the ground..."

The Laughing Mare had overheard their conversation, and every one of the Prophets and Lila were there within a minute. "What is going on?" asked Prophet Glitter indignantly. She was panting, since she and all of the other Prophets had been told to get there as quickly as possible (they ran). "I was in the middle of something important! And who is he?" She looked the Artist up and down. "He's not in the Cult, is he? Is this that artist guy that the Laughing Mare spoke of?" Tondrak turned to the Artist. "Would you prefer to make your own introduction, or shall I?"

((Marathon, is it okay that I kind of teleported Lila?))

The Cult of Laughter - The Fillydelphia Hideout

"Eat?" Tondrak said, facing Wind. He gestured to his rib cage. "I do not eat. Food would fall out. I lack a tongue to taste with. eating would be pointless. However, the undead please me, so I shall help you bring Cookie to life, Wind. Where is he? Oh," he said turning to the Artist, "and thank you for bringing me my book back, I suppose."

House Everfree - The Everfree Forest - To Manehattan

Jade looked at Fluttershy with admiration and hope. It took guts to stand up strong after what had been happening, and Fluttershy did. She also really seemed to care, and Jade took heart in that, if she was able to turn her back on evil, then maybe the other Houses could too. She nodded in agreement with Fluttershys' words and faced forward. "Alright, then. We stay together. Let's continue on - Iron Will will catch up with us." She tried not to discourage the group by telling them that she really thought Iron Will wasn't coming back.

She then heard a soft singing, a beautiful tune. She turned her head to see Lily, singing the melody gently and sweetly, and Jade looked at her with sympathy. The words of sorrow affected her too, and she hung her head a little. Trying to distract herself, she thought back to when she was a little filly...

Actius nodded to Flame Dancer and said a simple, "Howdy." He was rather interested by the circus thing, although clowns really spooked him...so you could imagine that he was pretty relieved to learn that Flamey was not a clown.

((A few posts later...))

"Come on, Encore! Going backstage sounds like fun. Maybe if somepony who works here hears you play, they'll hire you! Okay, I don't think that's how it really works, but we could try, right? It'll be fun!"

@@Windy Scamper,

Actius snapped out of his daydream, looked at the notepad, then nodded. He turned and saw Encore with a mare (who was probably Accent) and a stallion. He linked his arm with Silents' before cantering over to the table. "Hey, guys. Mind if we join you?"

He was still looking around a little bit. It was so much to take in...the stage was so spacious, the orchestra pit conveniently located, the architecture was stunning, the food looked divine...

@, @@AnonBrony,

The Cult of Laughter - The Fillydelphia Hideout - The Chamber of the Laughing Mare

Cranky chased after the Euphorie mare, barely keeping up with her. He was coughing and spluttering, and when he got to the chamber, he slumped down onto the floor, breathing heavily, shakily, laboriously. He looked at the tomb of Pinkamena Diane to see it open, and the corpse held a book, which Tondrak snatched away greedily, his eyes gazing upon it with a savage hunger. "My book," he whispered, barely inaudible. He now had all of his items, and he felt more whole, more real, than he had in hundreds of years.

"What...is the meaning...of this?" Cranky croaked through gasps. Tondrak quickly put his book behind his back and grinned. "High Prophet!" said he, oddly gleeful. "News for you." "Well, spit it out!" yelled Cranky irritably. Tondrak looked at the phlegm Cranky was hacking up. "I'd ask the same of you...yeesh. Anyway, the news is this: I have all of my items!" Crankys' eyes widened slightly. "All of them?" Tondrak nodded, smirking a little - he couldn't help himself. "I can now summon one hundred undead at once." Suddenly, the Corpse of Pinkamena stepped out from its' coffin.

"That will be useful,

If it is truthful."

Cranky pushed himself off of the floor and walked to where the body stood. "Laughing Mare!" He bowed, as did Tondrak. "Why have you come? Or, apparently, gone?"

"Rise,

Cranky, and one of no eyes.

We are to attack Moon and Star,

The reasons for which, who knows what they are?

We follow the leadership of an Artist of sorts.

He will lead us to victory, of that I am sure.

Tondrak, you must prepare your skills.

You, Red wind, must aid the Artist against your will.

Maybe Blood Wind can help you out.

Farewell, ponies - I look forward to hearing your battle shouts..."

With that, The Laughing Mare left Pinkies' body after walking it into the tomb.

((Stupid bleeping homework...))

Actius broke into a wide grin as the pair approached the Opera House. "Oh, Celestia, that thing looks amazing! I can't even imagine what the inside is like!" He grabbed Slients' hoof again and went over to the Opera House at a fast trot. "Sorry we're going kind of fast, it's just that I've always wanted to see it, and..." They were now inside the Opera Houser, and oh what a sight it was. It was a performers' dream! He imagined himself on the stage, in a dramatic opera, reciting his lines perfectly...

He was sort of just standing there, staring, his smiling mouth slightly ajar, his hoof loosely holding Silents'.

(OOC: RAWR!!! My teachers have bombarded me with homework this entire week and last week somewhat as well, but I should be able to come on the forums more next week because they've run out of projects to give me...sorry about that...)

The Cult of Laughter - Painting

The Mare snorted when the Artist questioned her speech.

"That is my way of speaking.

You think it needs tweaking?"

She then sighed and silently agreed. Then he spoke again, and she replied, a little surprised.

"That is not what I meant by 'escape' - I wish lo leave the Astral Plane, for then I can use full power in the mortal realm. If you, how you say 'borrow' my Cult, it may just help. I believe they want to launch an attack soon, become active, but they are not sure whom they want to attack. If you have anyone in mind, go ahead. I only ask that you bring Pinkies' body to them so I may tell them in pony what authority I have given you and that you let the Cake Twins stay in their places to study their Gift. I would also like to ask who and what you are attacking and why."

The Cult of Laughter - The Fillydelphia Hideout - The Halls

Cranky Doodle was walking down the halls when he heard and saw a Euphorie running about, yelling and screaming at the top of her lungs. This was usual Cult behavior, but Cranky was not in the best mood.

"What is it?" he shouted at her. He coughed and hacked for a few seconds before continuing. "What do you want?"

House Everfree - The Everfree Forest - Somewhere Under the Rainbow...

Jade then came out from where she stood in the shadows. "There are ponies following us?" she asked, a little scared, although she tried her best not to show it. "Great..." she mumbled. Speaking to the group again, she said, "Fluttershy, I can accompany you to the city along with anyone who isn't staying behind." It felt odd calling her Fluttershy, but she wasn't the Lady of Everfree anymore, not really.

((Sorry I haven't been posting lately - My teachers...rawr. If something happens that makes this post sound wierd, I just wanna' let ya' know that I didn't read the last page (no time)))

Actius grinned. "Right, then! To the Opera House!" He trotted off with Silent and they soon arrived at the House after looking at a map.

((Sorry for the quality of the post too))

((Sorry I haven't been posting much lately - my teachers can be evil sometimes...))

The Cult of Laughter (And Pinkie) - Painting

The Laughing Mare was not always easy to flatter, but coming from a psychopath like The Artist, She probably would have been prideful if he'd simply said, "I like your outfit."

"I could walk in this body earlier,

but now I must suppress the mind of her.

Besides, I know how your paintings work -

The instant this body leaves, it will die, free of mirth."

Pinkie Pies' panic increased as she sat in the dark recesses to which she had been pushed.

At The Artists' proposition, the Mare snapped Her head to face him. Her eyeless sockets showed no emotion, and it would have frightened any non-Cultist ponies, and even a few who were in the Cult. She stood like that for almost a full minute before speaking once more.

"My true goals?

To share them I'd be a foal.

And the Cult is loyal to me.

To refuse help would be silly."

After yet another pause, She continued.

"I think for now I shall tell you only this:

I wish to escape my hellish abyss."

I think I have a veeery good idea for a villain, but I will need to type it up in my free time, so I'd have it done by...Saturday?...I'm not sure.

I'm also an okay artist and I could help editing.

(I know I already posted that I would help in the PM, but I just felt like postin' here...)

EDIT: Okay, maybe I won't get my villain done...at least not soon.

(OOC: Sorry but what did you expect the Artist to do. Let the body rot? He needed to speak with the leader of the Cult. And not some stupid Prophets. He needs The Laughing Mare. And if you had a plan for the Mare and Pinkie, she sin't impermanently alive. Once she is out of the painting she is dead again. Unless... Nevermind. Lastly it was up to you whether Pinkie would speak or not.)

((Ah. Thanks!))

ConfusedThe Cult of Laughter- Painting

After splashing a bit of water in her eyes, Pinkie Pie downed the whole glass. "I.." she began, regaining her breath after taking so many gulps of water. "I'm Pinkie Pie. Who are-" A green light glowed from her eyes and they disappeared, revealing hollow sockets, which also glowed, and Pinkies' mind was pushed back to her subconscious  startled and afraid. A voice slithered forth from her mouth.

"Speaking is the Mare of Laughs.

Why have we crossed paths?"

The Mare closely inspected the Artist, slightly impressed by his psychotic demeanor, although it did not show through her poker face. She then walked around, prancing even, once again getting used to moving in Pinkies' body. As she did, she pondered the intentions of the Artist, although she did have a few suspicions.

((Not doing the rainbow this time))

House Artist -  The Cults' Fillydelphia Hideout - The Laughing Mares' Chamber

Tondrak sat atopthe coffin of the Laughing Mare. When, he thought, if ever, am I getting my book back?

@@Windy Scamper

"Ah," Actius said. When Silent held out her hoof he wrapped his around hers and smiled. "Alon-zi!" They headed out of the train and into the street. "Is there any particular place you'd like to go? I know a pony who's been here a lot, and I think she described it enough for me to know roughly where to go to get to places. I think the opera house is right over...here!" He pointed towards a random building that was obviously not the opera house before chuckling to himself. "Alright, maybe I don't know this place as well as I thought."

((@@AnonBrony, I had a PLAAAN. I wanted to use it...aw. Oh well.))

Confused - Painting

Pinkie Pie lifted her head slowly, groggily. She looked around and shivered. "What-" She stopped mid-sentence as pain twisted her dry mouth that, for some reason or another, had metal brackets in it. Her throat had not one drop of liquid in it. She barely managed to croak, "Water..." She looked up from where she lay and saw a large stallion standing over her, a freakish grin on his face. She quickly shut her eyes, partly from not wanting to look anymore and partly from dryness. She clutched at her stomach, too hungry for words, and found that she had clothing on.

I don't understand, she thought. One minute, Twilight is trying to turn me into an alicorn. Then...where am I? Who is that stallion? A second voice then sounded in her head, this one more sinister.

You are in a land of paint.

You did more that day than just faint.

The Artist has you in his control.

These long years of war have taken their toll.

After hearing the voice, Pinkie stiffened, as if frozen to her spot. Tears of fear and pain would have streaked down her face had she not been so void of liquid. Who...who are you?

I am the Laughing Mare.

Forget me? Don't you DARE.

@@Windy Scamper

Actius might have been blushing under his bright red coat, but no one could be sure. He smiled in response to Silents' compliment. When Actius noticed Encore leave in the manner he did, he definitely did blush. "Um.." He smiled again, this time more bashfully, before clumsily changing the topic. "So, have you ever been to Sydneigh? I've always wanted to see the opera house."

@@AnonBrony,

House Artist (?) -  Manehattan (Inner City) - Somewhere...

Tondrak looked at The Artist haughtily, then swiped the scroll from his hooves and put it under his cloak. Still glaring, he replied, "Capisce." He turned away and walked towards the Cults' main hideout, where he knew the mare was.

While walking, Tondrak really thought about what it was he was helping The Artist do. Does he want to torture her? Enslave her somehow? No, he probably just wants to bargain. The Laughing Mare is more cunning than him, though, more clever. At least she won't give in to his demands. Truthfully, he wasn't entirely sure. The Mare was tricky, but she did want things, and depending on what The Artist offered, she might just give in...

House Artist (?) -  Fillydelphia Hideout - The Laughing Mares' Chamber

Tondrak entered the chamber of the Laughing Mare and quickly did what had to be done. He places the scroll onto the coffin, which rattled before sitting still.

The Cult of Laughter - Painting - Somewhere...

Pinkies' corpse lay lifeless in a strange scene, simply waiting to be embodied by the Mare...