open Casual stroll

[Midnight Starfall 179]

@,

 

Aw, I can't say no to that look...

 

"Alright," Stoneheart said, "You can bring me a meal."

 

I feel bad that he's doing all this stuff for me and I don't do anything in return for him. I'll just surprise him one day with something. But what would I do? Make a decoration for his home even though I'm not good at art? It's the thought that counts though.

[Blitz Boom 4,631]

@,

@@Mrbrunoh1,

 

When Void went after Kelly, Briar stayed back and let out a small chuckle at the two of them and whispered to make sure they couldn't hear him talking to himself.

 

"Hehe, oh Void, you still don't see it do you?"

 

Briar stopped focusing on listening to what the two of them were talking about now and went slowly down to the lake instead.

 

The snippets he had heard told him that it were more or less the same he had heard them speak about earlier, when he had simply... Followed, them through the Everfree Forest. One could argue it might have been perceived as stalking, but to each their own.

 

Whatever angle you looked at it, it was still the same picture in the end, and he wasn't meant to be in it. At least, not yet.

 

Kelly were hesitant to trust as far as he had gathered for reasons he would not speculate on, but likely involved these *dark alicorns* she had mentioned, yet somehow Void had managed to wriggle close to her. Perhaps it had been through an opportunistic moment and sheer luck, or it could be that she had really wanted a friend at that point and he were friendly enough to make her hesitant to shun him. Briar didn't know really, he hadn't been there to hear the first parts of their meeting, and in the forest he had missed a few sentences here and there as well, leaving him to be mostly guessing.

 

Regardless of the way though, it seemed as if the two were getting close, and the part that he doubted Void had realised just yet was that even if the changeling were in that area of friendship with Kelly, Briar were not. He were, at best, somepony who offered a helping hoof in case something went wrong, and that was the very reason he had to stand back.

 

When Kelly were still defensive about the position of friendship she had no need of a third wheel to complicate things. Likely, it would just make her speed off more than she already had, and for the sake of those two, it was best that the risk wasn't taken.

 

Perhaps, as time passed, he could attempt to be helpful as a friend towards Kelly, but for now the mare needed to get sorted with the one who were her actual friend, and not having to deal with a random like him who simply tried to be reassuring towards her. It was best of him to stay clear for now, and let those two get sorted before he attempted another step towards the friendly zone.

 

Besides, it wasn't sure how long he would be here. If Zecora had a point, it would be a while certainly, but if he found nothing then he would be on his travels once more, and he didn't like the idea of leaving a friend behind.

 

Honestly, it was likely the very reason he tried not to Have any friends. Most ponies had family, jobs, or a need to be around comfortable surroundings, and on the roads there were none of that. Eventually, the travellers life would break most down, and that were also why he took nopony with him on the roads.

 

A real friend did not harm other friends, left them behind or took them away from their life, and if he offered friendship, then those things were what he would bring, and he would not bring that upon anypony. Which is why if the time came, he would leave Void behind.

 

As delightful as talking to him were, Kelly had a greater need for him than Briar ever would, so if the time came where he would uproot and be on his way once more, the most sensible thing he could do were to leave, and don't let them know about it in advance.

 

Briar shook his head, let out a sigh and wandered a few steps into the shallow end of the water.

 

"Perhaps I am simply taking things to fast once more. This could be the place... It could."

 

He did not sound convinced, but he shook the thoughts out of his head and started to focus on the task at hoof more. He couldn't concentrate on catching fish if his mind were wandering like that, and the smell of water had made him in the mood for a small fish. Time would tell if he would catch one.

 

((Any of the things in this are Not meant as godmodding on Kelly and Void. This is just what Briar, objectively, thinks about things.))

[Handsome Changeling 1,851]

@@Mrbrunoh1,

 

"Kelly, you don't need to rely on other ponies if you don't want too" Void playfully knocked her shoulder as he grinned.

"If all you have left is your mane how come I still find you interesting enough to talk too?" He wanted to cheer her up and he was trying as he noticed that Briar held back and trotted up to the lake.

"Hey Kelly, since Briar stopped back there maybe we should rest back there too?"

Void's hooves were heavy but he wanted to know if Kelly would come towards the lake with him as he offerd her his hoof

[Storm Shine 1,196]

@@Midnight Starfall, 

 

"YAY!" Storm yelled out happily, literally jumping for joy. "I'm going to bring my super special flat-bread and my yummalicous fruit-salad for the side dishes... OH! and my cream of mushroom soup, poured over some mashed potatoes for the main dish!"  He exclaimed, hopping in circles around Stoneheart. "And for desert I'll bake a Zucchini-chocolate cake! That one's my granny's recipe... But I could also bring some nice oats of honey cookies! That's my own special recipe! I made the name, and they really are oats and honey cookies with a little extra added! Oh it's going to be great!" Storm said, still hopping around in joy.

[Mrbrunoh1 2,990]

@@Blitz Boom,@,

 

She turned to Void, maybe take a chance on a new friendship, even giving the chance she remained serious dianta everything. 

 

"Sure, I think I was rude to your friend, I wish I had not been so, we will." 

 

Kelly follows steeply to the lake walking and looking ahead without express feelings, she was still too close to it. 

[Handsome Changeling 1,851]

@@Mrbrunoh1,

 

Void was very happy with her decision.

"Awesome! Ahem, sorry I am happy you decided to join us at the Lake Kelly" Void sounded nearly like he was shouting but he calmed down and walked with Kelly towards the Lake and Toward Briar.

"Kelly, Briar and me may both be magical creatures but we both mean no harm to anypony" Void smiled at Kelly and began to laugh a little for no reason. 

[Mrbrunoh1 2,990]

@,

 

 Kelly followed the lake where it was Briar and answered Void. 

 

"All right, if you were already enemies would have used magic on me for so long, I hope it never happens" 

 

Kelly followed the path avoiding still show some feeling for Void, she was skeptical and serious about it, seemed to be on the defensive.

[Blitz Boom 4,631]

@@Mrbrunoh1,

@,

 

When the two ponies came closer to the lake again Briar still stood still in the water, motionless, waiting...

 

Then suddenly, a vine quickly hammer down into the water and he got a big smile on his face as a small fish, a little smaller than his hoof, were taken up to the surface held in a tight grip with the head inside the grappling-hook like bud at the end of the vine. The fish weren't moving, it had been quickly over for it.

 

"Sorry for this little friend, but I do need to eat at times."

 

With that he brought the vine to his mouth, opened up and let the little fish disappear into his muzzle before closing down and beginning to chew. It was a pretty small fish, so he didn't have to take multiple bites out of it or have it hanging outside his mouth. A little crunching and it would all go down in one mouthful, which was preferable by his standards really. Fish oil tended to be sticky and not that pleasant to clean off afterwards.

 

Still chewing he made the few steps of the way up to the shore and shook off his legs. He had still not noticed the returning company at this stage.

[Handsome Changeling 1,851]

@@Blitz Boom,@@Mrbrunoh1,

 

Void stopped for a moment as he watched the speed of Briar's vine hit the fish.

"You have some amazing accuracy you know, first strike and you got it"

Void was in awe at how good Briar was at hunting his food unlike Void who was a parasite of love.

"Hmm, I wish feeding for me was that easy..."

[()()()()()()? 72]

....................

Edited September 5, 2022 by ()()()()()()?

[Blitz Boom 4,631]

@,

 

A small click was heard from the shed and a sleepy Blitz walked out of the open door, rubbing the sleep out of her eyes with her front right hoof before letting out a big yawn and stretching out.

 

"Knock... Ponies here... Yes yes, on the way."

 

Blitz really didn't sleep that soundly, and even though she'd only gotten a little bit of rest she had still heard the knocks and the voices outside and had gotten out to meet whoever it was. Sure, she had no idea who it were, but any visitors were good, and the voices meant it wasn't any Timberwolves or the like.

 

So, a little groggy with a beginning morning mane look over her she now stood outside, looking up at the two who were there. before letting out another big yawn and shook herself through, which helped a little with the sleepy sensation.

 

"Hi there, looking for something?"

 

Blitz looked at them again, a little less blurry with the sleep out of her eyes and tried to get a look at who were there. Looked like a brown'ish pegasus on one side, and the other one a black earth pony with a big... Giant... Hat...

 

Blitz looked a little more awake as she noticed the big wizards hat. She hadn't seen one like that before and the angle of it looked like it should fall off. How was it stuck there? Tape? Gum? Magic?

[Midnight Starfall 179]

@,

 

That sounds really good, but a little overboard... I'm not asking for a three course meal or a whole fancy restaurant get-up.

 

"That sounds really good," Stoneheart said lightheartedly.  "How'd you learn to cook?" she asked. "You might as well work in a restaurant if you cook dishes that sound really good."

[Harmony Cube 80]

@@Harmony Cube

"But that's exactly what I mean. Ethics is just a system derived from..."

 

Disruptis was cut off a the orb shot a purple light out at the stone hut in front of them. The surrounding area was filled with shallow, small craters like somepony had lit a bunch of fireworks off.

 

"Looks like we've reached our stop!" Disruptis pounded on the door four times. "Hello! Is anypony there? I would like to talk to you for a second."

 

Didn't look like any reply would be coming. He looked at Book for suggestions.

"I'm used to writing correct answers is the thing." Book explained.

 

Book stood next to Disruptis quietly when they got there and he knocked. He examined the house.

 

"Leave a note if nopony answers then?" He suggested, seeing as it looked like it was deserted.

[()()()()()()? 72]

....................

Edited September 5, 2022 by ()()()()()()?

[Blitz Boom 4,631]

@,

@@Harmony Cube,

 

"No, just me, and the forest creatures, and the big kabooms."

 

Blitz felt a little more awake now that she was talking. What had this one said? Something that was his? But... Oooh, wait. She did pick up a few things from town when the rest were asleep that looked like it had been tossed. A few of those things looked a bit weirder though, but she'd still got them back so she could tinker with it. Perhaps he had dropped one of those things?

 

"Uhm... Not sure what it would be, but we can look. Please step a little bit away from the door okay pegasus and big hat?"

 

Blitz went back in her shed and rumbled around a little, withdrawing a stick and walking back out, pushing it beneath the door to the stone hut and turned around a little until a minuscule *click* could be heard. Then she pulled the stick out and looked back up on the two ponies.

 

"Look, see, see if you find what is gone. Oh, and don't touch the green box. It's full of icky stuff."

 

Blitz pushed tt he door and opened up, revealing the inside which was more or less filled with boxes, jars, various crude containers labelled and stacked seemingly randomly around, a small table that looked to be covered in soot and a closed window. There were no lights in there, but if the window was opened the moonlight might shine a little detail over things.

 

The green box in question weren't stacked on anything, well sealed and was half the size of Blitz's head. It were one of seven smaller boxes around or on the table with varying sizes and shapes, as well as labelled insides. One of them had a big *?* on it though, so she hadn't any idea what that was.

 

"it's all safe... I think. No fire just to be safe, okay?"

 

A certain amount of glee got over her voice when she mentioned fire, but other than that she kept relatively still, only moving to scratch herself under the left wing and to look up on the grey Pegasus she hadn't talked to yet, giving a good smile to him.

[Harmony Cube 80]

@,

@@Harmony Cube,

 

"No, just me, and the forest creatures, and the big kabooms."

 

Blitz felt a little more awake now that she was talking. What had this one said? Something that was his? But... Oooh, wait. She did pick up a few things from town when the rest were asleep that looked like it had been tossed. A few of those things looked a bit weirder though, but she'd still got them back so she could tinker with it. Perhaps he had dropped one of those things?

 

"Uhm... Not sure what it would be, but we can look. Please step a little bit away from the door okay pegasus and big hat?"

 

Blitz went back in her shed and rumbled around a little, withdrawing a stick and walking back out, pushing it beneath the door to the stone hut and turned around a little until a minuscule *click* could be heard. Then she pulled the stick out and looked back up on the two ponies.

 

"Look, see, see if you find what is gone. Oh, and don't touch the green box. It's full of icky stuff."

 

Blitz pushed tt he door and opened up, revealing the inside which was more or less filled with boxes, jars, various crude containers labelled and stacked seemingly randomly around, a small table that looked to be covered in soot and a closed window. There were no lights in there, but if the window was opened the moonlight might shine a little detail over things.

 

The green box in question weren't stacked on anything, well sealed and was half the size of Blitz's head. It were one of seven smaller boxes around or on the table with varying sizes and shapes, as well as labelled insides. One of them had a big *?* on it though, so she hadn't any idea what that was.

 

"it's all safe... I think. No fire just to be safe, okay?"

 

A certain amount of glee got over her voice when she mentioned fire, but other than that she kept relatively still, only moving to scratch herself under the left wing and to look up on the grey Pegasus she hadn't talked to yet, giving a good smile to him.

Book quietly walked inside and looked around, surprised by all the stuff for a kid.

 

He looked at her and recognized them from Sugarcube Corner. He smiled warmly at her so he seemed friendly. "Hi there!" He greeted. Book knew Disruptis knew what he needed would look like, so he let him go and search.

[Storm Shine 1,196]

@@Midnight Starfall, 

 

Storm chuckled. "It's not that fancy. I worked as a cook in a Manehatten restaurant for a couple days." He chuckled again. "But if you think that's fancy, you should see the restaurants in Canterlot." Storm shook his head. "Anyways, I learned the basics there, and the rest from cookbooks. Though, like I said, the zucchini chocolate cake is my granny's recipe." He smiled brightly. "She's made some great recipes over the years... Though I'm not an amazing cook, but I like to think I'm fairly good."

 

 

(OOC: True story for the Zucchini Chocolate Cake! My grandma made a really good recipe, It's delicious!)

[Midnight Starfall 179]

@,

 

"Oh, to me it sounds fancy. The best thing I've had were probably the cupcakes from Sugarcube Corner," Stoneheart said. "And I'd probably go broke if I went to a restaurant in Canterlot," she said jokingly.

 

It'd be cool to go to Canterlot, even if I never went to a restaurant.

[Blitz Boom 4,631]

@,

 

Briar raised his head, surprised that Void were in front of him. Hadn't he gone after... No, wait, Kelly was also nearby. Steps spoke of somepony anyway, and there had only been the three of them until a while ago.

 

He finished chewing and gulping down his meal before responding.

 

"I only hit hard so that the poor creatures does not suffer needlessly, although I will admit it have taken some practise."

 

Briar coughed, releasing a bone splinter that had stuck just behind his teeth and now came breezing out, hitting the ground.

 

"My apologies.

 

In any case, if you would like one I can always fish another one up? It's no trouble, I assure you."

 

Briar wasn't sure if Changelings could eat meat, but surely, emotions could not be enough. Some degree of protein and minerals had to find their way into their diet at some point. Right?

[Storm Shine 1,196]

@@Midnight Starfall, 

 

Storm laughed. "Yeah, Canterlot could make you lose bits pretty fast... But just because it's fancy, doesn't mean it's the best!" He smiled. "I personally like Sugarcube Corner much more than any Canterlot restaurant..." Storm stared off into space. "Mmmm... Cupcakes... Muffins...." He said dazedly, licking his lips.

Edited October 5, 2014 by Storm Shine

[Midnight Starfall 179]

@,

 

"That's true. I've heard at fancy restaurants, they give you smaller portions. That's not even worth going to if they charge a huge amount of money for something so small," Stoneheart said to him.

 

From my experience, I'd rather have larger portions for a bigger amount.

[Storm Shine 1,196]

@@Midnight Starfall, 

 

"Hehe, yeah.. If you serve small portions, ponies get angry... But if you slap fancy, or gourmet on the title... Suddenly it's better to have small expensive portions.." Storm chuckled, shaking his head. "The ideas some ponies get in their heads about these things..."

[Midnight Starfall 179]

@,

 

Stoneheart nodded in agreement.  "I'd rather have bigger, more expensive portions than smaller portions. That's highway robbery."

 

Honestly, as long as my food is cooked and a god size portion, but not burnt to a crisp, I'm fine with it and I'll enjoy it. But if it's seriously small, please give me my money back.

[Vox 870]

Vox gingerly trotted into Ponyville, as it was his first time visiting the rather small community, he looked around for any particular establishment that would catch his eye and pin his interest. "Going to be a long day" he said under his breath, not wanting to attract anypony's unnecissary attention.

[Storm Shine 1,196]

@@Midnight Starfall, 

 

 

Storm yawned. "Yep, I totally agree.." He yawned again, before looking out at the sky. "Wow.. Time sure flew by.." Storm said, surprised. "The sun's already setting... Guess I'd better start heading home...."  He said. "But I'll come back tomorrow with that home-cooked meal I promised.... Does around noon sound good?" Storm asked, not wanting to impose, or arrive at a bad time.