Bari

I like most ponies equally, but Cadence is pink. It's a color I'm fond of. So, uh, sure.

I like a lot of ponies. :L

I like Cadence. :3

I'm inclined to agree with you.

Sounds like a fun idea to me. I hope people will take an interest, but not too much interest. Wouldn't want you to get swarmed.

Okay, that's really adorable. Thank you very much for drawing this for me. I really like it. I love the way you wrote her name. Especially the heart. Only one problem, though. You drew her cutie mark on backwards. But it's okay.

I'd like for you to draw my OC, Lapis Lazuli, with a sword. The sword is to be strapped to his left shoulder, sort of like this. The sword should look like this, but with the sheath in the second picture. I'd like for the sword to be in the sheath, of course. You can find the link to his profile down in my signature. There you will find a few pictures and his color palette. Thank you for your time.

I'd like for you to draw my OC, Lapis Lazuli, with a sword. The sword is to be strapped to his left shoulder, sort of like this. The sword should look like this, but with the sheath in the second picture. I'd like for the sword to be in the sheath, of course. You can find the link to his profile down in my signature. There you will find a few pictures and his color palette. Thank you in advance.

I'd like for you to draw a colored picture of my OC, Asteria. If possible, I'd like for you to draw her a little older. The picture of her are only her as a filly. Try to age her up 4 years. The pose is up to you, but I prefer her to be standing up or something. The link to her profile is this, and it has a few pictures of her along with her color palette. http://mlpforums.com/page/roleplay-characters/_/asteria-r1062

Hello, I like your art. If it's possible, I'd like for you to draw an older version of my OC, Asteria. Here is the link to her profile. In it, you can find a few pictures of her along with a color palette. http://mlpforums.com/page/roleplay-characters/_/asteria-r1062

+1 Pinkie Pie, Bon Bon, Cadence -1 Rainbow Dash, Lyra, Luna

+ 1 Pinkie Pie, Bon Bon, and Cadence -1 Rainbow Dash, Octavia, and Luna

+ Pinkie Pie - Discord

After he had finished telling Midnight what she wanted to know, Lapis watched the mare and studied her as best he could. It seemed as though the blade had been pulled back a little bit while he had been speaking. This made something in his chest flutter for a second. They both stood there, staring into each other eyes, but then it seemed Midnight had made whatever decision she needed to, and returned the sword back to where it was. The mare announced it was time to move out. Lapis took in her explanation with a quick nod. It made perfect sense to him, somehow. Midnight approached a desk and retrieved from within it a dagger. “Hmm, I don’t suppose you have something for me, do you? Maybe something like what you're carrying?” he said, meaning the saddlebag, not the dagger. But she merely tossed him the sword after explaining why she had it. A bit surprised, Lapis did his best to catch it, almost dropping it on the ground. Doing his best to mimic how Midnight had strapped on her dagger, Lapis took the strap and swung it over his neck and let it rest on his left shoulder. After fiddling with it for a few seconds, it fit snuggly. He doubted he’d be needing it, and he certainly only had the barest idea of how to use it, but Midnight had been kind enough to loan it to him, so he might as well take it. Lapis laughed silently about being a ‘sluggish pony’. Back home, speed was important in case of monsters or cave-ins. So he was fairly certain he could keep up with a brisk pace. The mare smiled at him before quickly switching to a serious expression. Lapis followed her as she made her way to the door to the outside. He glanced briefly from side to side, taking in his hostess’s home. It seemed a simple place, basically what he’d have. As they got to the door, Lapis felt a slight chill run along his spine. Outside the door was the ruins of a village. But not just any ruins. Something didn’t sit right with Lapis. This village almost looked familiar. But not. The buildings were all of a style unfamiliar to him, and yet he recognized them for what they were. This place seemed like the ruins found near Vanhoover. Except, despite the state of this place, it was far more intact than what was found buried deep in the snow and tundra long forgotten. And Midnight’s word did not help to ease his sudden unsureness. He chose to stop thinking about it for a bit. It was best to focus, especially since Midnight felt like filling up the intervening time of their journey with talk. But Midnight decided to start by insulting him. It certainly made him feel bad. Though, the words seemed to hold much truth. He felt he could accept them instead of denying them the way he would have any time before now. “Gee, I didn’t know it was like that. Well, it’s good to know where I need improvement.” he mumble to himself, not knowing if the mare could hear him. He kept up pace with her, following her movement as exactly as he could. His main focus was getting Asteria back. That was it. But Midnight clearly felt he needed to know some things. With a quick twist, she was facing him, and Lapis fought back a startled yelp. Her words spun around in his head, mostly seeming a bit too much for him. He merely took in the information for later study, if at all. At this point, he realized this was too much to study as they went along, so he made himself just follow and listen. As they came to a building and entered it, the cold seemed to subside. The darkness was warm and inviting, like sleep. But he fought the urge to drift. This place was also creepy. Not exactly a place where one is supposed to sleep. Especially the scratching noise that bothered his guide. Midnight kept on talking as they went a different path, and Lapis tried to make sense of it. She was probably telling him all this because it was of some importance. Suddenly, they were at another door, and Midnight seemed uneasy once more. As they made their way through the room, a soft noise talked to them. It urged them to take a dip in the water, which was probably a bad idea. Lapis turned a bit, despite Midnight’s warning, to see the source. It was the cat from earlier. And from when Lapis wrote in the book. Lapis made to turn away, trying not to process what it meant, but Midnight stopped moving completely. As the cat spoke, a few things clicked in his head. The mare beside him hopefully had some sort of plan if she was going to have him deal with the cat. Either way, he needed to do something. “So, I’m not crazy? There really is a large talking cat that has my filly? Say, you, Bringer. What do you need her for, anyway? To make you cupcakes or something? Or write notes for you? I honestly can’t see what you’d want from her. Now, riddles and jokes, right? I don’t know if I can, but let’s just go for it.” Lapis said a tad amused at this situation. After a point, one gives up trying to make things work in their head how they’re supposed to go. Lapis tapped his chin a few times, trying his best to remember the joke book he had read once not too long ago while waiting in line at a bookstore. “What did the cat say when he lost all his bits? I’m paw! What’s more clever than a talking cat? A spelling bee!” he said, feeling incredibly stupid. These jokes were awful... He hoped the riddles he could think up would be at least a little better. “How about a few riddles? I’ll name 3 and see if you can answer them, alright?” He cleared his throat and recited some of the riddles he knew. “What goes around the world but stays in the corner?” he said, realizing this one might be a bit easy. “No sooner spoken than broken. What is it?” This one was probably easy, too. “If you throw me from the window, I will leave a grieving wife. Bring me back, but in the door, and you'll see someone giving life! What am I?” he asked, thinking this one might keep Bringer busy long enough for Midnight to do whatever it was she had planned. Dreamer watched with patience as to what Bringer was up to. He faced her, grin widening. It was both strange and amusing at the same time. The cat’s voice came from all around her, so she didn’t know if what she faced was really the cat. His words confused her. They didn’t make much sense. It was clear that Bringer wasn’t readable after all. How wasn’t she a normal pony? She was pretty sure was as normal as they came. Or something. What could Bringer mean? And what did he want to trade? Just questions? And then, she was Asteria again. And the cat before her was Wraith. What a strange name. But wasn’t any name strange to those who were unused to it? And Wraith wasn’t darkness. If that was true, then Asteria hadn’t broken her promise to Scarlet yet. She really hoped Wraith wasn’t lying again. She simply nodded along to the cat’s words, absorbing them as they came. Bringing things together, what an odd but interesting idea. All of it sounded lovely, and somehow possible, too. Could she, a little filly, really help someone like Wraith? “Well, okay.” she said, as though she hadn’t even given it a thought. Was she being reckless? Was this really the best course of action? Were there other options she was unable to see? But she couldn’t answer any of them. No one else was here with her to provide an answer, either. So she simply had to accept. “We are friends. Friends help friends when they need it. What kind of friend would I be to refuse? It’s nothing dangerous, right? And nopony will get hurt at any point? If you can guarantee that, I will promise to help you, Wraith.” Asteria said, heart swirling with uncertainty. What could she do that Wraith could not do himself?

Who's that?

Something the matter, Vissy? If you already stated something related to it, I, um... I haven't been visiting the GCT for a while. o3o So what's up, pal?

Lapis felt a bit silly as Midnight addressed the issue of the sword. She was just a writer. Though, he had honestly asked to know if this area was dangerous or not. Perhaps he should've just asked plainly. But either way, Midnight made no mention of something along those lines. He'd still have to ask, clearly this time. As the mare approached the sword, it seemed as though her voice took a slightly dangerous edge to it. The beginnings of worry entered his gut. He feared he had offended his hostess. He was about to express an apology before she actually drew the thing from its sheath. It appeared to be a marvelous looking weapon. Its gleam held his eyes. He watched both the sword and its mistress together as one, still listening to the mare. In only a moment, the blade was at his neck. Lapis' eyes went wide with fear for a few seconds. There was a big difference between being cut and being obliterated. If Midnight intended to kill him, he doubted he'd come out the winner. The way she explained her ownership of the sword made him feel as though Midnight expected him to try and hurt her. But why would she think that? She told him to not move. To stay calm. Maybe this was a test. He could pass a test. At least, he hoped he could. Dying now would mean he couldn't go after Asteria. So it was in his best interest to cooperate. It was true, though. He could see the blade alright. It was a sharp piece of metal aim at his throat. A lovely work of craftsmanship. He wondered briefly if its metal was extracted from Grass Valley or any of the neighboring mines. He would have asked, but it was clear he should have been focusing on the issue at hoof, and not a silly sword. But the thing had caught and held his eye. He did need to know why a writer would have a sword. And then, he thought about her words. She almost seemed irritated he had gotten distracted. Or maybe that he had regained his composure so quickly. Sometimes he forgot it was normal to stay one emotion for a while. Underneath his cold exterior, he was something of a mixture of emotions at all times. And of course, Asteria had been foalnapped before. Not that it happened always, but it wasn't something especially new. He hadn't been himself while writing. Or maybe the idea she was in some other world he could not reach affected him deeply. He truly did not know. Emotions were not his specialty. Books were. If Asteria were here, she might have been able to tell him what was going on with him. But since she wasn't, finding her quickly was the best course of action. Now was the time to answer questions. Always questions. Life was full of those. And he seemed to be the one who needed to answer them. Why didn't he get answers? It mattered not. At least for the time being. Trying his best not to lean forward, or even move at all, Lapis spoke as clearly as he could. “I'm not really sure where the words I wrote came from. I'm not sure of much things in regards to the book. You see, it was an almost empty book. It.... It called to me. Midnight, I've never told anyone this, but I feel I need to if I am to explain properly. My cutie mark. It is a closed book. It is closed because there are no words on its pages.” Lapis tried to stop himself, but holding it in for all this time was wearing away at him. “I am much like an empty book. And as I wrote in this book with so few words, the pictures came to me. I just wrote, the pencil guided by some sort of half dream. So, beyond the two ponies I recognize, Asteria and Magicon, it makes very little sense indeed. Of course, I perfectly understood the first chapter I had wrote. That had actually happened to me. I was there, at least. If I may ask, who do I remind you of? And I know little of dreams. I think they're just simple images that come to mind while asleep. From much of the nightmares I've had, I'd say they're unhelpful.” Lapis said thoughtfully. The presence of the sword was making him a little shaky. He tried to act casual, though. Worrying about it would only make it harder to speak. “I also know little about dragons. I fled from one once, and that's about it. Unless you mean scholarly. I've read a few books on them, if only to prepare myself in case of an unfortunate encounter. I'm not a dragonologist, though, so please don't quiz me.” Lapis said in a failed attempt at humor. He felt a bit of heat on his cheeks and hoped Midnight wouldn't notice. “Although, I was told a story about a dragon. And a guardian of some sort as well. It was only yesterday, so I shouldn't have too hard a time relating it if you wish.” He took a deep breath and summarized Dusky's story for Midnight. He felt as though she might know it, though. “Other than that, I really don't know much else.” Just like Midnight's eyes, Lapis' were a swirl of emotions. Except his were a mixture of fear, confusion, curiosity, and admiration. But his expression might have been described as one of embarrassment. Dreamer watched with concern as Bringer disappeared. Her ears perked up as the cat began to speak. It seemed alright that her answer was wrong. It had amused Bringer, and that was of a higher value. Dreamer hadn't thought of the Ocean of Nightmares as something one would even conceive of eating. But maybe Bringer secretly wanted to eat it? And then gain its powers! But she shook her head. That was a silly idea. It saddened her that Bringer was unable to taste food. Bringer's longing almost broke her heart. Almost. She still needed to remain separate from darkness. But was Bringer darkness? The cat's voice grew nearer. Dreamer tried not to shiver. She fought back the urge to reach out and hug the cat. This was growing to be bothersome. She was almost confused with herself. Why did she feel so much sympathy for Bringer? What did she owe Bringer? Or for that matter, what did she owe Scarlet? How much did her promise mean? Her emotions were not making sense. She waited for something to happen. Something always seemed to happen when Bringer disappeared. The voice had gone silent. Suddenly, darkness invaded Dreamer's eyes. Where had the light gone? Everything seemed to stop, as if the Ocean itself were holding its breath. A deeper shadow passed by, and Dreamer thought it was Bringer. The floor shifted, and behind her, she felt something like sandpaper go up her back. She shivered this time. What in the name of Celestia was it? Thinking back, she remembered that cats had rough tongues, and Dreamer blushed a little. Bringer had licked her. Was it some sort of sign of affection? She thought on it for a good while before Bringer had decided to speak up. Although, it might have only been a few seconds. She was starting to lose track of time in this nightmare realm. Dreamer thought on it for a moment. What kind of experiment would it be? She had a feeling it might not be something safe. How does one test if something is real? By causing it pain, no doubt. She was still uncertain about Bringer. Maybe not a friend, but was he really a foe? He hadn't treated her as kindly as she would have liked, but it was better than other times she'd been captured. This honestly wasn't the first time someone decided to take her somewhere against her will. It came with the territory of investigating paranormal things. Wackos usually were interested in them. But that didn't matter right now. She had been asked another question. She thought on it for a few moments. “You know, I don't like labels. Why must you use terms like ‘light' or ‘dark'? I feel like they give you less room to be you. I mean, sure, I'm a unicorn filly. Those are labels, but I like to ignore them when possible. Why should any one thing define an individual? To me, Bringer, you are you. Not a shadow, or light, or even darkness.” she said almost triumphantly. “Say, do you think I could ask a question? Bringer, what do you think of me? Do you like me? Would you like me to be your friend? If you say no, I'll understand.” She watched him now. The cat's eyes were flickering with mischief. What could it mean? She hoped this new question he had asked had not been a trick.

Happy birthday, Zoop. I came out of hiding just for you!

Bringer had yawned. It didn't seem like a very good sign. And the fact that it felt part of him was fading worried Dreamer as well. What did it mean? She didn't think she could very well ask. Or could she? She'd have to wait and see. After she had finished, she watched the cat with the same curiosity. She listened closely as he came to her eye level. It seemed as though she was right in her reading of him. Bringer was a beast of twilight. Dawn and dusk. If what he said was the truth. But where did that place him? He was still tied to the shadows. Scarlet had asked her not to have anything to do with darkness. So she kept her feelings neutral despite her growing interest. Bringer mentioned a “him”. Him who? Who was it that banished Bringer? And how could he not know who Bringer was if he had banished him? Such puzzles required answers. But maybe if she waited long enough, she'd get answers. Dreamer tried to keep a sense of where Bringer was as he circled her. Though she doubted knowing where the cat was would help here. He had come from one of the pillar. And that didn't bode well. She listened and contemplated Bringer's words. It all sounded somewhat normal. Up until the cat got to food. The cat came before her again, this time a little too close. But she dared not move. What does Bringer eat? Ponies, elks, birds, kitty chow? So many choices. But Bringer wasn't a normal animal. He was a dream creature. Did that make a difference? Do dream creatures eat dreams? So many questions, and she was the one who had to answer. She had to answer now, though. She'd wasted enough time as it was, though it had been barely a few seconds. “I'd say you eat anything and everything. Why limit oneself to meat or cream? Why not anything that comes to mind? Say, do you suppose you could eat trees, or even mountains? Surely you can do many things.” Dreamer said filled with a bubbly enthusiasm. Dreamer stared at the cat now, facing him full in the face. His eyes were so dim, and a single tear had escaped from his eye. Was something the matter? She simply had to know. “Bringer, is something wrong? Are you not having fun? What's wrong with your eyes? And why do I see that a tear has run down your face?” she asked, voiced tinged with some concern. Sure, he was keeping her here against her will, but Dreamer still had a heart. If something was the matter, she simply had to know. She made to touch him, but pulled back. She didn't know what would have happen if she had completed the motion. She was willing to, though. Although, the promise she had made Scarlet echoed in her mind. The mare sat next to him and draped her wing on him once more. Lapis listened tentatively. Her voice was friendly, that much was certain. He was right about who she was, and that made him feel a bit better. And she didn't care that he had stained her book. Truly a relief. Her words empowered him. He began to realize he was getting nowhere lamenting the loss of Asteria. Wherever she was, she'd need a calm and collected Lapis Lazuli. He drew in a deep breath. He was resolute. He watched as Midnight left his side to check out Dawn's journal. She looked concerned at its contents. Whatever was wrong with it, it clearly bothered the mare quite a bit. She let a out a short lived sigh that was cut off before it could make much of a sound. This began to worry Lapis. He was about to ask before he was interrupted. She was beside him once more, and the wing she wrapped around him was more like a tight grip than a hug. The next moment he was on the ground of a strange place. Slightly annoyed, he lifted himself up and listened to Midnight explain a little. She gestured at the room, and he took it all in. It was a simple room. One of a pony who clearly spent more time at her desk than asleep. However they got here didn't matter. She might've had some sort of artifact or something that had transported them. His eyes lingered on the sword for more than he'd have thought he might. It looked like a beautiful object. Maybe he could persuade her to let him see it. He listened to her, nodding in thought. She was a writer of some special sort. And not the only one. But what was this place? Midnight moved in front of him, and he listened more intently. He made to speak, but was cut off once more. What the mare had to say seemed somewhat important. Lapis shook his very much perplexed. It seemed as though he was in the world of fairy tales. And he suspected it wasn't one of those friendly ones where the hero kills the dragon and goes home with the princess. No, it felt like one of those older ones where the story ended with the hero cursed or maimed. But he let the thoughts leave his head. Midnight Angel had asked for him to not dwell on it. he quickly returned to the question he had been asked. “Alright, you know about the meeting with Dawn, I suppose. Afterwards, I was taken aside by Vim along with Springer. That you must know as well. Vim immediately instructed Springer to go to his room. Then Vim asked me what had been going on aboard the train. I don't know if you wish to know the details, so I'll skip them for now.” he said evenly. He was feeling a bit like himself. What he had written in the book felt dim at the moment. He felt he shouldn't talk in too mundane a fashion, though. “Then he told me he had a book in his room which reminded him of what I had told him about Dusky's story. I'm sure you know that, at least. As we made our way to his room, Vim had spotted Dawn and realized she wasn't in her room. He then directed me to accompany him in searching the mare's room.” Lapis took a moment to get the thoughts in order. “Inside we found a large black cat. A panther, most likely. It watched us with what felt like a bored expression. Vim blocked it while I searched the room. In the corner on the ground, I found a note and a bottle of invisible ink. And inside a chest, I found the book. Is this enough detail? I don't think I can explain it any better.” he said as his eyes were drawn back to the sword. The sword might have been nothing special. But why would a writer keep one with her? “Say, do you mind if I see that sword? And if you don't mind my asking, why do you own one? Are there monsters or bandits here that you must fight to maintain peace?” he asked, thinking his question was a little silly. But who knew in the land between Dream and Nightmare? It sounded ridiculous, but why would Midnight lie to him? It was easier to just believe that he was now in a world he had only read about briefly in a few musty texts.

Lapis sat there silently, staring at the page before him. In his mind, the line between fiction and reality was blurring. Whatever he had written, it was now true to him in his mind. Some small part in his head tried to rationalize. She's alright, it said, you're just losing your mind. But Lapis refused to listen. “Lies.” he whispered bitterly. At the corners of his eyes, the pinpricks of tears began to sting. Why was he crying? He was taught tears were a sign of weakness. That everyone will die at some time. In fact, not once in his entire life did he lament his inevitable demise. But the thought that someone so precious to him was in grave danger drove him to tears. Why did he think it true? Why? Suddenly, seemingly out of nowhere, a pegasus mare was by his side. He looked at her, mind reeling. Who was she? What just happened? Wouldn't he have heard the door to the room open? Oh, but it didn't matter. Someone had come to comfort him. Which was odd since how could anyone know that the emotionless Lapis Lazuli Ore was slowly losing his mind? He stared at her for a good long moment, tears slowly making their way down his face. Her appearance gave away her name. She was like an angel. A midnight angel. That much was certain from her coat and mane. That was what the book said. Midnight Angel, author of the book in which he wrote a tale of strange danger. And.... mother of Dusky? But his thoughts were cut short the moment she spoke. Her voice was so delicate and soft, yet completely level and calm. That did it. The wall holding back his tears broke. With what remained of his senses he did his best to not hurt the mare as he reached out and hugged her like a child who hadn't seen his mother in years. Which might be altogether true. He tried not to squeeze her too hard as the words came out in a shaken manner. “Asteria, my precious filly. I have lost her to who-knows-where...” he sobbed. Taking a moment to realize he had neglected to introduce himself, he took a deep breath and attempted it. “How short sighted of me. I am Lapis Lazuli....” But he stopped and sighed. This was no time for the full speech. If his muddled thoughts were true, then Asteria was not in a happy place. The tears had almost subsided, and he was starting to feel he was holding onto Midnight Angel for too long. Carefully, he disengaged himself from the mare. He did his best to hide the creeping blush as he tried to recollect his thoughts. “Can you help me find her? If it'll help, she was with a red stallion with a cape. And asking a few question might help me calm down.” he continued, feeling childish yet fighting the impulse to deny it. “Who are you, anyway? Are you Midnight Angel, writer of this book?” he murmured, pointing at it. Upon the page he had left open, there were several tear stains. He looked back towards her, guiltily. “I didn't mean to damage your book. And, erm... Would you happen to know what has been going on aboard this train? That's another thing that's been bothering me. All this nonsense has rattled my mind.” He let out a soft sigh and lay on the floor. He didn't have the energy to say anything more. He just let the silent tears fall down his cheeks. Asteria beamed once Bringer confirmed her suspicions. But then his voice was everywhere and nowhere, saying words that shook her to the core. Then Bringer addressed all the questions in the order she had asked them, starting with the question of name. She happily accepted her new name. It was more fanciful than her true one. Dreamer, pony of dreams. For a brief second, her mind was elsewhere. She was with Scarlet, and they were having fun, building worlds and playing games. But it was all cut short. She listened to everything with a growing sense of fear. With each sentence, Dreamer grew more and more frightened. Bringer even announced that the time was up, and she was still here. She felt ready to curl up into a little ball and pray to something. Celestia, Luna, Discord even. Anyone anywhere who could take her out of this place with its mysterious cat who spoke words of terror. She could barely understand what Bringer said, now. The words merely slapped against her ears. And then it all caught up with her as she was grabbed and thrown. She landed at another pillar which became Bringer. The big cat pinned her to the ground, and Dreamer felt close to wetting herself. The claws were delicate, though. They merely held her in place. She tried to relax but failed. Dreamer merely stared at the beast above her. Whatever interest she had for the creature faded away as the realization hit her. There was no way out of this. Would she give this cat the satisfaction of continuing to chat with it? Maybe, though, it would let her live a little longer if it wanted to still chat. So she'd keep Bringer talking until he became truly and utterly bored. It would be useless to squirm. Then, the cat let her go, and she made to hide behind the nearest pillar as she had done moments before. But the cat stopped her. Maybe he was right. Hiding was pointless this time. And he had questions for her? She was almost too delighted to answer. It meant the cat still had some use for her. Prolonging her demise seemed silly, but her will to live was very strong. Anything that might help had to be explored. But Bringer hinted at her abilities. She gave a start, but tried to speak again. “Yes, this new name is lovely. Dreamer suits my tendency to daydream, eh? And I think you are just a large cat. Cats are all the same, big or small. It just depends on what they eat, is all.” Dreamer stated, suppressing a rather loud gulp she felt inclined to make. “But other than that, you are different. You are a predator, yes, and you do what you can because you must. It is in that that you are different. You aren't a real cat in the normal sense. You are a dream creature of immense power. And this bores you. You want something more.” Dreamer had no idea what she was doing. For all she knew, this might make him angry or at least more bored. But she just kept talking. “You desire all. What you cannot have, you will have anyway. You are sad. You do not have all just yet. You feel it is what belongs to you. You are the cat, lying in wait. Waiting for your chance. And that's not evil, exactly. A living creature desires food, water, love, shelter, sleep. And you desire all like a normal creature desires what it needs. You need all to be happy.” Dreamer concluded, shivering slightly. If this was it, at least she left this world doing what she loved. Learning and growing. Though, if what she said wasn't true, then she was at a loss. Oh well....

Lapis noticed that a very brief change had come over Vim before disappearing. Perhaps he had misheard him? The eyes of the older stallion darted back and forth, as though looking for something. Lapis feared Vim may have lost the key to his room, effectively leaving them in the corridor. Vim shook his head, looking ill at ease. Before long, Vim was checking Springer's room. Lapis followed along silently. As Vim scanned the inside of the pegasus's room, Lapis felt a growing sense of displacement. They were off track. They were to go straight to Vim's room. And yet here was the conductor, inspecting the room of the assistant conductor as if expecting there to be something of value in there. During the search, that was one of the first places they had been. Unless Vim knew something Lapis did not, this was altogether pointless. Vim turned back towards him and quickly explained his thoughts, or at least, what he wished to tell Lapis. But he seemed so relaxed. It would be a waste of effort to not accept it at face value for the time being. With a flicker of excitement and a nod, Lapis watched as Vim unlocked his door and glanced about, as though making sure nothing was amiss. The tension in Lapis' chest was building at this point. Thankfully, Vim went straight for the book he spoke of. Lapis eyed the well crafted tome with admiration. Never before had he seen something like it. Sure, there were books out there with similar bindings and covers, but this one almost seemed to emanate a strange feeling. Lapis watched as Vim opened the book and flip through the pages. Finally, the older stallion got to the page he wanted. But before their eyes was nothing more than a blankness that almost mocked them. Lapis took a deep breath. For all he knew, this might have been the book he sought since last night. But once again nothingness of wordless paper stared back at him. The first time, he had considered it a matter of course. It made sense Dawn would hide what she wrote. It was likely she was paranoid. But who could've gotten in here? To what end did blanking out the pages of this book achieve? Oh what a tangled web we weave.... Lapis shook himself. Whatever this meant, it was important. Unless Vim was an insane old stallion who lost whatever sanity he had long ago, which Lapis doubted, something sinister was going on. Vim certainly wasn't looking too happy. His nervousness was quite visible the moment he sighed. Clearly wishing to see if there were any words at all in this beautiful yet useless book, Vim flipped to the first page. Upon it, words stood out, and for a second, the tension in Lapis' chest released. Lapis read them silently, taking it all in. At first, it seemed to be simple history. Something any historian worth his bits would know. If the old tales were true, then so was this. It was just a mere echo. But as he read further, Lapis started to get confused. It was a jumble of words, honestly. If one were to apply this to what Dusky had told Lapis, they might have tried futilely to connect them. As it was, Lapis did try. It almost clicked. Dusky had told of a guardian. With a little imagination, maybe it were true. But all it felt too symbolic. He felt the urge to just turn away. He didn't though. The final part caught his eye. Something was off. Why did this feel familiar? Didn't something like this happen only half an hour ago? Lunch; fruit sandwiches to be exact. A meeting of importance? But why did it stop? If one were to think this was talking about what Lapis thought it was, why didn't it go on from here? Frantically, Lapis read the author's note. That did it. It mentioned a blue mare. Dawn, perhaps? What did it all mean!? Vim was at a loss as well. He turned to the next page to find one last author's note. Lapis read this one as well, hoping for something of use. It yielded none. Was this another dead end? As Vim spoke, Lapis' heart sank further. His only lead took him to this. Another mystery. More unanswered questions. Right up there with “Where was Trixie?”, “What was up with Springer yesterday?”, and “What was wrong with Dawn?”. For some reason, it was starting to get to him. He took very deep breath this time. Why was he losing his calm? Vim was preparing to leave, instructing Lapis to figure out the book. As the older stallion made his departure, he hesitated. And then, Vim told the blue earth pony something that frayed his nerves. Asteria and Magicon were missing. What could have happened to them? Did Dawn kill them? No....no. That was unlikely. Two unicorns against one. The odds were in their favor. Hopefully. But then, where could they have gone? This was becoming more and more annoying. Vim left then with a firm order that Lapis get to the bottom of things. He sighed deeply. What was he to do? All alone in Vim's room with two empty books, a blank sheet of paper, and a bottle of something that had to be invisible ink. What were his option? Could he even do anything? He thought back. The section he had read was left unfinished. Did that mean something? Other than the unfinished chapter, there were two author's notes. The only logical conclusion was to finish it, right? Surely, he had been there, right? Right?! He could just finish the chapter. And maybe even the next one. That was what the second note had said. It was an outline. A vague one, but an outline nonetheless. What else could he do? Vim expected something. Even this odd idea was something. Vim would understand. Hopefully. Without too much haste, Lapis looked about the room for a pencil. In no time at all, one was found. He took a deep breath again. He'd been doing that far too many times over the last few minutes. But he had to remain calm. He began where chapter one ended. It seemed as though it were the part where he himself had confronted Dawn. Unless he was mistaken, and in truth all this nonsense had screwed up his mind. But nevertheless, he did as the note instructed. He did his best to convey it neutrally, allowing both sides to have their emotions felt. And he was sure to describe Dawn in a positive way. She was unstable, yes, but still a lovely mare. Within him, he found the words needed to express the meeting's importance. Which was a bit difficult since the note had expressly stated not to overwhelm the reader with repetition of what was most likely already stated. Or at least, so he hoped. There was no indication that the events leading up to the meeting were explored in an earlier story. He merely tried his best to gesture vaguely with the words he could muster. And then, he drew the meeting to its tension filled conclusion. He had to guess at what all others involved were feeling at the time, but he felt he did an alright job. He got to the part where Vim stepped in and had escorted he himself and Springer away. Lapis sighed. This was to be the end. He'd leave this part off at a cliffhanger since the chapter was called “The Meeting”. And the next chapter seemed unrelated to what happened after the meeting. Unless..... Unless this book were some sort of magical thing. Yes, that had to be it. Then surely it knew what happened to his lost friends. Maybe it wanted him to guess. Lapis' mind was starting to lose its grip, though. His imagination, some of which he had to suppress to do his job properly, ran wild with ideas. Who was to say they were still on the train? Asteria had been there when Dawn spoke of the light in Springer's room. She'd have wanted to go immediately. But she wasn't foolish. She'd take someone she felt was strong and that she could trust. Magicon, of course. Why else would he go missing as well? So it hung together. Asteria and Magicon had gone to Springer's room to investigate the light. But they weren't there when Vim checked. That meant something had to have happened. Maybe.... (And now, something in Lapis truly was losing its grip.) Maybe something took them away. To somewhere else. He shook his head, trying to clear it, but it was no use. The thoughts started to tumble out. Maybe they met odd creatures. Something urged him to remember Springer again. That there might have been two of him. But why stop there? Why not three Springers?! All that he knew left him. All this time, he had barely learned a thing. He had wanted answers. All he got were more questions. Even now, at this dead end, there were barely any clues. But he wrote anyway. Three Springers, all of them in the place the unicorns went. One small and regal, the other sly-eyed and deceptive. Both equally dangerous. Games, yes. There had to be games. Why not? The author's note specifically stated nonsensical things were to happen. So why not a game or two? Ones with consequences and prizes. Oh, but Magicon and Asteria were both smart, clever, and resourceful. Surely they couldn't lose. Springer would judge, too. Lapis was certain of it. And on and on he wrote, things making a little less sense with each sentence. The two had gone to some sort of dream world, and Asteria was suddenly a mother, and so was Magicon. A ruby red griffin and the big cat from before. Thoughts and dreams melded together with memories until it somehow remained sensible. It didn't make sense to write, but to read, it wove a delightful little story. But then his train of thought left him and his sanity returned to him. He blinked his eyes a few times. He hadn't finished the chapter, but nothing new would come to mind. The sly-eyed Springer, who had at some point morphed into the panther, had just taken Asteria away to a dark place of pillars. Lapis, though in control of himself again, felt worried. Wasn't this just nonsense? Surely Asteria was safe somewhere. Right? But what if she was nowhere? Vim didn't find her, and Lapis doubted he would. So where was she, then? He took in another breath. For some reason, it felt as though he hadn't been breathing while he wrote the second chapter. At the edge of his mind, though, he believed it were true. Could the filly he cherished so dearly outsmart the sly-eyed cat? He whispered to himself, wondering what he was to do, “All I want is answers. Answers and..... my dear little Asteria......” Asteria watched Scarlet with pure curiosity. A tear had escaped the left eye of the colt, and her heart felt odd. It was heavy, and yet it sung with something akin to joy. He turned away from her, raised a hoof to his eye, and let the tear sail away before it changed to a falcon. The filly watched it for a few minutes, almost missing the powerful change that came over Scarlet. By the time she had turned back, she had caught the last moment, briefly glimpsing the green colt before it was gone. In the colt's place was the griffin Asteria had described, right down to the last detail. It was as though she had stepped right out of Asteria's imagination. Suffice it to say, the filly was astounded. The majestic griffin turned to face her and spoke words that made her feel bubbly inside. She had picked the perfect form, it seemed. And her love was returned, as well. She didn't really know what to feel. This was all too much, honestly. But she took it in stride. Scarlet went further to explain what it meant. Those words she spoke. How they had the power to create. It were as though this world could be a blank book. She could take her quill and write in new things. Or at least, that was what Scarlet had implied. But Asteria assumed that it was done now, and she wouldn't get to create again, or at least, not until later. And it came as a bit of a surprise that Bringer and Scarlet were friends. Although, it fit. It wasn't out of the ordinary, truly. Oh, but her heart sparked again as Scarlet told her the prize she could win next was to be that power mentioned moments before. And together, they could share this place. A beautiful world of light as mother and child. But it came with a warning. Scarlet's power was not unlimited. For a second, Asteria thought she meant there was limitation or an end to the energy. No, instead, it was a true limit. One that held the power back. Darkness and shadows would soil the light. Cause it to dwindle. Asteria heard every word Scarlet spoke and took it all in, trying to remember the smallest details. It seemed so very, very important somehow. Even if she couldn't understand it fully herself. Then, it was time to go. Scarlet told her not to tell anyone else of what they spoke of, especially not what the prize was to be. But something seemed off. Why had Scarlet mentioned both the telling and the giving if there had only been telling? But the thought vanished in the instance they had teleported. She had still been listening, though, and had heard the final warnings. She would have to avoid the shadows completely. Soon, they were back in the field with Bringer and Magicon. Fun time was over. It was now time to play a game. Bringer was sceptical about Scarlet's new form, and was rather annoying in observing it. Asteria watched it all and listened as well. It bothered her. But her expression reflected curiousness. Her curiosity intensified as Bringer changed as well. In a flash, he was no longer a simple clone of Springer. What stood in his place was a rather large cat. Asteria's eyes glittered with fear and interest. The cat spoke in a mystical voice, one that made the bones shiver. This was apparently Bringer's true form or such. At least, that was what Asteria assumed normal meant. Either way, the growing sense of fear mixed oddly with her curiosity. Scarlet announced more rules, and the teams were split. It seemed as though Asteria was to hide from Bringer. It made her wonder. Wouldn't Bringer eat her or something once Scarlet was gone? Bringer didn't seem the one to play fair. But she felt the need to trust someone who was to be thought of as her child, at the very least in this instance. With that, the game began, and with one more flash, she was in the room Bringer had made. She looked about, quite confused. This place was odd. Dreadfully odd. Nothing but pillars and an ominous feeling in the air. In no time at all, her eyes rested upon the panther. Beyond it was an ocean, but Asteria didn't focus on it. Bringer wasted no time in denouncing the rules, as Asteria had expected. It became quite apparent that the cat had bent the rules. So if the rules didn't apply, did she still have to hide? The cat urged her to hide. Then he denounced Magicon next. That he could have tried to make sure things didn't come to this. But it was in the past now. Asteria felt a coldness in her chest. The cat was distracted. Idly so. It was just making conversation. Passing the time. Did Bringer even care about this game? And again the cat urged her to hide. This time she did, but she didn't go very far at all. There were pillars everywhere, and she was relatively small. The nearest one would do, especially if Bringer was focused elsewhere. She carefully when behind it, still quite near to the panther. And on and on it spoke. The words held meaning, and Asteria did her best to understand. Bringer wanted her to hide. That would be obeying him. And he wanted conversation. Easy enough. She felt it would be unwise to go far. That would show weakness, the third thing. Three simple rules, though they weren't presented as such. The panther might leave her be if she followed them, right? His disinterest had to mean something. And finally, the one thing that stuck hard in her mind. This was Bringer's home... She was literally in his den. If he wasn't going to look for her, though, she could maybe relax where she was, only a few feet away and behind a pillar. And outside the walls was the Ocean of Nightmares. A place whispered about only in long forgotten fairy tales. And not even Bringer could control it. If anything she read was true, it was a miasma of hatred and fear. If a mortal ever dared look into it for more than the briefest of seconds, the nightmare would destroy their mind. or at least, that was what it said in the stories. And she didn't want to know what would happen is one actually fell into it... Either way, she was technically safest exactly where she was. Bringer didn't care one way or the other about her, as long as she stayed out of the way. But of course, the panther wanted dialogue. It must be a long wait, then. Either way, she needed to say something. Bringer spoke one last time, voicing all of Asteria's thoughts and more. She took a very, very, very deep breath. She was alone in a box of pillars with a panther at the bottom of what must have been the Ocean of Nightmares. She suppressed a nervous giggle. It was exactly as she would expect from a nightmare. Sadly, she felt the old ‘dream a better dream' method would be useless here. Scarlet herself stated dreams and nightmares aren't the same. So, if in fact Scarlet had given the power of creation to her, it was entirely useless here. Only one option remained. Have a chat with a cat. She cleared her throat. “First off, do you still wish to have the name Bringer, or would you prefer a new one? I don't think Bringer fits a cat. I'll pick a new one if you want, or you can yourself, since you choose your new form.” she said almost idly. It was just a formality. What to discuss? Just ask questions? “Tell me about yourself, Bringer. Where were you born? Do you have parents, a family? Or maybe I'm being trivial?” She tried to maintain a tone of curiousness and a touch of awe. “You know, you're a lovely creature to behold. Were you born that way, or did you choose it? And is this in fact the Ocean of Nightmares?” She tried not to look towards the panther for fear of what she might see. She was well aware now that Bringer's claim of not coming to find her might have been a lie. Bringer lies, that much seemed true. He may as well be sneaking up on her now. But if she could get him talking, maybe he'd be too engrossed to try? “You are friends with Scarlet, right? How did you two meet? Did you two have fun together? Why are Magicon and I here in this world of dreams and nightmares? What does Springer have to do with any of this?” she asked, still maintaining the inflection of interest. The cat's aura was only so readable. Much was guessing. But she continued to try her best. Whatever he was waiting for, it must have required trickery to get to. Why else bend the rules if he could have just gone and done it himself? Why now, and not later? How long was she to be kept here? Would she ever see Scarlet again? Or for that matter, would see ever see Magicon, or Ambrosia, or Key Gear, or even Lapis again!? Her voice lent none of her worries. It remained level, but not exactly jovial. “So, I guess you're waiting for something other than the game to end, right?” The risk of death that hung in air lingered in a different way. There was no guarantee at all. Back in the dream world, there was the chance to lose or win based on careful rules. Ones made with care. But apparently not enough care since Asteria was trapped in this situation now.....

Lapis stood in the corridor, a little nervous. He had just sneaked out of Dawn’s room. The very pony who had threatened his life not even half an hour ago. But this time, he didn't have Asteria or any other pony nearby. Vim might be too late to throw himself into the way. Thankfully, Vim came flying out of the door to Dawn’s room, laying in a slump. He repressed a laugh as the conductor got up and checked to make sure he had all his things. Lapis peered towards the door, seeing that it was closed. Vim turned towards him, appearing to be a bit out of sorts. Vim voiced Lapis’ concerns and amplified them. He resisted the urge to sigh. Despite Vim’s clear irritation, his eyes shone with what one could not mistake for anything but amusement. This conductor was certainly an affable stallion. One who knew ponies well. Certainly the kind of pony who did his job well and may make a helpful friend. He followed after Vim, eyes glowing with promise. He'd need a pony like Vim if ponies like Dawn were about. Lapis nodded as he watched Vim fiddle with his keys. “Certainly, Vim.” he said before taking a deep breath. He felt he needed to do this quickly, especially since the stop at Dawn’s room was only by chance. The real objective was within Vim’s room. “I found three items of value. One note, a bottle of ink which I am lead to believe is invisible ink, and a blank book. First, I must explain a bit. During my time in school, I was taught many things that could help in investigations. One such thing was hidden messages. I was familiarized with the scent of invisible ink. Of course, it’s nothing too special, but it is very useful, especially since it may be helpful in this instance. “You see, not all messages can be revealed the same way. Sometimes one uses lemon juice, or heat. Other times, magic is involved. It would be safe to say magic may be what hides this ink, if I am correct in assuming what I have so far.” Lapis mused thoughtfully. “Asteria was instructed a bit in the art of uncovering messages during her albeit short time at one of the Researcher’s Guild institutes. It wasn't too important to give her the full training since she is merely my assistant. She would learn much more in the field. But I digress. “The fact I found the ink may mean the book and the note hide something. It is reasonable to believe that what they hide may be important, and you yourself have seen that Dawn may not be a simple medic. I wish not to jump to too many conclusions, so without further chatting, perhaps we may go into your room and see this book you mentioned? We can locate Asteria later.” he said while looking about, afraid that one of Dawn’s cats may very well lurk in the shadows. From this point onward, Lapis would look over his shoulder whenever he could. Until any and all messes were sorted out, Lapis was possibly in danger. Beside her, Asteria felt Magicon radiate confidence and fear. He both believed in her and felt she might fail. The rules had seemed simple enough. And Springer would judge, so the truth would have to prevail. The green pegasus was much like an automaton. He was efficient and had to do what would align with his standards and such. That was what she felt from his motionless form. But Bringer and Sprout were almost unreadable. Bringer seemed eager to see her fail, but Sprout gave off the impression he'd be alright either way. As long as Bringer didn't get too much pleasure from it. And then with a simple “I like it.” from Sprout, Asteria felt a bit of relief. Her relief strengthened once Magicon agreed. That was two objectives cleared. But Bringer didn't look like he was about to let her win. The purple-eyed Springer had an aura of malice about him. It was faint though. Reading these two was not especially easy. Bringer went about a silly song and dance about how neither her nor Magicon had given a reason for their answers. Asteria had merely spoken from the heart. There was no way to explain it. But Bringer made a mockery of the beautiful name by parading it about. She felt on the verge of a pout. Nearby, Sprout wasn't any better. The young Springer suddenly released the real Springer to allow him to do his job. Asteria’s eyes widened as Springer was filled with burning emotions. It was an angry born from frustration towards another’s disrespect of one’s morals and code. Soon an exchange exploded between the green stallion and Sprout. The colt remained calm, and Springer forged on, making his stance clear. By the end of it, Asteria was declared the winner, and she let out the breath she had unconscious had been holding. It seemed as though it were time to play the next game. But Bringer would have none of that. He childishly disputed the claim, which caused the fur along Asteria’s spine to stand on end. Had Bringer truly sabotaged the game? Thankfully, Springer spouted out a bunch of made up stuff, which was sufficient enough to make everything clear. The game was truly over. Whatever came next, Asteria felt Springer could judge it properly. Or so she could hope. Springer seemed as though he had to push for the truth. Sprout was then upon the ground, literally rolling with laughter. The colt seemed pleased. Asteria’s breath caught in her throat. Was she really to receive such an interesting prize? It seemed too good to be true. Or at least, subjectively good. She could feel Magicon’s uneasiness. His thoughts escaped her, though. Whatever it was that bothered him at the moment would have to remain unknown. Scarlet turned back towards Bringer and announced he was to pick the teams. And Bringer, as though reading Asteria's mind, assigned the teams how she had secretly wished. Scarlet explained the rules, which seemed simple enough. But Asteria probably didn't need to know those rules since she was not on Magicon’s team at the moment. In a flash, the green colt was beside her, and then they were gone. In the split second that she was unaware of reality, a thought went through her mind. What if Scarlet had lied? What if this were to be some form of doom? But her doubts vanished when the two arrived in a field of clouds high above in the sky. A feeling of warmth started to spread through Asteria’s body. For some reason, she almost felt at ease. In truth, she could have stood on a cloud before, but this was honestly the first time she had done so. She gently settled down onto the fluffy white surface. It bothered her a bit that Scarlet would be unable to save her if she made a mistake, but she would not have exactly expected he could have in the first place. Scarlet turned towards her while speaking in a manner tinged with longing and boredom. Asteria gave a slight start. Conjure up a new form for this colt who was willing to think of her as his mother? The thought delighted her, but she didn't speak immediately. After a moment of introspection, she spoke tentatively. “Well, being a mini Springer is boring. So maybe a new form could be very fun indeed. And since we're up in the sky, a flying creature would be best. You're already a pegasus, so that’s not an option. A dragon would be too big. How about a griffin?” She looked straight at the colt with a odd feeling in her heart. This young pony, who looked not too much younger than her, filled her with a sense of love. She was now his mother. Asteria, mother at only 15. She suppressed a giggle. But nevertheless, the colt seemed to invite her feelings. She began again, this time more confidently. Her very words hinted at the suddenly obtained maternal emotions. “Yes, a griffin. One deserving of the name ‘Scarlet’. A standard brown body, medium paws and claws. Delicate talons, careful in how they grasp. Crimson red plumage accenting your head. Blue eyes as deep as the ocean. The tuff of hair at the end of your tail a reddish-brown. A beak like that of a kite. Body not too much bigger than a young mare in size. And...” she paused for a moment, a little nervous to say what she had in mind. “And, female. Is that alright, Scarlet? I mean, you appear male at the moment, but maybe you'd enjoy being physically female? I've always thought a female can be more graceful than a male.” Asteria smiled broadly, hoping her description was good enough. She didn’t know if she had missed anything, but she had tried to cover everything that came to mind when one thought of a griffin. And then, as though she were pushed forward, she came close to Scarlet and hugged him. The colt felt so warm, so soft. She hugged a bit tighter before letting him go. “Scarlet, I am your mother now, and I love you.” she said almost automatically. She truly had no idea what had come over her. But truthfully, she didn't exactly hate it.