open Casual stroll

[Blitz Boom 4,634]

Molotov turned around to look at what had Carmen riled up, and noticed a vehicle of sorts in tge distance. Close enough to see some details, but not enough to watch the passengers. Or well, not for regular eyes, but using his horn to fiddle with the levers on his goggle a bit helped with that, and he ended up with a good look at who they were going to be dealing with in a second.

It appeared to be a stallion and... My my, an enchanting mare from the look of it. This might be a more fun meeting than he had anticipated at first. Provided those two weren't a couple. Perhaps he should find that out before opening his big, stupid muzzle too much.

Setting the levers back in place to make his vision more normalized, Molotov stood ready with a grin on his muzzle as the two approached, until they'd be close enough to hear what he were saying.

"Hey there. Swanky ride you got yourself. I take it you're from Vision Village?

Name's Molotov Boom, and this is my little sister, Blitz Boom-"

"Adventure!!"

"She says hi. Anyway, we're on our way to your town to deliver some things from Center Zero. Think either of you two could be a doll and point us in the right direction? We've never been there before."

As a matter of fact, the only one in their family who went to see their colleagues in Vision Village, had been their mother, Faculty Boom. A mare who were hard to miss with her research on a wide array of mechanical advances, as well as her grand project of space travel. A subject she shared some of her research about in the other village, but kept mostly to herself, as she were trying to get there as much as possible on her own out of pure stubbornness. Though far as Molotov knew, she had worked closely with one in Vision Village in creating increasingly stronger fuel containers, to mix with what she had dubbed *rocket fuel*. She had never gotten it finished before the incident unfortunately, but she did reach a point were her counterpart thought it was getting ridiculously sturdy, to a point were no matter what they used, they could barely work with it.

There were several poines between the two towns that went back and forth, as not everypony had trust in letters, even if they had their own messengers, as well as that machine they had been setting up a few months back they had shut down for a time after testing an alpha-stage hologram, and others just liked to speak more face to face. Some liked the social aspect too, and seeing what the others in general were working on too he assumed, but Molotov didn't know too much honestly. Just what he had been told, and at times seen, though he were usually busy so he didn't speak much with those from that town.

The towns were fairly similar in ideals, so they got along well, though rivalries inevitably did ensue. Mostly friendly ones though, and wagers on who would first do this or that kept them on the edge and working well, so productivity rocketed up since they started communications. At least on their part, though Molotov were pretty sure the Visioners were well up for the battle, so to speak.

Still, hopefully they'd remember seeing their mother around. She had the family coat of orange, and like Blitz had patches of darkened fur here and there that smelled of something flammable,  plus she had the trademark sign if their family: Functioning mechanical wings. Hers were a good deal prettier than either Molotov or Blitz's, and ran on electricity stored via a dynamo attached to her legs, so she could charge up to five hours worth of power for it by using her body naturally, but each in their family had their own way of wanting to fly. Molotov had went with solar, mother with electricity, and Blitz... Well, he wasn't sure, but from what she had shared with him, it actually looked like she were trying to use another kind of electricity in a more compact design than their mothers.

Anyway, here was hoping that either of these two in their impressive ride would point them the right way. Likely wouldn't happen if they didn't believe they were from Center Zero as... Well, not all scientists liked others snooping into their work, and whilst he didn't know how secretive Vision Village were about this, he knew that in his home at least, it had to be somepony special to be allowed inside town. Usually Princess Celestia, a higher ranking envoy of hers, prominent scientists or inventors that had caught their attention, or ponies from Vision Village. Reporters, the general public and the like wasn't welcome. They'd see if their counterparts were as reserved as them.

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

 

@Dji

"Well, buttermilk more specifically. Their butter is fine too, but it's not something to use in the sort of candy I work with."

Pop reached out and took the bag of drops that didn't seem to be in Dawn's taste. Honestly, she had little hope with that one, since it wasn't that many that enjoyed sour candy, but it was worth a test at least. A bit of trial and error.

Hopefully the lollipops would be more in her taste. They were more sweet and sugary, though it might being a bit too much on the sweet side, but hey, then they'd know the other end of the scale thus far between too sour, and too sweet. Progress in any case.

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

 

@Battenberg

(this happens three days later than the above post)

"What a pretty shop."

The door to the quaint place opened and the joyful voice of a mare looking like a mixture between a candy cane, a salespony and living bubblegum spread slowly, as she gazed around the bakery.

"Smells well, looks well, sectioned well. Must be somepony experienced with customer service who set this place up. And a good baker to booth if the smells are anything to go by."

Circle Pop were talking to herself as she looked around the place. Her way would eventually reach towards the counter, but right now, she wanted to see how it looked in here. Enticing would be a good word for it overall, though that also set a high standard for the quality of their wares, in her mind. Hopefully they'd live up to that so she could have a little snack before going back to sight-seeing around town. Might be she had good time to get it done, but still, it was nice to look around, and well... It sort of distracted from another thing she had to get done in this town that she wasn't looking forward to.

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

 

@Lloyd

Null didn't even flinch as the blast came towards her. She just gritted her teeth over how the irritating freak of a pony had run out of her grip before she got close enough to keep him earthbound for a smacking, as well as how he had tried to push both her sister and her around. Much she would just let slide and don't care about it, but nopony used Void as a toy without getting a vicious beating as long as she had anything to say about it.

With the other one that had apparently been fighting this one unconscious on the ground, Warlock had then turned his attention to Null, and tried to arrogantly throw a cart at her. Something she responded to by first jumping out of the way of the vehicle, then look up towards him with hatred in her eyes.

"This is how you fight? Come down here and take a beating like a stallion you spineless coward! I'll beat you senseless until your ugly face gets redecorated into something looking less like a mule's flank."

Meanwhile, Void had gone closer to her sister, nervous and not sure what to do, but thinking she would need her soon. If for nothing else, then to stop her from stomping on Warlock if he went down.

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

 

@Lloyd

"Lieutenant Shimmer!"

One of the guards in the room turned her head when Dew's commanding voice rung through the throne room. A Solar Guard by the look of the uniform, and with a coating that almost made her blend in with the metal, just without the shine and darker coloration. It was hard to see too much of her because of the uniform and helmet though, but the pegasi seemed to be in her forties from the looks of things.

"Yes sir?"

"Assist General Wing in whatever way he asks, and make somepony fetch a bag for his feather."

"Of course sir."

Lieutenant Shimmer hadn't been at the meeting when Iron Wing were mentioned as Dew's successor, as she had been occupied with a security breach in town, but she wouldn't question his words when he said that the armor-clad pony with the strange wings were her new general. Certainly wasn't a Night or Coast Guard, so it had to be that, though he were still dealing out orders. Had Dew been promoted to a diplomat? Something to find out later certainly.

"You, get the bag mentioned and return here as fast as possible. I'll assist the general in the retrieval."

A random guard took the order and went on his way, whilst she stood rank and saluted Iron Wing.

"Lieutenant Shimmer, reporting in sir."

With that handled, Dew beckoned another guard closer and pointed at Iron Star and Misty.

"Help them follow me. We don't have much time."

The guard would do as he was told, whilst Dew began to really walk out of the room. The ambassador wouldn't last for long if he lingered anymore, so further issues until Dew returned would have to be handled by General Wing for the time being.

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

 

@Foxy Socks

The glare from under the hood at Foxy's horror were indifferent to how she must have felt, watching these small clips of things that never ended up happening. To him, it was all just part of his life, and currently, a lesson he wished to impart upon her when the time was right. She'd need further incentive he would think, but he had a few years to work with before she had to make the choice on the tipping scale between all out Equestrian war, and a calmer, prosperous future.

"Excuse me, but what exactly are you talking about? And furthermore, can somepony please tell me wh-"

"I prepared a spell seven hours ago, that would remove the half-turned filly's be fearful or nervous. It finished casting as I exited the tent, and it will last for a certain amount of time that I will keep to myself. I didn't wish to make my presence cause more of a threat level in others than it already does, and you are as protective as the phoenix when it comes to her."

Zhu knew what Briar would ask, he just waited until the Evergrown would start asking it before spilling the beans about how he had interfered with Brittle, causing her to not turn into a nervous wreck currently. A blessing for all involved currently, as this were the first time in as long as Brittle could remember that she felt calm, though the blessing would eventually end, and when it would, she'd feel the return of her angst and fears return again. It would more than likely revert her to exactly where she had been, though there were a chance that it would motivate her to try to regain that calm mindset. The odds were low of that within the foreseeable future, unless something were done to intervene, but he would not consider it impossible. Depended on her choices after this, and the support she gained in it, which neither were something he'd interfere in. Her paths didn't show much in the way of issues to the balance, and as such, she wasn't somepony he would need to mingle with. Not unless something depended on her presence another place.

He gave himself a few seconds to answer the next part towards the both of them, and rose his head to the sun to bask in it's glare a little. In better times or when he knew he'd be alone, he sometimes liked to simply lay out in his entirety, and bask in the light without the robe covering what he were, but those times were rare and far between. a little glance towards the sky were often the best he could aim for to take the worst, though this would give Foxy a chance to see what were normally hidden in the hood.

(imagine it more orange and striped, with glowing yellow eyes)

The appearance of the rare race of the Serpanthers were not widely known, but he were not much of an outlier. A feline torso and legs, combined with a serpents head and tail, were a harsh sight to accept for some, and the word *draconequus* had been dropped a few times before in response, though he weren't one in the slightest. He were simply a mixture of two races, not a mix of several part shaken in a bag.

His neck were curved, the scales mixing in with his fut reasonably well in color at least, and at a short glance, potentially also texture, as the raised scales were a bit off. He had slight folds like a beta version of a cobra around his ears, but it wasn't far out they went, and wouldn't fool anypony if he tried to play it off.

A few seconds of light, where only Foxy would be able to see part of him, if she so chose, and he would lower his head again.

"As for your questions, I showed her a glimmer of a potential future I saw a dozen times, where the earthmother would rise from the ground and lay destruction to several continents, for the neglect the world had shown her, and the madness being forgotten had caused.

It is why the Evergrown were needed. Their existence sates her, reminds her she is not forgotten or despised, and keeps her both dormant and free of the madness. When eventually she will rise, it will be with a better purpose than what you saw.

Make no mistake, the creature is a benevolent one, and a boon for this world, as she is deeply connected to the nature on which we depends, so his praise does not go to the ears of a monster. In her own right, you could consider her a fallen deity, and their kind needs worshipers to retain their selves. The Evergrown in particular, are both part of her nature, and sings praises to her name. In a sense, they have saved her merely by existing. I saw little reason to mask the past, but what is to come with her, will be left to the mind of those who can see the unwritten."

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

 

@EQ_Theta

Omen held a hoof towards where Sen had been before, as if she could draw him back out of thin air somehow, but it was pointless. He was gone, crying and begging for them to not leave him...

The thought made her chest starting to hurt again. It had been a while since that happened.

"I don't understand. Why does he fear to die, when it looked like he were afraid we'd leave him?"

Though she were discomforted, Omen tried to find out what to do anyway, and the first thing that came to mind was how conflicting the things their copies said and what small Sen had said were.

When what turned out to be Sen's parents were dragged away from him, she started to understand it a little, with him fearing being left behind like that again, but then the strange things had started to talk and it stopped making sense.

Even as Sen had gone over and grabbed hold of Lin and her, whilst fading away a little by little, she were sure that this meant he were afraid that they too would end up leaving him alone again, and yet the others said that it meant he didn't ant to leave them? Had it something to do with how he were eventually going to die, and he thought that he'd miss them in the next world? Omen had never understood much of death or what were beyond it, but from the few things she had heard, it sounded like a happy place that everypony would eventually reach, unless they had been incredibly bad.

Regardless of her finding meaning in it or not, if this was the truth, what were going to happen then? They couldn't stop death after all, right?

"..."

Her brain stopped on that question. Could they really do nothing against death?

She had heard before how this was the end for everypony, but looking at those she knew, that it wasn't that simple. Master Discord for example were likely immortal, and as endless as chaos itself, and she had some of his magic within her, which seemed to at the very least give her semi-immortality as she hadn't died from old age or something alike.

And what of Lin? After her ordeal, she had been pieced back together again with a portion of Mother's realm, and likely so many kinds of magic that she might be something like Discord at this point. Not a draconequus, no, but a being that... What did he call it... Were as much magic as flesh, causing them to thrive as long as their power did? Something like that.

In either case, it was the same. They didn't die fast, and except for Discord, none of them had just shown up that way. Things had to happen to them that involved magic, and Equestria plus the lands around it did have a lot of magical stuff lying around...

"...No need to fear death, equals no nightmares? Is making him strange too how he gets better?"

This was not directed to the clones, but rather the only other real creature here: Lin. She were the smart one of them in Omen's mind, so perhaps she could clear this up, and say if this was how they helped him. Stop the pain he had been in every time she had seen him sleep, and before, when little him cried and vanished.

...Ouch...

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

 

@Moonlit @Seamore Sandwich

"We need to give Fah'lina a little detective outfit too then."

The responding maw opening and violent hissing seemed to indicate that much like any other cute things Ziggy had tried to suggest doing with the mimic, she would likely shred the mare if she even tried. Funny how she hated doing things like that when she were so eager playing off the *cute critter* part whenever she wanted to con ponies out of their food, or avoid responsibility for her issues.

"Or you know, *groan*  not, that's okay too.

And I'm fine enough Serenade, no worries about lil' old meeeeeee! My wing's swollen and I'm a bit beaten up, but it's fine. I just can't fly for a while."

The drawn out *me* as she felt what was either a piece of glass in one of her legs or a minor fracture had tested her ability to not fall down on the floor and weep like a filly, but she had managed to get through it. Though from where she had felt the pain and the motion she had been through when she did it, it was likely the safest for her to take this nice and easy, plus not applying pressure to the mentioned leg. She'd be able to get a cast going once they got back to the hospital in Ponyville. Or you know, a few sticks and some gauze. Basically it needed rest, and there were cheaper and just as effective methods to use when it wasn't a full-on broken bone.

Edited August 11, 2017 by Blitz Boom
Added colors.

[Moonlit 593]

@Blitz Boom @Seamore Sandwich "Ziggy, your hurt. Of course I'll worry. Do you need me to carry you out?" Serenade offers Ziggy at least a wing to help her along. Given her companion's outward injuries it would be slowgoing, but she wasn't a doctor. 

[Victoria Sponge 1,017]

@Blitz Boom

"Oh... Hello..."

A soft, gentle voice with an upper class Trottingham accent came from somewhere behind the counter. Closely following the voice a small blue mare with a curly candy coloured mane emerged. She bowed her head slightly but managed to keep eye contact with pretty pink pony who now stood across the counter. Her soft green eyes seemed kind but cautious. 

"W-welcome to Battenberg Bakery... Where you can have your cake and eat it too."

She stutterer a bit but managed to find her words becoming slightly more confident and standing up straight in an attempt to be more welcoming and open to a potential customer.

"You're the f-first customer today"

A small smile was now upon her face it seemed she was beginning to warm to her visitor.

"Have you visited one of my bakeries before?"

 

Edited August 11, 2017 by Battenberg

[Foxy Socks 2,599]

@Blitz Boom

When Zhu revealed his head for a moment, Foxy was in awe of what she thought. His head was a mixture of viper and elapid snake traits; a deadly combination. Foxy wasn't intimidated much by his appearance because she had experience with snakes, and had no fear of them. In fact, she loved them. She could see slight traces of fur, but being covered she had no idea what Zhu was beyond a serpent creature. 

 

"So that's why Brittle is the way she is? I see..." Foxy was slightly disappointed that she was only acting like that because of the spell, and not really that close to Foxy in reality. It was a nice gesture though.

 

"I still don't like that creature though. I don't care how helpful she may be, it isn't right to harm others." Foxy had a simple set of morals, strongly abiding by them. They grew as she spent time with animals, giving her strong views.

[EQ_Theta 460]

[Blitz Boom]

It was a mortifying thought, the pain that the end will come no matter what. It made Lin aware of her own mortality, or maybe it made her curious about how her life span would change now that she was no longer a pure longma by appearance. It's something to ask Mother when she had the time. Here, however, her brother has just about completely vanished and she didn't know how to comfort him. Omen's confusion on them leaving Sen and fear of death is understandable; one way or another, someone was going to leave the other. Or so it seemed.

"I guess he's afraid he doesn't know what happens after death; no one knows." Lin solemnly replied. "Some say they go to some peaceful garden and meet everyone who has gone to their rest. Others say there is nothing and they are left to wander the infinite darkness alone. Being made to wander the world without companions must be a lonely thing and Sen was very close to our parents. But making him - how you say, 'strange?' I don't know if it's the right thing to do. He might be averse to the idea even if he is slowly learning to live with magic he can find useful."   

There was also the sound of footsteps approaching the two of them, a slow trudge that didn't pick up in speed or enthusiasm. Lin turned to find an old, wizened version of her brother looking at them with saddened eyes but eager to answer a conflicting thought in Omen's mind. 

"I was, and still am, afraid of many things. I still don't know if getting you angry will bring down the wrath of Mother upon me. I don't know if I could be satisfied knowing that I wouldn't be able to get to know you better since you and Lin are so close and I'm different from you two. I'm afraid you two would leave me behind because my mortality wouldn't allow me to keep up. Those warped perceptions of you and her... fear has a way of bringing out the worst thoughts in me and I'm afraid they may be right. It's not an easy thing to think about."

Edited August 12, 2017 by EQ_Theta

[Storm Shine 1,196]

@Blitz Boom

"Oh my Celestia!" Pinkie shouted as she immediately dashed after the sugary creature, "It's so adorable! And it looks delicious! Adorably Delicious! Adoralicious! Deliciable!" The excitable pink mare kept listing off such things as she ran

 

"Hey, wait up Pinkie!" Storm shouted as he took off after her, that creature was adorable after all! And all that sugar... Some drool may or may not have fell from his mouth as he ran (I deny this completely! It was just a bit of muffin crumbs! Really!)

 

Edited August 12, 2017 by Shineling

[FanOfManyShows 396]

@Blitz Boom

His eye twitched, anger flowed through him, the ground almost cracked around him from the anger purely just coming off him. "Coward..." He looked around for a moment, thinking over his approach over all of it, starting to realize she was right, and made the brief decision, to change that. "Coward?" He turned to Null, with fury written on his face, Warlock growling with his teeth greeting, eyes emitting dark magic smoke, colored blue and green, with some red. He extended a sword creating it out of the air, a crude design for a sword still flaking metal from its heat, with a cloud of magic floating around it. "Is this cowardice to you?!" He shouted out, rippling the ground at them, charging at them, leaping far up into the air. Astral only at the last moment became conscious, seeing the situation they were in, grabbing Null and rushing over to Void as Warlock struck the ground, making a crater. "A coward gives up, a coward leaves before the kill, a coward leaves before he wins, because of fear." He swung his sword around, parts of buildings flying towards him. "I am no coward!" He said floating up as the rubble turned into new armor, a spectacle likely to attract attention, his intention (Heh that rymed). "Why don't you run now? You didn't run at me after I threw the cart." He said with a glare in his eye that spoke of his wrath about to unfold, very quickly.

"Oh you're girlfriend would enjoy this."

His eyes sprung away from Null to Astral. "We're-" he flew at her and struck a sword at her, as she flew away. "NOT!" He leaped to her, she moving out of the way, sending him into a building. "IN LOVE!" He flew out, burning with anger, slicing the ground with the burning sword, striking it into a building and igniting it, the fire spreading oddly fast, yet again something to attract attention. He almost fell down, deeply breathing, exhausted from anger. Lifting a sword to Astral, quickly throwing it to his right as he spun around, in Void's direction.

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

Iron Wing stood there, looking at the floor with about fifteen feathers across it, and a pile of ten just below both his wings, which he picked up, some of them floating inches above his hooves, the more scratches on them, the lower they floated, until they touched his hooves. he put them in the bag, being careful with them. looking at the ones in his wings, shaking the wings more, none more falling out. He walked around picking up the others. "If you see a blade like this;" He lifted up one of the feathers, with etchings on it that'd seem decorative to ones who didn't know their purpose. Making sure they could see the blade. "Bring it to me and I'll make sure it's the right one, and put it away."

[Widdershins 9,960]

  @Dji & @Blitz Boom

   "I-I d-don't "like" Anyone!... and I don't hate everybody either!" The light-framed drakling huffily retorts at the griffon, his face scales seeming somewhat more of a sunset-red in the day's light.

  "I just don't like Stupid, Selfish ponies who think that the world is some big show where only their species matters! Not every other way of life out there exists just to serve your ends! I'm sure griffons have their own towns, but all you ever hear about is the the big ponytowns who get all the architecture and fancy stuff!

  And I'm here, because I feel i'm a little entitled to some payback for having my routine disrupted by this noisy cart & pony!" Kaltrop once more proclaims his rights apparently unaware of his own double standard. "It's not like I need you two for company or anything! It's not like I wasn't perfectly happy in my cliffside cave all by myself or anything!"

 Reared back on his haunches, his front claws clenching and scratching at the cart roof in agitation like a cat kneading its bedding before it lays down, Kaltrop tips his snout down to mutter under his breath. "...don't think I can find my way back from here anyways..."

"B-besides. Wouldn't some herd of country yokels start throwing a fit & some rocks about you hauling my full-grown, intimidating dragon self into their easily burnable village?"

)))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))-((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((

  At Symbol, Blartz Bleuurgh! ...Stop that...

    Turning to regard the new voice, Widdershins keeps turning his body and head until he stands with his chin on the ground facing Anomaly with his body looped around full circle back to where his tail is propped up back on the stump he had first appeared on. Frankly not a very sturdy position, but then again sturdiness has never been a common phrase associated with draconequui.

   A Pinap Berry! It's the Interdimensional Symbol of Hospitality! We heard that on a show once, so you know it's true!

 Three long tongues of varying ends to them extend cartoonishly out from Widdershins's closed mouth to pull closer the... the literal Fruit Basket? ...It's sometimes hard to narrate this stuff. I'm beginning to feel regret again on my character design.

 As he lifts up its top to quizzically rummage through it, the draconequus idly responds to Anomaly.

  Hmm? Oh, no. I never talked into your head. That's a thing that didn't happen. I mean, really, putting aside aesthetics & all the insanity that happens in anime when characters start messing around with brain powers like that... what would you even call that? Implanting a thought in another's head? I'm a Man of my Creativity, don' evah compare me to Inception, Boopie!

  Oh, hey! Look!

  With that exclamation, Widdershins pulls out... the wrapped Breezie. Of course. You shouldn't give us an out like that. I just... you really should... Sigh.

  With a quick, casual disregarding fling away of the enveloping waffle wrapper, Widdershins drops the Breezie on the floor in front of him.

  oOoh! It's one of them Wossnames! I forget what they're called... reminds me of my... let's see, where is it?...

 Rolling back his loop of a body a bit to raise his head closer to the wall, he presses a long, bunny ear to the wall for a momment for a drawer to come out, and without bothering to look inside pulls out a small, hoofsized bottle. A bottle that appears to have notable animated detail and sentience to it, judging by the way its tiny limbs flail about. With a quick, plaintive squeak and a quicker flick, Widdershins wrings its head off to where it now stands as a now unmoving bottle. He offers it to Anomaly too. 

  This here's a Bottle Gnome! Oh, don't you worry! They're constructs, not life! Besides, gnomes, like Breezies, are just one of those species where its okay to just utterly despise them! Think that's just a mana potion in there. Despite being magic, its really quite delicious. There's, like, patented actual energy drinks called that even!

 So! What brings you to my Thinly Veiled Analogy & Pocket Dimension?

And somewhere a few feet off in his corner, a small voice can be heard muttering to itself. "...and yet another name for it, again..."

And more importantly! What would you say is the best preperation for a live Wossnames thing like that little guy? I'd say fillet, but I feel sure there's some Cuteness Gland you need to clean out.

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@Blitz Boom

  "Well, um, I'll see what I can do. Maybe start getting onto a letter to send them... If I can remember how Ponyville does letters." Ambie ponders to himself outloud. Still tired from all that had happened today, the stallion does seem weary if only by how quickly he waffles in his decisions. Elsewise its hard to tell how much the darkness & the late hour is effecting him as much as his eyes seem to still shine in the night, perhaps indicating yet another nocturnal aspect of his potential heritage.

 "Oh, heh, yeah. I'm open to whatever suggestions you have there too, of course! I've not had much training myself in physical labor, but Mother used to always say that a good Gentlecolt never complained about his job. Though... she did alot, but..."

 

 

 

[Little Snowdrop 296]

 

@Blitz Boom

Floating Matter and Steampunk Gear got closer to the two strangers. The older one asked them if they were from Vision Village instantly, and Floating nodded. As Molotov introduced himself and Blitz, Steampunk watched the little filly who seemed to be pretty excited about everything around. She kinda reminded him of himself when he was younger; always wanting to explore everything.

"From Center Zero, huh?", asked Steampunk as Molotov finnished. "Well, everypony from there is always welcome to our lil village. Nice to meet you, my name's Steampunk Gear and this lovely mare over here is Floating Matter." Floating waved down to Molotov and Blitz. "If you want, we can carry you two there. But, just 'cause I'm curious, what exactly do you want in Vision Village? You know, we didn't get any visitors from Center Zero since I live ..."

Floating pondered a bit, then she asked: "I hope there's nothing wrong with the communication system, is there?". The last error in the system has taken days to fix and an important research project in cooperation with Center Zero has been delayed. The system was essential for the collaboration with Center Zero, since it was the only way to transmit data over the long distance fast enough.

While waiting for Molotov's report, Floating and Steampunk made place for the two ponies to join them on their vehicle, assuming they would take the offering.

[dosey doe 72]

@Blitz Boom

"Sour chili lemon, one!" the mare at the counter called over her shoulder. "And for you, miss?"

"May I have a strawberry lemonade muffin, please?"

"Strawmonade, one! That'll be four bits all together. And will that be for here or to go, my little hedge mages?"

"Um... did you want to dine in, Sorrow?"

Edited August 13, 2017 by dosey doe

[Blitz Boom 4,634]

@Moonlit @Seamore Sandwich

"Nono, I'm fine. I just have to really stop myself from supporting on my leg. Just don't start a-running and I'm gonna be fine enough. Trust me, I'm a doctor. I'd know if it wasn't possible to walk right now."

Ziggy smiled after her little white lie, to try and sell it a little better. Truth be told, it would likely be for the best that she didn't take any chances right now, but well... Serenade was currently a regular sized pegasus, and considering how easy it were to drag her off earlier, she wouldn't do much in trying to carry the larger zegasus. Unless she could change forms again out of nowhere, but then they wouldn't be able to get her back into Ponyville. Better that she just underplayed how bad this might be, and then do what she could to not meddle this up as they went along.

Here was hoping she wouldn't fall and go from a fracture to a break.

"Let's get out whilst we still have a torch, okay? Gotta be horrible to attempt to get out here without light. Especially if the ghosts starts to get around and spook us."

Ziggy chuckled at that, though a little nervously. It seemed she still wasn't convinced that there wasn't any of those in this place. Perhaps she would end up being right in that. *ominous sound*

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@Battenberg

Pop gave a warm smile towards the apparent owner of this establishment. One of the more nervous in it apparently, but that was okay. Some ponies never really did too well in dealing with customers, even if they had a business, and honestly, nervous and shy clerks sometimes drew in a crowd too. Some ponies found it rather endearing and/or relatable.

"Hello, my name is Circle Pop, it's nice to meet you.

I gotta say, I like your catchphrase. Fits the place well.

And unfortunately, I have never seen a bakery with this name before, so I wasn't aware this was part of a chain. Sorry. I'm impressed you got a whole string up and running though, when most I know just haves a single store. Also have to mean that you must really know what you're doing when it comes to the goods, sooo..."

Pop smirked slightly and got a little closer to the desk.

"What can you recommend? I'd like something flavorful and sweet, and my... Coltfriend outside would like something with blackberries, if you have that?"

She wasn't sure what to call Benny in the moment when it came down to it, so she just went with the regular word used by ponies. She'd really have to think further on that later on, since she didn't think *dragonfriend* sounded right. Fitting yes, but not flowing out of the muzzle all that well.

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@Foxy Socks

Brittle looked a little hurt over being told that she hadn't just all of a sudden found courage, but that it was pushed on her by silencing her fears and worries for the time being. She hadn't felt this good in... Well, ever really, and knowing this would eventually end made her a little sad.

"Isn't there a way I can keep being calm? I don't want to go back to being afraid of everypony again."

Zhu turned to the girl and looked her over, seeing the many varied ways her wicked life could twist and turn for about a half minute before saying anything.

"Before I leave, I will tell you what you need to know."

Individual lives were barely something that mattered to him anymore, but occasionally, he would show some mercy on those you couldn't help but pity, and in the case of this young mare, he did not see much in her future that would be reason to celebrate, even if she overcame her worries a little by little. Her half-formed state were one of the major reasons that would eventually backfire, and it seemed the chances of her finding out how to not end up in a state that would redefine misery were slim without intervention.

He wasn't evil, and he felt remorse over some of the things he had to do at times, but often he didn't have a choice in letting horrible things play out to balance the scale, and that left him somewhat jaded towards pain and short lived lives. Sometimes though, he would get across somepony who's future were so unlikely to affect anything, that he could do a little to try and save them. However, Brittle were not one of those ponies.

Her future mattered, and he knew that as several familiar threads started to play over again, just changed from between the first time he had seen them, through the changeling attack, her transformation, and up to now. Several things in the plans he had set up in regards to this young mare had already gone awry to varying lengths, and it were soon reaching the point where he could see he would have to step in and do something drastic himself. Not here and now, as he needed time to prepare someplace he could force the conversion to changeling fully on her, but in time he would have to return for her. Until then, the guard he had directed towards her would have to do the rest, even as limited as he currently were, with one of his vines missing.

None of this were something he told them however. Some things were not meant to be known by more than a select few, and never by those who it would affect. Mortal stubbornness would do wonder to put a stick in the wheel when it came to that, as most found they should have control over their own fate, and that just made it more problematic. Selective silence were the only real way to handle such a situation before it even started, and then have them think they made their choices well, badly or were simply unlucky. Better to ignore the creature behind the curtain.

"She never hurt anypony. What pain she gave, have been left in the vanishing mist of what never were. Her appeasement ensured that, and made the sacrifices for this outcome an acceptable cost.

If it is a consolation to your limited view of the unwritten, she will at the soonest rise long after you three have died. It have no impact on your lives as it stands now, and even if it were, you don't have the power needed to stop something of that magnitude."

A somewhat bleak message, but it was better than if he had told how little the lives of those he had to turn or... *Disappear* for this cause, actually meant in the grand scale. Unless you understood balance, it was few who could accept that no matter how hard you tried, there were times when the only thing to do were to sacrifice the lives of some, to save everything else.

He had been idealist once too. Thinking that if he just did everything right, nopony would have to die or suffer, and he would be a hero.

Reality had been cruel to him, and showed him how little his cozy view had been worth when everything came down to it. It had taught him the bitter way how things actually worked, and left him with blood on his paws that never seemed to truly wash off. Hardly a drop of which he had spilled himself, nor had touched his physical being, but his plotting and rearranging of things to ensure it would happen made him just as guilty as those who then did the horrendous deeds. perhaps even worse.

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@EQ_Theta

"I'm not as close as you, Sen.

I met you a few days ago, and you were looking for her. Most things I remember happening since then were to help find or save either of you for the other.

You two were made and grew up together. Years of history there I guess. Knowing eachother too, and bonding like master and sibling. I barely understand anything either of you have done since I met you, but I know that you two are close, like Mother tells us siblings should be. More than Lin and me can be."

Omen didn't see how some shadow-like substance were enough to say that Lin and her were closer than the two of them. Bonds, shared memories, understanding the motives and actions of the other, those sort of things seemed more important when it came to closeness, and she barely fitted anywhere there. She barely understood anything them, every aspect of their lives she followed them to seemed to open up for more confusion, and she couldn't even remember the last few days, leaving her complete memories with these two at about what, 2-3 days? Even if you looked at everything going on in the village as a bonding experience, Omen didn't have those memories to bond over. Just stories and fragments of images or phrases dangling around her mind when it came to some situations, whilst Sen and Lin knew it all. Plus countless other adventures before she even knew the Longma existed.

"Mother could say it better. And she would say to you what she kept doing to all of us when we make mistakes: She can be disappointing in our actions, but she can't hate her children. She makes sure we know that."

Several things were true about Mother, but chief among them were that she were furiously protective of her children. If something happened and she could do something, she would try to do what she could in her realm to help, and it pained her sometimes to know that she couldn't go beyond the gates to help without the entirety of this realm starting to destroy itself.

That wasn't the sort of being that would harm her own children without having no other choice, nor have wrath for them. The only reason she had shown any hostility towards Sen and Lin earlier, were because they were taken over by Legion, and her harsh words had been directed at them.

Another thing to keep in mind about Mother though that neither Sen nor Lin were thinking about right now, were that she had said several times that she were a reaper. A collector of souls, meant to send the dead onward to the next world. At least she used to do that, but that would still mean that she could answer something about the afterlife more than likely.

Omen didn't think on this though. She just stated the facts, and would try to get closer to older Sen. If she were intercepted, she'd stop, but still look towards him and ignore her doppelganger.

"Do you want us to make you strange too Sen? We could go look for a way to do it if it helps your nightmare."

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@Shineling

"This is going too slow. We need a net!"

A snap of her tail and Anomaly unraveled into colored string putting itself together as a sentient net with eyes and her big ol' pumpkin mouth in the middle, floating forwards quickly towards the sugar mole they were in hot pursuit off.

They weren't going to harm it, but it was a small-minded creature, and would think the lot of them were out to eat it all up, like some of the predators on this isle. If they could just get hold of it and take a few careful licks of its delicious, sugary coating, it'd calm down and not be afraid of them anymore. They just had to get the quick kind-of-rodent first.

Meanwhile, somewhere else on the isle, the voice of Molotov cursing and Blitz laughing could be heard. It was a little hard to say why at a distance, but it likely had something to do with the mushrooms pumping out weird spores they had run into. A sentence that barely ever meant something good.

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@Lloyd

Null didn't want to move, confident in that stupid sword of his being a magical construct, which meant it'd be dust when it got near her, but the mare from before had interfered and run at her, tackling her out of the way so there were just a crater instead on the ground now as the crazy stallion yapped on and swung around like a drunk monkey.

She were about to yell back at Warlock that yes, he were still a coward and a fool to think his magic had anything to it that'd even make her nervous, when Astral began to taunt him and really make him loose his cool. Which was no t helping things, as he were already making panic occur in the streets as other ponies ran away screaming, or covering inside their houses. The ones who hadn't been struck that were, who were going to need further repairs to get them up and running again. Which would have to be infuriating for the forepony, who had just gotten this part of town sorted a half hour ago.

The building on fire would also catch a lot of attention from the ponies around, and most certainly from the ones that had been inside who ran out fast before the building got engulfed. From the sounds of things, somepony were going to get the fire fighters, but before they'd get there the building would likely be a smouldering pile of ash. Thank heavens it wasn't right up against another building, or this could have been a city-wide panic thing. Then again, a little wind and some embers could do a lot of bad things if something else happened, so they weren't safe yet.

Neither of those things were of much importance though, as the mad stallion for some reason changed his ideal target and threw his sword towards Void and great speed. Something she might usually be able to parry if she had her weapon, but she didn't, and she could only look on in terror as the blade got closer and closer, with Null trying to run towards her in a futile attempt to do something.

"Not on our watch."

A dragon - A bloody dragon! - had flown in and just managed to get his claws around the scorching blade in time to intercept it and tumble over the ground with it closely in his grip. The force it had been tossed with had had quite the impact on his ability to just grab it and be done with it, though as he got up again, you could see the only damage to him were the blood in his hands were the blade had cut into. Painful business from the looks of things, but he still got up from the ground again and rose over the ground on his leathery wings whilst Void scrambled over to Null to grab her big sister with tears in her eyes.

Benny didn't hear what the two were saying, nor focused much on it after he saw a Night Guard with a few years on him get out from around a building and do his to move the two of them along from the main street where all the craziness were going on. Something which left him time to head towards Warlock, who would also find a sharp Chakram flying through to air towards his side, thrown by the approaching General Screecher, who looked like she just about had it with everything Warlock were doing. Timely backup for Astral, but nothing to help Warlock thus far. Seemed like he might have a bit of problem. Doubly so if you counted the also rapidly approaching Null that had stolen the Night Guard's sword and were charging towards Warlock without any doubt about what she'd do with this sword.

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@Lloyd

The mare saluted the general.

"Right away sir."

Shimmer began to gather up any and all feathers she could get her eyes on, and looked for the mark that Iron Wings had just shown her. She were efficient in her work and would soon have gotten all within sight, and some others that had fallen under tables, rubble, glass, other guards and so on. She were a thorough mare who did her job as well as you'd want from an officer, and if only she were better at taking her own initiative rather than being mostly about following orders and making sure they got completed in as quickly and efficiently as possible, she could likely get even higher. A barrier she had an issue passing, but it didn't bother her much. A lieutenant rank were still impressive in her mind, considering how little faith she had in even passing the entry test to the guards to begin with, six years ago. She didn't exactly start young and primed up after all.

"I gathered them all sir. These are the ones marked as you asked for, three are questionable as there seem to be a marking, though damaged, and these appears to be void of any marks. I assumed you still wished to examine them yourself sir, just to make sure."

Meanwhile, at the infirmary, Dew and the gang would show up, and the ambassador would be swarmed on the spot. It wouldn't be the best place, and they had to call in the actual doctors to take him in soon, but they should be able to stabilize him until they were able to get here, so Golden should be safe and sound for the time being.

"Misty, Iron Star, did you need to be checked up on as well?"

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@Dji @Widdershins

"Intimidated by you?"

Spicy had to stop walking for a bit from laughing so hard at Kaltrop's statement. Not so much how he had blown to that big ol' fire of his called *Pride*, because she'd let that pass really. A bit of ego was healthy, and it wasn't like she didn't go and blow her own horn now and again either. Nothing wrong in having some pride in your accomplishments, appearance, or something else you had going for you.

"Oh man, you really don't know Ponyville. It's a center of several bad things on a regular basis, making the populace there less inclined to be scared off by some unknown dragon wandering into town. It also haves a palace for some kind of princess, though I don't really know the name. I just know royalty means the area is well protected.

Believe me, they might give you some weird looks, but throwing rocks? Not unless you do something truly idiotic. And come on there Kaltrop, you can't keep being a salty third wheel the entire trip. You gotta try to loosen up and enjoy the view once in a while, or do I have to yell about being kidnapped and wanting help the second we get into town? Wouldn't it be better to just avoid all the hassle, take a few odd looks, and get off your high horse?"

She almost finished that off with a drum roll. Almost, but she managed to keep it to a mumble since she wanted to see how this went rather than have him smack her down for her poor musical talents, or comical timing. Everypony was a critic when it came to comedy.

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

 

@Widdershins

"No! Please sir, I beg of you, don't eat me. Please, I just want to go back to my village."

See? They're living, thinking creatures too, not lunch.

So are cows. I don't see you holding back.

That's it. I warned you. Honey Badgers to the both of you!

Out of nowhere, a swarm of rabid, angry, extremely violent creatures began to fall to the floor and look between one another with a look going over them that they were considering fighting one another. That is until they saw the two draconequui, who were bigger targets on what they now considered their territory, and started to charge towards them with open maws and claws at the ready.

Whilst they went for the two of them, with about five going on Anomaly and a dozen more getting at Widdershins, a tiny door would open up next to the breezie, open up, and show her village on the other side. Hopefully neither of the two would get the chance to grab her before she'd pass through and return home.

Anomaly wouldn't notice anything, since she were currently having her metallic form weighed down and chewed on by what seemed like fury incarnated. It would likely have hurt, if it wasn't because of the small detail about her being metallic. They couldn't bite through her, which just infuriated them even more and made them claw and gnaw at her even more, trying to get her to stop laughing and get torn to pieces like a normal prey animal would.

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@Widdershins

"They use mail mares. I saw an office yesterday in town that you can use in the morning. Pretty late right now after all, and I don't think they got bat ponies on staff to deal with late night deliveries in a town like this."

He hoped they didn't at least. Good for nothing flying rat ponies had a knack for getting their noses stuck where they had no business being. The amount of times they had smelled something on him or almost caught him in the middle of the night, when he thought he were alone and could stretch out... Call it a grudge for too many near misses, but he really detested them.

"And no worries, I'll help you out. I've had plenty of experience repairing my own wagon since on the road, I gotta depend on myself. I'm sure I can use my skills to get you rolling too, and teach you a few ins and outs of fixing it yourself too."

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@Little Snowdrop

"Getting a ride in an experimental vehicle? How could anypony refuse that."

Molotov looked positively giggly for a moment over getting to ride that thing, before the question about Center Zero got to the front of his mind and his enthusiasm had the air let out of it.

"Center Zero was attacked about a month ago. The security cameras didn't pick up anything and there isn't as much as a drop of blood in town, but something did definitely go in there and take everypony away with it. The signs of struggle were pretty clear from what I could find, but with nopony there or any clue where they went, I've had to ensure the town's security protocol were followed since then before calling in the Royal Guards. It's what brings us here today. More specifically: Research papers for several members of Vision Village that the researchers specifically wanted delivered to your townponies, in case of emergency."

You could see he had practiced it a lot of times to not break down from telling that his town were essentially dead right now, but he still struggled now and again to keep himself from tearing up, getting angry, or just start to feel depressed and miserable. Likely that was a bunch of emotions and options that would never stop, but he managed to mostly keep it down. For now.

"I was out of town for the time when the attacked occurred and only came back later. Blitz here were there, and escaped in a prototype rocket our mother made, but she landed pretty hard and her memories about anypony in town are gone. She doesn't even remember me anymore...

*sniff* I-I'm sorry, you don't need to hear me tearing up here. Blitz made it out, so I can have a little hope others can show up later too, right?"

The tear he had to dry away didn't exactly say that he had confidence in that, but he had to cling to something to not go nuts.

"Anyway, you said your names were Steampunk Gear and Floating Matter? I think I have a bundle for at least one of you in the bag, but I don't want to unpack it right here and now, if you don't mind. I just want to get to town, deliver these things, and then see if I can't get somepony to come back to Center Zero after that. Hopefully some of the brainy folks you have around can see things I didn't pick up on about this."

Molotov felt the metallic legs poke into him as Carmen started to emerge from the bag she had been hiding in when they approached these two unknown ponies, and towards his head, where the mechanical spider would look at the two that so far didn't seem like they were hostiles. Or clowns for that matter. She would have jumped them on sight if that had been the case.

"Heh, at least I'll always have you Carmen, you little rascal. You don't need to be afraid of these two, they're friendlies."

A series of clacking and skittering sounds escaped Carmen as she moved a few inches closer to the pair, though making sure she could skitter back if something happened all of a sudden. She was a rather sizeable one that seemed about a size where she'd be able to comfortably eat a parasprite, with the fur giving her some more bulk, but she wasn't like, the size of Blitz's head. Not too far off, but not quite hitting the mark either.

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@dosey doe

"Yeah, let's eat in. I like the atmosphere of this place. Pretty cool."

Sorrow had never tried a sour chili combo in a muffin before, but now she heard it, she couldn't wait to try. Had to be all kinds of wonky, but who cared? Delicious and yummy should combine and make awesome.

She shook the four bits asked for out of the pouch hidden int he skull around her neck, where the lights had gone out again at some point it seemed. Apparently, Legion had gone back to *slumber* if you could call it that.

"I can stand here if you wanna find a seat while we wait for our treat. I bet it'll be magically delicious."

Smirking and giggling a little to herself, Sorrow would g o to the side in case other customers wanted to get up there whilst they waited, and just sort of hang there until it was muffin time. Well, unless she were told to go take a seat and wait instead, but she didn't see a sign about that, so until then, she'd stand ready.

Edited August 13, 2017 by Blitz Boom

[Foxy Socks 2,599]

@Blitz Boom

While slightly relieved, Foxy still felt uncomfortable with the presence of such a being, dormant or not. Besides, what if something happened to the Evergrown? Foxy knew she had limited understanding, but she did not feel what had happened was right.

 

"What made you decide to alter the paths individuals make? Wouldn't it have been better to let things play out, to make it more natural? Even at worst, it still wouldn't seem worse than what you have already done," questioned Foxy. She did not know what to think of Zhu anymore. He seemed to be trying to to what was best, but it didn't seem justified to her. Not even Draconequui interfered that much with the lives and development of others. The only thing Foxy was sure she felt for him was pity. It must have been a sad life to do the things he did, and continue for eternity. To constantly see the things that Foxy only had a brief experience with, and to cause all the suffering. 

 

Foxy looked down at Brittle, feeling bad she was disappointed. Foxy wanted Brittle to come out of her shell, and Foxy knew she wanted it too. Lightly hugging Brittle, Foxy said reassuringly, "I promise you'll be more confident soon, especially with someone as nice as Brittle. Just be patient."

[Victoria Sponge 1,017]

@Blitz Boom

The shy pony seemed a little taken aback unsure of her own ability to locate the various products of her shop.

"B-blackberries? Yes I'm sure I have something somewhere..."

She turned and quickly trotted to the other end of the counter and through a little archway leading to the bakery itself. After a couple of minutes and a lot of clattering about she finally trotted daintily back in with three plates suspended above her head, illuminated in a faint yellow magical glow. She stopped but the plates kept going, doing a quick twirl above the anxious customer's head before landing gently in front of her on the counter, proudly presenting three slices of cake.

"Sorry that took so long... I'm used to having my little apprentice Cupcake Sprinkles to help me find things but she's got her own bakery now... in Fillydelphia."

She was looking at the ground as she said this as if ashamed for her slower than usual service.

"My sister is meant to be helping me but she's too busy preening her mane all day... A-anyway, the cakes, I've found two with blackberries and the other one is Battenberg cake which is my speciality and is native to my hometown of Trottingham."

The three slices looked and smelled fresh and tasty, the first a dark purple sponge covered in purple icing and freshly picked backberries, the second a more plain looking sponge filled with thick blackberry jam and coated with a light frosting of sugar and the third a square of marzipan filled with a checker pattern of yellow and pink.

"W-what do you think... I can give you a taster of anything in the shop, i-if you want, that way you know you like what you're buying before you buy it. Would you like to try one of these three, o-or should I find something else?"

She stepped backwards when she finished speaking and bowed her head again though her eyes stayed fixed on the customer, expectantly waiting for an answer.

Edited August 14, 2017 by Battenberg

[Widdershins 9,960]

@Blitz Boom      Hah! Burn! How many species do you know specifically breed others for the express purpose of being too dumb to know better? Well, alot actually, but that's besides the point. At least I don't kill anything when I swallow it alive! Not... Not If I can help it. I don' even haaave a digestive system! Think that's enough out of you, that train of thought is getting too disturbing again.

   After his previous outburst of talking to himself, Widdershins pauses in a thinking pose as a near-dozen of the suddenly appearing beasts clamp their way around his body like particularly determined baby birds. The longer draconequus only stopping every few moments to swat one away from getting too near his face, despite the numerous puncture wounds collecting around his mostly vestigial body.

  Huh, wonder if Honey Badgers taste like honey? Like, that's how the fruit bats in most Equestrias work. 

  Hmm? Oh! A-nom-noms! The little bugger is getting away! 

                                                          ...Oh, no! I wasn't going to eat the lil' cretin! Maybe pull off its wings & limbs while it watched, then plug it all back together. You know, sometimes it's hard for me to peg whether your evil or your typical "Little Boy" mentality. Either way... don't think I approve...

  Oh come now! The draconequus says aloud over Anomaly's head and seemingly addressing nothing. Comedy is all about the suffering! It's when there's lasting damage is what makes it Tragedy! Well, there's mental anguish on the Breezie's behalf...  The trick is keeping a fine balance on it! It's an Art, really! Oh no... And Art! Is!  Widdershins's body seems to glow slightly as his eyes point different directions as he rears up in excitement, badgers attached and with his last word... EXPLOSION!  His Cor-...  body explodes like a party firecracker, limbs and body chunks scattering to random parts of the white room, the badgers being mostly stunned from the sudden force and, hopefully, the tiny pony fairy having escaped through its miniature portal in the confusion.

   Through the light violet mist in the air, a quiet voice can be heard idly musing partly to itself after everything dies down.

                                                                                             ...Huh, wonder if there was any pineapple in any of that gift basket? Could sure go for some pineapple about now!

 

[EQ_Theta 460]

[Blitz Boom]

Omen’s reply took him aback, a surprising answer but one that made him feel disappointed. It wasn’t directed at her but rather to himself, and being reminded that his time was almost cut short more than once. Even more so now that ever, he’d be hearing about how nothing was his fault and that he shouldn’t be too hard on himself. He wasn’t disappointed with Omen at all but he admired her resiliency and honesty. Still, he struggled coming up with a reply to the fist matter.

“Maybe our little adventures and close calls haven’t given us the time we need to get to know each other better, but I’d like to. I admit, there’s still plenty for us to learn and without the dangers posed by tyrannical elders, we don’t have to look over our shoulders too much now.”

Lin slowly walked up to the two of them and spoke her piece. “Just because we are different doesn’t mean it should stop us from trying to understand each other. Omen can help us understand things she knows and we can help her understand things we know.”

The older Sen nodded though he still found it difficult to accept what Lin and Omen said. He wouldn’t mind having that lesson hammered into his head if it meant it would stick for the rest of this life, figuratively speaking. An actual hammer blow to the head would leave more than just a clear idea. The second thing Omen mentioned sounded like a place to start.

“Alright,” Sen sighed and turned to Omen, curious about what she meant. “I… suppose I’ll take up your advice for alleviating the nightmares but what do you mean by ‘making me strange?’ Is it like what Lin had to go through?”

[Sekel 694]

@Blitz Boom

DAWN

"Mmm, the wollipop is great," Dawn moaned around the lollipop appreciatively, even smiling at Pop for what seemed to be the first time in a while. She loved the tast of the orange and how sweet it was to boot. "These ones awe the best."

@Widdershins & @Blitz Boom

AURORA

"Says the dragon that's ruby red," Aurora tittered and proceeded to him her own little tune, keeping pace beside Spicy. She didn't exactly think too highly of Kaltrops at the moment however, Spicy did give her some funny things to think about. Like how a shark can actually provide loans since they live in the sea and such but it didn't really matter. "Ba dum tiss," Aurora said, hearing Spicy's last comment and unrefrained from even making a bad joke visible.

[Moonlit 593]

@Blitz Boom @Seamore Sandwich Serenade sniffs the air then gives Ziggy a look, "Alright, let's get moving as quickly as YOU can move". She starts slowly moving toward what she thought was the exit, all the way humming a song. 

 

 

Edited August 14, 2017 by Moonlit

[Widdershins 9,960]

  @Dji & @Blitz Boom 

    Taken aback and scrunching up his muzzle in an attempt to snap back with a debate over why the word of a pony would be taken over that of a larger dragon, at the scarlet pegasai's last statement the drake reels back a little in shock as if struck. Blushing as much as one can with scales, he stammers out.

   "I-I'm not going to be r-riding anypony! A dragon is an... uhm..."

   Growing more uncomfortable with where his own topic is going, Kaltrop huddles back down ontop of the roof and grumbles at the griffon.

 "I'm not turning r-red! Imma Burgundy-Tan..."

With that, he covers his snout with his two front claws and curls up ontop of the carriage in unadmitted embarrassment.  

[cwhip9 1,078]

@Blitz Boom As the alarm went off next to a familiar batpony some could say to have met before a tired wing came near his bed stand trying to slap it to hush, it took this bat several times to find said alarm clock. As the loud object kept up its noise the batpony was herd grumbling before swatting it silent.

Now awake he gets a yawn and decides to make his way out and about the tree house doing his usual morning routine of washing up and such.

If anypony would be in the everfree forest they might have seen a tree house with a decent yard outside it and a shed near by it and seeing a batpony with the usual gray coat most bats are known for. This batponys mane and tail was red with white streaks in it, his eyes blue and a look one would usually having checking the morning mail.  

With one last stretch of his bat wings, checking the straps on the saddle he had on with wallet and a few maps in a bag on it rethinking the errand's he had to do he locked the door and made his way towards ponyville.

Wondering what would happen today.....  

[Blitz Boom 4,634]

@Foxy Socks

Zhu contemplated the question he had been faced with. What had caused him to do what he did were an important tale, and one who he guessed would mark him as somepony of importance, but it would also expose certain things he hadn't told anypony about since he began this journey. Except for one, but he didn't count, as he already knew about it.

"I direct who I must, because the balance requires it. I altered it too much to save the mare who raised me, and my penance was upkeep."

It didn't say much, but that was per choice. Much as it might help to vent the details about anything from how he had been accidentally cursed with his sight by the princesses, to his life being raised secretly by Celestia, and all the way towards him leaving Canterlot to find a way to save her, he couldn't indulge that kind of feeling. Not until he had spoken with his mother again at least, which seemed inevitable after all that had happened between the Forgotten One attacking, and now.

He did not have high hopes for it going well when he had to face her though. He had left suddenly without a word, and hadn't returned for nearly a millennia now. She likely thought him dead of old age or an accident, and being faced with his continued existence might end up hurting her. And that was before she even knew what he had done, and the lengths he had taken to ensure her survival.

Meanwhile, Brittle gave Foxy a smile. She were sure the vixen-like mare had meant to say Briar before, but it was okay to mess things a little. Between the weird Zhu, her actually trying to connect with others since her fear were gone at the moment, and Anomaly, standing a bit away and doing something to the orb she had been given that wasn't overly clear, everything had gotten pretty confusing.

"I'll try. It's just hard to see the light sometimes. But thanks Foxy."

She glanced at Zhu, wondering if she should ask if her future held this sort of thing, but thinking that she wouldn't like the answer, if he actually gave her one. He seemed to avoid addressing certain things, like the part about leaving things to go ahead naturally, and she wasn't sure what he might hold back, or just be cryptic about.

Zhu just thought that there wasn't a reason to answer it. He had shown Foxy an example of what would have happened without him meddling, and told her of the wide destruction having this creature roaming at that time would have caused. If that dis not prove his point, he wasn't sure what would, beyond showing her the aftermath. Something he were reluctant to do, as this degree of misery and irreversible damage didn't need to lay heavy on a somewhat pure mind like hers. It wouldn't serve a purpose currently.

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

 

@Battenberg

"It's okay, I understand. When you're used to having help around it isn't easy to get everything up to the old pacing again. I don't mind waiting a little longer because of that."

Pop never had assistants of her own as she were a bit of a control freak when it came to her shop, but she could understand that it couldn't be easy for Battenberg. Time were one thing, but the labor lost that had to be a little daunting too, she could imagine. It was just a guess though, but with how the mare seemed to be apologetic about the speed of things, she could see it fit.

The thoughts wandered a little away as she saw the cakes get closer to her and almost felt like she should be drooling right now. They all looked stunning, and the smell here up close were positively delicious. Especially the Battenberg cake, who seemed to fit right on the mark of what she were looking for.

"Oh my, these look good. And you say we can try them first? Well, I wouldn't mind trying the Battenberg, though I'm pretty sure I'd buy it regardless. I've heard those are amazing if done right.

I can't really test the blackberry though, since it's not for me, bu-"

The door would open and a scaled head would pop in and smell the air.

"Is that blackberries?"

Poo shook her head a little as the dragon wandered into the shop, gnawing on the remnants of a caramelized apple.

(Without the armor currently)

He was a little taller than Pop, though longer, as could be expected, and mainly wandered on all fours. A pair of saddlebags dangled down his sides, and from the look on his face, he were enjoying the smells in here quite a bit.

"I'm surprised you could smell anything with all that apple in your face."

The dragon gave a sheepish grin back at the mare.

"I can't help it. They're too delicious to pass up."

"Silly dragon."

Pop took the last few steps between them and nuzzled his chin affectionately for a moment.

"I'm getting us some cakes, and the kind mare would like to find which ones we'll take with us. She have offered a few taste samples of these so we can get the right one, so be nice."

The dragon planted a quick affectionate kiss on Pop's forehead before moving past her so he could face the bakery mare himself. Which he did with a friendly smile and a salute like you'd expect to see from the Royal Guard.

"Hello there ma'am. Name's Benny. It's a pleasure to meet you."

Behind him, Pop were smiling too and got a bit closer, currently unaware of the mark on her forehead where Benny's kiss had left an imprint in caramel. Perhaps it had not been the smartest he could do after eating his snack. 

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

 

@Widdershins

Comedy can be about that, but not here Widdershins. People tend to like Breezies, and I'm not going to let you treat it like a fairy from a Zelda game for kicks when the camera is on. Which reminds me, I have to check in on whatever or not your insane prattling have gotten her to leave.

The line about pulling off wings had been more than enough to convince the Breezie to take the chance with the mystery door rather than stay behind with the two crazy beings that was either going to eat her, or torture her. What kind of monsters were these two? Were they completely insane?

Graduated top of my asylum.

Shush, and get eaten by- Oh nevermind, the other one ruined it. *sigh* Well, at least the Breezie got away. I'm gonna go check up on that. You stay here and try too behave less like a deranged lunatic.

What, and loose my diploma? Never!

There wasn't any answer from the author on that, which seemed fine with her. She had her fun with him for the time being, and with the sudden carpet of unconscious fluffballs of hatred and malice around them, she could get up and take to her sibling again a little more, which were awesome. She hadn't met any kind of draconequui before in this life, and she were positively giggling with excitement over it.

"We can have a taste and see? I bet they'll be boring and fleshy instead though. Blergh. Real animals are so boring in texture and looks, not worth eating, and not fun to look at. They need a little something like...Hehe."

She snapped her tail, and one of thew badger started to blend into a grey mass and wobble around like clay being formed, until it eventually settled into an egg floating in the air. With another snap, she summoned a mallet and whacked at the shell, cracking it into a thousand pieces smelling vividly of anchovies.

What fell out looked a little like the previous badger, but it had gotten scales instead of fur, spikes like a porcupine flippers and an alligator tail in smaller size writhing from it's back, to help it with the new aquatic life she had in mind for it. Which reminded her.

*snap*

A large bag of water wrapped around the thing, making it look like an enlarged carnival price from a horror movie. Undignified for the unconscious being, but it would make it able to breath via the new gills she had given it too.

"If you boil the spikes a little, they'll taste like licorice. Plus it just got a good deal more fun to look at. Think I should make the rest into something like this too? It'd be fun. We can send them somewhere and they can be the most fun invasive species in ages."

Anomaly looked around at the chunks of her brethren, and scratched her head a little at it before returnig her gaze to the mist that she currently considered the real Widdershins.

"Guess I could try to stitch your body back together again too? Wouldn't be the first one I had done it too, and I bet you'd be a lot less squeamish than the Coastal Guard I fixed up. You'd think she'd be grateful but nooooo. It's all *You tore me apart to begin with* and *you're a monster* with her. I mean jeez, it was an accident, and I fixed it. What's the issue, right?"

Suddenly, pineapples!

Anomaly blinked and looked around at the few dozen pineapples she were sure wasn't here a second ago.

"I don't think that was me. Might be the author, and I'm not sure what he have done with them if it were him. He doesn't seem to like me that much for some reason. Do your hairless monkey get all whiny and annoying too whenever you're trying to have fun?"

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

 

@EQ_Theta

"I don't know. Lin went through many weird things to make her strange. Not sure we can do that again.

But there is many weird things in Equestria. Seen a lot I can't explain when I looked for Master Discord. Perhaps one of those have a way to make you strange too? Perhaps not like us, but not all you anymore. Master might know something too, but nopony seem to want to listen to him for some reason."

It was curious how he were even allowed to be free and roaming considering what she heard from other ponies. Might have something to do with him being reformed, but she were still a bit iffy on what that even meant in its entirety. He had changed to something better was as far as she were certain about, but would that really top ponies from saying bad things about him?

Memories of when Sen and her had gone to the town to begin with and looked for both him and clues about Lin came to mind. Fear, worry, and nopony talking except for the guard that had contacted them. She remembered him as warning them about asking about Discord.

She wasn't sure if Sen and Lin would listen to him either. The things she remembered them saying were mixed.

Discord also liked to play games. if the reforming thing didn't change that, he might not help them easily, but instead have them do strange things for him until he eventually got bored and showed them towards the right thing. Maybe. It was impossible to tell with him.

"I don't know how long it will take or what will happen, but others have changed, so you can too I think. You become strange, live long, then no reason to be afraid. Right?"

It seemed the clones didn't have anything to say about this currently. Pretty strange, since they seemed vocal about things before, but perhaps Sen just said everything and they didn't need to go. Or had they left?

She turned her head briefly to look and make sure the two were still there, just to make sure.

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

 

@Dji

Pop turned around and got a big, happy grin on her face as she heard Dawn's approval.

"Excellent. I'll see if I can't find a few bags more to send you home with as a gift. Try the chocolate when you're done, okay? I'll try to get everything sorted here in the meanti- Ah, here we go. I knew it was somewhere here."

A small bag of what seemed like filled chocolate got taken out by the candy mare. It wasn't the only one, but she were a bit... Stingy with those things to be honest. The main ingredient took quite a bit of travel to get to, and it sold well, so she couldn't just give all of it away. This however? For a friend, she certainly would.

"I'll have you try this later. It's what I'd consider the best in my store, but you'll be the judge when time comes. Anyway, lemme find those lollipops before I forget about it."

She put the bag to the side a little and went back to where she had found the candies from before and dragged out four more foal bags of them. It should be able to keep her going for a few weeks if she only took a few every day. Longer if she spaced it of course.

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

 

@Dji @Widdershins

"Y'know, this is starting to get fun. Usually I just have my guard to yap off to. This here's way more interesting."

Even if she had to drag the flying lizard's flank around right now, but she wasn't gonna let them hear that she wasn't too keen on that. Had to stay tough here or the dragon would just end up getting insufferably irritating she'd bet. Much more interesting to see him fluster and stutter like a colt prepared to ask somepony out for the prom.

As for Aurora, it sounded like she had one who had an even harder time holding her snark back than herself. Otherwise she wouldn't have taken the chance to make a little drum riff before she'd say. Not unless she just liked to poke to Kaltrop a little too, which were also a gold star in Spicy's book. With how Kaltrop tried to present himself, it was simply too tempting to poke at it a bit and see the air deflate from the balloon a little at a time, and having a few subtle stabs of her own to this was the sort of personality the pegasus liked.

"Ah, I think I see their lil' forest now further on. Word of advice: if you see something move in there, strike first and ask questions later. Heard it was a mighty hostile place for those who doesn't know how to show a bit of spine."

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

 

@Moonlit @Seamore Sandwich

It wouldn't be long before they'd hit a flight of stairs going upward, though it seemed to be broken off around halfway, so they had to go into one of the side rooms and then find another way up from there. Perhaps another staircase that time hadn't broken down.

Ziggy just really didn't like the look of it. She could wander sort of awkwardly now, but stairs... The leg she had an issue with were her front left, and going up like this would make it hard to impossible to not hurt herself. Perhaps that would have made her panic another time, but right now, the hum of Serenade helped keep her calm. It wasn't taking over her mind or anything right now, but it was relaxing to listen to, and reminded her that she wasn't here alone.

She tried to think of what to do, before something poked her in the side and she turned her head a little to see a piece of plank broken in half so it could be used as a sort of discount cane.

"Hey, thanks Serenade. That might work."

She turned to look at Serenade whilst she thanked her, but the plank wasn't hoofed to her by the siren in disguise. It was just floating in the air in front of her, making her eyes go wide before it fell down to the floor all of a sudden.

"I-I... W-What was that?!"

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

 

@cwhip9

"Eeeeeeeeeeee!"

The muffled sound of an excited filly came from above, and if Crescent would look up, he'd see a dark-blue cloud with a pony biting into the side of it whilst holding on like it was her most precious property.

The weirdly light-colored bat filly would land not long after first being made aware of, in front of Crescent unless he tried to catch her or something, which would be a little silly as the cloud fell in a slow and steady pace, rather than plummet. Still, he might think there was a reason to save the strange filly that for unknown reasons apparently were a cloud biter. Perhaps it was best to stick behind a bit and see if he couldn't get something out of her. Like who she were, what she were doing, and why there were a fuzzy spider crawling a little out of her mane and looking at the adult bat pony.

Edited August 15, 2017 by Blitz Boom

[Moonlit 593]

@Blitz Boom @Seamore Sandwich Serenade turns to face the floating piece of wood, her eyes quickly flick towards Ziggy then back towards the plank. She sniffs the air again, then cocks her head to one side. 

[Foxy Socks 2,599]

@Blitz Boom

Foxy smiled when Brittle spoke to her. Hopefully things would work out.

She then turned toward Zhu, with a sympathetic look. From what she heard she felt like he meant well, owning up for past mistakes. However, there was a problem. "I don't think it's a good idea to change things that much. I know you wanted to fix what may have been your fault, but what if you made another mistake? It just seems endless, and I don't think it's justified. Whatever you did, I'm sure it's millennia ago."

"I know I may not understand your experiences and visions, but I do understand nopony deserves a fate like yours. You seem to guide everypony else's but your own. How do you even know if your visions are true? I'm sure the pony who saved you would understand." Foxy didn't really think she could stop an immortal entity from doing what he had been for centuries, but she didn't know what else to do. He seemed misguided; lost perhaps. He seemed to be worried about his visions, which Foxy could hardly imagine the pain they caused.

She was nowhere near angry now, just sympathetic to Zhu. Anomaly thought high of him, but Foxy felt like he needed help. Though she had saw his head, Foxy had still thought he was a Draconequus. It didn't matter to her; no being deserved that. Did she really understand the issue though? She only had just met him, and her life was a mere second compared to his. 

 

Foxy didn't like questioning herself though. Either way, perhaps she could help, even if a little. 

Edited August 15, 2017 by Foxy Socks

[EQ_Theta 460]

[Blitz Boom]

Though still present, the doppelgängers had nothing to say about the matter. They remained silent on account of having Sen's predominant personality and manifestation taking his thoughts into account and saying what he needed to say. But the two of them could speak for the conflicted longma and voice this thoughts, 

"A way to end the nightmares, to end the burden of troubled thoughts," the copy of Omen said in a tone that took interest in the idea in stride, seemingly breaking out of its stoic personality. 

"This cannot be allowed!" Lin's doppelgänger angrily retorted. "Sen does not trust magic and will only lead him to more misery. He would not want to give up his current state for relief." 

Understandably, Lin was surprised by this display. She expected her copy to talk but not in such a forceful manner. It was also the opposite of what she would say if she was awake. She advocated for using magic, or at least giving it a chance. It was a fascinating topic for her and any means to learn about that was always a welcome opportunity. Sen's disposition to it is different, having already blamed magic for the family being torn apart and only being given his own magic because his life depended on it, he would be averse to anything that would likely damage him further. The two copies of Lin and Omen were reflections of his inner, polar thoughts, and his older, tired self is the middle ground that doesn't seem interested in actually finding something that could ease the real Sen. 

Maybe that was what they really were: simple representations of his inner thoughts and not those of Omen and Lin. Their way of speaking and acting, they were meant to convey a conflict of thought that none of their shadowy selves could reconcile. Each side supported one thought and the middle ground is torn between the two without providing an answer. The older Sen approached both Lin and Omen, looking more confident this time but still no closer to a resolution.

"I don't think this is the place to come to if you are looking for an answer. Maybe it's best for you all to wake up."

Instantly, Lin and Sen opened their eyes to find themselves back in Mother's realm, still having recollections over their moments in the dream realm. Unlike most experiences with dreaming, they remember the events of the dream very well. 

Edited August 15, 2017 by EQ_Theta

[cwhip9 1,078]

9 hours ago, Blitz Boom said:

The weirdly light-colored bat filly would land not long after first being made aware of, in front of Crescent unless he tried to catch her or something, which would be a little silly as the cloud fell in a slow and steady pace, rather than plummet. Still, he might think there was a reason to save the strange filly that for unknown reasons apparently were a cloud biter. Perhaps it was best to stick behind a bit and see if he couldn't get something out of her. Like who she were, what she were doing, and why there were a fuzzy spider crawling a little out of her mane and looking at the adult bat pony.

As Cresent dove to catch the philly more out of instinct then anything else he blinked a bit at the youngster "well hello little bat, you seem a bit lost?" he asked not often young bats fall out of clouds to greet him but this youngster looked not lost more, adventuring perhaps? 

Soon letting her down and dusting himself off "you all right, at that hight its nothing to sneeze at little one" he said

[Victoria Sponge 1,017]

 @Blitz Boom

The shy pony seemed a little nervous about the dragon who now stood in her shop, but she managed to pull her warmest smile to welcome him in.

"N-Nice to meet you Benny... I hear you like b-blackberries? I have a couple of blackberry cakes here, you can have a little tester bite... i-if you want."

She pushed one of the plates forwards and stepped back to her previous position, waiting patiently for one of her two customers to try her work.