open Casual stroll

[Moonlit 593]

@@Blitz Boom, Serenade blinks then blushes at what Ziggy said, "um...sure. It's just I'm...concerned. There could be any number of problems that arise, and...well. Princess Luna has already gotten involved once before." She walks back over to her saddle bags, then slings them over her back with no problem despite the bulky telescope. She trots over to the front door, "Know any good open spots with a good clear sight of the sky?" She looks over to the rodent, "Out you go, you don't want to stay in here for any longer then you need. My breakfast might think your worth nibbling." She opens the door and waits to see what the rodent does, as well as keeping a close eye on Ziggy. 

[cwhip9 1,078]

@@Blitz Boom, Cresent blinked at the 3 eyes unable to hear its blood to any effect of some sort. He slowly sat himself up stumbled a bit gaining his balance, recovering he shook his head. Taken an almost defensive stance he looked back at the 3 eyes, "The names cresent, as to how I got here I kind of fell through the dream realm. I was helping my friend another pony named last to....." he paused still trying to make sense of things.

 

"lets just say the dream relm has seen better nights. and its effecting my world in more ways then one. we were trying to fix that." he finished. It wasn't all a lie but he still sat on the fence with his feelings with Nemo.

[Blitz Boom 4,651]

@@MDLineArt,

 

Florence slowly nodded.

 

"I'm not gonna stick around here, that's for sure."

 

With that she took the few steppes over and pushed a few of the unconscious cultists to the side along with some of the lesser scared prisoners so they could move past the stack of them. She did so cautiously at first, thinking this to be just a trick and that they would wake up in a few seconds, chanting and piling on them like drones once more, but nothing seemed to do anything to them as their floppy bodies were rolled to the side.

 

What exactly had happened here? Sure, it were good that they didn't have them to fight anymore, but... What had done this? Were it something with the artefact maybe? Had this pony done something to sabotage it and then come for them? And if so... Then what? Rigged it to explode or something? But they hadnt heard an explosion...

 

Urgh, all those questions hurt her head and didn't get her anywhere. She had to ask this of the pony and see if perhaps he knew more than he let off.

 

After they had gotten out that were. She were really not staying here.

 

As they managed to roll the diamond dog out of the way, she noticed something strange about him. No, not that he were drooling on her shoulder - which felt even worse than it smelled - but that the mark over his eye seemed to be gone. The very thing that seemed like it flashed just before...

 

She opened her beak to say something, then shut it again and scurried along with the others towards what were hopefully the outside. They had to get one thing at a time done here before she started to ask questions, and getting out were the top priority.

 

Further behind them, a good deal of way out of earshot of even the best hearing of them, the door that had led to the inner chamber were slowly opened and the gryphon that had entered walked out.

 

His steppes were slow though, and he were whispering to himself. What it were wasn't something that could be made out by anypony but himself likely, but it might have something to do with the sack he were dragging behind him. It was closed shut and about the same size as him, but something were rattling around in there that were for sure, and it wasn't the artefact.

 

Why? Because said artefact were rolled at his right hip, giving off a bloody, pulsating glow between the links holding the thin bones together.

 

It were strange looking. The handle and a good deal of the first part of the long whip where a small, ornamental skull at the bottom, the *handle* being strung with what looked like hair of some kind, and then the interconnected parts of a spine after that. From the looks of things, it could have been to a creature around the size of a large tiger.

 

In any case, at the point where it stopped, it split into nine parts with smaller, pointy bones making up the *whipping rope* part, somewhat similar to what a cat o'nine tails looked like, just longer and ending with a small, metal spike.

 

Regardless of the strangeness of it, it were with him for now. Along with the slightly clanging sack as he wandered slowly and mumbling down the silent hall towards the exit and the escaped beings, as if driven towards them.

 

________________________________________________________________________________

 

 

@@cwhip9,

 

"So, the dream-wardens have issues then?"

 

A low, purring laughter were heard from the three-eyed being.

 

"Good. They deserve to be busy like that now and again."

 

The being wandered forward, out of the small section of shadow it had hidden in, and revealed more of a form to itself.

 

It were essentially a long, slender cat around the length of a large tiger with long ears that had a few stray tuft of hair at the end. Its colours made it seem more like a three dimensional shadow than anything else, though the texture of short fur and such were still easy to make out. As it jumped forward and landed like a feather near Crescent on a mossy rock, he would potentially also be able to shortly see the claws being a pale, glowing, wispy colour for the short while the tips were out as it jumped. Though he could also just guess it to be so as the teeth he saw in the smiling being's face were the same colour, though shaped like any large cats.

 

Standing tall on all four paws, the cat would likely only be the height of a normal pony (such as Twilight), so he were not a very tall creature, but he were nimble and fast enough to likely not want the bulk either.

 

"To think that they would drop a dreamer through the cracks though is interesting. Usually they are careful about that, as they don't like being down here. But I guess that means you are my responsibility to help then? Hmhmhm, what a fun little development."

 

The low chuckle of the smooth-talking cat sounded as amused as it looked, which were still impressive as the blank eyes didn't exactly leave any room for obvious emotions to shine through there, and that tended to carry much weight in reading others. Then again, this Were a cat of some kind, so it might just be the natural smug look that cats tended to have that came into mind and filled the gaps. Whatever floated the boat so to speak.

 

"Very well then, Crescent. My name is Zinthar, and welcome to Purgatory."

 

As he presented himself, Zinthar's tail came forth and wrapped around his paws much like a regular cat did. Except this tail were as long as his body and had a wispy spike at the end. Oh, and there were nine of them, there were that too.

 

________________________________________________________________________________________

 

 

@@Moonlit,

 

"Well, I saw this interesting little place whilst I wer-Meep!"

 

Ziggy got stopped in her track and zoomed out of the door along with a little red dot in the usual pinkish line she tended to leave briefly behind her when she got some speed in her stepped. Which would be easy to identify as the rodent didn't exactly try to hide it from Serenade as she flew down and opened her mouth - not by far, just about the same as a regular squirrel would this time - and chomped down into a part of Ziggy's mane.

 

It wasn't like it didn't listen... It Had gone out after all, just not in a conventional way.

 

It hadn't been far off the two had gone, as the sound of Ziggy would be heard somewhat low through the door - they were about two meters from the entrance - saying "I swear, I'm going to put a muzzle on you."

 

Her response? Somewhat high-pitched laughter from the rodent hanging upside down as Ziggy had a good grip in its tail right now.

 

___________________________________________________________________________________

 

 

@@Jellal Fernandes,

 

Jelly had been brought up better than to break into a pony's house, even if they seemed friendly enough. However... Not good enough to stop her from pushing to the door a bit so she could see what were inside from the doorway whilst Xander were handling things inside.

 

The sights in there made her eyes glaze over with wonder and curiosity. So many things there, so many potentials for all sorts of fun, and so many questions to what she saw. Like what that thing were? Did he made that? What was on the papers? Where did that chair come from?

 

Granted, not Everything were big questions, but still, was a nice chair. Might come from somewhere fun, or be a heirloom, or found at a dump or something. Many stories potentially there, like with everything else she could see.

[MDLineArt 93]

@@Blitz Boom

 

The Prisoners poured out the front entrance, climbing over the unconscious guards that Bashful had passed by on the way in.  Bashful took up the rear watching for any followers, every so often drifting eyes on the griffon that he had almost injured.  It was tough to look her in the eye, but he had to maintain that 'stoic' persona he had been playing with.

 

Outside however offered it's own encounter.  As they escaped the tomb, there were hundreds of other ponies outside, in uniforms of palace guards.  They started piling out from the woods ready for conflict, and looking dumbfounded when what they saw were a bunch of starved and confused ponies pouring out over top of cultists.  Many of the prisoners were pulled aside, and offered blankets as it seemed many of the Palace Guards took them to separate locations.  One in Officer's garb approached Bashful Thread, and waved several guards to storm the cult's domain.  Bashful could only watch in awe of the unity that they marched in with.

 

"Gonna need your name Son."  The Officer looked at Bashful questioningly. 

 

"Haze Guard, Sir."  Bashful hoped the officer didn't catch the trembling in his voice.  It was bad enough he was with the cultists, but now he's dealing with Equestria's finest.

 

"Right, Haze Guard... Well Son, name's Captain Iron Mane, you're gonna need to come with one of these officers to take a statement.  We've been tracking these guys for months, you're lucky we found ya when we did."  Captain Iron Mane jestured to one of his fellow officers.  However, it was the next words that made Bashful Thread grateful, and horrified at a sudden realization.

 

"You're lucky your Mother came to pick ya up, Son."

 

He was among family....

[Moonlit 593]

@@Blitz Boom, "Meep?" Serenade stares out the door, shakes her head then quietly walks out, closing it behind her. "I think you should adopt it Ziggy. It would make the perfect pet for you, keep you on hoofs." She shifts her saddle bags then looks around, "Lead on, hopefully this place you mentioned has everything I need." 

[Lonk Chase 255]

Lonk heard a ringing in his ears, in a sort of rhythm. But not in a musical 1-2-3-4 rhythm. A natural, talking rhythm.

Then he heard "Lonk" in the middle of the ringing.

Somepony (or something) is trying to communicate with Lonk.

And by the sound of the voice, it seems like it doesn't see him at equal height.

 

After Ginger shouted her battle cry, Lonk replied with, "We all know that!" to tease her a little. It doesn't hurt.

But he's still unsettled by the way the voice seems to know him.

[Seamore Sandwich 471]

@@Denim&Venom

 

Miststalker and Carl patiently waited for the others to finish their conversation, though 'patiently' may have been an overstatement. They may have been containing it well, but it usually took a bit more time to calm down after combat. Neither of them had any idea what orders were, so they had no choice but to wait. Wether or not they would follow the orders if they ended up disagreeing with them were another thing altogether. Unlike Sylar, Ashta did not have their respect, they didn't even know why he was put in command of this mission at all.

 

 

@@Melke

@@Blitz Boom

@@Mentis Soliloquy

@@Denim&Venom

@everyone

 

Seamore picked up the seed Brittle had dropped, raising an eyebrow, then sighing. He planted the last seed and the ground began to glow at each of the newly planted seeds. Slowly, the young saplings sprouted up from the ground filling the air with a warm glow, the one Syo had planted having come up off center, then curving in one direction, then back in the other. The energy flowed in a pattern changing in intensity and color in a rythmic pattern, almost like music for the deaf (the Sydonian changeling tradition had to be inspired by something). Briar would even be able to sense it himself, as it was more than just light, it was magic flowing through the air. It reached far and highlighted the tears in the world, one where The Forgotten One tried to take Brittle earlier, and one where Sylar was pulled through. Slowly the rifts closed. Never before had this many Everwood seeds been planted at the same time, because usually a permit only allowed for one tree to be harvested. The lights and magic would reach as far as Ponyville, repairing the damage left by The Forgotten One.

 

 

@@Lonk Chase

@@GingerLightning

@@Blitz Boom

 

A booming laughter would come in response to Ginger's threat, followed by ground shaking steps until a hippopotamus came into view. This however was no ordinary hippo, he had great feathered wings and the horns of a ram. He was almost as big as the building they were in and the trees bent as he squeezed between them. Technically, his species would be called Pheldagriffs, but usually they didn't have horns. "Be calm young ones, I mean no harm." Sissilia looked on in awe. She knew the stories of the origin of her kind, but seeing this being before them was hard even for the mind of a child such as her to believe. "Grandfather?" It was more of a title than an indication of any sort of relation between them. The two were definitely not of the same bloodline.

 

When the lights in the sky reached the cabin, the Traveler looked up. Another piece of the puzzle was falling into place.

 

 

@@Blitz Boom

@@SugarfootWillie

@@Quinch

 

Miles reached Ponyville quickly. His goal was now in sight. He attempted to possess Quinch's armor so he could communicate with him. "Can you hear me? Hello?" Miles tried to talk to him through the suit's communicator.

Edited April 6, 2016 by Seamore Sandwich

[Denim&Venöm 19,239]

@@Seamore Sandwich, @Mentis Soliloquy

 

 

"Two of those we had prepared to end when your acquaintance... Interrupted us, are like this, held down a little way from here. What are their relation to you? Friendly? Or are they of no concern?  

 

 

"Uh yeah, those woudl be the party members I was talking about. Yes, I saved them from being offed by the chaos spider, which seemed to have escaped from that labyrnth it was being kept in and was doing damage to the ecosystem.  The neko-jin especially, as she's not of this realm. So yes, do spare them. You did run into them didn't you Rev?"

 

"Oh yeah, that motley crue. Yeah they're fine. We've got eyes on them."

 

"Good good." she turned back to the ananasi. "So, you're saying this demon was kept inside a gem possessed by that chaos spider?" 

Edited April 6, 2016 by Denim&Venom

[cwhip9 1,078]

@@Blitz Boom, Cresent jumped back starteld by the reveal of the cat.  Eye's  going from the cat to the tail then back to the cats face "zinthar, ill try to remember that. then again you will be the second.....cat" he paused trying to figer out what to say

 

"iv'e known...sorry still making sense of things I tend not to jump portals, or relms often." he chuckeld a little nervously.  

 

"so purgatory eh, sorry but iv never herd of this place what exactly is it?" he said scratching his head with his wing hooks. The cat didn't seem like an foe but the spiked tale being shown told cresent provoking this one was a bad idea

[Blitz Boom 4,651]

@@MDLineArt,

 

"Huh, I thought they only used ranks in the guards, not family status."

 

The voice of Florence would be heard about a meter behind Bashful, somewhat curious, but still low and cautious of things.

 

When they had exited she, as many others, had been pushed to smaller groups to take care of some of the prisoners more individually, but she had more or less pushed aside those to get over to Bashful the second that she could, and had caught a little snippet of info. Or well, not Info really, just something about his mother being here, which were nice, but not really important. Which really begged the question why she had bothered mentioning the small part she knew about ranks in the guards... Nevermind.

 

"Anyway, I just wanted to... Y'know, say thank you. I don't think anypony here would have gotten out if it wasn't for you."

 

Behind the gryphon sheepishly trying to get through the awkward situation, a shadow suddenly appeared in the open doorway, then expanded to a form, dark and brooding, that kept wandering in the same direction, slow, but without stop.

 

Giddon had apparently missed the *guards* that went in there, or had he? His metallic claw were covered in the green ooze the creatures expelled from their greedy maws, running and leaving traces as he moved forward, his path passing behind Florence, but within view of Bashful.

 

"Won't die... Find help... Won't die... Find help..."

 

The whispers going on and on with the same four words spoken in a mumbling pain were closer now, and perhaps possible to hear by others if they got near enough.

 

The words might seem confusing... Until somepony got close enough to see that goo wasn't the only thing leaving a trail behind him, but also bloody prints left by his left talon, and the blood trickling down from a major wound in his shoulder. That he was even mobile were impressive, much less conscious as it sounded and looked like he had lost a sizeable portion of blood already, but onwards he kept. Bloody, gooey, and still dragging the sack behind him, apparently not noticing anypony around him.

 

____________________________________________________________________________________

 

 

@@Moonlit,

 

"Hmmm..."

 

Ziggy heard her, and it sounded fine, but...

 

"Are you even gonna leave me alone if I try to leave?"

 

The question was directed to the rodent-thing in her hoof, who promptly looked at her with that same, trickery gleam in her eyes that she had had so far, and shook her head. Something which made Ziggy give out a large, theatrical sigh and look towards Serenade with a poorly-hidden grin.

 

"Well, guess I don't have a choice. So, what am I gonna call you then? Chompy?"

 

The immediate backlash of the poorly thought-out name from the rodent could best be described as *opening it's maw and almost bite over her leg sideways at the knee, barely stopping before hitting skin*.

 

Huh, guess that Were pretty much the description of it... Go figure.

 

"Yikes! Not Chompy, not Chompy, not Chompy. But what else am I gonna call you? Elysia? Fluf- I mean, Flutterspry? Fah'Lina?"

 

It started to calm down some after the prompt way of saying that it did Not want a *cute nickname* like some kind of dog, as well as getting out of the grip of the pony and landing up on a nearby tree branch, shaking her head at the various names. It almost seemed like it were going to attack when Ziggy were a half second from saying Fluffy and just made something up fast to cover for it, but the one after that... From the rapid nodding it seemed like she liked that one?

 

"Awh man, seriously?"

 

The thing nodded again and looked the both of them over whilst Ziggy turned her face towards Serenade with a sheepish look on her face.

 

"Okay then... We should uhm... Yeah, we should go, follow me and stuff."

 

Ziggy turned around, slightly blushing and walked the direction she had seen the other place in. Sure, she could fly, but it wasn't That long of a rest that Serenade had had after earlier - well, not far as she knew anyway - and her wings might still hurt a lot, or be soar. She'd give her a bit of a rest for them unless she heard otherwise for now.

 

___________________________________________________________________________________________

 

 

@@Lonk Chase,

@@GingerLightning,

@@Seamore Sandwich,

 

There were not many things in the Everfree and surrounding areas that the timberwolves had not run into one way or another, and the word tended to spread if it were something strange such as the big lizard with the moustache or places were the plants had bigger maws than them and hunted for morsel to feed their roots.

 

The more unusual ones tended to be told to the pups in stories now and again. Or warning tales really if you thought about it, as they tended to boil down to why or why not something were lunch and/or territorial, how to hunt it, that sort of easy things. EVen Meeko had been taught some of that, though he wasn't well liked in the flock.

 

A big Hippo - a creature in itself that he had never seen or heard about - with wings however... That was something to alien that he didn't know what to do except keep barking *Leave Alpha alone* over and over again until he were informed otherwise.For him, it were still just an enemy until he knew better after all, though he'd not have a snowballs chance in the desert to do any damage to the creature.

 

Seriously, what were he going to do? Try to bite through a ton of thickly layered skin? He'd break his fangs.

 

__________________________________________________________________________________

 

 

@@cwhip9,

 

"Oh, it's just my name for this realm beyond the dreams, made of caves stretching endlessly with few places to get out from, and most of them guarded by those who does not want the horrors that wanders this place to escape."

 

Zinthar jumped down from his rock and walked past Crescent whilst looking up at him, almost grazing him like any teasing feline could do that wanted to play. A state that seemed to be the way of things with the talking feline.

 

"You don't need to worry about old Zinthar though. Not yet anyway, but we have such a long journey to make and so much time to learn about eachother, so who knows?"

 

Walking past Crescent the limber cat turned his head and looked directly into his eyes briefly with a malicious grin on his face. Not something totally evil, but... Unnerving perhaps.

 

Still, he seemed to be the only one here and would likely know the only ways out of here too for Crescent, so when he started to wander down one of the dimly lit paths, the bat pony would likely still had to follow. Unless he liked his chances finding his way out of this place on his own that were, but what were the odds that That was going to end well?

 

_______________________________________________________________________________________

 

 

@@Denim&Venom,

@@Seamore Sandwich,

@@Mentis Soliloquy,

 

"Far as I know. I have not been given all the information, but it would appear so."

 

Whilst he outside kept up the facade and answered what he could, inside he were cursing how this were going to complicate things. It had not been bad enough that those who set the evil one free had included a high priestess from Subterrena, which could have ended in a brutal war, but now the others were to be considered safe as well?

 

The court would not like when they returned and found they had no blood on their claws, not at all. Even if it prevented war... No, this would not be good, but what were he going to do? They could either return with no kills, or in pieces with a declaration of war being written with their torn extremities. Neither were something he favoured, but one of them at least allowed them to be in one piece for a bit longer, depending on the stance of the Beast Court.

 

"If you wish to know more, we should return to Ashta and the marked ones. You can inform the lesser races they are safe and tell them of the price this favour of Subterrena will cost them."

[MDLineArt 93]

@@Blitz Boom

 

Bashful Thread turned to face the Griffon who spoke with a voice he identified with readily.  It wasn't that he knew who this was, it was actually more that the tone was the one he used so frequently.  Nervous, small.

 

Turning, he looked to the griffon, and he couldn't help but smile a bit.  "Well, um... I come from a big family.  Sorry, it was unprofessional.   Umm... Yeah... Well, I did what I could.  You're gonna need some rest.  It's been a day for a lot of these ponies."  He tried to keep his nerves, when he saw a pair of the 'guards' look at him, their eyes giving him that familiar look.  The one that said Don't Screw This Up.

 

It was then he saw Giddon emerge from the gates, his jaw dropped.  Any of his brothers and sisters knew exactly what they were looking at when he stood weak and weary, that steel talon covered in the green ooze.  He was murmuring something as he went by Bashful and the small Griffon, dragging a large sack behind him.

 

He moved to intercept Giddon, trying to stop him from leaving the scene.  It was only when he got close, he saw the blood trailing behind Giddon.  Eyes wide, listening to the murmurs coming from the wounded adventurer.  "You're not... You're not going anywhere Giddon.  You're going to lay down, and I'm going to get you out of here.  Alive.  Please don't make this harder than it has to be."

 

Surrounded by family, a chance to gain a substantial amount of nourishment, being saved by Mother, all to protect his position among those in Ponyville, what choice did Bashful Thread have?   This was a nightmare, a situation which forced Giddon to be face to face against Bashful Thread.  Giddon was wounded, maybe bleeding out.  Surely he wouldn't have the strength to take Bashful like this, could he?  Then again, Giddon was tested, mustered, hardened by hears of adventuring, while Bashful was only a pretender, a changeling who merely took on the guise of someone bigger and braver than he ever really could be.

 

And even if Giddon could somehow overpower Bashful Thread, he would have his brothers and sisters to contend with. 

 

That's not what hurt most though.  Bashful didn't want to hurt Giddon.  He didn't want to go face to face with this Griffon, and it's could only get ugly from here.

Edited April 7, 2016 by MDLineArt

[Denim&Venöm 19,239]

 

 

@Seamore Sandwich, @Mentis Soliloquy,

"Alright, let's go do that. We all deserve answers, and perhaps between all of us, there may be a way to get the situation rectified. Won't be the first corrupted entity I've put back into it's place and it probably won't be the last.

 

So, my kind ananasi, do lead the way, won't you?" 

[Mentis Soliloquy 3,026]

@@Seamore Sandwich,@@Blitz Boom, @@Denim&Venom,

 

Summer went to Priestess and whispered in her ear. "Are we to trust these creatures in whatever thankless task they'd see us preform should we expect a betrayal or not?" She was calm in both her appearance and voice as she asked her partner this question about the others with them. 

[Denim&Venöm 19,239]

 

 

@Seamore Sandwich,@Blitz Boom

"Oh do keep your guard up. But they should be very much aware of the consequences. Attacking you or Rev will put the rest of your kin in arms. And either A. I lead them to the courts or 2. If they do try and kill me., then subterrenea will be on the warpath, and the princesses will see to ask why, and they'll find the courts. So, it works to their benefit not to screw up."  

[EQ_Theta 462]

@@Blitz Boom,

 

Dreamers were a rare sort and even if Senlin knew of their existence, there is only one in his clan. He was an old fellow who looked like he has lived way past his years but he is wise beyond compare. There was no doubt he couldn't return home to ask and he knew all too well that the clan was unanimous in their choice to strike his name from the records. He didn't exist to them anymore and the sage still kept to the old ways just like them. 

"I doubt we could even find a dreamer. They are difficult to find and even more difficult to convince. In my travels, I've heard Princess Luna uses similar magic to traverse the realm of dreams but she remains awake through such actions. It would take too much time to look for alternatives or go to Luna to ask for her help but I believe we have the leads we need to follow up on Lin. Who knows? Tomorrow may bring a new story." 

Discord is out of the question but perhaps their fortunes will change with the coming of the new day.

[cwhip9 1,078]

@@Blitz Boom, Cresent berthed out his nervousness, intimidating was more then a word to call that stare down Zinthar just did.  Cresent trotted next to Zinthar the last comment about "worrying about old zinthar" still told him to be carful, but it still was better then nothing.

 

Trotting beside the cat cresent was searching for a good ice breaker with him so he decided to start with obvious hint his curiosity was burning to know about.  

 

"This old Zinthar safe to ask about him, I can bet he is not as bad as Mall has been for me but something tells me im just scratching the surface here" the batpony said to Zinthar.

 

 Unsure if he should be ready to doge an attack of some sort or not from the cat his wings tensed as they were close to his sides.

Edited April 7, 2016 by cwhip9

[Summer Breeze 2,528]

@@Blitz Boom, @@Frosty Frost,

 

 

 

summer giggled when frosty put water in her manes, but stopped giggling when laryel picked a flower from her head. 'auch' she said and she wanted to rub over her head. but then she noticed that it wasn't hear she touched, but something else. she looked in the water again and her eyes sparkled 'look frosty! now we are both a new kind of pony, we're floral ponies!!' she said and hopped around exited.

 

then summer heard laryel saying that she didn't know what human were, or damons, and got a little disappointed, laryel didn't seem to know anything about equestria. when laryel started walking away, leading them to somewhere, summer walked next to her 'I can explain you something about damons' summer said happy 'Damon was a creature that came from another dimension, which is like another world, and he called himself a human. humans are a little bit like you but less... tree-ish. we have trees in equestria too, but they are not like you, they are just trees. we use them to build our houses from, since they give wood and all. don't worry, as I said, they are not alive so we don't kill them or something. my house...' then summer stopped talking, she wanted to tell laryel about her house but when she did that she reminded herself of home, which laryel didn't know anything about. and if laryel didn't know it then how were they ever going to get home? summer got sad and a little tear welled up in the corner of her eye, which she wiped away inmediately. she didn't want to show the others that she was sad so she looked the other way, at the trees. wondering if there were more like laryel among them.

Edited April 7, 2016 by Summer Breeze

[Holiday Agnaktor 1,436]

@Summer Breeze

@Blitz Boom

 

Frosty giggled with Summer when he saw her eyes become all sparkly when she saw her manes in her reflection.

 

"I guess we are now. Cool, huh?"

 

He then saw what Lyriel had plucked from Summer's head, which seemed to be a bigger version of the flowers. It seemed that is was about to grow into Summer's skin, and that wouldn't have been good. It didn't look like Summer had seen it, so Frosty was just going to keep it quiet. No need to upset her, eh?

 

Frosty joined Lyriel and Summer, walking next to Lyriel.

 

 

 

This place you call Equestria, these *dimensions* and *planes* that you mentioned icy one,

 

 

"Equestria is the country we live in. It's full of ponies like us. The dimensions I mentioned, with that I mean that Equestria might be in a different world than this one, and that it might be really difficult to get back. I can be horribly wrong though, and that we're still in the same dimension." Frosty sighed "It's just that I've never seen anyone like you, or this water, or even heard about anything like this. I like to think that I'm pretty knowledgeable about...well everything, but things like this I've never encountered in my studies. I think."

 

Frosty listened to Summer for a bit, hearing her explain about Damon and wood.

He noticed Summer suddenly stopped talking, when she mentioned her house.

Frosty looked around Lyriel at Summer. She was looking away at the trees.

 

"Hey, Summer, it's going to be alright. We'll get home, one way or another. I promise."

 

Frosty went to walk on the other side of Lyriel, next to Summer, and poked her.

 

"Just look on the bright side, at least we're not alone, we've got each other and Blitz. Plus, we've got kind Lyriel here to help us out. We're going to be alright."

 

Frosty was worried too, but took care not to show it. Last thing they needed was to all worry themselves sick.

Edited April 7, 2016 by Frosty Frost

[Moonlit 593]

@@Blitz Boom, Serenade suppresses a laugh, but follows Ziggy, "She...he....is just playing with you Ziggy, if that get's too problematic, just swing by and I'll introduce them to dinner". Serenade mostly has her head held high, looking at the sky and occasionally muttering something to herself, words like Ascension, Declination, Apparent and Absolute Magnitude, Luminosity and Stellar Classification.

Edited April 7, 2016 by Moonlit

[Blitz Boom 4,651]

@@MDLineArt,

 

"Stop moving... Dead..."

 

Giddon didn't stop moving, though he didn't seem to have much force to push through with right now, yet as he would brush up against Bashful in his way forward, the changeling would feel it as if something shook through him. Then again. Then again... After a few times at most, it would become evident however, that this shaking wasn't coming from Giddon, but rather from beneath them, which hardly ever were a good sign.

 

Still, considering what happened next, a little shaking was hardly anything to worry about.

 

About the fourth time that the shaking would begin to really be felt, strong paws hammered up through the crust in about a half dozen places, quickly followed by a crudely armoured, gruff looking diamond dog breaking fully through and standing tall, looking down on the ponies, prisoners and changelings - the last of which they simply saw as guards, but had about as much love for as the actual changelings - and growled to get them out of their way as more started to get out of the holes in varying sizes.

 

Far be it to say that diamond dogs in this area tended to be the smartest of the bunch, and it wasn't the brightest of the college that would be here either, but as a few of the large front-runners barked orders to some of the ones behind them to get their kin out and destroy everything they found in there that wasn't breathing, it seemed that they had at least enough in their noggin to be organised somewhat.

 

One of them, a particular nasty looking fellah with one eye, the look of someone in a very foul mood and an appearance that brought into question the possibility that his hobbies included beating up manticores, looked directly at the main part of the guards gathered *guards* and prisoners with a snarl, followed by a rumbling voice giving an order to the others of his kind who were pouring out from the caves below they had dug through.

 

"Punish them for stealing from Her pack."

 

And with that, the the few dozen who hadn't gone off to get the diamond dogs out from inside the temple, began to do theirs to subdue the enemy forces. They weren't actively trying to end any lives, but they were clearly not caring if the way to make them unable to fight back were to break something or knock them unconscious. The large one would also fight in the fray, after the first few had gone in front of him, looking specifically who whomever were leading these as his own target, and knocking away those who might try and get in the way of that.

 

As for the changeling way of changing form and blend in, with some luck they wouldn't embarrass themselves by forgetting the main issue with fighting diamond dogs unprepared: Which were any sort of smell not recognised by the pack. A small error in the smell pattern, armour not fitting or smelling like the crude ones they made from the metal they sometimes found, etc. would give them away to the dogs strong smells. Not they couldn't fight back, they had their ways after all in what were now gone from a controlled situation to more like mayhem.

 

Meanwhile, Florence looked around at the sudden impromptu battlefield witht he look like someone who really wanted to get away from what were going on here fast. Something which were easier said than done since her wings were still bound in the magical cloth and needed to either be drained of magic or torn by something with considerable physical strength. Neither being something that she could take part in.

 

Yet, she could run right? Just go for the trees, not think on this and just... Just...

 

Her eyes had landed briefly on Bashful and who he stood with whilst looking over how to get away and her mind went blank for a few seconds before she moved as fast as she could over to them instead of listening to her survival instincts and run for the hills. She really wanted to get away now, but... Look, she just had to get him away too, okay? A life for a life and all that crap. Logic could come knocking later.

 

___________________________________________________________________________________

 

 

@@EQ_Theta,

 

"I saw Luna yesterday for the first time since master were still with me. She is a dreamer?"

 

It wasn't much that Omen knew of Luna. Back in the days, it had mostly been Celestia she had any contact with in her role as a messenger for Discord, and had only really seen the darker princess once before he were gone and Omen left. Last night then, she had seen that Luna had apparently been one of the rulers of this new age, but in what capacity she still hadn't figured out. Had it perhaps something to do with being a dreamer? Were That what made her a ruler?

 

"More to ask of her if I see her again. But you said tomorrow, so you sound like you want sleep. Are we going to your resting place?"

 

Her sentence were a little broken up, stating one thing that was more meant for herself, an observation on him and a question. Likely only one that had to be said, but what were socially correct were a tricky one, and what she had to keep for herself wasn't always obvious. Like when she had asked that mare if she were going to bake her foal, and how it would taste like, because she saw her with the little one near an oven. She had learned that one were bad the hard way, but it was one situation out of countless ones that could happen. Who could know when to do what all the time?

 

Well, many seemed to know when she saw them, like Senlin, so there were that. But she were not surprised with Senlin at least, since he had shown to know many strange things so far whilst still knowing how to act around others. If he hadn't at least, she'd have thought that he would have attacked somepony in town or said something, but he seemed to handle that well even the first time.

 

But, she had time to think on this as the night went on. Senlin sounded like he sought rest, and she could use the hours he spent on that to think through things before they went on, seeking answers again. Yet before he could sleep, he'd need his resting place, at least if she had gotten that part right about his hideout before.

 

______________________________________________________________________________________

 

 

@@cwhip9,

 

Zinthar quickly and elegantly turned, stepping to Crescent and wrapping himself around him with his long, slender body, his head ending at the bat pony's ear as he whispered into his ear with a tone dripping by morbid delight.

 

"Don't be so sure. I were once a very, Very bad kitty."

 

With a purr he then went away from the clingy stature and moved away again a little. If Crescent had wanted to learn something more about Zinthar he had at least now gotten confirmed that he liked to taunt and tease, getting in really close to either try and unnerve or irritate the object of his attention at times. That, or he simply liked to show his lack of respect for personal barriers, but it were hard to tell as he were a cat and that weren't exactly unknown behaviour for them. Which honestly could be said about the whole part of him being taunting and teasing, trying out limits and personal barriers...

 

Still, it showed that at least Zinthar acted like a regular cat in some ways, so there were that if it meant anything. A talking, fairly large cat that had signs of being more than the general feline, yes, but still a cat at heart.

 

"I could tell you stories of how bad it were... But if you want my boon, you will have to give me my pound of flesh."

 

Hopefully he did not mean a Literal pound of flesh, but you never knew with strange beings like this.

 

"I will even make it a good deal for you and make your acceptance of the terms the first pound on my scale, so you will get what you seek first. A generous offer, no?"

 

Whilst Zinthar wouldn't mind speaking with another as the times he had to talk with anyone but himself down here were rare, he would not end up answering everything and gain nothing in return. Life did not work that way, and neither did he, though as mentioned, he were at least offering a good deal. It were not often he would answer before having heard, but it were to be seen if the night pony would understand that and accept his generous offer, or if he were to be problematic and wasting this deal in front of him..

 

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

 

 

@@Mentis Soliloquy,

@@Denim&Venom,

@@Seamore Sandwich,

 

"Very well, but before we go, could they be allowed to walk again? It is a less waste of energy and speed if they are not held chained several times over."

 

Ko of course talked about Mistcalled and Carl, wanting to have them more mobile than basically being trailed everywhere or kept close enough to weapons to be impaled on a spear within a half second if he even sneezed funnily. He had his doubts that the citizens of Subterrenea would so easily let their guards down around prisoners, even if they might simply take their weapons, but he had to give it an attempt at least.

 

Regardless or not if they let them loose, after the answer Ko would turn and begin to take off quickly down the path again back into the woods, where quite the awkward interaction was likely going to take place. But they would see when they reached there, which should not be long considering how fast it had been for them to get out here to begin with.

 

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

 

 

@@Seamore Sandwich,

@@Melke,

@@Mentis Soliloquy,

 

If he had been able to, Briar felt like this would be when he would shed a tear  at the beauty of this feeling that swam over him.

 

That the trees planting had an effect, Seamore had said, but... This were beyond what he had thought possible. The feeling of being brushed over by the soothing breath of Mother Gaea herself and briefly feeling himself in her tender, warm and loving embrace once again were indescribable for him. It were like before... No, it were More than before he had sprouted. Closer than he had ever imagined he could be with the ancient, all-loving essence of the benevolent one herself.

 

It were a bliss that he could only imagine were like what it must be like when one of them eventually returned to the earth, and her voice guided them to the final garden... And just as it had gone over him, it were gone again.

 

He could still feel it lingering slightly in the air, but he were no longer in the blissful embrace. He were back to the reality that he had escaped for but a moment, though now carrying a memory that he doubted would ever leave him.

 

"A moment of absolute perfection..."

 

Briar had not taken notice of the tear, as he were still lingering slightly outside the realms of listening right now, but what of Brittle?

 

Well, unfortunately, the tree's planting had another effect on her entirely. She did not find bliss, but instead only found misery from it that took all her attention. No, not because she were blasted away, but the energy did have a most unpleasant effect anyway: It were making her chain-sneeze.

 

The energy still being this near made her unable to change form when she sneezed, but if it did not, she would have ended through all sorts of weird forms as sneezing tended to have en even worse effect on her already unstable transformation magic. Something she didn't like, Briar didn't yet notice, and Ashta seemed to find a sort of morbid joy in as he watched her briefly with a clacking chuckle.

 

He cared not for the trees, what happened when they were planted, and frankly, considering how they had been annoying them before, he would much prefer to cut their precious young down now instead of finding any joy in their *birth*. Still, he found other things to focus on, such as the strange tear that were rapidly closing in the air near them.

 

"Interesting. So the Ancient One have been here. I wonder if it took anyone with it."

 

_________________________________________________________________________________________

 

 

@@Moonlit,

 

"Oh, it's not that, just the name that's kinda awkward. Just put it there as a joke really."

 

She kept whistling for a bit as she guided them onwards some of the way, Fah'Lina behaving for now and simply gliding and/or jumping between branches whilst looking them over and once in a while trailing off for a few seconds before she was within sight again.

 

"Anyway, what're the things you're whispering? I could swear I heard something *Magnitude*. Isn't that an earthquake term somehow? I could have sworn that I heard it at a trip once in Las Pegasus. Might have been someplace else than the geological centre, but it's hard to remember things correctly with a place that boring."

 

___________________________________________________________________________________

 

 

@@Frosty Frost,

@@Summer Breeze,

 

"Yeah Summer, we're getting back, no worries. Long as we stick together."

 

Lyriel felt the warm spread in her chest whilst seeing the display of the icy one and Vaaauw do what they could to cheer up their sad friend who sounded like her name were Summer. Much as personal growth and strength were important after all, so were too to have friends that would be with you even in the most dire of situations. These seemed to be that in her eyes, and much as it brought her slight confusion to see that from outsiders, it gave her even more hope and belief in these smaller beings. That they would get through this, even if this were far from their home of Equestria.

 

"Who is worth helping, if not those that holds their friends dear? It shows an open heart for others. Something I think carries more weight than a thousand promises made from honeyed words."

 

Lyriel bent down and gently brought her hand to Summer's chin, if she would allow it. If that were so, the Dryad would gently lift her chin with a hand that felt like smooth, warm oak that had shed its bark and look at the equine with a warm glimmer in her eyes.

 

"As the icy one said, Summer, you have my help to get you through this. So please, ease your heart and find the strength in those around you that will lift you if you fall, and keep you on when hope seems scarce. Trust in them, as they do you, and before you know it, you will find what you seek."

 

Even if she had not been allowed to lift her chin Lyriel would still say these words before rising again and turn her now-glowing hand to the forest ahead of them, opening another section for them to travel through whilst looking at the somewhat nearby mountain-range that would lead them towards one of many places that could lead outside of the valley.

 

"And do not trouble your heart with the taking of trees. Earth mother sees the needs of the world and grants those who wanders her creation with her blessed creations. Not to show off, or to give only to those who does not harm a single plant, but as gifts for those who would need them to survive. If you have used these floral gifts of hers to find her a home, then you have simply used her gift as intended."

Edited April 7, 2016 by Blitz Boom

[Denim&Venöm 19,239]

 

 

"Very well, but before we go, could they be allowed to walk again? It is a less waste of energy and speed if they are not held chained several times over."

 @Seamore Sandwich, @Mentis Soliloquy,

 

​"Kay fine. Release them. But confiscate their weapons. And keep a perimeter about them." The drones complied, takign Miststalker & Karl's armaments before setting them free. Free as in mobile, as they had changelings behind and to either side of them.  "Alright. Follow the leader." She turned to Summer. "Care to let your forces know we're on our way?" 

[Moonlit 593]

@@Blitz Boom, Serenade smiles, "Sorta, the two sciences use the name, but in Astronomy's case, it's different and divided into two. Apparent and Absolute. Apparent is how bright an object, star or comet, appears in the night sky. The lower the number, the brighter an object is, some objects are so brighter, the numbers reach into the negatives. Absolute Magnitude is how bright the object would be in you were in space, and at a certain distance. "

 

Serenade smiles, watching Fah'lina out of the corner of her eye, "Ascension and Declination are just where a star is in relation to the horizon, Luminosity is tied to brightness, but it's a mathematical formula, and Stellar Classification is how we catalog stars by their characteristics."

"Using you as an example, if you were a star. Your Apparent Magnitude would change based on your distance from me, but right now, your brighter then Fah'lina over there. Your Absolute Magnitude would probably be based off that number. I'm not giving you the number because we're walking and I can't write and walk at the same time. Luminosity would be" She reaches out and rests a hoof on Ziggy's back, then tilts her head from side to side, "8.5 range, putting you in the ninth magnitude range. In space, and at a distance, you'd be difficult to spot without aid. As for Stellar Classification, ZG1 or Zebra-Pegasi 1." 

"It sounds complicated, and it can be. But it's easy once you learn things." 
 

Edited April 7, 2016 by Moonlit

[Mentis Soliloquy 3,026]

@@Denim&Venom,@@Seamore Sandwich, @@Blitz Boom,

 

"Very well." Summer's wings moved in odd fashions to those who were not familiar with thestral methods of communication informing her large contingent of guards of their arrival soon enough there was a brief response before she looked back to Priestess and nodded. "It is done." 

[MDLineArt 93]

@@Blitz Boom

 

Chaos!  It was utter chaos all around, these things from the depths emerging all around.  Many began to to scamper off, some being dragged off, some choosing to fight against these insurmountable odds.  What were these hounds of diamond? 

 

The small griffon started moving quickly to Giddon and Bashful during the destruction and fear.  Bashful took note then of her wings, bound, preventing any attempt at flight.  If he was able to actually keep note of his situation rather than feeling overwhelmed, he may have noticed it earlier.  As matters stood, it was hard enough to hear anything, above the shouting outside, and the buzzing in his head, that of the hive mind.  It was one voice in his mind however that carried over the rest, reassuring, comforting... Mother, who taught plans within plans.  She was laughing!

 

"Ha ha ha, he he!  Oh how glorious!  Watch them scatter about, watch them run and cower!  This is turning out even better than I hoped!"  Mother's glee brought a warmth to Bashful Thread.  It was always reassuring to know Mother was always ready, always had an answer even in his confusion.  Sometimes her lessons were harsh, but she taught Bashful Thread very well... If only he had been a better student.

 

"Get those fools out of there!  Take those we need, take their place among the rest.  Be a hero, welcome with open arms!  Play your parts well my children, this is an opportunity we could hardly pass up!"  It was at that moment he understood!  Mother's quick wit would preserve them as it always had.  She did so love her brood, even one as small as Scissor Biter, Bashful Thread. 

 

"Scissor Biter!  Take those beasts away from here!  Find out what happened from the large one.  Use his dying hide to paint him in the weak light, be sure never to let him speak of your true self!  That is paramount of all things.  Discover what he knows, and if it is too much... Well, we don't need his body, just his heart."

 

Beasts?  Did She mean the Griffons?  Bashful could only try to put himself under Giddon, lifting with all the power his legs could muster.  Trying to carry him was harder than it looked, Giddon being massive even by Griffon standards.  Feeling the blood slick coat of feathers pressing against his mane.  Heavy steps tried to drag hold of Giddon, if only he'd let go of that bag!  What was so important that would cause him to have a near death-grip on it?

 

Looking to the small griffon, he gestured to the forest, towards Ponyville.  "We have to get out of here.  Come on, he's in a bad way!" 

 

It took a few moments to check over his shoulder, watching the guards evacuating as many as they could, though The Hounds made it no easy task.  It pained him to think how many of his brothers and sisters were putting their bodies on the line to continue this act, how committed to Mother they were, without hesitation or regret.  Ultimately though, what could only a handful do against such might? 

 

The largest worry now was if Giddon came to his senses, realizing that he was on the back of Bashful Thread and proceeded to injure him more.  Giddon had to live through this, or Mother would be very upset. 

 

Pushing onward, he only hoped that the small griffon had the good sense to join them.

[EQ_Theta 462]

@@Blitz Boom

 

"I don't think Luna is one of the Dreamers but I suppose alicorn magic gets the full benefit of utilizing a wide variety of spells including those the Dreamers use. It would be interesting to see that in practice. I must admit the possibility is very tempting indeed."

 

There was plenty to reflect on the day and while tired as he may be, Senlin was happy with the progress of the search though he owes much of it to Omen. There were plenty of things to relish in but the help he received by everyone who was willing to play a part in it were blessings in and of themselves, though stumbling upon the ancient castle's ruins was what started it all. There is much to think about.

 

However, there was still Omen's predicament to be concerned about. Given Discord wasn't around, there are a number of possibilities that could suggest that everything Omen would possibly need to get by. He doesn't doubt that Omen is more capable than she looks; there is great error in thinking in such a way. Even so, he would be more courteous and generous with an offer as a gesture of thanks, a general rule his family and clan always stressed.
 

"I believe I should let my day come to a close but I shouldn't be keeping you. It would be rude for me to do so after all. Unless you'd like some place else to stay for the night. It's no castle ruin but I'll make sure it is comfortable to your liking."

Edited April 9, 2016 by EQ_Theta