Blitz Boom

@,

"O-Oh, most certainly. And again, I apologize for the push, but the bricks were about to fall down on you and I went into a panic. Thankfully it seems like we all got away from this fine. And that the bricks made it too, which isn't a surprise as they are exquisite quality, but that's neither here nor there I suppose."

The stallion brushed some dirt of his suit and corrected his tie whilst talking, and eventually had a good deal more of his composure and some of his calm back, though he still seemed a bit unnerved by things and from the way he looked around, slightly anxious about something.

"I am really not meant for these sort of hectic situations, I hope you understand. It makes me confused an- Wait, name? Right, my name. You did ask that, yes. My name is Clayton Quartz. Princess Celestia took contact to me about materials needed to rebuild the structures in town after a supposed attack that had occurred here. My ponies are making good time getting things here, but the forepony they have here are very demanding and it seems it can never get here fast enough for her taste."

Clayton looked around, checking if said forepony were there again to breath down his neck, but it seemed like last Stand weren't somewhere in sight currently, and thankfully so. He could understand her need for speeding this process up and doing so effectively and without delay, but he were already doing all that he could to make sure that the supplies came in as were requested, and her constant, impatient glare was doing little more than making him all fidgety.

"As for lodging, I'm afraid that I don't think there's many options. Some tents have been set up to the north of town while construction is going on, and there may still be some free of those, but with all the destroyed homes here I'm sorry to say that the room left in the undamaged parts of town is likely all booked up by the ones waiting for their places to be rebuild. I can't be completely certain, of course, as I only got here this morning, but small towns tends to be very close and the place that are available seems like it would be dreadfully contested already.

I seem to recall a mare around here somewhere that ran an inn though. Perhaps if we can find her she would know better? A local business owner in her profession would likely be much more suited to answer about the others current living arrangements. Ah, and the story you asked for too. I don't really know much of this town, beyond the stories of the Bearers of Harmony, the adventures of the Princess of Friendship and things associated with those, as things like that occasionally do get shared around Canterlot, but I think any actual information would be sparse."

His ears twitched and he turned around, thinking that he heard Last once more, but letting out a sigh of relief when he saw that there were nopony there, except for a few of the pegasi from before that were headed back to regain the bricks that had been dropped before. They couldn't afford to waste materials here if they wanted to keep up to speed.

"P-Perhaps I should help you find her, yes? I think her inn was one of the undamaged buildings in the south side of town. If you would follow please, mister... Ergh, guess I forgot to ask a name. perhaps you can tell me that on the way?"

The talk wasn't even completely done before he had started to take the first step towards the south end of town, though he did wait still to see if this unknown pony would follow him. The odds were high of it, yes, but nothing was guaranteed. Not in places like this at least.

                        ==================================================================================

@@Lloyd,

"Great place to start. Knowing some of the background on how things came to be is a good base, and likely the easiest things to find books on. Lot's of big words there that'll help on your reading skills too, so bonus there.

If you want, I can teach you a few things that'll help if somepony gets on your case too? Make sure your brawn's as great as your brains and all that. Nothing with a weapon though, cause I'm thinking Astral would turn me into a carrot if I even tried letting you hold a stick, but since it ain't nice of me to tell you to stand up to bullies without teaching you how to, I figure a few lessons in how to turn the tides ain't too bad. But that's future talk, plenty of things to get sorted before that's even a thought, eh?"

Chow grinned, and imagined how the conversation would go with Astral if he had come along with a knife or something and told he'd learn Misty how to use that. It'd likely go off like a torch in a haystack, though the look on her face could have been nice to witness.

Not that it was an issue that would have to be taken up really. He had a weapon because he were a hunter, not to use against others unless he didn't have a choice, and he'd rather teach how to do without any blades than with if that was an option. Perhaps teaching a foal how to fight regardless were bad, but if hse understood the basics of it being just for defense, he didn't see the issue, though he had to convice Astral of that if it were of course.

Could end up being a long talk, but he'd stay his ground on this, as he really couldn't justify on one hoof telling Misty to stand up to the bullies, and on the other hoof not teaching her how to when things got sour. And that wasn't nn *if* as he had seen how it worked in school amongst ponies a few times now, and knew that, much like in Griffinstone, bullies would resort to physical abuse if the verbal one didn't work. Granted, pony schools had a lot less sharp talons, which were a plus, but still, there were chances for things going sour.

                                 ==========================================================================

@@Hazard Time,

@@Moonlit,

Ziggy let out a sound that could best be described as and *audibly excited, high pitched Yey noise* when she were asked about the things from Serenade.

"Going to the castle?  Seeing Baltimare and your parents?"

She zoomed around a little, trying to get the worst of the energy out, before she landed over at Serenade and drew her into a big hug.

"Of course I'll come, Serenade! Oooh, how exciting this will be friend. All the ponies, all the sights, all the adventure! Ehehehe. This will be the best time ever."

Over on a nearby shelf, Fah'lina landed and shook her head at the antics of Ziggy once more, though had her ears on stilts to hear what Serenade would say to this. She didn't want to suddenly wake up one day and find out the two of them had left her behind, so knowing what would happen right now would be important.

                     ====================================================================================

@@EQ_Theta,

"You did."

It seemed a strange question to Omen that the young elder wanted to know how they had gotten here. He had followed them here himself after all, were it not obvious? And even if he meant before that, hadn't it been him that then send for them? It felt like this town and the one elder she had met were getting more confusing to her for every minute she spent here with things like this occurring, though it was mostly with the elder, Before he had shown up, things had made somewhat sense.

"Or didn't you write the message that got us here? Xin said an elder had sent him, and talked about a new one that had shown since Sen were thrown out. Seems like that would be you."

Omen took a slow glance around the hut, soaking in what she could of the place. Several things were there that were strange, and under other circumstances she'd likely have asked questions, but not right now. There were more important questions than about knickknacks, and she also had to see how many guards had come in here too, in case it got time to use a gate to get her, Sen and Lin out. Couldn't be many - if any - considering the size of this place. Right?

                ========================================================================================

@@asdfmovienerd39,

"W-Whoa there, are you okay Zen?"

Florence put the box down next to her and went over the pony, cautiously putting a talon on her shoulder and looking down on the monk with concern in her eyes.

Years ago, she had seen something similar to this when a classmate of hers had been kidnapped and he returned. Sometimes he'd go into himself and seemingly have flashbacks to some sort of trauma that the rest of them didn't know about, likely about whatever happened to him, though he usually shivered more and tended to curl into a ball.

Hopefully this was not it though. The sort of trauma that made you like that wasn't pretty, and could turn you into a wreck if you didn't get help from others. That, and of course, that it meant that something awful had happened to them in the first place, which were something that she only hoped would happen to very few beings and this pony wasn't one of them that was for sure.

@@Flinp,

@@asdfmovienerd39,

Are two politicians? Cause you're good at avoiding the question. Hehe, okay, that's perhaps a bit mean, but you know, the comparison was fun to me. ^^

I mean, I'm happy to see that you both heard it, and I'm sure this'll just be a small glitch in the matrix, but I still need to know where Deadpan are, since the whole *Briar mumbled what he said* thing.and Deadpan would have to be pretty close to hear him in that case. As in, had sneaked up to the side of him, which is fine enough, but I need to be aware of it.

And I still also need to be clarified on if Rose were with him, as she heard the comment about cumd zebras. Likely she is, but I still would veryy much like to be certain, before the posts ends up all sorts of places and we cause a paradox that will draw the known dimensions into chaos!

...Okay, it would not be that bad, but it'd be more readable. Have ot count for something too, right? :3

                 ======================================================================================

@@Seamore Sandwich,

Curse work and their false promises sometimes. :/ Here's hoping things will get sorted soon enough, and we'll see you soon mate.

P.S. Put in someone that the supplies for rebuilding the town came from. Wasn't ever specified and it was the first idea I had when it came to a partner up for StarlightTrixie. If this messes up anything at all, let me know, and I will change it to something else.

Okay, I need some clarification once more. First from you @@asdfmovienerd39, in regards to Deadpan. Briar was not walking with them at the point where he mumbled to himself about Rose's quip about zebras. If he had gotten nearer you have to write that in so that I know what's going on, because currently, it appears as if he teleported over to me, which would also have to mentioned, if that was the case. Also, as Briar mumbled, he'd have to get pretty close to hear what he said. As in, next to him.

t might have been in response to Rose's comment and not Briars, but in that case, you need to write in that you went towards her as well if it is, please. Positioning when the group's split up like this is important.

@@Flinp, you're next as I'm not sure who Rose is with currently. Were she walking with Deadpan and heard him talk? Or had she snuck nearer to Briar? Not entirely clear to me I'm afraid.

I like your posts mates, I do, but please, positioning and what part of the group you wander with is important when spread out like this. Otherwise It'll get confusing.

                  =======================================================================

@everypony

Almost forgot: I'm not gonna be able to respond today. Lots of things to do and little time to do it in means I have to prioritize my time around the real world for the day.

I know, I know, the real world sounds like a fictional place, but regrettably, it's real, and it calls for me. </p>

Looking forward to coming back tomorrow and writing with you all again. Until then: Have a good Wednesday.

@@Krystalalchemist,

"This is Gary. I found him when he were a teensie tiny egg a few years ago and I love him. Most ponies gets kinda scared about him for some reason though. Not sure why, he doesn't bite anypony."

Jelly had never understood why everypony seemed so afraid of the crawly critters really. Sure, a few would end up being toxic, but most of those didn't even hurt ponies, and the rest wasn't bad to have around. Wasn't like a cat or something that could fetch a ball, but spiders, millipedes, beetles etc. could still have fun with you in their own ways, and some of them could be fluffy too. Like Gary.

"Hehe, you got jelly around your mouth. You like it?"

It was a somewhat redudant question as if he hadn't, staying with his muzzle in the cloud for a few minutes didn't make sense, but she didn't really think on that part as much as whatever or not he liked the jelly. She were pretty sure it were good, as it usually were after she had found out how to do it right, but it was still nice to hear, and this would be the first around Ponyville to try it too! So she was double excited to hear what he thought.

                   ==================================================================================

@@Moonlit,

@@Hazard Time,

Succulent didn't get anything less than a big hug from Ziggy either, who were sad to see that she had to get going. The perfume pony were fun to have around, and it had sounded like she'd stay here for a time, but when work called there wasn't something to do about it and she knew it. Didn't mean it was better because of that.

"Don't be a stranger, okay friend?"

Fah'lina remained somewhat neutral about this until Succulent headed for the door, at which point she'd fly over and land on her head before scratching her mane a little, then flew back to Ziggy's head. it was the best way to say goodbye she could think of at the time being for one of the better ponies she had met thus far.

The two looked as she went on for a time, with the zegasus waving a lot during things before she went inside again to Serenade, and closed the door behind her before speaking to her remaining friend.

"I hope Succulent comes back someday and tells us all sorts of fun things she's off to do now. *giggle* Who knows? Perhaps when she comes back one day, being yourself in public is okay and you can give her a little scare? That'd look fun."

                                   ========================================================================

@,

"Watch out!"

Somepony pushed to Gordan a little after he had entered Ponyville, getting him out of the way a second before a heavy hoofful of bricks landed on the spot where he had just been.

"Dear Celestia, that was close."

The pusher stood and fought for breath after his sprint to get over to the outsider and get him out of the way before the bricks made impact. If Gordan would look up, he could see the bricks came from a pile stashed on a rectangular piece of wood, that were being carried by four pegasi headed towards the north of town.

As for the pony in question, he were a simple earth pony from the looks of things. dark-green eyes, a tied back, black mane and a tail also bound in a business-style. He had a pair of sharp reading glasses that were dangerously close to falling off before he pushed them a little further up his muzzle again, a beautiful suit-jacket and a well matching tie. By all accounts, this one was an entrepreneur of some kind, but perhaps he'd get some leeway from that fact anyway, considering what he had just done.

"Sorry for the push, but... Bricks headed down, had to... By the princesses, I wasn't meant for going this fast..."

He had to go for pauses as he tried to catch his breath, though it would still take a hoofful of deep breaths before he seemed to be getting better, and his breaths would even out more than what they currently were.

              ===========================================================================================

@@asdfmovienerd39,

The griffin got so flustered when she were told that she had potentially insulted Zen's grand master and those from where she came that she barely even registered the thing about an incident that was mentioned at the end before she tried to stammer out an apology.

"I-I'm sorry, I didn't mean... I don't think your friend's weird, b-but..."

Florence felt like going into a mousehole as Zen went on how she had called her grand master weird. It wasn't her intention, but had it sounded like that? It might have. After all, she had said something was weird, and though she hadn't meant the pony, just the precognition.thing, it could have come off as her insulting Zen's master... Oh, if she wasn't currently walking with a heavy box on her back she would've his in one of the tree-crown to hide over this right now.

"I-It's just... Where I come from, magic isn't that spread out, and most is p-pretty regular things. I've never heard of having dream visions before and I... I-I just thought that were strange, since it was something new. If it sounded like I went after your grandmaster I'm... I'm sorry Zen."

The edges of Ponyville would draw nearer as the talk went on, though they might still have time for a little talking before they reached the outskirts of the damaged town. Though if not, the damages that could be seen from even there towards the section of town that had been *walled in* would likely stop whatever they spoke about and draw Zen's eye. It was pretty uhm... It didn't look good in some places of that area.

                               =======================================================================

@@Flinp,

@@~Phoenix~,

@@asdfmovienerd39,

"A dumb zebra? There is no such thing."

Briar mumbled this to himself as he moved towards the angry voice that he had heard just before Musical flew off again, seemingly guided by this unknown, female voice. At least he though so, considering what parts he had managed to hear flowing vaguely out from a bit further in.

Perhaps he should wait for the others and inform them that something may be astray with Musical, or ask if perhaps this one were with them as she sounded like she really wanted to get the pieces of the clock, but if she were somepony bad, she could have went away before he returned, and if she were with the others, and they met her... Well, while he did wish to think the best of most, he could not see the personalities of this mare and Phoenix would go well. Opposing, strong minds could end up in strange or beautiful ways at times, but when one were rather cynical and another seemed angry, he could not see things ending well int hat situation.

So, regardless of what might be the reason and meaning of this unknown mare, he would at least make the first contact himself, and hope that perhaps it were not as bad as one might be able to hear from this. Might simply be one who had a bad day - with the attack yesterday and the aftermath of it - and he could handle those fine enough. He had been vented at several times before, and he would be several times in the future as well, he were sure of it. It was just totry and let the other vent, then try to talk reason.

If it were something worse... He'd rather not think about it right now, but there couldn't be allowed another evil near Ponyville right now if it were. The town had just gone over one attack by something of that morality, and the citizens were both figuratively and literally still licking their wounds.

But, they'd start by him meeting whoever this were and then take it from there.

                              ======================================================================

@@Seamore Sandwich,

@@P-Jay,

(Sorry about the delay. Forgot. I'm sorry )

"Yes. Also how you'd feel like being dismembered, but that is neither here nor there."

It was a small joke from her side, but probably not one that would fall in good grace with either of these two since they weren't the usual ones she spoke macabre jokes too. And old ones too at that, as even the long-living demons she had heard this from would thinks this one akin to pulling out a dated, nearly-faded copy of *1001 Elephant jokes* and talking like it was still relevant and funny after the millionth time you heard the same joke.

"If I might ask though, if we are not to head for the portal, what then shall we do? Await my resurrection and then see if there is something that's keeping you to the waking world I can take with me to the castle, then take things from there, according to our deal?

Also, perhaps you can answer me something about my guest here? He is apparently a dream illusion who have achieved sentience, and why I could ask question after question ont he logistics on this, for now I'd settle for knowing what would happen if you tried to take somepony like that out of the dream. Both with and without a vessel. It's for a... Theory."

                          =========================================================

@@cwhip9,

Zinthar gave the zebra a small laughter in response to her quip about his recovery and smiled somewhat unnervingly at her.

"If you know as much as I think you do, you know how I heal and get stronger. Just as I know that I won't get that fast enough here."

It was pure and simple: He needed blood to thrive, to regain strength and to power up again, and the small vials he knew he weren't just going to be allowed to gorge on. It would not have been limited for him already if that was an option, and he were tired of feeling weak like this. He didn't want to get slowly stronger on another's term, he wanted to hunt, to feed, and to get there himself. Birds, boars, fish, he didn't care, there'd be prey around, and he were going to get it. He'd just stop himself from including ponies this time around. Or changelings. Or a juicy griffin or two even.

His palette had been varied once upon a time, though at least Zecora should know the difference between those he harvested a little and bend to his will, and the things he ate because he needed the life, and frankly, because it were a part of him. Cats were predators after all, and it was in their blood to hunt, even if they were domesticated like he had once been.

He were surprised that she had not shared this with Crescent yet, but perhaps this were a test of sorts. For which one of them he had no idea, but for all he knew, it could be them both.

"Besides, I've spend enough time away from the world. It's time I get back."

Cover-up looked at the cat, the zebra and Crescent as this went on, not sure what to think of this, but not thinking that things were going to end well. Especially not as it sounded like the help he were getting - namely the bat pony that now held his hoof out towards him - now included this thing. Not by his choice, but he felt like a very small fish in a rather large pond right now, and potentially dragging the ire of one of the larger ones in said lake was going to be worse for him currently. At least for now, the monster seemed to be with them, and not against them.

It took a few more seconds of this before he rose a hoof and somewhat nervously shook Crescent's hoof.

"H-Hi Crescent. I'm Cover-up, I'm a painter. S-Sort of."

@@Seamore Sandwich,

I can assure you that Null is hardly ever happy, so now worries there. Though, please don't try and harm my siblings too much physically. They are already down a leg and an eye in the case of Void, and a wing for Null.

            ==============================================================================================

@,

Sounds grand. have him run into town at some point then and we'll take the RP from there.

@@Flinp,

@@~Phoenix~,

@@asdfmovienerd39,

I will respond to you all as soon as Flinp have replied to the question above. Need the answer for my post.

@@Summer Breeze,

@@Frosty Frost,

"Well, it is good to see that you are getting along now."

Lyriel briefly  looked over towards the two ponies that were still playing in the sand, just i time to see Blitz being put down on the ground and Frosty making his way over here. She could have left it at that, but she were feeling a little mischevous, so she had a root rise up from deep below the sand and grip hold in Blitz, rising her into the air.

"Woah!"

The long root would grow and eventually place the filly in Lyriel's arms, though they didn't focus much on this exchange, compared to what were happening with the strange pony they had run into.

"Huh, I didn't know ponies could light themselves with green fire and change colors. "

Lyriel looked confused as she saw the other pony suddenly get spurts of green fire going over her mane, amongst other place, whilst Blitz on the other hoof... Well, she rose her hooves high and giggled a lot, clearly excited from seeing this sort of pony that she had only ever heard about. Not much, granted, but you couldn't be in Canterlot for any length of time without hering something about them.

"Yey, a bugpony!"

                       ========================================================================

@@Seamore Sandwich,

"I have seen a world of chaos before, and this would not have been it. It was too restricted, dull and controlled to be that. In this silence, where it seemed all were kept in check and almost sorted, it looked more like absolute order to me. A grim future that fortunately did not come to pass. At least not yet."

Order was something that most liked to have amongst them, with rules guiding them and things being somewhat predictable and straight forward, but it wasn't many that understood how far order could go. It could not just be guards helping around or guidance, but complete control of thought, action and life in general, as nothing were more orderly than having everypony and everything controlled, sorted and restricted to the point where the world might as well be populated by hollow dolls.

"You would know it more than me, as what I seek retains mostly to good and evil, but what my sight kept settling on prior to this beings defeat, I cannot recognize as chaos. Not any kind that I have ever seen at least."

                         ============================================================================

@@Seamore Sandwich,

@@Denim&Venom,

"Hey! Keep your muzzle to yourself. The unicorns 'round these parts are nice folks and don't need your outdated bigotry."

Null had never been one to keep her trap shut when it were, and especially not when it came to voicing her opinions on ponies that were acting like bullies or brats, so hearing this sort of stuff from these ponies weren't something she just took. Sure, she didn't have any unicorn in her family line - that she knew of - and her own experiences with them back home left her with a dim view on them for sure, but she were far away from home now and the locals seemed nice so far, including the unicorns, so having a stab at them wasn't called for. Not by her, and certainly not by these geezers, so to speak.

They likely wouldn't listen to her though. A small pegasi that was missing a wing likely wouldn't be good enough from the viewpoint of somepony who only thought their own kind good enough. Likely to them, she'd be no better than an earth pony, though if they had the gals to say this openly... She might be here to help 'em, but Celestia save them if they poked to her like that.

Over at Void, she didn't look angry as directly horrified from what she heard against pegasi from these other ponies. Sure, they seemed old fashioned and all, but this kind of thing shouldn't have been an issue since... She didn't even know how long ago, at least in Equestria. Likely over a millennia.

"H-Hey, the pegasi are nice ponies too. My sister i-is a pegasi, and she's always been good to me."

She might be a little larger than most other earth ponies here, but Void wasn't as confident and strong of will as her sister, so even if she had said her opinion, she would bow for theirs, afraid of making confrontation if the backlash would become harsh for her opinion. or heck, for the fact that she were in family with a pegasi. Depending on how keen these were on separation of the three races of ponies, that might not be seen upon very nicely.

                              =========================================================================

@@Lloyd,

"Far as I know from what others have told me and from what I have seen, it seems nice. Sure, there's a few bullies here and there, but if you stand up for yourself it likely ain't so bad, and considering the groups of foals I saw slinking around in groups, it seemed like the social side were pretty good. Similar interests and all that likely, like them weird CMC ones from Ponyville. Those were a right bunch of characters and they got friends, so I think there's connections to be made to all sorts of ponies.

There's likely a bundle of homework though, but hey, can't get through life without getting something into that noggin, right lass?"

Chow scratched Misty's head a bit whilst he chuckled, or at least would try, unless she were the agile sort who'd just move away, in which case he'd just stick with the chuckle as the train got 'em closer to the Capitol.

                     ===================================================================================

@@asdfmovienerd39,

"I see. Sounds a little uhm... Weird, to me, n-no offense, but it was right so... Yeah."

Florence didn't know what to say as she were told the bit that she apparently were allowed to hear about Zen's master, though perhaps this were a situation where the more she spoke the more she'd just dig herself in. It just sounded weird to her, but she supposed that everything was possible in this world, so why not this? Wasn't as far out as the thing that had attacked yesterday if you thought about it anyway, which had really tested her limits as to how weird things could get.

Perhaps she should just stop thinking on that and move one instead. Wasn't like it sounded like what she had sorta hoped for anyway, so as she locked up the box knickknacks and tools that she had found - now certain that there were no more out here - it began to faint a little by little from her mind, relegated to some corner of her mind amongst other, lesser important things.

"Okay then, I think we have everything then. Can we go back now Needle?"

The other pony looked flustered at the griffin before nodding and taking the things he had on a trolley that he dragged along behind him, as they made their way towards the hospital.

"I-If you still wanna help, you can follow us back and we can see where they might need help?"

                            =================================================================================

@@Wolves,

Happy let out a deep sigh, then smiled back at the two ponies that seemed to give him a chance after all.

"It's okay lass, I know the reputation that surrounds my kind, so not judging there. I'm just happy we could get it sorted before any guards got involved. Your prison system doesn't have a good reputation when it comes to changelings, and I appreciate not having to get a personal experience about how bad it can get."

So, he'd gotten through this hurdle at least, so that was a plus. He still had other sorts of issues to deal with when it came to these now that they knew what he were, such as random stuff happening around them being assumed had something to do with him and that he'd be kept an extra eye or two on, but that sort were minor things that he could live with. He had to play a little more cautiously from now on though, that were a given, but it wasn't the first time, and it wouldn't be the last. Well, hopefully not the last.

He didn't get to say anymore before the action started to go over town from where the beast were getting defeated now. They had gotten out of sight out here, but even here they'd be able to see/hear some of what went on there, albeit perhaps a bit muted in it.

"Was that... By the queen, do you think that they... Actually won over that thing?"

The worry in his voice were as genuine as anything could be as the thought of anypony being able to defeat that monstrosity came into mind, and what that would mean for any other invading force in general.

back home they had assumed Chrysalis a weakling for falling to this happy country, but if they had the sort of fighters in this land that could actually defeat a monster like that... Perhaps they should think her strong for not having been outright imprisoned or killed instead.

                   =================================================================

@@EQ_Theta,

"You're not old."

That was the first response that came from Omen as she looked at the cloaked elder with her big, unblinking eyes full of confusion.

The rulers that she knew of were simple. it were lords - such as Lord Discord, as he had sometimes called himself - princesses like Luna, Celestia and Twilight, and queens like what the changelings had. Those were simple titles of royalty one way or another, and she could understand that. Elder however, were a rank that she could only guess were for the ones who were just that: The oldest, and yet, the one who met them were not. From what she could see, she didn't even look that much older than Sen or Lin,

"I don't understand. How is this an elder? I see others who looks older than this one. Larger too."

And then to add to the confusion, it now sounded like Sen knew this one? By reputation or otherwise wasn't certain, but the way he spoke really sounded like this wasn't an unknown to him. And not the other way either, as the young elder smiled in response, which just made Omen look from Sen, to the elder, and back again for a a while, trying to make heads or tails about this.

@@Flinp,

We currently have a controller of her that you'll have to ask. He haven't put a claim on it, but just to make sure. It's @@cwhip9, Try to send him a PM, as he seems to notice those well.

Also, a FIY: Briar will have walked in the direction that Musical flew as he doesn't go on sight, but rather smell, sound and what he can feel out from the wind blowing around objects. The last one won't mean much here, but the smell and sound does help him get the generally idea of where your other OC is. Basically, I just need to know if it's far away as it will still take him some time to walk there if it is (which will decide somewhat what my next post includes), and if it is, I would warn you that you might need to keep her mobile as to not be caught too early. :3 And perhaps keep the voice down. Heh.

                 ======================================================================

@,

Ah, you mean that this will be his introduction to Ponyville, rather than him having lived there for some time? That could work out fine too. ^^ There'd be plenty to do there the day after the attack (where the aftermath things in town are mostly set. The ones not connected with Seamore for now at least)and it would be a good time to find him a place to help rebuild and get to know the locals.

@,

An excellent choice sir. Might I offer you only the finest beverage for this choice, made from the distilled essence of him returning from a trip and finding the town somewhat ruined, mixed with the tinge of memories of another time that somepony harmed his home and rushing in to find out about his own home, who might end up being one of the damaged ones? We do have a variety that does not include his home being one of the harmed ones, but seeing the others might make it harder?

This will be for the next dinner then. For the appetizer, shall we mayhaps place Gordan somewhere outside town, potentially out camping and waking up the morning after the attack? I can have a guest attend that may know him, if you so prefer. He/she can be a stranger too, just stumbling over of course, but I like to add the option for the spice that is *friend* or *one attempting to be your friend*.

This is just my suggestion of course. Have you perhaps something else that you would like to pick from the menu, sir?

@@EQ_Theta,

Omen listened to them with her head tilting from side to side, as they explained the reason for the height of some of the homes here, as well as ones that were currently unseen that reached even higher.

"...Makes sense."

So the younger they were, the higher they could get because they were more agile, had more strength to spare, and had less mass dragging them along, whilst the older and weaker they got, the closer to the ground they got. This sounded like a smart move, and the ones above it too she supposed, if it was another sort of defense, but it still carried a somewhat ominous part to it that the hunter and such were at the very top.

Yes, they would be able to make sure nopony entered, but did that not also mean they could ensure nopony left? With them up there, and the walls around, it left a dome over the city of guards that could make sure that things inside stayed the way they wanted to.

Might be it was wrong, and others were free to climb up there too, but she still had to see proof of this place not being as bad as she had gotten the impression of before she didn't see the flaws here and there, and even then, she might still do that. The times when she were not clueless tended to be spent looking at a few sides of things, though she hadn't been able to look at much as objectively as she used to since she met Sen and Lin. Having friends made her view on some things biased, like this place.

"So the older you get, the closer to the ground you get? Does that mean your elders live under it?"

                            ===========================================================================

@@Lloyd,

"Actually, you're doing better than me. I were still getting used to the flat ground and heavy air after getting down from Griffinstone when I took a ride, and the first time the floor moved under me, uhm..."

Chow started to look mighty awkward as his eyes went down the aisle of the train and towards one of the windows.

"Let's just say you're doing pretty good lass, and then leave it at that, 'kay? I'd like to keep what little dignity I still have a grasp on."

From the look on his face and the somewhat nervous laughter that came after that, it were clear that it hadn't ended well, that was for sure, though he really didn't wanna tell if he could get away with it. Falling of a train in the way he had weren't exactly a story that left him with much pride, and especially not when you countered in the cacti... *shiver* Not a good day.

"Mind me asking somethin' now that I think of it? Have you been thinking 'bout school when the two of you've gotten settled into Canterlot? I know it might sound a bit boring for a filly who'd probably rather rummage about, but it's a good place to socialize a bit and get some friends if it were. And a bit of knowledge to top it off ain't ever hurt anypony."

Truth be told, the kid worried him a bit. She had been through a lot with her family being taken away from what he'd understood of things, and whilst she were getting raised and taken care of now, they two of 'em looked rather isolated. Frankly, he had never even heard about 'em in town, and he had been there for a while now, which weren't good, since in his mind, a filly that age should get to attend school, get some knowledge in the noggin and start to get some friends. Especially the last one would be good early on, or you'd just end up like... Well, Zecora.

No offense towards the mystic, but she were pretty alone out there in her hut, with only having visitors come to her now and again, and that wasn't a sort of life he'd wish for this one. Heck, not any of 'em, as Astral seemed to already be well on her way towards that sort of future, and with her raising a filly at her age... She could really use somepony else to speak to about things he'd say. But, that was just his opinion at least. What'd come from it he'd see, but it might be that he had to help these two crazy kids a bit more long term than he had thought when he volunteered to move their stuff earlier.

                               =============================================================================

@@asdfmovienerd39,

@@~Phoenix~,

@@Flinp,

Briar were already some way away and listened in to where Musical had flown off to, so he hadn't heard about what might have been with his eyes, which were likely a bit of information that would end up turning around and hurt him by surprise one way or another. it could end up being all sorts of things that made such a thing occur, but changelings were one of them, and as he only knew some things from the one he had spoken to - that being about their powers, and a rather biased-against view on how a hive worked - and from the things he had observed by caring for Brittle, he wouldn't be prepared for this without being informed of it in advance.

The response that he had heard last from Phoenix were also a reason why he chose to try and ignore what sound he did hear from their angle too, as he would rather not hear more things like this spoken about the beast right now. They were entitled to their opinion, and he knew that, but sometimes the mood just struck him when he were faced with things such as this,a nd a bit of time to clear his head without further input of what had scrambled him to begin with, did him good.

He hadn't come all that far though, before the smell and sound of Musical entered the space nearly directly above him, and he stopped up, following the movement that pretty quickly went away again, and still in the same angle. Or at least, the same angle thus far, though it might veer off soon.

Rather strange though... Had it not taken longer than that to find the piece? And depositing it this quickly likely meant that he hadn't asked for help or given directions to the others, which were a bit odd to him. Might be he just wanted to get this done himself or prove something to the others, but perhaps it wouldn't be such a bad idea to *keep an eye out*. Heh.

                   ==================================================================================

@@Moonlit,

@@Hazard Time,

"Awh, but they're so pretty!"

Ziggy poked a little to the one that Serenade had let her use again as she spoke, but not much, as she didn't want to break it.

Though Serenade really had tried before, Ziggy had never gotten that good with the gadget as one could have hoped. It just hadn't made that much sense no matter how much it were explained to her, and then just to rub salt in the wound, Fah'lina had swooped down after a while and taken it from her hooves, then showed her how it was done as well whilst looking at her like you would a clueless child. That she had learned more from looking down and listening in, whilst also been a being that didn't seem like she'd be plenty smart, had hurt a bit, she had to admit, but boo to the critter. She could still sorta read maps normally, so she'd do fine enough without this skill. And no, she wasn't jealous! Nuhuh. Not at all... *grumble*

"How'd you get this by the way Serenade? Is it from work?"

Oh well, there were no time to be down over silly stuff right now. Things to ask, things to learn, and ponies to smell.

That last one wasn't regular, but she had gotten curious about something else after poking to this and had wandered over next to Succulent and started to sniff the air near her mane a little, wondering what her perfume actually smelled like. She hadn't really focused on it before this, and the random thought was starting to distract her a bit, even though the mare had told her earlier what sort of smell she had used.

Wasn't the same to hear, compared to experiencing sometimes, and with the intricate smells that Succulent had made thus far, how she had perfumed herself would be something where words alone likely couldn't explain it.

                   =====================================================================================

@@asdfmovienerd39,

Florence took note of the brief look that went over Zen's face when changelings were mentioned, and she made a mental note of trying not to bring them up again. It'd be hard when the attack were mentioned not to, but by the look she perhaps should for reasons that wasn't her place to ask. What changelings could do to others wasn't usually a pretty story, and she didn't want to tear into old or new wounds like that.

"Well, any help the ponies can get here in the aftermath, no matter how late it might seem, is welcome from what I can tell. The poor things got hit pretty hard, but I guess you'll see soon enough when we get to town. We're almost done here too it looks like."

She kept scouring through the grass and looking for things, but she hadn't found much since the scalpel. Enough to make her keep looking, but not enough to make her think this would keep on for much longer.

"What you said though, about your grandmaster getting a precognition... What's that like? I mean, is it like with mystics, that can see into the past and future, or is it more like... A feeling that something happens? I'll understand if you're not allowed to say, I'm just curious as I haven't really met anyone that can predict things. I only ever heard oft he zebras, but... I-I guess that's not the same? perhaps?"

I'll try to post tomorrow night. I'm sick again...

Bloody heck. :/ Why can't the stupid illnesses just leave you alone?

==============================

His name is Gordan. His coat is white, he has red eyes, his cutie mark is a black sun. He doesn't know anything about friendship, his personality is rather gloomy, he hates doing work himself, but he won't hesitate to rescue people from danger. He is 21 in human terms. He came to ponyville to escape the gangs of Manehatten, his house was burnt down by a few other stallions since they wanted to cause some fuss. He is a unicorn. He is somewhat talented at using magic, but not too OP. 

 

I suck at giving bios, probably.

 

Nono, the info needed is there, worry not. And he looks fine from what I can see, so welcome to the flock. ^^

Now then, would you like to have an unrelated adventure on the side, get into the main arc, or start somewhere else and move towards it?

@@EQ_Theta,

So Sen and Lin had different views on Xin it seemed. Interesting.

Currently, Omen would lie if she said she didn't agree with Lin on this, as she couldn't understand how you could call somepony a friend who had lured you into a trap like Xin had, which were why she kept a confused look on Sen for a good, long time during their road ahead, trying to make heads or tails in this, but finding nothing.

The thoughts kept on as they reached the longma settlement, who started out much as she had started to think. That is, with walls and guards, isolating whoever lived inside from the outside world and leaving them in their... Home? Prison? She wasn't sure if it wasn't both, even after they went past that and she could see their structures and the beings living there. They didn't seem to have chains on them, but her master had been fond to tell how rules were like chains, keeping you down, and that you were only free if you never had any of them.

She didn't know if she still agreed that there shouldn't be no rules, but she did agree that sometimes, there were too many of them, and her impression of this place via the beings she had met and the few snippets of history she had gained, made her think that they would do well in having some of their chains broken.

The gawkers that focused on their little ensemble didn't matter much to her, though she did look around and took what in that she could of the sights. All things considered, it looked fine, once you got past the walls, but she still didn't like this place. Didn't trust it, or the elders who led this, of whom one would soon make his or her appearance, from what the larger longma said.

Her eyes eventually settled on the row of hunter that surrounded them, pointing their spears at them, though they were still at a distance, so she wasn't sure if this were to make sure their group stayed here, or to keep them away from the citizens. Perhaps both, but they'd see.

Not that they had to. if she wanted to, she could just get them away now. No ropes tied them down, nopony would be able to scoop them up in time unless they had an invisible, giant dragon here - they couldn't do that, right? - and they stoopd on an easy, flat surface. Yet, she were curious as to who it was that wanted the siblings here, and what they wanted with them. Considering the trap before, she couldn't trust the idea that this were about a return ticket for Sen anymore, and if they were to be imprisoned, why had they been let go of their ropes to begin with? Especially when they could see what Omen had done before this?

They could always leave later, but for now, she wanted to see what this were about, and who had made the call to go for her friends and family.

"Interesting place. Did you use to live in one of the trees?"

                                   ===========================================================================

@@cwhip9,

Cover-up twitched as Zecora's tone changed and he rose his head again to meet her gaze. He looked... Startled, by the sudden change in the zebra's approach, but he were listening now at least instead of keeping on his downward trend, though he still wasn't sure what she were talking about.

He guessed that she wanted him to go back? And that was why she had given him the map. Or perhaps it had something to do with the name, and where it came from, he wasn't sure, but more than anything, there was one thing he really didn't know what she were on about. Or perhaps he had just forgotten about it in the emotional turmoil he had just been through, but he couldn't be sure.

"W-What's a *crescent*?"

"That would be the bat pony standing next to me, colt."

The voice of the feline monster caught Cover-up's attention as he quickly turned his eyes towards the now-mobile thing that had been dragged in before. This horrid beast that looked at him with a glow in one of three, somewhat narrow eyes - the one in the middle of its forehead that were, which looked like it was turned on its side instead of what normal beings had - and swayed one of its nine, pointed tails behind it. The last part were just for comfort, but the bcolt didn't know that.

"And I must say, I'm hurt that you didn't mention me, Zecora. Don't think I'd help a sweet, innocent child too?"

Zinthar neglected adding a quip about whatever or not she were afraid he'd turn the colt to serve his whim, as he wasn't strong enough to think he'd win any sort of confrontation right now, but he still were tired of this uncertainty over what she knew, what were going on, etc. that came from this silence between the parties, so he had taken the chance to add a minor, taunting comment to begin what would likely be a bad time. Still, it would have to be better than this stand still, right?

                      ================================================================================

@@asdfmovienerd39,

"I'm not entirely sure, I was in the hospital and watching over my uncle when things happened, and a lot of the town was covered in a strange dome of wind that blocked out outsiders from looking in. Well, except for the giant hippo-thing, but I don't even know what to think of that creature.

I heard from those that were in there though, that a giant monster had attacked town and tried to eat them or something, before a lot of strange creatures showed up to defeat it. I don't know which ones were real as they kept saying things about foxes, changelings, robed ones and other things that seemed far fetched, but they won at least, and the hospital's been busy taking care of everypony that got hurt there since yesterday. Currently they're starting on rebuilding town."

Florence didn't say anything about the ponies and such that had shown from the past, as she didn't believe this before she had seen them and she hadn't had the time to check yet, but it might be a factor to think about later.

"Your monastery reacts fast, huh? I mean, the attack was just yesterday, and it was only here far as I know. I don't see a tower nearby so... Good telescopes perhaps? Or did somepony come to you, looking for help?"

                          ===============================================================================

@@asdfmovienerd39,

@@Flinp,

@@~Phoenix~,

"Contrary to what my appearance and dietary needs suggests, I do like to think of death as a last resort. Predators can be chased off and learned to stay clear of certain individuals or even entire races, and one must remember that they simply try to eat and live, much like any pony would. Perhaps their diet is different from yours, but it all simply comes down to feeding itself, not anything inherently evil."

Briar let out a sigh after his minor speech and wandered over to the still.smouldering pile of the former timberwolf.

"Perhaps it was not only seeking to feed itself either. A family could wait for it at home, that now will have to live without this parent, or sibling... I praise the earthmother for blessing the timberwolves with smaller minds so this knowledge will not hurt them as much or for that long, and for being flock animals that take care of their own. At least then, if this one haves cubs waiting at home, they will still be able to live on..."

He fell silent as he wandered past the once-great beast and followed the direction that Musical had flown off to.

The natural order were something he were painfully aware of, with ones such as himself needing to place themselves higher on the food chain to be able to feed themselves, much to the dismay of those below them. Those did not wish to be prey, and he understood that, but unfortunately, some critters just had to become prey so that others could live. it was nature, and going against it would only end up with an overpopulation of the critters and an extinct section where predators had once been, which would only end up as a disruption of the natural balance that would have wider consequences for even the ponies, who'd then have to see the greens they needed fall prey to the hordes of creatures who would before have fed others instead of now seeking food of their own.

Now, he didn't want to see a pony being eaten, as he considered the ones of higher sentience like that to be outside of the predator and prey dynamic, but that did not mean that you had to kill to protect one this simple. The timberwolf could have been beaten and scared off, which would make it look for another kind of prey unless it had a personal vendetta against ponies, in which case then yes, perhaps there would be only one, regrettable solution to things. In this case though, he found it premature, and it saddened him to think of this potentially avoidable loss of life, and what the consequences might be for the ones this creature now left behind.

                       =====================================================================================

@@Hazard Time,

@@Moonlit,

"Uuuuh, shiny."

Ziggy looked down at the Sextant with big, curious eyes. She had never seen something like this, but it sure looked important, and from what Serenade said, it could be something really useful for the type of pony that were on the move, or had to travel to far away places sometimes at least. Maps alone could be hard to follow sometimes, and come on, this was pretty! Pretty things were worth extra points, right?

"How does it work? Is it like a compass?"

It was so tempting to poke at it and see what would happen, but... Nnnnno, she shouldn't. it wasn't her toy, even though...

Why did it have to shiny and mysterious? It made it so hard not to do anything to it. Nothing bad or anything, just something to see if this would do magical and wondrous things, or lead to some kind of grand adventure! Like she had read in her books when she grew up, no pun intended.

@,

I do have a minor rule about needing to know some details at the very least about the OC a person wants to use, if not a bios that can be read. It helps to see if there's issues, Mary Su's, how to place them, etc.

But all that's for later. Let's start with your OC. What can you tell us of it/him/her? Age, name, a snippet of how she/he/it looks like, and perhaps a bit of background story would be nice. Oh and some personality please.

___________________________________________________________________________

@@Hazard Time,

@@Moonlit,

Well, you're free to do so Hazard, we just need to have Succulent written out of the story properly and not as in *At this point, Succulent just stopped existing, and they both realized they had been talking to a pair of siblings the entire time* or something similar. Goes clunky that way. ^^

An easy one would be to have a mailmare (Not Derpy though, Seamore haves control of her. Which reminds me I need to update the *canon controlled* list) deliver a message perhaps that would have her needing to leave in a hurry, regardless of her plans to settle down for a time. A family emergency potentially could work, and wouldn't need a huge explanation if it came to that.

@@Moonlit,

@@Hazard Time,

Your motivation, is to snuggle your feline overlord!

Look at the fluff and despair. .3

In all seriousness though, it would be fun to have the thread move on again and there being a princess mashup meeting, and I hope you'll get your motivation back soon. Let us know if you need help with it, like with a brainstorm perhaps. Right after you've snuggled the kitty that is. :3

@@EQ_Theta,

"I am not concerned about Xin."

Omen hadn't answered the gruff longma before when he had spoken, in part because there really wasn't something she could or would want to say in the current situation, and in part because what she did have to say, even she knew wouldn't make things better.

They were still prisoners in some way with this group, but this one had let Sen and Lin walk without being poked at with spears or caught in nets at least, and if she began to tell what she meant of their elders, or their kin in general thus far - excluding Sen and Lin - it might change to something worse for them, and she didn't want that to happen. She would say so if asked, because she did not lie, but there was a difference between that and just not saying something that at least made it more possible for her to stay neutral right now.

Contrary to Sen though, she wasn't concerned that much about the new elder that seemingly had this part set in motion. To her, Xin's approach represented what their elders usually were, whilst this one's had the sting of somepony else involved, and from what she had seen thus far, this elder were the more reasonable of them. Not to say that things wouldn't change, but with what information she had right now, the new elder seemed like a speck of grey on an hourglass of dark sand. At least for the time being.

As for Xin... Her words should cover well what she thought of him currently, as well as hopefully convey to Sen that she did feel concern about the other things, yet she wouldn't say more about that regardless if he couldn't. Not yet.

The way that she spoke, with projecting her voice to the heads of those around her, were not something that she had any control over, and there were only slight changes in volume that she could make. Not in distance, or who heard it, so she weren't able to *whisper* as such like Sen did. When she spoke, the others would hear it, so to her, it looked like it were better to once again not end in a situation where she might have to lie, but in one where she just didn't say something. It seemed the better solution for the time being.

                ===========================================================================================

@@asdfmovienerd39,

@@~Phoenix~,

@@Flinp,

Whilst some of the others seemed to find him somewhat annoying - including Phoenix who, unfortunately, did not appear to be willing to follow them - Briar actually quite enjoyed the somewhat bad jokes by Deadpan. They might be a little simplistic, and he could understand why they would make others rolls their eyes, but they weren't as forced as some others were, and he could hear that the pony meant only to try and entertain. That, and jokes akin to *You wouldn't be-leaf what just happened* were sadly rather popular with his kind. For some reason, the majority of them liked puns, and especially plant-based ones.

He listened in silence as they went along with the interactions between Deadpan, and some pony that were seemingly from Ponyville, looking for pieces of the broken clock-tower that were broken in the attack yesterday. A dreadful affair, and one he were not happy having been in the middle of, but at least everypony had seemingly survived, and if this one were looking for parts now it must meant they were hard at work rebuilding, so it were at least a silver lining to look at how well the local ponies coped after this, though he knew it were stretching it a bit.

The appearance of the timberwolf got him away from those thoughts for a moment. He might not be able to see it, but the sounds, the smell and the wind blowing gently around it gave him some degree of *picture* of what they were dealing with, and he were usually good at scaring these little pests away. They were perhaps a dangerous nuisance to many, but to him, they were just predators trying to survive, and ones made of nature itself as well, like h-

That thought too went away, as the inferno engulfed the poor creature in front of him and he instinctually took several steppes back with a look on his face that were a mixture of fear and sadness. He so hated being near uncontrolled fire, though most assuredly not as much as the poor beast that now burned.

"I hope for the poor thing that it went quick. No being of nature deserves to face the end like this..."

                 ========================================================================================

@@asdfmovienerd39,

"You'd be surprised how few are willing to give you a chance at first sight these days."

Florence halfway mumbled this as she looked around at what were still to be packed down. She had a crate with her to put things in, and it should fit the bandages, random tools and other smalls stuff spread around here, and Nurse Needle seemed to be taking well care of handling the few things that had to be folded and packed in a more special way, though he still wasn't saying anything - a bit of a shy pony that one - and kept to the side more than anything at the moment.

"Anyway, there's not too much left, but if you could help me pick up the random tools and such they left behind it'd be nice, please? I can carry the crate, but we need to get everything packed in before we go back so the wildlife don't get hurt by it, and so they can have some of these things back. Especially the scalpels. So uhm... Watch where you step too."

She saw a glimmer in the grass and went over to pick up one of the mentioned scalpels that were halfway covered in dirt, before putting it slowly over into the crate. She didn't want to cut herself on this thing if she could help it.

"Would it be okay if I asked... I-I mean if it's not a problem that is, what you do near Ponyville? I won't pry if it is, I just... Well, it makes the time pass easier. But I'll understand if you don't want to say."

Though a griffin, Florence was a prime example that you couldn't trust the stereotypes of their kind, which tended to be - at least far as she had heard it - proud, stubborn, harsh bullies that hardly ever found anypony they didn't look down upon. Something which were hard to place with the thus-far kind attitude of Florence, as well as her more and more clear confidence issues and slight mood swings.

She still had to hear the brunt of it, which were one of the reasons for her lower self-esteem, so meeting those that didn't judge were always a nice thing for her, and with how things were these days she really needed to try and reach out and talk to others a little. It helped distract her from what rummaged in her mind.

She had tried to speak with Nurse Needle before this, but he wasn't exactly a great talker. In fact, he had trouble even looking at her most of the times from what she could tell. He stole glances now and again, and she could swear she saw him blush once when he noticed she had caught him in it, though she didn't really say to him that she saw most, if not all, the times he did this. He were probably just curious anyway, and she didn't see the problem with it, so she just let him be with that. It seemed to work better that way.

@@Randimaxis,

Sorry for copying your line of ========== but it looks better than the usual ________________ I go with, so wanted to try. :3 Also, just to make sure about this, the glitter-rocket was really just a small explosion in the middle focused on spreading it, nothing fancier, so Luther and his office is still going to be okay. Although, a little rummaged around from the force perhaps. Just wanted to clear it before Blitz got lynched twice for burning something, which she haven't... Yet. :3

P.S. Good to see you around again. Missed your posts.

@@Randimaxis,

Blitz didn't do anything but look up at Dax as he said that his best friend - no fair, she wanted to be his bestest friend! - had left a few more times. It looked like he were really sad about it, but she guessed she'd be too if she had waited for somepony that never showed up, and especially if they were far, far away. Or at least she thought it was far away? She never heard of something called Troy before, but eh, plenty things she didn't know/couldn't remember, so some random town wasn't so bad. Perhaps later when he felt better she could ask him? Yeah, that sounded fine.

When the time came around when Dax began to wonder how she had found him, or this place in general though, she let out a small giggle and jumped a little in place.

"Well, you said your last name was Blackwater, so I just asked around to hear if somepony heard of that name before, and then I just walked the way they pointed, and the nearer I got, the more fun things I got to hear about this place. Or well, not fun things, sort of mean things, but they don't know you, so boo to them.

Then i got here and there was this big wall and guards and stuff, so I broke in!"

The amount of glee that went over Blitz voice when she said she had broken into this place were disturbingly noticeable.

"I mean, I didn't want to ruin the surprise, you know? Haven't seen you in... Uhm... 3 months I think? Time sorta goes fast when there's fun things to build.

Anyway, I wanted to make it a surprise, so I didn't want anypony to see me, so I went around all sneaky-like until I found you, but then the weird pony left and you got all sad, so I didn't have a chance to get to you, so I had to run after you, then I found you and yey!"

She hugged his leg again, still not really being able to get much higher than this without rising on her backlegs, and this was easier than doing that. Kinda strange, but easier.

"I had to find you after all, remember? You wanted the fireworks display to make everypony like you more, and I finally got it done so it looked good, but you still weren't there, so I figured I'd take a box of fun things with me and find you. First time I remember being away from Ponyvile or Canterlot, but nothing bad happened. Or well... Okay, the fires were sorta bad, but its fine. I think."

She hadn't been able to sneak the box of fun things in, since that had been kinda large in it, so she had just taken her travel bag with a few essentials like smokebombs, a glitter-rocket, a hand-grenade and some Skittles. Nothing serious or harmful she'd say. or okay, the handgrenade sorta were, but that were just in case something, or somepony, were bad in here. She usually scared bad things and timberwolves away with explosives, so it made sense to her to have something ready if there was something akin to that here, or if there was a big rock in her way. Not a Big one though, she had the things for that in the box. Seemed a bit overkill to take with her.

There really wasn't a thought spent by her on perhaps explaining why said bag - that were on the ground a little behind her - looked a little deflated, but it shouldn't be hard for Dax to figure out that it wasn't likely like that when she got in here, and with her saying that she had broken in...

                   ==================================================================================

@@Randimaxis,

@@DwhitetheGamer,

"Of course Mr. Blackwater! Hold still."

Ziggy had gotten less scared as Luther had went on and had cooled down a little. Both for his health and for her own, though right now she felt more thankful about his. He already had a bad day and it didn't need to be topped off with him having to go to the hospital from a rage-induced seizure.

She were not relaxed enough in it to start laughing at her rather fabulous-looking boss right now though. She might be an airhead, and kinda stupid sometimes, but not That stupid. She'd have never made it through medical school without setting herself on fire somehow if that were.

Looking over Luther, she took notice in how the glitter seemed to drizzle off a little by little when he moved, then took a wild stab in the dark and brushed at him with her left wing to see how much would go off. Which turned out to be quite a lot, than then went towards the floor.

There wasn't any scorch marks on, or anywhere near him from what she could find at a quick glance, and since it didn't seem like the glitter had any glue or otherwise on it, it could be it just stuck because of the force it were applied with, which meant... She could potentially get the worse off by blowing it away. Not with her breath of course, because heh, who had that kind of lungs, but her wings were another deal, and this office had plenty of room for her to spread them without tossing something down, so... Well, here went nothing.

She stood in front of Luther and spread her wings, then did her darnest to stay still as she blew on him with them, which should get rid of the worst of the glitter. She could perhaps have done a bit better, but she might have knocked something over by accident if it were, either around her or behind Luther, so that wasn't really an option. Not in her book at least.

"Seems like I missed a little. Just a little longer Mr. Blackwater and you'll look as good as new. Promise."

With that, she returned to brushing him off with her wings as she had done before, which should clean him qwuite a bit better a little by little. She couldn't go fast in this case since she needed precise movement with the oversized feather-dusters, but hey, long as it worked, right? And sure, she would get her feathers full of glitter too, but who would honestly be surprised by her flying around like that anymore?

Whilst doing this though, she also looked over at the other pony that had entered and gave him a smile.

"Hey there, uhm... You."

She hadn't much else she could think about to say to him right now for some reason. She guessed he were new perhaps, cause she couldn't remember talking to him before, but if he were new, how come he had been able to get in here with no bother? Sure, Mr. Blackwater had looked kinda mad about his presence, but he hadn't been fired, and thus far, he hadn't even been ordered to keep shut about this whole situation, so... Personal assistant of some kind that she just hadn't taken notice of? It was possible, especially if he worked mostly at the mansion, though he looked more like a miner than one of the workers here.

Okay, scratch it, she did have a lot to talk to him about, but none of them really seemed like a good time to bring up right now. Not with the smouldering Luther at least, as he had just gotten the top of his anger calmed/hidden for the time being and bad things could likely happen if she started to poke to it with stuff like the control of who knew about this, who this pony were, etc.

@@Blitz Boom

 

I have a couple questions before we continue, as this may affect my next post with Charlie. What season is it in the RP overall? What season is it in Vivid's dream, and are there trees nearby?

 

@@P-Jay

@@Blitz Boom

 

I would also like to specify that Charlie is genderless, which is why I'm trying really hard not to use words like "he," "him," or "his." If you wish to use those words to make it easier for you, that's fine, as long as it's well known that it isn't an accurate pronoun.

I have no idea about the seasons, but... let's go with late summer for the time being then. Seems like a nice time of year.

As for Vivid's dream, it's spring, and there's plenty of trees around the town, as well as a few inside city limits.

Also, I just refer to Charlie as him/he, because *it* seems impersonal.

@,

"Ain't a bother at all. That's what this here door is for."

Chow went over and knocked on the door that lead from this more open part of the train, and towards the back end of the actual passenger carts.

"It's easier access in case the trains gets into a bit of a rough patch and you need to get back quick to ensure that things are still there, and it makes it simpler for the conductor to check too in case that's needed. Can't stop the train all the time or they'd be off schedule constantly, y'know?"

Speaking of which, the train started to get a move on again, which meant that it was time for them to get in and catch a seat, which thankfully wouldn't be too bad as when they opened the door, they found that there weren't that many here in the back, and there actually were a good place with some free spots near the door. Convinient, but he supposed it made sensee nough. The further back the more it could sometimes make a heck of a noise, and nopony was interested in potentially have a nice train trip interrupted by clacking noises all the time.

"Heh, seems like we're in luck. Makes it easy to stay near in case something happens, or if Astral wanna come inside. Pretty neat spot for keeping track of both of you crazy kids."

Chow grinned at Misty and took a seat as the train started to gain some momentum again. He hadn't been on this thing for what, two years now? And yet, it still felt as familiar as if he'd done it just last week. Strange what sort of things stuck with you sometimes, though to be fair, he had used this a lot when he lived in Canterlot, so there were that.

________________________________________________________________________________

@@cwhip9,

"Zecora you say? A name to bite notice in, I'm sure."

Zinthar didn't say much else as he examined the scene with the colt and the zebra, but the name were something he'd try to keep in mind for another time. Ideally he shouldn't have to do anything with this beyond knowing who he addressed, though you never knew. Things could suddenly turn ugly, depending on exactly how much she knew of him.

"How c-could I ever forget the name of my home? It is... Was, called Ormenhalt. Apparently it meant something where the original settlers of the town came from, but I can't remember what, And it's not like it really matters either."

Cover-up lowered his head and instead of taking tea, made a stance that befitted more the downward spin his mood had started to take than before, which fortunately made him stop crying, but it could be easily argued that this really wasn't an improvement. He did take the cup of tea given to him though, even if he wasn't currently drinking from it.

____________________________________________________________________________

@@Seamore Sandwich,

"Another angle of the great balance that needs maintained."

Zhu went silent again after that and moved over towards the barrel where Vivid were stashed in, thinking over how it must be for the Creator to carry this side of their burden.

For a burden it often felt like, at least to him, and so it had for the one other creature of balance he had seen, though that one weren't maintaining the parts he did either, but instead had to care for emotions. Specifically love and hatred, which were odd to him, but according to the old griffin, emotions were a broad scale with many aspects that needed dedication it seemed, so those were sectioned between several beings, though he had never found others than her.

Truth be told, he assumed that she were no longer either. Not all of their profession lived long, with several simply getting replaced as time went on, and in her case, even if she had been granted a longer lifespan, the rising of Princess Cadence would have likely made her purpose null regardless, and given her the sleep she had well deserved. It was just a theory of course, but the princess had become part of that essential, and though she practiced love, hatred still managed to spread well.

Potentially, it had made her an inadvertent part of the balance, just as Luna and Celestia were of light and dark, though he supposed that if this were true, she would know little of it. She were still terribly young and had much to learn, so this knowledge might take a long time and only if it were true.

He hoped for her sake that it were not so, as the burden of carrying the weight of things could feel like it was drowning you, and especially when it came to the moral side of what you had to do for the greater picture, but they would see he supposed. She were still terribly young, and with the shroud lifting only minutes ago, it were impossible for him to dive further into things. Though if she really were one of them, he'd likely not be able to see anything. Both the Creator and Anitha had been blank spots for him, and he had his suspicions now that perhaps thsi were a mark of their kind.

But, there'd be time to think of this and many more things in the times ahead. For now, as he put down Charlie's stick next to the barrel - He would not risk loosing this on the travel - he focused more on the past rather than the potential future, and of the theories he had of those that shared their general purpose, and after placing the stick turned to the Creator and looked at him with  a nod.

"I am ready to be educated, Creator."

______________________________________________________________________________

@@Seamore Sandwich,

@@Denim&Venom,

Null and Void looked with big eyes as Princess Celestia left for the castle, then back at one another with mixed reactions. Void seemed more nervous than usual, not sure what to think when being near this princess, whilst Null was visibly excited.

"The Princess sis. This couldn't be better."

"W-what do you mean? YOu mean because s-she's here to help the town?"

"Well yeah, that too, but I'm thinking more long term. We were here to make our case for being allowed to live in Equestria, right? What better way to start that off than by the regent herself being in a town that we've tried to help out? Can you think of a better first impression?"

Void felt a small smile spread on her muzzle as she shook her head.

"Come on, we better keep this going then. Both for them and for us, alright? Pack the naginata and we'll help out with the newcomers I'd say. They seem sectioned so... You take the earth ponies, I'll go to help the pegasi?"

"Okay Null, just remember, don't a-accidentally go too close to the unicorns, or magical equipment, o-okay?"

"Yeah yeah, I know. Can't have us stopping something or somepony from working right right now. Regardless, let's get a move on, and then we'll meet up here when we're done with the worst, alright?"

Void nodded and started to pack down her naginata, whilst Null went off towards the pegasi, at which point she'd ask how she could help. In case they wouldn't answer because she were missing a wing and some pegasi could get kinda snobby in it, she'd just run towards the north side of town right away and ask there instead. Whatever would work here basically to make them interact and seem as busy/helpful as possible, even if Null started it off badly by accidentally hitting somepony on the way there. A small bump, but in case it was one of the changelings from before, it'd be a bother considering the anti.magic she and her sister radiated.

_________________________________________________________________________

@@Seamore Sandwich,

@@P-Jay,

"I think reality is what you make of it, but if form is the only thing you need, there are ways around that you know. But first, Charlie, you say that the beast is gone then, but you got launched here for some reason? And that you feel like you are getting moved?

I cannot say how you are here, though perhaps you simply had to go to a dream and I was the only one left that technically slept in the area.but your kind are strange to predict, so I reserve the right to be wrong about this. The rest is anypony's guess, but at least you have landed in a somewhat safe haven, though this likely means that we need to get going, yes? I can imagine you need to be waiting at the portal, eager for your new body when I return to life and strength."

There would be time for this likely, as the travel through this place seemed to take little real time, and she needed at the very least an hour to fully return to life anyway, so they could do this and prepare, though, perhaps she should explain to their companion first about this, as he hadn't been here earlier after all.

"Perhaps I should explain: The portal I refer to is a weak spot between dream and reality that we have stumbled upon before, and resides near where I have stashed the prepared body for Charlie here. A place where he'd be well off waiting for me, or at least somewhere near it, so that I could transport his spirit, but... It could be an interesting place for you as well. Depending on if Charlie here thinks this the best usage of our time that is."

__________________________________________________________________________

@@asdfmovienerd39,

The pony and the griffin both  jumped a little in place when the voice of Zen broke through. The pony that had sneaked around seemed to calm faster, and picked up the roll of bandages that he had lost from the saddlebag's sudden movement after this, though the griffin took a bit longer. As in, not until she saw the head of the pony that had approached her and the nurse that had been sent along with her, in case they found some injured ponies that hadn't come along towards the hospital or the shelters whilst at it.

"O-Oh, hey there. Help? I guess that... Yes."

The griffin were the one to speak, though she fumbled over her words to begin with before she got herself int he right state of mind again.

"The ponies are in town, and are getting the help from the doctors they have, but Nurse Needle and I were asked if we could gather up some things they left behind. If you could help with that perhaps, that would be good. The doctors needs some of these things there far as I know.

Oh, right. my name's Florence by the way. I know it seems weird with a griffin helping here, but... Long story."

________________________________________________________________________

@@EQ_Theta,

"I don't hurt. I make things go away."

With that, Omen opened a gate underneath the currently damaged alpha, using the measurements she had made before, which should well fit it. It was doubtful that it would go down as easily normally, but it had just gotten another of its flock tossed at it, which had left it damaged and potential a little disoriented. It would be as good a moment to do this as any other.

That it were damaged would regularly made her pause though, as Mother didn't want her to do anything bad to especially hurt beings, but she knew timberwolves enough to have seen them put themselves back together again, and act as if nothing much had happened. Sometimes, they even gathered into a larger one, which were fairly weird in her eyes, but it proved the point to her now at least that sending some of them away wouldn't do much bad. It would just have them get out of the way for a time until they returned on their own, and when they did, the alpha would have repaired itself a long time ago.

At least, that was the theory. She might have to find it later and see again, to make sure. She had its *scent* now, so it wouldn't be much of a bother. Remembering it might be though, but they'd see what went to the side during whatever things may happen with the longma. The more hectic things went, the less likely it were for her to cling on to this memory after all, or at least it could take some days before it resurfaced.

___________________________________________________________

@@asdfmovienerd39,

@@Flinp,

@@~Phoenix~,

"It is hard not to appreciate nature when you are a piece of it."

Briar rose as the new pony suddenly entered their midst. and turned towards him with a bow and a big, toothy grin that properly showed off the razor-sharp teeth. Other than that, he looked rather friendly in it, especially as he bowed towards this newcomer.

"Briar Trapjaw, at your service. Might I ask what brings you to our merry little gathering my friend?"

His ears twitched, and he *looked* off to the right, keeping his ears stuiff as he once again heard a faint voice that seemed to get nearer. Something about... A clock? That couldn't be right, could it.

"Perhaps we may speak on the move? It would appear others are in this forest, and with the recent development in Ponyville... It might be for the better to check up on them. At least in my humble opinion. Perhaps you would be so kind as to join us Phoenix? Your presence would be most appreciated, and I would feel bad for leaving somepony alone out here."

He would wait a bit from an answer from Phoenix and the new, unknown pony, but eventually he would make his way towards the other ponies that were vaguely possible to hear. He doubted the others could hear it as well as him, considering his ears were rather sensitive, but it might be that others picked up on things and would know more exactly where he walked before he reached there.

Hopefully, nopony would try and lend him a hoof going there though. He did not overly enjoy being perceived as helpless simply because he could not see.

@@asdfmovienerd39,

Surre thing. Just edit your post, mighty easy. Shouldn't change my response. ^^

@@asdfmovienerd39,

You wrote wrong in your post, Zen is with Florence, Deadpan is with the ones at the camp.

@@asdfmovienerd39,

@@Flinp,

@@~Phoenix~,

And for the record, since this is leading into the main arc - which I hadn't expected it was supposed to from the start - I need to fix something timeline wise with Briar, but I will ask what you three think will work the smoothest.

Either it will be an hour later, after the ponies in town have been checked up on thourougly since I can't imagine the clock being looked for whilst there is still that going on in town, or it is the day after. The day after would fit in with some timeline I have previously established with Seamore, where they the day after started to repair on the town and that'd be a good time to look for the clock parts, so I do lean towards this, but I will ask what works the better for the rest of you, just to make it seem less dictatorial.

@@~Phoenix~,

@@Flinp,

We are in the Everfree Forest, yes, though if you want for us to be dragged towards town sorta soon'ish Phoenix, please let me know, so that I can make things fit for @@asdfmovienerd39, as well, since he didn't want Deadpan to be part of the main story-line too. ^^ I can branch him away from things when the town gets into sight if it is, I just need to be sorta prepared for it.

@@~Phoenix~,

@@asdfmovienerd39,

"Camping out is a pleasure that I don't notice that many enjoying anymore, sadly. The larger cities grow populated, and they remove themselves from this more and more, fearing what could hide out here.

Now, I will not romanticize the outdoors too much and claim that it does not have its dangers, as that would be a blatant lie, but there is just so much to gain out here of experiences that the cities lack. The calm, the gentle sounds, the feeling of the moonlight bathe you in it's glow, and waking up to a warm world, covered in a thin layer of morning dew..."

Briar trailed off, getting himself lost in memories for a minute or so before continuing.

"I can imagine that for you, and most others, the sight of these things must be of great beauty too. Mother Gaea knows that I have wondered many a time what it must be like myself, as I can only feel, smell and listen, but from what others tells me there are sights there that is a pity to miss. Especially in some of the places I have visited beyond the borders of Equestria.

*sigh* How I hope I can find at least the Steppes of Nal'Geroh again, and see the rising doombats..."

He seemed to ahve resorted to speaking to himself again there near the end, but he hardly realized. He spent so much time speaking with himself as it were prior to this place that it made him wander on with not a listener beyond him, and the indifferent trees he walked amongst, more often that he cared to think off. Certainly, he had others to care for and speak with now, but you did n ot get rid of old habits as simple as a switch of a button. It would take a long time, and frankly, this might even stick around for the long haul.

Considering the amount of issues one might have at times, this were not so bad, but it did illustrate how much he conversed with himself. After all, what, other than this fault of his, would make him speak to himself about how much he spoke to himself? Seemed like something one would do when the only conversational partner they would have were their own, though he could be wrong. Might just be that he overthought things.

@,

"Awh, and here I thought I'd be able to tie you up and toss you in the cart so I'd get some peace and quiet."

Chow grinned at Misty, as the little rascal said she'd want to hang 'round him when they were riding the train. Why he wasn't sure, but hey, not like he was sure why the two of them wanted to hang after they reached Canterlot either - based on what they said - and he didn't care much either. Frankly he was just happy to have some ponies around that didn't want to shoo him away for being weird, or in cases like Fluttershy, for hunting animals.

Especially now that he had gotten himself into returning to Canterlot were he going to need that, as that town was not friendly on the isolated. Not like they went attacking on him or anything, that'd be silly, but more like the overall feeling of being alone really crushed you there amidst the abundance of parties, walking mates, nobles talking etc. Really began to grind your gears after a while.

But, no more time to think on that. The train were approaching, and he stepped up on the bit of wod that marked the *station stop* to await it slowing down and catching them on, which it did shortly after. From the looks of things it had the empty, open train-car with it too for stuff like this wagon as he had thought at a distance, so that were good, but before he had to count his blessings, he had to get some tickets for the three of them, and one for the cart of course.

"Back in a jiffy, alright?"

He didn't wait for an answer before he went to the regular entrance and found himself face to face with the conductor. It was pretty standard after that: He bought some tickets, using some of the bits he had managed to get along with him before getting out of Ponyville earlier, and soon after were back with Misty and Astral, whom he each gave a ticket before hauling the cart in place and tying it down.

He considered telling about the situation in ponyville, but this train wasn't going that way currently it seemed, so it was probably best to not try and spread worry 'round the train and instead just wait until they got to Canterlot, at which point he could inform the main station. They'd get the word out to where it mattered.

"Alright, think that short of a rhino charging you, you should be secured Astral... Perhaps an ill tempered bull could do the trick also, but I'm not thinking either of 'em would charge a moving train, so you'll be fine. Enjoy the view until we reach Canterlot, or alternatively, have a nice nap."

Chow grinned as Astral and gave her a little scout-greeting before turning around and signalling for Misty to follow.

"Come on, let's see if we can't find a seat, eh? Train's gonna start moving again any second now."

__________________________________________________________________________

@@Krystalalchemist,

Jelly looked with big eyes as Krystal stained the cloud with ooze, and subsequently removed it again. Her daddy had always told her of all sorts of strange, fascinating creatures out in the world that filled her with wonder and excitement to hear about, but through it all she had never heard of a goo creature like this, and every new thing she saw - no matter how mundane it looked - were wondrous and mysterious to her. Like new Daring Do books, or whenever her school went on trips to the museum in Canterlot.

"So cool..."

It took a bit more before she got out of it and stopped looking up at Krystal with almost a glimmer going over her eyes, but eventually she did, and turned around to the cloud, which she flew up on and poked around for a little bit before finding a good spot to go for. Well, that, and poking to see if there were more goo, which didn't seem to be the case at that point. She were curious how it felt since by some miracle, she hadn't been hit thus far, but that'd have to be a mystery for a nother time it seemed as she withdrew her small pocket knife and started to make a hole in the top of the cloud.

it were about half the size of her head to make sure that it wouldn't just spill out with like it were nothing, but it'd be good enough for anypony wanting to put down a hoof, or other appendages, and have a taste of the rich, fresh strawberry jelly. She almost took the first taste, but Krystal had asked, and daddy always taught her to - amongst other things - let others needs come before her own. Besides, as she felt Gary rummage around her mane, she had to stop and pull back a little.

"All set, just don't toss the bit of cloud away please. need it to plug it afterwards."

She had reached the ground again when Gary popped his fuzzy little head out from her mane and looked at Krystal with the two red eyes focused on him.

He was a fairly big spider, and clearly not a local kind as the ones in the Everfree Forest tended to be the more common variety with eight eyes and just a typical exoskeleton, whereas he had only two eyes, were so covered in grey fur that you couldn't see his body beneath, and without the extra part that tended to include the overly big silk gland, he could easily be mistaken for a dust-bunny with eight legs.

Regardless, he kept his eyes on Krystal, and kept the majority of himself hidden within his friend's mane, though the look he gave towards the goo pony carried more of a disinterested glare than anything else. But what else could one expect when the *pony* was too big for him to eat, and didn't seem threatening thus far?

__________________________________________________________________________

@@Frosty Frost,

@@Summer Breeze,

"Please, calm yourself little one, they meant to harm with it. They are simply playing around and did not see you there."

Lyriel knelt down so that she could see the unknown pony more in the eyes, though kept a little distance as the angry equine could potentially end up hitting her if it were. By accident she were sure of, but still, it would not be something she'd want, and especially not when faced with another that might have gotten here by accident. At least, that were what she would assume, since from what Nerzhei had told them, ponies should not be here in dragon country.

Waiting for the pony to no longer stomp around, Lyriel brushed some of the sand that had been dumped on her off in silence, and stole a glance towards the others, were Blitz were still clinging to Frosty's neck and giggling, looking pleasantly happy at the moment. In fact, it seemed they all three were, which were a good thing after the day of strange happenings they had been through.

The sand didn't bother her really, as it were essentially just earth that were tossed upon her, though the smell of the volcanic ash were rather unfamiliar and slightly off-putting. A little too... Spicy in the smell, if you could say so, for her taste. Still, it was nothing major, and as she let the three ponies behind her enjoy their games, she returned her focus entirely on this new one.

The changeling would be able to feel Lyriel's emotions, much like any pony's, though love were not a present feeling as such. Calm, joy, happieness and for her, a tinge of worry, were the more present ones, with none that would indicate aggression, so the humanoid woman was likely not a threat for the small being. At least she would not seem like it from that perspective.

______________________________________________________________________________

@@Seamore Sandwich,

Before h left the town, the sentence went into his mind and Zhu stopped himself, though he didn't turn around. He simply waited in place as he guided the winds to pick up the stick and quickly get it towards him, at which point he would stash it in his robes. What he had to say about this would remain unheard until he reached the Creator though, at which point he would rise his head and look at the enormous creature whilst putting down the bin containing the slowly-resurrecting mare of demons.

"Only one of the returned gives cause for concern. A kitsune, young or small of stature with a future that could branch towards a darkness that could engulf several towns, or one where she could be a protector that others would seek shelter behind when trouble arrived. More paths leads to darkness than light, but with some guidance, perhaps she may yet be of good service to the country, and the balance as a whole. Much like the mare of demons.

You know of her influence on the scales, yes? A being with magic that weighs on the side of darkness  but whose actions seem to be that of good? Even if I don't yet know what her future brings, as I have yet to set eyes upon her after the shroud have now lifted, I doubt her influence would wane, as I assume you know as well as I do the importance of having a weight you can place on the side of evil, that does not act accordingly? The amount of true evil that can be toned down whilst still maintaining the balance is impossible to ignore for me at least.

I can imagine her needing something to keep her on the narrow path when she returns though, but I am prepared. I have found things since I stumbled upon her those many years past that will guide her well, though I suppose you are correct. She haves other deals to handle first when she returns, just like the citizens of Ponyville and... Celestia, does."

His words silenced for a brief moment as he thought over the presence of the princess before. Many thoughts emerged of what he had to do there, and how to explain it as he were bound to be found by her eventually now, but as with before, he pushed them aside and focused on the here and now. Or perhaps, depending on how the Creator would approach things, the there and then.

"Have you yet wondered about what time might come after this, or have you already glanced at what is to come, Creator? I have no certainty if the shroud over my eyes halted your travels through time as well."

________________________________________________________________________

@@Seamore Sandwich,

@@P-Jay,

"I have died several times, and I can assure you, returning me to life takes more time than a few seconds. At best, I would need an hour. At worst, several weeks, though I hope it won't be that long. I have things to do and deals to uphold.

As to your worries, I would think them valid, yet how do you know for certain that you do not contain a soul,. or would gain one in time?

It is rare, but I have encountered a few times when some objects have gained consciousness and developed a soul over the years. I cannot say I know how it happens, but I wouldn't rule out that the conviction of you being alive, combined with the higher sentience and emotional state that beings like ponies usually have on their own play a part in it.

And before you ask, I know those things had souls, because I were there when they died, and I helped guide their spirits onwards. But still, I have no idea how this happens, I have only theories, and flimsy ones at best."

Vivid went silent and walked towards the dream-illusion a little, thinking over something that had occurred to her before hearing a familiar voice to the side. Not one she had heard for more than a single visit, and then afterwards in the mind of the beast, as she were getting pressured from it trying to tear her from its being, but it were one that stuck out as she turned towards its originator, and further down saw the dream spirit that had once visited her dream, along with the plant. What were their names again though? Briar and...

"Charlie? How did you end up here, in my dream? And more importantly, does this mean that the endeavors were not for nothing? Is the creature gone?"

__________________________________________________________________

@@EQ_Theta,

The two wolves wouldn't get much of a chance to get near her as before they reached her, in mid-jump, a gate appeared in front of each of her assailants, which left them inside the shadowy realm of her kind as the gates closed behind them again. They'd be transported to some random place after this, though where exactly they'd go from the gates that she had then opened in the shadowy realms they could escape from were anypony's guess. Hopefully somewhere near, without being too near, though within being in there to direct it better there wasn't any way she could be sure.

Regardless, she stood unfazed as those who had come for her went away, tilting her head and looking around towards the other wolves and wondering where they'd go next. Hopefully not towards Sen and Lin again, but wild animals like these were hard to understand. They seemed to run just on aggression, but what did she really know about this sort? Pathetically little was one way to answer that, but be that as it may, she were trying to learn at least.

"Strange creatures."

_________________________________________________________________________

@@asdfmovienerd39,

"Okay, this should hopefully be the last one then."

The voice of the female rummaging around the remains of the emergency field hospital in the Everfree Forest outskirts were largely unheard by others. Mainly because she were, far as she knew at least, alone there, but that was of little concern to her as she kept on packing up the stretchers and such that hadn't been taken along as the locals had been transported to the safe shelters. There wasn't really that much, but it had been enough to make this her second time here after the doctors had asked her if she'd help, which she had accepted quickly. It gave her the chance to get a little away from watching her still-unconscious uncle, as well as the weird looks the ponies gave her now and again, which were a relief. She knew they weren't used to griffins in this area, but really, it didn't make it feel any better in the long run.

She were a rather peaceful one, regardless of her armor, though you could argue that the light armor that only covered her torso, shoulders and knees weren't really an indicator of anything else than caution either. Especially as the colour of the metal were a special coating of rainbow colour, that changed depending on what angle you looked at it from. A gift from some years past to the white griffin with the grey specks here and there - primarily on her wings - that some found odd before meeting her, but made a good deal more sense when you looked at her long tail-feathers, that adorned the myriad of colors associated with this color-pallet in the sky. Rather strange looking for some, but it wasn't like she could decide her own genetics after all.

A table that had to be folded down were her main focus as somepony seemed to get closer, though she didn't take much notice of it unless the pony made her presence known. She really should have, but she still had a lot of things rummaging through her head, so she hadn't the focus to also be completely aware of everything around her right now. Which just made it good that it wasn't a timberwolf that were sneaking up on her, but instead a member of an overall friendly race, though who were to say what her intentions might be?

@@asdfmovienerd39,

I'm writing something that you can use regarding Zen now actually, should be done soon. As for Deadpan, just let him wander in and we can take it from there. ^^ Introduce them in what ways you find fitting too.