open Casual stroll

[cwhip9 1,078]

@@Blitz Boom, "seems fair in my book" cresent said nonchalantly looking ahead at the path ahead of them.

 

"if they serve the dreamers...so if we play our cards right" began cresent "maybe we could convince them of letting us both go, you seemed to have been in here long enough. I know a good forest to make home at being a batpony most pony's stay away from me do to ghost story's or the like. A forest might help suit you once we get out of this....thing" Cresent said waving his hoof gesturing at their setting around them.   

[Blitz Boom 4,614]

@@MDLineArt,

 

Lies... It had to be lies, right? All of those horrible things he said about her uncle... That he were threatening, leaving innocents behind, stealing and Celestia knew what else. The sort of person he talked about wasn't her uncle. He were a hero, not some kind of monster that would use everyone for his own gain no matter the cost and deceive to keep things in his favour.

 

But... What did she really know? Her uncle had been gone for 10 years. 10, long years, and she had never even heard of him, or anyone called *Giddon*, looking for her or her mother. He would have done that if he had survived the explosion right? The one she knew would have done that, and not dye his feathers, change name and leave them crying behind.

 

"I-I don't..."

 

You could hear that Florence was on the edge of breaking down into uncontrollable crying and sobbing from everything that Bashful had said and made her think, but what else could be the result when he attacked her uncle the way that he did? Well placed words sharpened and dipped in poison, sent to pierce her through the heart... It were effective, and it hurt her more than any physical attack he could have done would have.

 

"I don't know w-what he's like now... B-But I am not leaving him behind. I want... N-No, I need him to tell me where he's been. I have to know why he just l-left us like that..."

 

Though she tried to hold it back, tears began to fall slowly from the eyes of the very depressed and hurt looking griffin flying beneath Bashful. Whatever damage to her ideal of her uncle he had aimed to make, he had been successful. She was looking for answers now for the painful things he had thrown in her face and not just for her uncle to survive this, and as the town would get into view her doubts and fears about what she might learn from the lies that had gone on for the last 10 years just became larger and darker.

 

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

 

 

@@cwhip9,

 

"Awh, aren't you just a gallant little stallion?"

 

The teasing tone in the voice was thick enough to be scraped out of the air and spread on a piece of bread.

 

"I tend to prefer cities, but perhaps I can have a look and see how it is. I will not isolate myself too much though. There is too much to see out there after all this time, and I am curious as to what happened to my old stomping grounds. Perhaps I could even visit..."

 

Zinthar stopped talking right before he mentioned an actual name that would be part of his backstory, and gave Crescent a sideglance and a small chuckle.

 

"No, I think we will wait with that. Can't waste all my good conversation pieces before we're out now, can I?"

 

He jumped around a little forward and landed on a mossy rock again, turning to look at Crescent with the dim light from the moss dancing on his ghostly whiskers.

 

"We're soon at a gate now. If the dream guards are there, are you ready to go through with this? A small misstep and you might end up sitting here in Purgatory with me for a long, long time. Not something to go into unprepared."

 

The glowing moss beneath his paws showed off other things than a slight glow in the ghostly whiskers on Zinthar's face however. Behind him, a wall seemed to have a look of having been dug through once and then some wall being set in the way to block it again. It might be nothing, but it might also mean that there were a weak spot in the wall leading to... Well, somewhere. Hard to tell really.

 

______________________________________________________________________________________

 

 

@@Moonlit,

 

Ziggy heard what were said with big eyes and a concerned look in her eyes. Being treated like that int he field were you were aceing it were horrible to think about, and especially when she had all the other things to juggle with too... It was a testament to her character that she had not broken down and done bad things to them there. Lesser minds would have. Heck, a few greater ones would too, as the assault poor Serenade had gotten were both unprofessional and insult on so many levels that it were hard to comprehend. Like, really, what did it matter she wasn't a unicorn? Didn't that sort of racism belong to the dark ages?

 

"Jeez, what a bunch of buzzkills. And dumb ones too, since hello, you were put up for it by the one in charge before that. That should have been the big bell ringing to the tune of *She knows what she's doing*. You'd think that the princess at least would know that."

 

That was one of the more surprising points in it all really for Ziggy, as she had only ever heard of Celestia as some kind of pillar of good that wouldn't act like that... Well, if you excluded the time she sent her sister to the moon, but there were complicated circumstances going there, so that didn't really count.

 

Anyway, to hear the the princess had been scrutinising along with others and in the end basically just shoved Serenade to the side and into a position that they just made up to make it sound important were, for a lack of a better term, disappointing. She had really thought more of the princess of the sun.

 

"At least it's good to know that Princess Luna appreciates you. Seemed like it at least when we saw her yesterday, though that still doesn't mean I don't think it's bad mojo of the others to be like that, and I hope that when karma catches up to them, it'll end up biting them in the flank."

[cwhip9 1,078]

@@Blitz Boom, Cresent chuckled a bit on the stallion line when asked if he was ready for the guards up ahead cresent found out he had his gauntlet on still. The batpony activated the blue blade illuminating more of the darkness around them. He sheathed it looking back up at the cat.

 

"well I think this could help if we need a plan B" said Cresent  

 

"I hope we don't need this, but nothing today iv planed has worked so.....I think were good" The batpony said smiling nervously.

[EQ_Theta 457]

@@Blitz Boom

 

Before drifting off to slumber, Senlin noticed the blanket handed back to him but he didn't use it. Rather, he left it close by where Omen could use it should she ever want or need it. The lesser quality one made earlier will do. He had several ways of putting himself into a comfortable position to slumber, either by laying on the ground and curling his body or sitting upright with his wings providing an extra layer of protection against the cold temperatures. This was his meditative sleep, the same pose he normally goes to when he would ponder over the events of the day while his body rested. This was how he ended his day.
 

"I shall see you in the morning." 

 

The dreams he mentioned were were still some of the more vivid ones that come to mind as he drifted into his dreamscape, images flitting in and out of view. On one moment, he sees the forest clearing and within it, the pitch black void with the pinprick eyes. He sees himself just by that clearing but walking into the darkness only led him out to where he began, turned around by an unknown force. He had an urge to mention something about the definition of insanity but repeated actions wouldn't need an explanation. 

His view of the clearing shifted to a brighter area of the forest but the tree trunks were of note: they had the marks of his sister and they tempted him to solve their puzzle. 

Why do you do this? If this is your doing, sister, give me an explanation! Anything that can lead me to you. 

 

He solved them rather easily considering what possibilities are available in the dreamscape; he manipulated the shapes on the trunks and they formed a strange map that led to her location. An X and a strange tree that served as a landmark could lead him there but he knew the risks of dreams: he couldn't say whether this was his mind playing tricks or if there was something more profound with what he had seen. 

The rest of the night was quiet and uneventful, and Senlin anticipated the arrival of the dawn. 
 

[Seamore Sandwich 471]

@@Lonk Chase

@@GingerLightning

@@Blitz Boom

 

"Well, aren't you a curious little thing?" 'Grandfather' seemed to be amused by Ginger flying about, pulling on him as if to see if he was real. "As for your questions, I am merely a traveler, and Ponyville is my destination. I have no need for your trust as I am simply passing through. That was rather an odd question... Have I given you reason to be distrustful?" He paused for a moment on that question. "Anyway, a great thing is about to take place in Ponyville, some of my plans will soon come to fruition, so I must be there to see it."

[MDLineArt 93]

@@Blitz Boom

 

Bashful Thread landed softly enough, trying to be careful not to undo the stitching that was holding Giddon's, now Pyhrus' insides from splitting out.  The emergency services rushed out and upon seeing the state of the red giant, started to bring stretchers and all kinds of equipment that Bashful Thread couldn't even begin to understand.  Sometimes posing as a pony was hard, but thankfully, he didn't have to run the devices they brought forward as they struggled to hoist Pyhrus' body onto the gurney. 

 

Taking hold of the bag, he slung it onto his back.  Looking at Florence, it was all to clear this young one's world just got turned upside down and inside out.  He felt a strong sense of pity for this small griffon, a complete contrast to her uncle, and it hurt not to show it.  Florence after all didn't force him out into the wild to almost get killed by forces he couldn't begin to understand.  No, that responsibility was being pulled away on a stretcher. 

 

"He'll be alright.  Tough old bird, that one.  You on the other hand, you need to get yourself fixed up, you look like a mess."  It was true, if Orange Lace saw the state they were all in, she would loose her mind, followed swiftly by Bashful's head.  He sighed heavily thinking on how he could even hide this mess from Orange Lace and Firecracker.  "Look kid, it's gonna be touch and go for a while.  Only good thing that came out of this is at least a few of the lies were brought to light, and it's not like he's going anywhere in the near future.  Spend some time, get acquainted with Giddon... er... Pyhrus, see what you make of him without the rose coloured glasses.  On the other hoof, I am sure most will be marching into town and he'll probably spin it that he made it out to safe those prisoners.  Whatever he want's to do, our business is concluded."

 

Starting to turn and walk away from this situation, Bashful stopped.  "I'll hold onto this for him until he's ready to pick it up.  It's what he wanted more than anything, seems almost getting shuffled off the mortal coil will do it."

 

"You on the other hand, maybe you should get some rest, some sleep, something to eat.   I'd suggest dropping by a shop and picking up a dress or something, bring some normalcy to your life.  Hear there are shops that rival some of the best in Canterlot or Manehattan.  Personally though..."

 

Bashful looked over Florence very closely, studying her for a moment.

 

"... I've always had a fondness for something more simple.  Sure there is something around here that would fit you to a tee."

 

It was then Bashful took his leave of this nightmare adventure.  Giddon would come to the shop for the sack, he may even be thankful.  What he did to that young griffon though, to family, that was inexcusable.  Anything Florence wanted to do was fine by him.

 

---------------------------

 

Bashful Thread entered Orange Lace's Budget Boutique in the form of Haze Guard, that massive pegesis that rivaled Giddon for size.  The shop was not how he left it, now all his hard work and cleaning scattered as he watched Orange Lace, with her yellow mane tied in a bun behind her head and green eyes looking over him, tried to greet him as a customer.  It wasn't until Bashful walked right past her with just a nod, and started to go down stairs, letting his body become enveloped in green fire, leaving only Bashful's real form, Scissor Biter, a changeling walking down to his room.  The stresses and hunger were written all over his face.

 

Orange Lace came down after him, finding Bashful was sprawled out on his bed, face first into a pillow, the bag laying at the foot of the bed.

 

"Rough day?" She responded in that silk voice of hers, the kind that even in sarcasm seemed to bring an ease to the room.

 

Bashful's stomach decided to respond to the question with a low grumble.

[Holiday Agnaktor 1,436]

@Summer Breeze

@Blitz Boom

 

Frosty smiled and shook his head as got poked back by Summer. This wasn't over yet.

 

He was surprised, as Blitz put forth a really well thought out theory. Frosty hadn't expected Blitz to put that much thought into things. She didn't look like she could keep her attention on the same thing for more than ten seconds. Then again, she did seem to be able to make bombs properly, which is pretty difficult. Frosty didn't really know how smart Blitz was anymore.

 

Frosty got chills running down his spine as he tried imagining bunnies turning into plants.

 

"You know, plants are pretty and all, but this place doesn't seem like a great place to me. It doesn't seem to be "fauna-friendly". I mean, all animals just turn into plants, sooner or later."

 

Frosty was getting pretty worried. He had always been afraid of those creeping vine-plants. He knew they couldn't just grab him and grow on him, but he didn't like them anyway. This was like that, except a thousand times worse. Here the plants actually could take him over, probably.

 

 

 

The Adatzne bow were one of many that lined the skies when the rain had fallen heavily without blocking the suns rays. On some occasions, they would appear even with little light, still showing off the many colours as the light reflected in the pure water falling from above.

 

"Oh oh! You mean a rainbow? It perfectly matches the description! Water, light, colours, yep! Sounds just about right! But rainbows can't break...right? That impossible, isn't it?"

 

Frosty was skeptical. Rainbows couldn't break. After all, science said so. Frosty didn't really believe in myths that often, and this one just seemed to ridiculous to be true. Puh. Rainbows breaking. Something else happened, maybe a powerful wizard had a spell gone wrong (or right). Nothing else.

[Blitz Boom 4,614]

@@MDLineArt,

 

A hollow, joyless laughter escaped her before he left her behind at the hospital door.

 

Florence didn't know what to say to the pony after all of this. He had saved her, saved her uncle, said things that she didn't want to believe, but couldn't deny made her sceptical about the pedestal she had always put him up on, and now said that she should try to get some normality into her life? After everything had been turned upside down several times and she didn't know what was real anymore?

 

"I guess I can try, but I don't see anything being normal again. Not after all of this."

 

She turned and began to go towards the hospital, then turned around to face Haze again, only to see him already being too far gone from where she were.

 

What would she have said anyway? Thanked him again? Claimed he were a hero, no matter what he thought of himself, because he had helped so many others, including her uncle whom he didn't like?

 

What would the point have been in telling him that? He didn't want the glory the last time she told him that he were a hero, and considering what she thought of her uncle that now started to look worse and worse, how could she even begin to be sure if she could judge what a hero were? Haze might have just been a regular Joe who were tossed into a position he didn't want because of neglect from her uncle, and had gotten out off it with a bit of luck, which she used to think were also the sort of thing a hero would do, but now...

 

She let out a sigh and turned to go back into the hospital, whilst dragging her tail feathers along the ground.

 

"Why does it all have to be so difficult?"

 

_____________________________________________

 

 

It took three hours before she were out of the hospital again. Three hours of getting sorted who her uncle were with the staff so they had an idea who they were dealing with, tell a lie that he had fallen on a spikes fence to explain away the wounds in his shoulders without having to explain everything that went on at the temple, inform them of his blood type and so on.

 

The doctors said that even with the best of wills, he had been in a bad enough shape that it would be near a miracle if he woke up this evening, and more likely that this could take until the morning, or even days if the trauma were too much for his body to handle.

 

Still, she hadn't wanted to leave until she didn't see there being much of a choice. The room he had been in were busy and the staff needed the space for others, and when the news came that a local Night Guard were on the way to chain the large griffin to the bed as they were suspicious about the wound she just had to get out of there. There would be questions to her about him that she couldn't answer, and likely it would go over towards what had happened at the temple and... She just couldn't deal with this right now.

 

Sooner or later the law were going to find her and she would have to answer for things, but if she could get at least a few hours out and about to see that the world were still working like it should and it hadn't suddenly plunged into chaos like it felt, it would help her being more steeled for this instead of just breaking down under pressure and bawl her eyes out whilst screaming to the heavens, or whatever else might happen if she got poked to right at that moment.

 

Yet, as she slipped out of the hospital and out in the thankfully stable world outside, what were she going to do? She didn't know Ponyville by anything but reputation, which coincidentally were why she had done all she could to avoid getting anywhere near this town where calamity seemed to be drawn towards like moth to a flame, so now that she were here it wasn't much idea she had as to what she could do.

 

She could go out and look for the ponies that kept being the talk when she heard stories, like the new princess, Pinkie... Something with cake, and a few other names that escaped her right now, but the more she thought on that, the more silly and pointless it sounded like. The princess likely had more important things to do than to deal with gawking tourists, and the the rest... well, when she couldn't even remember their names fully on, it would just go and be awkward. Perhaps if she learned them right she could give it a go another time, but she would rather not deal with that sort of thing today.

 

*sigh* Perhaps she should just go do what Haze had said and just go through the robes. Something to eat, some rest, and maybe look around for a shop to get some garments. Couldn't hurt after all, right?

 

_________________________________________________________________

 

 

A few hours had passed after that before a ringing would be heard in the small tailoring shop as the door opened and the pale griffin slowly entered the shop, looking around at what were in there.

 

"Hello? is anyb- Pony, in here?"

 

The last few hours had helped her get a few things done, such as getting as proper a meal as could be expected from a vegetarian society - though, she would admit, it had been a rather tasty dish - and looking around the town. It had not exploded or been invaded whilst she had been around, so the place were not as bad as she had gotten the impression of just yet, but it had so far been lacking a proper shop she could go for.

 

A few places did exist in town that would draw others in, but of the ones she had found so far this were the first she had stepped into because... Well, frankly the other ones intimidated her. Especially the glamorous looking shop that were in the ownership of some pony called Rarity, which she could see would be a perfect fit for many others, but to her had looked like the sort of place where they'd begin to take measures for a full outfit the second you entered the lace, and she wasn't a fan of grabby places like that.

 

Besides, she didn't need a full outfit of something sown together. The only thing she were used to walking with were some armor that she hadn't with her and frankly had no idea where were at this point in time, and a cloth belt that she did know where were, but were frankly getting a bit ratty after the last few year of usage. A new one were likely a good idea, which is why she were here now in this seemingly low key tailor shop. Or well, low key compared to the boutique at least, but that were a big plus in her book again. She wasn't out to get all *dolled up* after all.

 

___________________________________________________________________________________________________

 

 

@@Seamore Sandwich,

@@GingerLightning,

@@Lonk Chase,

 

Meeko had no idea what to think anymore about all of this. To begin with, they had all met this creature with some degree of mistrust and Ginger had even looked really hostile, so the thought there were to attack, right? But then all of a sudden it had gone to the feline cat wandering over like he were a good friend, Lonk acting less hostile and Ginger were goofing around him like she were a pup who found a new toy. Even the other timberwolf, Clara, seemed to be a bit more at ase with this one, and she had been very hostile so far.

 

So... Where this thing a friend?

 

He snuck closer to the Traveller, trying not to gain attention, and would begin to wander around and sniff to the area around him, to try and see if he could find out something about this one. Perhaps if he came from deeper inside the woods, or if he had blood spattered on him somewhere, or anything really. Considering he weren't sure what the hippo-like creature were talking about, this was the best way he knew to find out something and approach, though he were also ready to jump back if something seemed off or if the Traveller's attention were drawn towards the pup. Meeko might act a little brave now and again, but the big creature seemed like it could be dangerous, so it were best not to take the chance.

 

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

 

 

@@EQ_Theta,

 

The night went uneventful for Omen, with most of her time just standing still as a rock and looking up at the moon whilst the thought ran around her head in the slow process of being digested right so it'd stick in a way that made some sense, though as the hours went on it seemed like she were going to end with more questions than answers.

 

Some things she understood a little better, such as a few of the golden moments from Senlin, whilst others kept eluding her as much as his sister had them. Amongst them were the whole thing with them being led astray out in the woods and the clues that Senlin had followed, but a few social moments also didn't sit right with her that would give her fuel for things more during the next amount of nights. It were a lengthy process, but it had been worse sometimes back when Discord had been turned to stone. The first time she returned looking for him and sa how things were there... It had taken a  month before she moved an inch.

 

Her thought process were stopped somewhat during the night though by the hour at around midnight when she averted her eyes from the moon and looked inside the make-shift hut instead to look at Senlin whilst he slept, wondering what might go through his dreams after the long day. Likely things involving his sister, but who knew what haunted dreams? Not her at least, but he did spend a bit of thime thinking on what it might be before going back to watching the moon and face off with her own thoughts again.

 

When Senlin would eventually wake up, she would have returned to looking at him again for the past few minutes, her head cocked to the right and not a word going away from her. Just the unblinking, curious gaze that she had directed many a time at Senlin during the last day or so where he had rummaged through more situations with her than she usually experienced in a month, wondering once more what might keep hold of him in his dreams.

 

_______________________________________________________________________________________

 

 

@@cwhip9,

 

Zinthar looked at the blade with big eyes, clearly surprised at the strange weapon.

 

"A magical blade? In the dream lands? Seems like you are prepared for quite a bit of things."

 

Though he played it cool, the sight brought him more questions that he cared to flood the bat pony with right now. Like who had made it, what sort of magic coursed over the metal, why he even had it with him inside his dreams and countless other things, with mot depending on the answers of the base questions about the strange thing.

 

Sure, weapons had been abundant in his day too, but magical weaponry had still been somewhat rare in it, and it were certainly not made like this. It had been mostly regular swords, some shields, and a few odds and ends. This sort of weapon however... That were more alien to him. perhaps the world had changed more than he thought in the time he had been here? However long That turned out to be in the end anyway.

 

A movement behind Crescent caught his attention and the line of thoughts stopped. If it wasn't for the blue light he could perhaps have missed this, as whatever tended to shamble around here didn't smell and the dim light from the mushrooms were not usually powerful enough to have shown something like this before it were closer. Yet as fate would have it, things had lined up well enough to change things around a bit, and it seemed they now had a stalker on their heels.

 

"Hehe. Tell me Crescent, how do you like surprises?"

 

The faint sound of it walking would make Crescent aware of the creature behind him soon, regardless of if he had any idea about what Zinthar were on about. Or well, it should at least, as the three-times-their-size Dragon-looking horror weren't exactly made for being able to sneak around for too long, and the bat pony's ears looked strong.

 

The horror wouldn't be too far off from a real dragon, if you ignored the three tentacles, the extra head, small, gaping maws with razor-sharp teeth growing here and there on the scales, shark fin on the back, and poison dripping from the opened mouths, sitting beneath two pairs of eyes that narrowed on the odd couple in front of it.

 

________________________________________________________________________________________

 

 

@@Frosty Frost,

 

Lyriel gave a small smile to the pony that seemed to have another name for the beginning of the overcharged naturalisation of the valley, though he seemed to not know of something like this happening elsewhere. Frankly a good thing in her mind, as she would not wish this fate upon other places, but that was a discussion for another time perhaps.

 

"I can only bring along what I and the others were told by those who once were here to witness it happen. The Atazi and animals that once inhabited the valley before they fled to the mountains, tells us that what the first of us saw when we awoke from draining energy from the fallen bow were true. Besides, though we might not have been sentient when it first fell, we could all see the shards that slowly melted into the ground and the spring that centres the water of our home. How it fell or why I have never heard explained, but many lives have told that this is what happened, and I have yet to find reason to not believe it."

 

They rounded a large tree and she guided them to a left turn, towards the mountain and away from what looked like old stone walls in the distance in the other direction. A settlement perhaps? Curious why they didn't go for that as it seemed closer than the mountain range, but it could just be because it was safer to rush out of here before it were too late for the equines.

 

Then again... You never knew.

[Lonk Chase 255]

"Well, aren't you a curious little thing?" 'Grandfather' seemed to be amused by Ginger flying about, pulling on him as if to see if he was real. "As for your questions, I am merely a traveler, and Ponyville is my destination. I have no need for your trust as I am simply passing through. That was rather an odd question... Have I given you reason to be distrustful?" He paused for a moment on that question. "Anyway, a great thing is about to take place in Ponyville, some of my plans will soon come to fruition, so I must be there to see it."

So... Does Lonk have to follow this hippo-creature?

He wants to go to Ponyville too, but does that mean he has to tag along with the hippo?

Yes. Of course. Everypony knows if a friendly stranger comes up on your travels, give them some food to eat and water to drink and take them along for the ride. Equestrian Hospitality.

And that is what got Lonk to wing it.

"I'm going there too! Can we come along with you once we figure out what's under this trapdoor over here? It's mysterious and I need to... uhh... un-mystery it, I guess."

+1 Charisma,

+5 Luck.

 

Clara senses that Lonk is being friendly with the creature, so she decides to take the hippo off of the "To Eat" list and onto the "Eeeegh" List for Why Nots.

Edited April 16, 2016 by Lonk Chase

[cwhip9 1,078]

@@Blitz Boom, Cresent blinked at the question "well I tend to avoid them when poss" he stopped hearing a new blood beat unlike the cats which reminded the bat pony of wind chimes while this one behind cresent.....

 

"wait, what's behind me and dose it breath fire, cuz if it dose.....I might ah....take a...bit of a flight...the opposite direction." he said nervously.  

 

Being in the dream realm cresent was more worried about getting out then dragons....why was he thinking about dragons? His curiosity got the better of him and he turned around seeing the outline of the beast that was stalking them.

 

"I'm not seeing what I think it is right?" he said backing up towards the cat

 

"that's not the real question, the real question is dose fire in this realm leave burn marks in your realm?"  Mall responded almost laughing.  

[SugarfootWillie 383]

@@Quinch,@@Blitz Boom, @@Seamore Sandwich, 

 

[regaining consciousness]

 

Thrust from the raven fissure,

Luminous waves of consciousness

Crest into a cognizant dither.

The breadth of our vision unravels

A shimmering shoal of glass,

And the window through which we traveled.

Opposite the fenestration,

A choir of wind and chaos enumerate

Various facets of an obscure strife.

Our former duty climbs to arrogate

The phantasmal anathema of before,

Wiling us outside in search of Zhu

To reinvigorate our esprit de corps.  

Edited April 16, 2016 by SugarfootWillie

[GingerLightning 258]

@@Blitz Boom, @@Seamore Sandwich,

"Plans? What plans?"Ginger Lightning asked...She was always too nosy for her own good...And the fact that her mother taught her to be suspicious of ponies who don't act like ponies or creatures that act like ponies didn't help...probably because she never actually understood what her mom meant by that... Of course her mom could have been warning her about changelings...But anyway this Hippo is really interesting...

[MDLineArt 93]

@@Blitz Boom

 

Bashful Thread had made a point to stay in his room.  He had a long talk with Orange Lace, who was less that pleased to hear about his antics.  He got an ear-full over the course of hours upon hours, broken up only by the occasional customer coming in which Orange Lace was quick to respond to as soon as he heard the bell upstairs, which Bashful Thread was all too eager for those small breaks.

 

Bashful looked into the mirror, seeing him in his changeling form, the dark carapace and glowing blue eyes, which would be terrifying in the dimly lit room if it wasn't for the self-pity expressed by those orbs looking back at himself.  He was banged up a bit, and the old scar on his shell told the story.

 

If he was smarter, he would have taken a similar form like he did with Pyhrus, but instead tried to use the strength as he naturally was.  Small and weak.  It was infuriating to think about, and only added to that self-loathing on what he had done.  Probably the worse part about being other people, you tend to have to live with the things you wouldn't do, but you have to be the part.  In this case, he just hurt some griffon's life by tearing into her family.  They all lie, they all manipulate, but that doesn't make it go down any better. 

 

"Bashful, can you come up here for a minute?  I need to get some supplies."  Orange Lace's voice came from up the stairs, and it took Bashful a slow moment to start climbing up them as he took the form of the tailor with the green and black mane.  Putting on his beret filled with needles, pins and thread, he reached the top.

 

Orange Lace was standing beside the customer, an all too familiar face.  "I have to get some... thread.  Big project tomorrow, hate to have any delays.  Bashful Thread here will take care of you dear, Toodles!"  Problem with living with someone smarter than you are, they tend to exploit that, and Lace definetly was.  She stepped outside, with a hidden look of You Owe Me.

 

Before Bashful could react, she was out the door.  There was a long bit of awkward silence from him as he looked around, not sure what to even say.  "Um... Hi.  W-welcome to Orange Lace's Budget Boutique!  My name is Bashful Thread... though I guess you already knew that.  Sorry.  I just, um.. never mind.  So how can I help you today?  Hemming an existing item, or are you looking for something specific, maybe you want something custom made..."

 

He was thankful he silenced himself when he did.  Nervousness made him ramble, and it was tough enough when it was a stranger.  Did Pyhrus come to?  What did he tell her?  She was a Griffon after all, scary talons and beak.  Not that she was as threatening as her uncle, he couldn't help but draw parallels from his first encounter with a griffon, now it felt like history was about to repeat itself.  He was reminding himself to not change until she was out of the building.

[EQ_Theta 457]

@@Blitz Boom

 

As was with dreams, they were what kept the mind occupied as the body rested but there was always one part of Senlin's dreams that made him question whether or not he would rather not awake from his slumber. He sometimes awoke from dreams with Lin staring at him from a distance, an endless sea of trees between them but just enough of her visage was visible to recognize her. He calls to her every chance he gets a glance from her but soon vanishes without trace. Senlin looks forward to the day he would see these dreams end, for every time he sees this dream, he would awaken with cold sweats on his hide and tears running down his cheek. 

And that night was one such night. He awoke near feverish, a tear on his cheek and eyes still watery. He turns to the trinket held close to him, closed in his claw with the jewel exposed. He notices it soaking wet. Whether this was caused by his sweat or tears he didn't know and would rather not ponder about them. 

"Please," Senlin whispered. "Please let these tortures end."

The dawn had just come, the rays of sunlight piercing the trees and heating his weary eyes.

[Blitz Boom 4,614]

@@MDLineArt,

 

Florence looked at the nervous pony that had gotten stranded in front of her with a small, knowing smile. She had felt much like this today, with being stuck in the middle of something and not being sure how to handle it, so she could sympathise with the nervous pony suddenly having to do this, and she felt a little sorry for him given the situation.

 

It was a bit strange how the other pony had just left though. She didn't think it were because of her not wanting to be around griffins - though she wouldn't be the first if it came to that - yet it did sound a bit strange when she had went off like that...

 

Florence shook her head, trying to get the paranoid thoughts out of her head. She had been too deep in things recently it seemed to not think all sorts of things were wrong, and this wasn't the first time during the last few hours she had to take herself in judging behaviour that was really not something bad, but just her overthinking things. If she didn't stop herself now and again, it would end like it did at the food place and... Yeah, she'd rather not repeat that. She didn't really enjoy the funny looks she got when she acted like her food might be poisoned, and if she went full on this too with thinking this were a trap, it was just going to become more embarrassing.

 

*sigh* Perhaps she should just give in and wear a tinfoil hat whilst screaming about the mind control rays. Not like she wasn't halfway down that nutter path as it were when she started to act like this.

 

"Hello there Bashful, my name's Florence and yeah, I need to get something made."

 

She were talking calmly and politely to the pony, keeping her paranoid and self-loathing ideas and comments on the inside as she took her belt off and reached it forward, putting it down on the desk.

 

It were a simple enough cloth belt that were wrapped solidly around a few times and clasped together by a medallion with a big, colour-changing rock in the middle of it that would shift colour depending on the angle you looked at it from. It wasn't anything precious on a materialistic plan, as these sort of stones with a small magic spell on to were fairly common and used as gifts here and there, but the medallion itself likely spoke that it were a thing of some personal value.

 

Beyond that,t here were nothing out of order with the belt. It was clasped together with the pin on the back of the medallion, were a plain white with some spots like her feathers, and one the right she had a small bag clinging with bits attached, that she unwrapped from the whole thing a little after setting it down. Or well, she ripped the small strap it were attached with over even though she tried to be careful, which from the knots weren't a first time on the old looking thing that wasn't just there looking like it were falling apart.

 

You could still see how it might have looked once, and that it had fitted her feathers more before it got several years of dirt, tear and wear through it, but it were really time to admit that it wasn't gonna last much longer all things considered.

 

"Do you think you can make a belt that looks a bit like this? I mean, if it doesn't seem to work well enough it's fine if you have another idea how to make it, long as I can still have the medallion there. It's the only part that were a gift and I'd really prefer to have it where I usually do.

 

I hope you can help with this. I looked a bit at the boutique in town before this and I'd really prefer not to go back there and try if it turns out you can't. I don't know what it is, but it just looks like the sort of place with a pushy clerk trying to get you all dolled up, and I'm not really comfortable with places like that. Too... Princessy somehow, y'know?"

 

________________________________________________________________________________

 

 

@@cwhip9,

 

"Depends, are you seeing a mutant dragon?"

 

Zinthar's purring laughter rolled off his tongue as the cat jumped down from his stone and walked towards the crazed looking horror.

 

"These things really are not as bad as they look, unless you see 5 or more tendrils. Before that they tend to be cowards that preys on fear. Pathetic creatures really."

 

The dragon opened it's maws and roared into the approaching Zinthar's face, though the cat did neither slow down nor look impressed.

 

"See what I mean? If this was a real danger, it would have attacked instead of trying to make me run. This is basically harmless."

 

The dragon didn't seem to agree with this as it's right head changed focus away from the unfazed feline and towards the one whose fear it could smell: Crescent. Towards the bat it opened it's maw wide, taking in a deep breath... And then let out a cone of green flame that would hit a few inches away from the pony and feel like it had been really close to change his mane to a small inferno. It impacted on the wall at the strange spot from before and made parts of the wall fall down like rubble, showing that unfortunately, this were no illusion.

 

Zinthar just looked back at Crescent and the scorched part of the wall with a disinterested look as the horror roared behind him again.

 

"Well, harmless unless you are afraid of it I guess."

 

__________________________________________________________________________________

 

 

@@EQ_Theta,

 

"...Bad dreams?"

 

Omen looked at the sweating, squirming Senlin with confusion and a hint of worry. His sleep the last time she checked on him had been calm, but this time around it looked as if he were battling some inner demons. It could be that he were just too warm, as the salty smell that slowly made its way could be either tears or sweat, but the mumblings about letting the torture stop told something at least. Especially since she knew that nopony had been there to physically torture him. She would have taken notice of that.

 

Nightmares, as dreams, were alien to her, but even she could understand the basics in nightmare being things that tormented you in your sleep, and made you feel bad. Sometimes it showed physically as well, with sweating or crying, but she hadn't watched too many sleeping over the last millennia to be sure if that were the norm, and the ones she observed tended to not have nightmares, as those sort of things were rarer. Work of Luna she supposed.

 

It were curious though. What had brought this sort of thing to what had seemed like quiet rest some hours before? And what had he seen that made him speak of torture?

[Seamore Sandwich 471]

@@Lonk Chase

@@GingerLightning

@@Blitz Boom

 

"I don't have much time to wait or to explain, young ones. I must go now. If you wish to follow, I will not stop you, but be warned: there is great danger ahead." Though he didn't appear to be old, the horned pheldagriff would often refer to anypony as 'young ones,' not just the children before him, and the comment about not having time wasn't entirely true, though he did wish to be there quickly. He turned slightly to continue his journey, going around the hut and wandering off in the direction of Ponyville.

 

 

@@Melke

@@Blitz Boom

@@Mentis Soliloquy

@@Denim&Venom

 

The lights in the sky dissipated and turned into what looked like snow, falling down before disappearing bringing with it a lasting, comfortable warmth. The rifts were sealed. Seamore was already busy trying to massage the twisted sapling to a straight, standing shape. "Would you mind helping me with this Briar? We need to carefully straighten this one so it'll grow properly." He glanced over at Syo for a moment before looking back at the tree. He was slightly irritated with Syo for planting the seed wrong, though he wouldn't say anything because he understood that she didn't know what she was doing.

 

 

@@Blitz Boom

@@SugarfootWillie

@@Quinch

 

"What are we waiting for?" Quill asked Sylar, who was just standing ready to fight, but not moving. "The beast does not move. There is more going on here than even we can see. Best not to get involved until it begins moving again."

 

Within The Forgotten One's mind, having set his plan in motion, Charlie found greater strength in himself and pushed back against the possessing entity. Vivid would feel the difference as The Forgotten One's hold became slightly weaker. It wasn't enough to force the creature out, but at least they could hold it back a moment longer.

 

"Okay, here's the plan," Miles said through the suit to Quinch. The Forgotten One, as well as the Last, Quill, and Sylar would now be visible through Quinch's display, though they seemed to be a bit orange. "We'll work together to contain the creature, but we must not harm it too severely. I've possessed your suit, but I won't be controlling it. With me here, you should be able to see it and hit it, but only with direct, physical attacks. Help is on the way, and once they arrive, we should be able to separate it from its host. Do we have a deal?"

 

Penny wiped a tear from her face. "This wind isn't natural, it's a barrier spell. It's almost impossible to get out without breaking the spell first. I'll see if I can track down its source," she said, looking out at the swirling storm around them. She turned toward Quinch to say more, but then she noticed, "Wait. Why do you have Changeling wings and a horn all of a sudden?"

 

@@Blitz Boom

@@Mentis Soliloquy

@@Denim&Venom

 

Miststalker and Carl adjusted their speeds accordingly. Apparently there wasn't going to be much they could get away with, so escape, if necessary, wouldn't be as easy as they'd hope, but it wouldn't be impossible.

[Denim&Venöm 18,648]

 

 

@Blitz Boom @Mentis Soliloquy

 

"See? How hard is it to stay together? And don't try escaping. If we don't kill you, everything else that lurks in this forest will. You'd be surprised at what lingers in this Tarturtus hole. So if you want to help put a halt to this unleashed demonic specter, you'll stick close. We're as much your security detail as your keepers.  Summer! How much farther till we reach your last location?" 

[Mentis Soliloquy 3,025]

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

 

"We should be almost there I don't think I flew that far to get to where you all where so we should be nearing it really as we speak. Why dose it really mate anyway though I mean it was just a clearing in the forest now really like it was that important or anything I mean my guards knew, well still are there but eh." 

[GingerLightning 258]

@@Blitz Boom, @@Lonk Chase, @@Seamore Sandwich,

Ginger Lightning thought about it about it for a few minutes...She didn't really remember the entire way to ponyville and she was pretty sure that her mom and dad were really worried about her...And since the Hippo seems to know the way to ponyville she decided that it would be a good idea to follow the hippo...

[Rapid Wind 47]

Can I join this role play? I've created an OC called Rapid Wind. I'm not much good for art, but his character profile is on page 251 of the Character Database page. Question: Who has canons?

 

Alright, here's hoping I will be accepted as a new member of a role play.

 

[Lonk Chase 255]

"Eeeh, whatever. We can dig it," Lonk replied.

For some reason he's feeling very full of himself. No idea why, but he's just in a good mood.

But if this "hippo-griff" [haha funny pun I know] is right in that there is danger ahead, hopefully this good mood can last long enough to keep Lonk fighting.

Whatever is dangerous.

Maybe.

 

But what to do with the trapdoor?

Does he want to concern himself with the mystery of a trival thing, or the mystery of Jaraco and himself?

It's an easy answer.

Lonk walked out of the hut and said, "We'll follow you. Lead the way, wise one."

Edited April 17, 2016 by Lonk Chase

[EQ_Theta 457]

@@Blitz Boom

 

"Yes. Bad dreams. The recurring one that always comes to taunt me; it seems like whoever created the dreams is playing some cruel joke, if someone did create dreams in the first place. Not that I would know but it's something to think about."

Senlin gave himself time to breathe and wiped the sweat from his hide. He took one look at the trinket and wondered if today is his day. If it gave him rest from the tortuous evenings, then he would be more than grateful. It's hitting two birds with one stone, finding Lin and ending the nightmares. One could be cautiously optimistic about this. 

Edited April 19, 2016 by EQ_Theta

[MDLineArt 93]

@@Blitz Boom

 

"Um... Yeah, I think I understand Florence.  It looks..  Yeah, yeah I think I can do something like that."  A gulp of worry went down Bashful Thread's throat and he started to look over the shelves for the material he needed to craft her request.   He was still in complete disbelief that she came at all.  That, and he couldn't believe Orange Lace would just leave him here with her.  Yeah, he understood what she was trying to get at, giving him time to come to grips with someone he hurt and there she stood, a griffon who to the best of his knowledge wouldn't hurt a breezy.

 

"So, what brings you to Ponyville?  Visiting, or has Griffonstone decided to start moving into our little town?"  The bad joke was made more for his own comfort than his own.  If she could at least crack a smile then he'd know he was on the right track.  Normally he'd start asking about friends and family, but knowing what he knew, that was only going to cause her more hurt.  Giddon in the hospital... well, Pyhrus, as he was actually called, and her uncle, made things more difficult.  She was probably trying to get away from that worry, there was no point in bringing it through the door by speaking about it.

 

Unfortunately, the silence made it all the more uneasy for himself.  Pulling out fabric and thread combinations that made the rainbow look limited in spectrum, it wasn't until he decided on a particularly muted piece of cloth to avoid something overly extravagant.  However, when trying to find a thread to make the stitching 'pop', he felt tension...

 

There at the top shelf, among the bolts rarely used and gathering dust, sat the thread he needed for this project.  Taking hold of the ladder, Bashful started his climb.

 

Now, here lies a problem many wouldn't really think of.  When you have wings, there are some things you just take for granted.  Your body is built to fly, glide, hover, drift, and soar.  An Earth Pony's body on the other hand was built heavy, helping in feats of physical strength, making them great for working the land.  What it doesn't make them is good fliers or great with heights even only a few meters off the ground. 

 

This realization came to Bashful very suddenly as he reached for the thread, his hooves suddenly kicking the ladder out from under him, leaving him gripping onto the shelf dangling from the top.  At least he hadn't fallen, just made things a little awkward.  It was then he heard the sound of nails being pulled from wood, and the shelf came loose from the wall, falling over and Bashful let out a yelp!

 

The crash was loud, and dust filled the room.  Once it settled, there lay Bashful Thread buried under fabric and spools of multi-coloured debris.  A lone blue hoof poked it's way out from beneath the colourful chaos, holding up an spool of thread, as a dazed muffled voice came from beneath.

 

"Got it!"

Edited April 18, 2016 by MDLineArt

[Moonlit 593]

@@Blitz Boom, Serenades chuckles, "It was Princess Celestia's idea that I be switched to Night Court. The Nobility fears Princess Luna, not sure why." She shrugs, "still, I get a job that pays well, a nice house, friends...the downside is I have to avoid certain ponies but meh, easily done." For the rest of the trip Serenade is either looking at the stars or looking around, but listening to whatever Ziggy has to say.  

[cwhip9 1,078]

 

 

"Well, harmless unless you are afraid of it I guess."

 

As cresent stood their shaing Mall let out a belly laugh, or his equvlent of one. Not the best sound to hear, which made cresent shiver some more. It took a lot for the batpony not to run then and their, Zinthar could probably sense or see that as Cresent tried to breath again.

 

"go ahead run I dare you, its not like it can harm you not like the one that took your cuti mark off. your not scared of me but this has you shaking like a feather hahaha wheres a camra I got to get this " Mall sounded like a colt in a candy shop seeing cresent in this state

 

"its not real, its just an illusion" cresent slowly moved forward.....