Ano170

(OOC: one of these days I'll get a chance to reply on my laptop, I swear. ) "What is wrong with that colt?" Feather muttered, glaring at him. He was clearly much younger than her - therefore he also clearly had no right to be calling her "toots". This petty annoyance was soon forgotten however at the sight of the stallion sinking into the ground. There was no other way to describe it. Alarmed, she looked down at her own hooves,but to her relief she seemed to be standing on a solid patch of ground. Was the stallion standing on quicksand? Whatever the case, she certainly wasn't going to be the one to tell him about his neck. His neck did look terrible though, didn't it? Feather frowned at the colt again, thoughtfully this time. Then, feeling a strange, tiny ball of sick fear knotting in her stomach, she too began to hold her breath. And hold it. And hold it...

@@Firehearted, @@HunterTSN, @@Miss Reaper, Feather smiled, helping Zephyr up and then tipping her beret to the other pony. "Nice to meet you. I'm Feather Quill - I'm ah, gonna be a writer." She flushed slightly, hoping that hadn't sounded cocky. Looking away from Zephyr, Feather saw that both the injured stallion and the earthpony mare had started speaking - or rather arguing - with a strange colt. Yeah, actually. Where are his parents? Feather frowned. She'd been trying hard to focus on just making it to a hospital, but there was too much going on to ignore. "None of this makes any sense," Feather muttered, as much to herself as to Zephyr or anypony else. "We wake up in a field with no memory of anything after the train, we can barely move, at least two of us are injured and now a strange colt shows up speaking nonsense?" She raised her voice, calling out to the colt. "Is this some sort of prank? Because if it is it isn't funny." She hoped it was just a prank and nothing more sinister - what if they'd all been foalnapped? Or maybe they'd been drugged - that could explain almost everything.

(OOC: Unfortunately I can't mention people on my phone). Feather rose shakily back to her hooves. She still had no idea where she was or why, but at least the fog seemed to be clearing from her head. Of course, she should still probably try and get to a hospital - focusing on that goal helped her shut out all the wrongness she wasn't able to sort through yet. Besides, looking at the stallion again Feather realised that "a really bad one" was something of an understatement. Much as she wanted to investigate what had happened to them all, it was clear he needed attention. In the meantime, it probably wouldn't hurt to try and get to know these ponies. Or at least, it wouldn't hurt any more than trying to talk to new ponies ever did. "Um, need a hoof? " Feather gave the pegasus mare who had fallen over a slightly awkward smile. "Your wings are probably just all stiff - I ah, I think we've been here a while..." Feather glanced around, frowning slightly. "And don't worry about him, if he's still standing it can't be as bad as it looks, right? We'll just find a doctor to patch us all up and it'll be fine." Feather grinned,trying to convince herself as much as anypony else. "There's no way he's a zombie - lots of ponies just don't feel pain until they realise the full extent of their injuries." Feather winced as she realised how loudly she'd said that last part.

@@Firehearted, Feather wavered a little, still staring blankly at the pegasus stallion. Two other mares had come over, and now everypony was speaking at once - Feather tried to follow the conversation, but their words just kept...slipping. Why did her head feel so slow? Her head. The stallion was saying something about her head, wasn't he? Things seemed to be coming into focus agonisingly slowly as she lifted a hoof to the back of her head. Was that a bump? Wow, it's a pretty big blighter... Off balance, she suddenly fell on her rump. Okay, sitting down now I guess. Things were starting to speed up a little now, though she still felt rather groggy and unfocused, as if she were waking from a long sleep. As lucidity crept back in, Feather finally noticed the stallion's neck. "Hey," she mumbled. "You need the hospital too." She gestured to the gruesome wound with a slightly wobbling hoof. "'Got a bad 'un right there." She narrowed her eyes, scrutinising the stallion more closely. "A really, really bad 'un."

(OOC: Would've replied earlier but I had to run to my lecture - sorry!) Feather shifted uncomfortably in her seat. Outside the train window rolled a lush, green landscape dotted with hills and forests - or at least, Feather was certain that was what she would see if the loudly snoring pony next to her hadn't closed the blind. As it was, Feather had to make do with the rather uninteresting view of the carriage. Nevertheless, a ball of nervous excitement had formed in the mare's stomach; her fidgeting was as much due to impatience as it was discomfort. Not only was this going to be Feather's first trip to Canterlot, she was certain it was also going to be her first big story - a chance to join Baron Von Wildehoof's expedition into the wilderness! It was an adventure. Everything's starting now, Quill. Feather grinned. Here, right now. Soon as you get off this train, your life begins. Filled now with inspiration, Feather reached into her saddle bags to root for her notebook. She was still searching when the train crashed. ---Six months later--- "Ungh..." What...Where am I? Tentatively, Feather opened an eye - darkness. There was a moment of panic, before Feather realised her beret had fallen over her face. She pulled it back. Her head was spinning. Open the other eye - brightness, then grass. Okay, I'm in a field. Just piece it together Quill. Slowly she struggled to her hooves. Something bad had happened; she felt it in her gut. Least nothing's broken. She was filthy, though - her coat was matted, and both herself and her clothing streaked with stains. I...I was on a train, wasn't I? It felt as if she was trying to think through sludge. Looking up, Feather noticed the stallion for the first time. He was staring at her in some kind of shock. "Wh- what?" Her voice cracked as if it hadn't been used in a long while - it was quickly lost beneath the sound of other ponies approaching to speak. (OOC: I made the assumption that our characters still have the clothes they died in, but I can edit that out if you want?) (Edit: There we go, makes a little more sense now.)

Are auditions still open, or am I late? I haven't done voice acting before, but I've been in a few shows, and I have done one voice acting audition before for another MLP abridged series that never really got off the ground unfortunately... I'm concerned my mic might not be good enough quality, but if auditions are still open I'd love to PM you and give it a shot at least!

I don't know why, but the fact that "Mr Cuddles" is a horrific alien monster that for some reason can survive without a head but not without its arms or legs, just makes it all the more ludicrously adorable... Like, "He just wants to be loved!"

@, Arrow listened to Golden Age in silence, a growing pit deepening in his stomach with almost every word the stallion said. A strange and mysterious kingdom lead by a deranged tyrant into a violent conflict? It was not especially unique among the other scenarios Arrow had found himself caught up in over the years, but this was the first time Arrow had ever found himself caught beneath the villain's hoof along with the local inhabitants, rather than working to save them... It doesn't matter. Arrow told himself firmly. All that matters is finding a way up to the North. Golden Age had said that the Empress was refusing to allow anypony outside beyond the reaches of her land - and indeed his own experience of being hauled in seemed to support that fact - but there had to be some way. Again, Arrow gazed at Golden Age. The stallion was essentially a stranger, he had fought for Luna and he had outright stated to Arrow that he was anxious to challenge Princess Celestia herself. And yet, if Arrow was to have an ally here... "Truthfully?" Arrow leaned in close, mindful of the guards watching them from nearby. "I've been in the zebra lands for around half a decade. I have no greater wish to remain here than you do, yet it appears I've been mistaken for another pegasus - a soldier." Already Arrow began to fear he would regret his decision to confide in this strange pony as together they approached the palace gates.

@,@@Agent505, "Yes, some....updates would be nice." Arrow replied. With as much subtlety as he could manage, he examined Golden Age, giving the stallion a curious glance. He seemed affable enough; Arrow had the sense somehow that this pony, unlike any of the others he had met so far, may be willing and able to help him out of this bizarre situation. After all, what else was Arrow to do? Quietly assume the role of whatever pegasus deserter he had been mistaken for? I need to get out of here...to go home... Arrow glanced at Golden Age again as they trotted along through the bizarre beauty of the crystal city. But then...he served Luna...For all I know this stallion was a supporter of Nightmare Moon before her banishment. Arrow hesitated. "I've been away....for a while." Was all he said in the end as they approached the castle gates. (OOC: Again, sorry it took me so long to reply. Also, you have no idea how much I keep wanting to call Golden Age "Goldenblood"...Too much Horizons...)

(OOC: replying on my phone so I couldn't just "mention" you, sorry!) "I never gave it. "Arrow responded evenly. He followed the other stallion out of the tent. "It's Arrow. " He was no closer to finding out what was going on or where he was, and he had been interrupted before he could ask this pony if he had any news of the North. Arrow struggled to restrain a snort of frustration.

Arrow listened in thoughtful silence. He rose an eyebrow when the stallion mentioned fighting on the side of Luna, but said nothing; now was neither the time nor the place for discussing what was no doubt a delicate matter. Anypony with such resentment for the upper class, however, Arrow could understand. He had met many ponies in his travels, and it was true that both poor and rich characters had served to help or hinder him, but there was no ignoring the vast difference in quality of life that he had seen between the different classes, and the way the bureaucracy tended to fight to maintain the unjust status quo. Arrow blinked when he realised the pony was asking him a question. "I recognised your accent," he began. "I'm from Trotland myself -" he was suddenly caught off by the sound of an alarm blaring. Arrow jumped a little, then immediately felt sheepish for being so startled in front of the strange, clearly battle-hardened stallion.

@, Arrow listened to the friendly seeming stallion in thoughtful silence - he seemed surprised to see the guards behaving rough, that at least was a good sign. Cadence....That must be The Empress... Arrow blinked, surprised at the question and unsure about how to respond - he was reluctant to reveal his ignorance to the other pony just yet, however affable he appeared. Besides, something else about the stallion had caught Arrow's attention. "You're from Gaeland." The accent was distinct. Gaeland was not Trotland, but they were neighbours - if nothing else, this pony may have news of Arrow's homeland.

@, Arrow said nothing as the guards led him to what he assumed to be the medical pavilion. For one thing, he did not wish to give the sneering guards the satisfaction of eliciting a response with their taunts. For another, he was, to put it mildly, hopelessly confused. Yet, while it was true that Arrow was not being sent to a train station or hot air balloon as he would have hoped, he also was not being sent to a dungeon or a noose. So, for now at least, he decided it was easier to play along with whatever was happening until he had enough information to untangle whatever this evident misunderstanding was. Besides, frankly the pegasus was exhausted - he had no real qualms over a rest in a medical tent, so long as it was brief. There was, however, one other reason for Arrow's silence: awe. He tried not to gape too obviously at the architecture around him, but it was difficult not to - everything was made of shining, shimmering crystals. The pavement beneath his hooves was a deep purple, and so polished he could see his own bedraggled reflection. The buildings and spires around him were dozens of brilliant shades that reflected the sunlight and made the whole place dazzling - in spite of himself Arrow found it all beautiful. Even the ponies, now that he could see them clearly, appeared to be made of the things; no wonder they were so strong... Just where am I? What "Empire" is this? Arrow was taken from his thoughts abruptly however when one of the guards gave him one last shove - they really seemed to enjoy pushing him around - into a white tent. He watched their shadows take up positions on either side of the tent flap - he could also see the outline of what looked like a mare, possibly a nurse. From outside came the sound of ponies coughing, groaning and cursing. Lots of them. Injured ponies....Arrow frowned, his eyes narrowing as he thought. Some sort of conflict then, certainly. I've been away from Equestria for too long... Looking up, he noticed the tent was in fact already occupied by another pony: an earthpony stallion who appeared to be sporting some sort of leg wound. Arrow gave him a cautious nod.

(OOC: Sorry for the delay, but now that I'm finally free of school I can join the party. Whoo!) Arrow could feel the cold biting even more into his coat, crouching in the snow, but he forced himself to stay still, sore muscles tensed in preparation. Squinting, he thought he could make out a third blur landing in front of the two other ponies - a pegasus? The blur made some motions, and Arrow felt a sinking feeling in his gut as the ponies began moving towards him. The stallion took a breath, keeping his mind clear. He waited, not daring to move a muscle, as the pegasus and the two spear-wielding guards slowly came into focus. He would have preferred to take the pegasus out first - while the stallion had no obvious arms, there was always the danger he would alert another patrol - however the winged stallion was hanging back, while the grounded guards approached. He would have to try and dispatch of the two spearponies as quickly as possible, then... The two guards were in striking distance now, moving in to flank him. Arrow took a breath, and then like an uncoiled spring he erupted from the snow into the face of the guard on the right. His muscles protested, but Arrow ignored the pain as in one fluid motion he whipped his wings to stir snow up in the face of the guard before him, following it up with an immediate buck to the stallion behind him. His hoof shot up in a punch aimed at the guard in front of him. The punch barely made an impact on collision, hurting Arrow's hoof more than it did the guard's face. Daring a glance behind him, he saw that the buck to the pony behind him had missed completely. The glance backwards was a mistake. Before Arrow could even register what was happening, he felt a blow to his chest that knocked the wind out of him. Crashing onto his back in the snow, he let out a choked gasp as one of the guards pinned a heavy hoof on his chest - for a moment Arrow swore he heard a rib crack. He struggled feebly, but already he knew it was in vain; he was too tired, and the stallion pinning him down too strong. He studied Arrow with cold eyes as he readied his spear... Wait... "I surrender!" Arrow felt like an idiot for not realising before. The guard said nothing, not even blinking. The spear stayed poised above his head, but he hadn't brought it down on Arrow yet.... "I surrender." Arrow repeated, his voice slightly steadier now, but still cracked and hoarse from tiredness, the cold and lack of use. "You're from the city nearby, aren't you? That's...that's where I'm trying to go." It was, Arrow reasoned, where they would be taking him anyway - provided they didn't kill him now of course. Neither the guard pinning him down, nor the one from behind, said anything. However the pegasus from before approached. Behind his goggles, he looked almost incredulous. "What? A lost traveler seeking entry to the Empire?" Arrow nodded, genuinely earnest. "I'll pay any toll! Please..." The pegasus raised an eyebrow. He smirked, exchanging a glance with both guards. "Well, since you asked so nicely...Very well, you heard the stallion, let's take him to the Empire!" The guard raised his hoof from Arrow, but kept his spear trained on the pegasus the entire time. Arrow struggled slowly to his hooves, only to immediately find them being shackled. From behind came a hard shove, and Arrow fell forward - at once a sack was shoved over his head, leaving him blind. "Come on then!" the pegasus guard barked. With a dark chuckle, he put his goggles back on and took the air, maintaining a distance of a few feet in front of Arrow and the two guardsponies as they half-lead, half-shoved him in the direction of the mysterious city he had seen. It was only a few minutes later that the cold and the blizzard seemed to vanish almost as suddenly as they had appeared - yet Arrow was certain they were still outside. He chalked the bizarre weather up to magic as he heard what he supposed was the sound of two gates swinging open. One of the guards pushed him from behind to keep moving, and Arrow did so obediently. He could hear the sounds of ponies in the streets, but they were muted - as if everypony were whispering. Was the sack enchanted perhaps? Finally, there was the sound of two large double doors being swung open. Arrow walked forward into what he assumed -from the echoing hoofsteps - was a large building. Another sudden hard shove - stronger than the last - forced him to his knees, and the sack was lifted from Arrow's head to reveal a grand throne room.

@@Agent505, (OOC: So, I take it Arrow shall be captured and out of action until Tuesday?) The snow whirled around Arrow, stinging his eyes. The wind howled and whipped at his cropped mane. The cold bit into his bones as the pegasus doggedly trod on, too tired to fly. The blizzard seemed to have come from almost nowhere. Flying out of a busy harbour, pursued by a crowd of angry sailor ponies who were not happy to discover they had given him a free ride, Arrow had not spared much time for deliberation before heading in the direction of the distant outline of a city. As he drew closer however the snowfall had suddenly increased until he found himself staggering through a frozen world of white. He could no longer even see the outline of the mysterious city, and could only hope that he was still moving in the right direction - his legs were beginning to tremble slightly with every step. Suddenly, from out of the blizzard appeared the blurred silhouettes of what appeared to be at least two ponies in armour. Instinctively, Arrow ducked, crouching in the snow. He would have blended in well were it not for the blue in his mane and black vest. (So, will you be controlling the two guards?)