EQ_Theta

@ I've decided to get Summer and Scarlet back into the story with Gem Sharpener (Ink-Brony's character) so Night Eyes addresses them again to help the story move along. I might need some help GM'ing this part, though.

@ "I might have seen a stall being run by somepony from Japon somewhere around here. As for the rest, I'll ask around. Maybe those two ponies over there might know about those ingredients." Night Eyes turned to two ponies away from the group, a pair comprised of one earth pony and one pegasus. Here's to hoping they might have eavesdropped a bit, even if it was frowned upon. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- @ Senlin was quite puzzled at the two. They had the reaction common with everyone else curious enough to ask about his bizarre appearance but they showed a kind of restraint or some level of control that others didn't possess. Curious but somehow, this made him slightly more open to casual conversation. "My name's Senlin. I'm a longma, a dragon for the most part but... well, with the body proportions of a pony. A hybrid if you prefer to call it that way. There are plenty of my kind far east past Equestria's borders but we're creatures of the forest; we don't have the fire breathing ability dragons are known for. What brings you to the fair?"

@ "Glad to hear the army's taking proactive measures to ramping up security. I'd imagine their reputation hasn't taken a complete nosedive given what happened. Anyway, I haven't been around the entire fair yet so I haven't seen the supplies you need but the day is still young. I'm sure someone around here has what you need. If you'd like, I could have a look and see if someone could help out. Are there any specific items you need or do you have a checklist?" Turns out there was some truth to headmaster's request or luck had something to do with the day's turn of events. Either way, Night Eyes wasn't going to complain. This already beats solitary observations or being somepony else's errand colt.

Welcome aboard! I suggest you join in with Senlin and Samurai since their part of the rp isn't moving along but it's up to you where in the story you want to hop in. Enjoy!

@ "Glad to see another friendly face around these parts. I'm Night Eyes from the Canterlot Observatory. How are you doing today?" If anything was apparent that day, it was Night Eyes being more open and less reserved than usual. Then again, he didn't trust too many ponies during his stay in school or in the observatory. It was much less tense than worrying about whoever is going to make him regret opening his mouth when he had something to get off his mind.

Yes you can! You're welcome to join!

@@Blitz Boom "I guess you can call them old-fashioned, stuck with the old ways in the hopes that they could preserve something that meant so much for them. I didn't think I'd be in the footsteps of those who left the forest but I still have plans to go back and explain my side of the story to them. I very likely wouldn't be allowed to stay with them again; when Lin and I have no more place to go home to, I'd like to come back here to Ponyville. Probably the best place I've been to and the best place to settle down and start again." Senlin gave himself a few moments to just sit and think about what could possibly happen in the future. He set the tail against his rear where his weight would hold the object steady and entered a meditative pose, claws perpendicular to each other and eyes closed. His mind now clear with focused with only the immediate objective of finding out who made the fake tail. "Still, I can't think ill for all of them. They brought me in and taught me everything I know today. Some will probably see reason."

@ Welcome! Feel free to jump into the story. Right now, there are two groups of characters already interacting with each other and you can pick whichever of the two you'd like your character to meet. @ I brought in another OC to help get the story going with reader8363. The conversation with Summer and Scarlet was started by Night Eyes. Here's a link for his profile: https://mlpforums.com/page/roleplay-characters/_/night-eyes-r9241

@@reader8363, @, "Maybe it might not be so bad this time around. I could probably strike up a conversation with a pony or two around and introduce you to them. We could both use the company of friends and this looks like a good place to start." And just then, Night Eyes spotted two ponies around the fairgrounds, a duo comprised of a pegasus and an earth pony. He wasn't the best at staring out a conversation when he had to purposefully do it but he had to at least give it a try. "Hi there! You both run a stall here or are you just having a look around the fair?" Night Eyes now hoped his first attempt at casual communication in a long time doesn't end badly this time.

@@reader8363, "Yes but I wasn't born here. I was originally from Cloudsdale but my family insisted on moving to Canterlot for a big business opportunity. I missed the Changeling invasion but I shudder to think what would have happened if I was there." Night Eyes eased his way around the crowds and wandered around the town square and examining each stall for something that could impress Travelture. It wasn't the easiest thing to do now that he realized he didn't know anything about his companion other than the ability to change forms. "I've been meaning to ask you something. Could you tell me more about yourself?"

@@Blitz Boom, There was no doubt in the back of Senlin's mind that there would be a chance he'd get to talk about his own clan to someone else. The only thing he didn't anticipate was he'd be doing so from a negative angle. Everyone had a bad side they didn't want anyone else to hear about and while Senlin thought himself to be the good guy, not everyone saw things that way. He stopped as the tail passed by a bench and sat down while grabbing on to the floating object. He didn't need to exert much effort to keeping it steady; his focus was on Omen and what he would reveal. "I didn't tell you the whole reason why I was out here looking for Lin. You see, desertion is abandonment, like leaving someone or something behind without the possibility of returning. Even though I want to go back with Lin, the clan goes by the old ways. They believed that leaving the forest was a choice that went against the blessing of those who came before us. They found a home for us, a place where we'd be safe and thrive, and choosing to leave permanently or leaving without notice was showing just how proud one was, that those who leave are too good for all that they were provided. I was told back then that when someone leaves, all traces of their existence kept in records were burned and their memories forgotten. I didn't believe it for a time but some stories turn out to be true. I saw someone's records burned and the elders agreed never to speak of the deserter again. When Lin disappeared, I begged my fellow clan members to look for her. Day and night they searched but they were unsuccessful. One day, they just gave up and told me to no longer continue the search. I was devastated but I couldn't give up on her.... I just couldn't tell anyone that I refused to give up." From there, Senlin simply stopped. His story wasn't over but while he downplayed his fear many times over, this was the one time he couldn't tell himself anything self-deprecating or sarcastic to ease his worries. He knew the truth and he knew it well. Most of all, he knew he shouldn't have lied about what would come next. There was nothing more to look forward to with his clan after finding Lin and all he could do right there and then was to fight back his tears.

@@reader8363, "I got freaked out there for a moment. I assumed you were one because you had similar abilities and the horn was like a changeling's. I guess you could say the same about everyone else at Canterlot. There was a changeling invasion here a while back and let's just say it was more than just a traumatic experience." Now that the misunderstanding was more or less cleared, the crowds dissipated and returned to what they were doing though going by what Night Eyes was seeing, they were still suspicious and those within close proximity kept a close watch. "I'll tell you what, let's have a walk around and I'll get you something to make up for that misunderstanding."

@@reader8363, It was no unicorn parlor trick, whatever Night Eyes was seeing. Travelture was no unicorn either and while the pegasus was still left stunned by what had just transpired, there was the ever looming fear that other ponies might have seen the creature that was Travelture. "You... You're a changeling?" Night Eyes had a look around and all the while, everyone's eyes were directed at them. He quickly whispered to Travelture: "between you and me, I don't know if everyone else is fine with seeing a changeling in public. I don't mind but everyone might so we have two options. We either fake a scenario with me chasing you into the alley behind me and I pretend to find your unicorn cover when you change appearance or we test the waters and see if anypony might call the royal guard. If it's the latter, I'll cover you when things go south. Your call."

@@reader8363, "I... Well... I don't have a stall. I'm here supervising and running 'logistics', or so says headmaster who I'm fairly certain just wants me to get out of the observatory for a while and doubt has direct contact with Princess Celestia on the matter." The pegasus reached out his right hoof towards the unicorn in uncommon fashion around Canterlot; most ponies don't usually shake hooves around town. "I'm Night Eyes. I work at the local observatory though I'm really a student who needs some on-the-job training. What's your name?"

@@reader8363 It wasn't exactly how Night Eyes would picture his day going: sent by headmaster to go around the fair and help with logistics. It got the pegasus to move around a bit outside of his usual post in the observatory but the sunlight was painful to his eyes what with them being adjusted for nighttime observations. He had his way of dealing with it, though, by using his wings as a visor and hiding his eyes, along with most of his face, in the shade. Well, at least there is some benefit to this. I get to try foreign foodstuffs and see the world in one convenient place... Still, hoping I could get through these next few days. His eyes wandered around, scanning each stall and thinking about how to go around the place in a possibly systematic manner, but they were too slow to react. He bumped head-first into a unicorn holding a map. Well, one who was holding a map. "Ugh... I'm terribly sorry about that."

No problem. The thread isn't gonna die out any time soon. Welcome aboard! Update: I'll have Night Eyes join in on the RP to get the story moving for characters Senlin isn't interacting with at the moment. He'll be there to get other characters to meet each other but won't be active when the story moves forward. Link to Night Eyes: https://mlpforums.com/page/roleplay-characters/_/night-eyes-r9241

@@Blitz Boom, Senlin thought long and hard, though it was difficult to do so while keeping his attention on the tail floating in front on him. There was that nagging feeling that he had always attended to: finding Lin and holding on to hope that they'd be reunited one day. But beyond that, he hadn't thought about it. It somehow made him insecure, perhaps even frightened at what the future would bring. They'd go home together but they might not be welcome. It was common to believe that they'd be left in the wilderness to fend for themselves as those who had done so before them, or possibly deemed no longer alive and should be forgotten. Then again, it may open up the possibility that the longma could possibly coexist with the ponies of Equestria. Until that day came, it kept the longma gripped in fear. "I... I don't know. When we find her, I could introduce you to her. She's a curious and naive one and always interested in meeting everyone and I bet you two would get along. Beyond that, I don't know. Maybe I'll make peace with my family and clan before finding out what they'd do with me and Lin. They don't take kindly to desertion."

@@Samurai Equine Senlin smiled at the prospect of bringing home a pet but he wouldn't know what to do with it other than give it some food. He didn't have the room to carry the fish wherever he went and there was very little chance that he'd find Lin and go home. "Thank you but I can't accept it. It might be detrimental for them in the long run since I probably won't be heading home once this fair is over. I came here to look for someone. Well, since we're here, you wouldn't have seen someone who looks identical to me? Brown hide, scaly, two stubs on the head? Maybe not in the fair but around town?"

Hello, Angel! Welcome to the forums full of awesome people! Feel free to have a look around, mingle, and most importantly, have fun!

Sad to hear they both died recently but it could be simply coincidental that they both had cancer and were 69 years old when they passed away. Wouldn't really go to the conspiracy theory route because of those reasons.

@@Blitz Boom, @@Seamore Sandwich, "Nothing drastic. We just want to know why they did it. Who knows? Maybe we can find out more about Lin's whereabouts, maybe save Stargazer some time and energy as well." The tail floated through the town, drawing even more attention from the townsponies. Eyes from every direction fixed on the tail, then the longma following it. If there weren't enough eyes drawn to him, it would be too soon. Still, the matter of juggling two different tasks at hand concerned Senlin. As much as he wanted to find Lin, there was still Discord and Omen to worry about. Sure, Omen could wait but it wasn't right for him to focus on his own matters when someone else's could be attended to. If the tail led close to Fluttershy's, maybe it was a chance to hit two birds with one stone, so to speak. For now, the tail simply floated through the main street, past a furniture store. "Omen, I've been meaning to ask you something." Senlin slowed his pace; enough to catch up to the tail and walk alongside Omen. "I'm sorry if this comes off as offensive to you but what would you have done if you didn't have a master? Like you had one but not anymore?"

@@Blitz Boom, @@Seamore Sandwich, "I guess we just follow this thing now." The tail levitated by way of magic, a kind foreign to him as his clan practiced alchemy; there were no unicorns or alicorns among his own. The instructions were simple enough to follow. Soon enough, the tail slowly floated away from the castle. "Thank you again for your help, Princess. I think it's time we part ways but should I find my sister, she'll be thrilled to hear about you!"

Oh I didn't notice it was closed. Sorry about that

Can I join? I'll be going with Skylight. https://mlpforums.com/page/roleplay-characters/_/skylight-r9241

@@Samurai Equine Aside from the food items and stone sculptures, nothing interested Senlin at the Griffonstone stall. He turned to a distant stall with the vendor yelling things with a foreign language. He approached this booth, a representative of a place called "Japon." Interesting... "Hi there! You really serious with this? A pet to go with or without a purchase?" Senlin was dumbfounded but it may just be the hospitality of this pony that could explain this. It was strange to say the least.