open Casual stroll

[Summer Breeze 2,528]

@@Blitz Boom, @@Frosty Frost,

 

'So, a Rainbow fell down and turned water into Rainbow water that can turn creatures into plants.' summer said, partly to herself. This was one of the most confusing things she had ever heard, and also one of the strangest.'Now I'm almost completely sure that this is not in our demention, where we live things like that never happen. Rainbows can't even fall from the sky, or at least I don't think they can' summer said to laryel.

 

Shen summer looked at where they were heading, they were going to a mountain that looked like a gigantic stone wall. Suddenly she felt the need to fly over it to see what was behind it but she resisted it. She knew that it was far too high and too far. but still, it would maybe be usefull to fly up a little bit to look at this valley from above. Maybe she could see something cool. But then again, she didn't. You never knew what could happen so instead she decided to ask laryel more things. 'ehm, Laryel.' summer said 'Do you know what's behind those mountains?'

[Kira Dogeikage 230]

@@Blitz Boom,

 

Xander was walking about his house, trying to find his shopping list. He lifted various boxes and papers until he finally found it underneath the papers strewn about his desk. Upon retrieving the shopping list, he started heading back to the front door to meet back up with Jelly. 

[Blitz Boom 4,614]

@@Seamore Sandwich,

@@Denim&Venom,

@@Melke,

@@Mentis Soliloquy,

 

"We're here."

 

And not a moment too soon either. A few more minutes like this and the lot of them would likely have started to brawl eachother like wild cats.

 

That were the thought running through Ko's head when he saw the place they had been at before and broke through towards the aiting Ashta who seemed to be looking at an empty spot in the air. If it weren't for Ashta he might not have been as certain that this were the same place however, as the growing saplings were something new and the air seemed... Different somehow.

 

"Ah, you're back. Any casualties?"

 

Ko stopped after getting to Ashta, making sure he avoided the saplings as the squad leader asked the question so he wouldn't be interrupted by a blast to the face. These sort of trees couldn't be trusted enough to not think that were going to happen if he got close enough, so why take the risk, even if he saw the marked ones had done so?

 

"No, their High Priestess were capable in defending herself it seemed."

 

"Good. And did Miststalker and Carl get away with little issue?"

 

"They lost their weapons, but beyond that got through this along with the ones from before and the High Priestess. The later of whom have some words to you regarding this situation, the ancient one, and unfortunately, about the marked ones as well."

 

Ashta nodded slightly and looked towards the others after getting the brief overview of the most pressing things that had to be covered about the others. He did not overly enjoy that it sounded like he had to talk more with these lesser races instead of just killing the other marked ones and be on his way, but since it sounded like Ko had opened his mouth a lot to them, he had to clear out a few things there it seemed.

 

Yeah, they had to cooperate and get this smoothed out, but it did not mean that he should be telling them everything so they started to mingle up and mess with things. They were capable enough of handling this on their own instead of having to hang around... Those kinds.

 

"Alright then. Shall we get it over with so we can all get back to doing something constructive?"

 

He directed the last part to Summer, whom seemed to be the highest authority amongst the other until he knew differently, focusing fully on those and ignoring the tree-planters. Which were what some of those did as well.

 

Briar had agreed to help Seamore with the crooked tree, using one of his vines and his hooves to carefully assist in what were happening whilst closing the other nuisances out. The only thing he'd need to keep track off for now anyway were if one of them got nearer to him - which so far weren't the case - or if Brittle were still there. The later of which he could feel as the reappearance of the others had made her hide behind him again, pressed up against him whilst looking at the strange beings that had arrived.

 

He could also both feel and hear that she were still sneezing now and again too, but it were getting less severe compared to when he noticed it a few minutes earlier after the nature wave had hit him, so it were not something to be worried about he'd think.

 

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@@Seamore Sandwich,

@@SugarfootWillie,

@@Quinch,

 

"There are plans which you cannot see, encased in ideals spanning centuries by beings who does not take chances. Though some things change, there are already plans in motion, yet if it is the first or the thirteenth, who can know? Even those who sees what could be can never be sure, only prepare for what is to come, and when more being than one prepare, whose plan will come to fruition can sometimes be shrouded in uncertainty."

 

Another sentence that barely said anything were the only response that Quinch would eventually get, though he seemed to have begun to do other things and either speak to himself, or the strange presence that seemed to linger in the air around him. Perhaps it were one of the dead possessing him? Those could be hard to see unless you focused, and Zhu had other things in mind than being certain of that right now. Primarily the musical pony who had shown up, looking a bit tussled.

 

Zhu wandered towards the pony, figuring that he had tried to escape and gotten tossed aside by the strong winds that made up the barrier he kept around this section of town. A barrier which' source might eventually be possible to track for Penny, though she would have to work fror it considering how other magic he had with him clouded the signal somewhat, and that it were not strong to begin with wasn't going to help her either. Though that were not saying she couldn't find it. It were more wind magic than he usually used, and it would leave a lingering effect on him, like a brief whiff of perfume, that she might be able to circle in on as well.

 

"I see you still stand. Good, and the shield I gave you, is that still in your grasp?"

 

He were referring to the bauble that he had given the musician earlier.

 

Meanwhile, Last starred at the amalgamation in front of them, barely able to hold herself back from just taking the opportunity to carve into Nemo like a knife through warm butter.

 

"Grrrr, should mean that this were the best time possible to attack, but I'll wait until it moves then. And the second it does..."

 

Her eye narrowed on the Forgotten One, just waiting for that one thing that would give her the excuse. A blink. A twitch. Anything would do, and she would go from being barely idle to carving mode, unaware of the internal struggle that went one between the spirits that all were gathered in one body. A body that had gotten a little easier to hold on to for Vivid's dark spirit, but not enough to last for much longer. Nemo were still winning the control, even if it had been slowed down and slightly pushed back now, that fact still seemed inevitable.

 

___________________________________________________________________________________

 

 

@@Lonk Chase,

@@GingerLightning,

@@Seamore Sandwich,

 

So now all of them were following the flying hippo? Alpha Lonk, Clara, Ginger and Sisilia all went with him now, and he hadn't trampled on him during his careful sniffing around to try and learn something about the stranger, so... Friend? If the Alpha followed willingly, he had to be, right? Otherwise it wouldn't make any sense.

 

Though he were still cautious of the Traveller, Meeko began to follow them as well, behind Ginger. He had no idea what were going on right now, but you followed the flock when you didn't know better, that much he knew. Whatever would come from that and where they would go? ...Well, time would tell.

 

____________________________________________________________________________________

 

 

@@cwhip9,

 

The horror hadn't expected the scared little pony to walk towards it, but to run instead. It wanted his fear and to scare him to the point where it would feed it enough power to truly hurt him, and perhaps even devour his essence to give it more form and power, so it wouldn't do if the little one all of a sudden got braver.

 

Ignoring the cat that frankly hadn't given it neither fear nor respect, the instinct-driven dragon horror took a few heavy steps forward and leaned down, with one head roaring more directly into the face of Crescent who should be able to see it's strong jaws and sharp, poison-covered teeth very well at this point, whilst the other head fired another plume of flame past him, hitting the same spot it had before which just made more rocks stumble down. It might not have enough power in it's being to roast Crescent yet unless he started to fear more, but the cave were something else.

 

There might be another thing that Crescent would take notice off if he hadn't chickened out, and that were Zinthar easily climbing up the horror and now sitting on it's shoulder with one of his tails wrapped around the nearby tentacle, keeping it in check. He might be the height of a regular pony and quite long in it, but the dragon horror wasn't exactly a miniature either, so there were some space to sit well on there.

 

"Good. Confront your fears Crescent. Surpass it, and show this sorry excuse for a dragon who is in control."

 

Zinthar seemed to be getting some degree of entertainment out of this, but was it any wonder? He hadn't seen anypony here for a long, long time, and now he got to see one having to face one of his fears, which were bound to be fun one way or another. Sure, he couldn't let the horror actually hurt Crescent, but there were still time to see if he could confront his fear himself and overcome it, and that degree of entertainment and test of skill he couldn't just pass on seeing. Especially not when the front seat to the whole thing had been vacant like that.

 

A terrible waste of good opportunity after all, right?

 

_________________________________________________________________________________________

 

 

@@Moonlit,

 

"Hehe. Perhaps they're afraid that she will tell others what they dream about, or mess with the dreams a little if they begin to get really annoying? She likely have all kinds of subtle things to do like that."

 

Ziggy babbled on about small stuff for the next 10 minutes or so whilst they were getting on their way, but it were nothing important and it could arguably be said that she were halfway talking with herself.

 

"-and that's when the candyfloss machine fell on my dad. Oh, we're here!"

 

Ziggy giggled as she zoomed forward a bit and presented the small part of the forest she had run into earlier to Serenade.

 

It was a clear lake in the middle of a clearing with a non-natural made hill on one side, likely made from the dirt that once were in the hole were the lake were now some years before. There was some sounds of insects in the area, but beyond that, there weren't any noise to really get in the way of enjoying the place. All in all, a surprisingly nice place in the sometimes hostile forest.

 

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@@EQ_Theta,

 

"I see."

 

Omen were curious about what plagued his dreams, but something told her that it wasn't the time to start asking questions right now. What she wasn't sure, but there was just something about tyhe situation that made her think that it would end badly in some way if she started to dig into it. At least right now.

 

"So, what are the plans today then?"

 

This was something she were sure she could ask at least. They had a hunt to go on in some shape or form, and Senlin led them on the way regarding that. Seemed reasonable to ask then what they were going to do, no?

 

______________________________________________________________________________________

 

 

@@MDLineArt,

 

(before the shelf falls)

 

"It's... Kind of a long story, but the short of it is that I'm here with my uncle whose in the hospital right now for blood loss and such. He had an accident and this was the closest town to look for help."

 

It wasn't telling much, but Florence wasn't sure What she could just go around and say right now. Should she just go bawling to some stranger about how her uncle had been presumed dead for 10 years and then suddenly showed up like this? The pain it were to see him again, and especially when he had been so close to dying right in front of her? The betrayal she were starting to feel? That the law were involved with things? The cult?

 

There were so many things that had happened to bring her here, and several more for her to be sticking around, but what was to be said to random ones she wasn't sure. Some of them were rather lengthy to explain, some of them a little disturbing, and she knew that not everypony liked to be told details like this. Besides, it were also somewhat embarrassing, and if it went to the point where she started to bawl her eyes out... She really didn't want that to happen.

 

Better to just look at what Bashful here were going to do, get the belt made, pay, and then be on her way. He didn't need stuff falling down on his shoulders like this anyway.

 

(after stuff literally Did fall on his shoulders)

 

"Dear Celestia. Are you okay?"

 

Florence hurried over to the pony when the shelf had fallen down upon him, along with everything that were connected to it, with worry imprinted in her voice and face. Sure, the shelf might not have been all that much and the soft things could have helped the fall, but it were still a fall and he could have ended up snapping something.

 

She coughed a bit so the worst dust got out of her throat and went over to lift the random stuff off the pony, hoping that he were okay underneath all of this stuff.

 

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@@Jellal Fernandes,

 

Jelly looked at Xander with a big grin when he returned.

 

"Heh, you ready sir?"

 

She thought about commenting on what she saw from here, but it might be kinda rude so she kept it to herself. If there were anything really important she'd likely hear about it later at some point anyway, right? Inventors made all sorts of stuff all over the place, and since she were gonna be a local now, she would have a front seat to seeing new things.

 

___________________________________________________________________________________

 

 

@@Summer Breeze,

@@Frosty Frost,

 

"I'm afraid I don't. I havn't had the courage to ask for passage before, and the Atazi makes sure that this valley is kept hidden away from almost all outsiders, so seeing others is a rare occurrence. I know not why though. I always figured it were because they wanted the natural resources to themselves, but I have started to think in recent years that they are protecting others as well, so they can avoid being swallowed up by this floral home."

 

They passed another section of forest and got closer to the stony mountains in front of them. Soon enough they should be able to get to the edges and from there begin their path towards one of the exits for those who could not fly. Not that flying would be safe either, as the Atazi would snap them from the skies before they got far, but still.

 

"It is why I am not certain if your world is out there or not. The mountains here reign high and the Atazi guards it fiercely, so if it were far enough from where your kin mostly thread, it could be that you don't know of it just because it is where you are not permitted to walk. But then again, what might be I do not know, though if there are others like you out there, the Atazi would likely know."

Edited April 19, 2016 by Blitz Boom

[Moonlit 593]

@@Blitz Boom, Serenade keeps from laughing until the very end, before collapsing in a fit of giggles. It takes a few minutes for her to compose herself, and she eventually does, shrugging her saddle bags off. "You know what, this is perfect." She digs into her saddle bags, removing then setting up her telescope. "Can i ask you a huge favor Ziggy? Could you keep watch for a few minutes....I really really want to check out that lake." Serenade slowly edges her way to the lake, but will wait for an answer from Ziggy before doing anything. 

[cwhip9 1,078]

@@Blitz Boom, The second flame strike did make cresent jump, his eyes shifting towards the flame. Whether it was happening or not but a familiar feeling was being felt where his cuti mark used to be starting to get a warm sensation.

 

"just think back to that fun day you gained one thing and lost another and been libeled a blank fl-" Cresent's eyes shot from the flam towards mall who was smiling like a colt. Cresent activated his blade and slashed it into his darker self surprising mall making him jump back from cresent.

 

"that's not nice cres, but its ok that dragons fire will hurt more then I will" Mall disappeared again.

 

Cresent looked back at the dragon, closeing his eyes he then realized something. The only blood beats he could hear were his and Zinthar's odd one, focusing on that fact he found himself moving past the dragon "s-so" the batpony bean eyes closed but head turned towards Zinthar

 

"about those guards?" asked the batpony

[Mentis Soliloquy 3,025]

@Seamore Sandwich, @Denim&Venom, @Melke,

 

"I don't know why you are looking at me, I'm just here for her." Making a gesture to Priestess with her wing. "She's just as high up as I am in the chain of command but I suppose these." Again making a gesture to now the few odd ponies around her and them. "These are mine." 

[EQ_Theta 457]

@@Blitz Boom

 

There was some hesitation on Senlin's part, though that would most likely rise from his almost lifelong routine ever since leaving the clan's forest. He had one objective in mind but that was always because he was alone in his search. Now that Omen has joined him, he was unsure. Overthinking perhaps, but his mind was looking a little too far to the future. There was still a now, however, buy he would sometimes glance over it. 

"I guess we could have a look at that part of the forest again. If the wards are still there, then there might a chance we could bypass it. There is one other thing we could look out for. It's a long shot but if we ever stumble upon a shanty home just like this one, it could hold more clues to Lin's whereabouts. It's not a priority, though; just something to consider."

Something else bothered Senlin, however. He was asleep the night before but Omen remained vigilant throughout the evening. 

"Before we go, may I ask a question? What did you do last night? I don't mean to pry but if you remained awake, how did you pass the time?"

[Blitz Boom 4,614]

@@EQ_Theta,

 

"The same thing I do every night."

 

Strange... She had the sudden urge to follow that up with Try to take over the world. though that had never really crossed her mind before. Perhaps it was a sentence from somewhere she had heard before? Hmm... Things to think about next night perhaps.

 

"I stare into the sky, and I think."

 

Omen cocked her head to the side a little and kept her eyes on Senlin, not sure if she had mentioned this to him before. It had been a long day and some things had inevitably slipped, so it were possible.

 

"I don't know things like you. I didn't come from here, nor grew with learning of what you call normal lives. Talking with others, seeing the world move, observing emotions and behaviour... I need time to think on what I see, and make sense of it, even if not everything will."

 

She cocked her head to the other side, not loosing eye contact with Senlin in the process.

 

"Though, I also watched you sleep now and again. You looked peaceful until the end. Distracting sight when you were calm, but interesting."

 

That last bit were a little creepy, but it wasn't like she hadn't said that she were looking over him while he slept last night, so she had a hard time knowing if there were an issue with this. If she warned after all and he accepted things, shouldn't it be okay? She were usually sure about that one, but she had to rethink things before, so she could never be entirely certain.

 

"So, how are you going to bypass the wards? Magic?"

 

___________________________________________________________________________

 

 

@@cwhip9,

 

"We should be close enough to the barriers so you could see them yours-"

 

The horror's roar at the bat pony moving towards them instead of running in fear interrupted Zinthar before he were done speaking. The more or less illusionary lizard wanted the scared thing even more scared so it could get something out of him, not ponying up like this and confronting it, even if he were still at least a little rattled.

 

Zinthar on the other hoof, didn't care much for the reasons, just that he had been interrupted by something that had served its purpose. Something that got him to retaliate.

 

"That's enough out of you."

 

With that, one of his free tails jammed the wispy tip into the neck of the horror who let out a small yelp, but seemed unable to do more as slightly glowing, pale lines began to spread upwards underneath it's skin, towards it's brain. Meanwhile, Zinthar had taken himself closer tot he horror and began to whisper into his ear. Not something that even Crescent's undoubtedly good ears would be able to hear all of, but he should be able to hear a few ones here and there, like "enemies" and "hunt" if he tried.

 

The horror's eyes would begin to grow over with a dull, pulsating light and it's aggressive stance shift away from Crescent and towards where they had come from instead, unfocused on the bat pony and his weapon. Something that it might rgret depending on Crescent's stance on taking advantage of an opportune moment.

 

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@@Moonlit,

 

"Of course I will silly. You go head and check the lake, and I make sure there's nopony around with a camera screaming about the Loch Ness monster."

 

Giggling a bit at the idea that somepony actually Were going to do that, she began to take a few rounds to make sure that nopony really were there, which were unlikely as it were pretty late and most ponies were sleeping right now. Sure, other things lurked out there that wasn't pony in nature, but then it were going to be a predator thing she wagered, and that were more a thing for Serenade to handle herself.

 

It were a bit llike every nasty thing out here were muffins, and Serenade were the yum-hungry Derpy. Stereotype and all that, but it fitted if you didn't think too much about it.

[Moonlit 593]

@@Blitz Boom, Serenade nods, before slowly removing the gem and quickly putting it in one of her saddlebags. She then takes a running leap into the lake. Her form molting into a siren mid-leap, and she barely makes a splash. Over the next hour, all Ziggy will notice of Serenade is the occasional ripple of water across the water. Now if any Pony was curious enough to stick their head under the water, they would hear an haunting

 .

[EQ_Theta 457]

@@Blitz Boom

 

"I was worried about what my sudden sweats could mean. Nightmares can influence the body in ways that are interesting yet frightening."

With calmer heads now in place, the day can begin right. The wards should likely remain in their place and if there is anything else to see, there is some hope that the search could yield more fruit. 

"We can head back to the warded area of the forest and try again. Here's to hoping our chances of success are better today."

[Rapid Wind 47]

@Blitz Boom

 

Rapid Wind stepped off the train to Ponyville, the ride from the metropolitan city of Fillydelphia to Ponyville had been a long one and Rapid was keen to stretch his legs and trot around to explore as he had never been to Ponyville before. He had heard it was a very friendly town, but knew rumour and gossip didn't always prove to be correct. However, what he could admire was the country breeze blowing through his short azure blue mane and his cobalt blue coat and the sky was blue and well lit by sunshine. However, the sky's openness also depressed him as he knew a more confident Pegasus wouldn't refuse flying around in it and hung his head down a little.

Edited April 21, 2016 by Rapid Wind

[redaxted 1,765]

Cyan Flare rested her head on the hoof, bored and fed up of seeing no customers. It had been about half an hour, and nopony had approached her to purchase goods. She owned a humble fruit and vegetable store, just a stand set up in the market. Business was never exactly booming, but what she earned got her by. She huffed and rolled a shining red apple between her hoofs, and flicking her tail irritably from side to side. Her heart lifted a little as she saw a mother and her daughter approaching, although she wasn't surprised when she realised that they were, in fact, heading towards the stall next to her's. She sat down suddenly, a small plume of dust riding around her causing her to cough a few times. "Damn..." she muttered as she felt her bright eyes begin water. She had been feeling quite ill lately, actually, and made the decision to visit a doctor tomorrow. Sacrificing a day selling her goods was not something she liked doing often - money was something she was slightly short of - bit she was going to have to. Either that, or she would end up having more days off.

Edited April 21, 2016 by Wolves

[Blitz Boom 4,614]

@@EQ_Theta,

 

"Okay."

 

It were going to be a bit of way for them to get there, but considering the time of day, stretching your legs wasn't a bad thing, even for Omen. She might not be affected much by standing still most of the night, but she had been standing in shade even after the sun had gone up and were covered in morning dew. Wandering around and getting into sunlight would help well on that before they came back to walking in a dark, warded piece of forest.

 

"What are we going to do if we get in there, and find whoever made us walk in circles? Catch them? Follow?"

 

Before they moved or shortly after, Omen would ask the question and look at Senlin like she expected him to have the answers. Which, considering this were his sister it were about, he likely did. At least he should know what to do if they found somepony connected to this after all. Right?

 

_____________________________________________________________________________________

 

 

@@Moonlit,

 

No pony were sticking their head beneath the waves, however not only ponies were in the area right now.

 

Fah'Lina had kept to herself most of the way here, observing the two ponies and not doing anything to draw attention to herself as she studied them. She weren't helpless and the type who ran from just about any danger, but more of a kin who wanted to learn who and what they were dealing with so they were sure if they should run, stay, or fight. Curious little things, but like cats, had a tendency of staying at a distance and observing most of the time unless they she wanted to play. Like when she went after the halfblood zebra.

 

During that she still hadn't seen anything that would make her act differently against Ziggy, but her main focus had been on Serenade anyway. The pony had acted strangely earlier when she had playfully hissed at her, like a predator higher up the chain looking at a lesser creature who were amusing them enough not to eat, or not thinking them worth a meal. Granted, the pony had also Said that she were higher up the chain, but just going by what she heard the equine say wasn't enough, as it hadn't really said anything specific, and it made the squirrely creature more curious.

 

She might not be able to speak in their language, but that didn't mean that Fah'Lina didn't understand them. She hadn't grown up within earshot of pony society without learning a few things after all. Especially not when there were still the adventurers and couples that went through the forest and talked all the time, not taking notice of a pair of eyes lurking from a bush or stream.

 

Anyway, after seeing the pony taking off a charm of some kind and then transform into something unknown whilst heading for the lake, her curiosity and need to know what she were dealing with regarding Serenade took over and Fah'Lina followed her into the lake shortly after, hesitantly sticking her head down first to see or hear if there were something. She saw some movement down there, but that wasn't what caught her the most though. No, there was also this strange sound... Like a song.

 

She stood hesitantly on the edge for a bit whilst Ziggy still flew around to make sure nopony were there, before she slid into the water and began to glide down and see what were what down here. The song wasn't affecting her like it did Ziggy yet, but there were a sort of pull too it. If that pull would take over with an animal like this were to be seen, but considering the big ears/fins she wouldn't be able to avoid the sound at least.

 

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@@Rapid Wind,

 

There might be something else Rapid would take notice of, once his eyes veered away from the sky: A large bat pony, looking at him with an unblinking gaze where he stood at the moment.

 

There wouldn't be anything malignant in the look he sent him. In fact, it looked rather neutral. Yet still, to have a Night Guard look at you soon after going off the train might be varying degrees of unnerving, especially if the pony in question were sort of paranoid regarding authority figures, or had personal opinions that didn't favour the Night Guard.

 

The Solar Guards were by a good chunk regarded as the good ones and the Night Guards as shady, and after some had followed Nightmare Moon, it hadn't exactly helped the expectations of those who saw unfavourably on them to begin with. With that in mind, seeing one being in this town to begin with might not be the best of signs either. Why did one of them go to this town, where the Solar Guards and Princess Twilight Sparkle were the main presence? Were the princess of the night planning something? Did it involve him, or were that more of a legal thing?

 

There could be many questions and really only one way to be sure: Face him, and find out what were what with the neutral looking bat pony. Sure, he could also run, but what were the odds that it were going to end well to run from an officer of the law?

 

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@@Wolves,

 

A little away, a pony wandered within sight of the market with his closely shut wagon in trail. A few eyes were raised when they saw the sign on the outsiders mobile stand saying *Happy Hour's wine and liquor stall.* and a few started to move closer wondering what he might have for sale, but the majority would soon take notice of the added sign beneath it that unfortunately wrote *Brewing: ready tomorrow.*

 

Still, it were good to see the interest in it as most of the towns he had passed through so far in Equestria had been cider, cider, and more bloody cider as far as the eye went. Back home that sort of stuff were seen as down with wine in a box, but in this world, and this country in particular? No, here it were like the water of life of the equines, and that wasn't all too good for business.

 

Sure, he knew things would change at some with stronger stomachs would come looking for an actual kick, and rumour tended to spread around when he started to get around enough as he took pride in his wares being the best he could produce with what he had, and not second rank rubbish, but it were still getting on his nerves to see all the cider around him so often.

 

Still, he kept his game face on. Cheeky grin, looking calm, apologetic to the few of these ponies who had gotten close and asked a few things before he had to tell them that unfortunately, the stuff in his wagon needed a day more to ferment right and that they should try again tomorrow. The whole nine yards.

 

It were one of the things he were good at, keeping up appearance. He wouldn't be much use to his queen after all if he were easy to see through or showed how much he found certain questions tedious when he had written it down for all to see, and that couldn't stand. She did not tolerate failures, and he much preferred to be on her good side and not face her terrible wrath if he could help it.

 

He might be one of her golden boys, but that didn't mean he were safe if things went wrong. More like the opposite really, as she expected more from him, so he would be punished extra severely for failure.

 

But it wasn't time to think over this. he had gotten into town because he needed a few things for the next batch he needed ready for tomorrow that he hadn't been able to find anywhere in the wild, and these were not possible to use alternatives for. Small stuff really, with some fruits and a few vegetables like potatoes being the most crucial, but he were a picky sort for these things. Any second rate wares would not be, and as he parked his wagon so he could wander down through the rows of stalls, his trained eye wandered from product to product in search of something good to work with.

 

"Ah, This looks promising."

 

The stall he had stopped at did not look all that impressive compared to some of these others, but the wares were another matter entirely. The shine on the apples along with the well balanced, deep colour had been what made him stop to begin with, and the more he looked at things, the more it seemed like he had hit a hidden jewel in the market.

 

Granted, not everything were perfect, but as a former owner of a wine yard, he knew well how damn near impossible it were to get everything right. It took literally nothing to make at least a few somewhat less appealing, and frankly if he didn't see at least a few under perfect, he didn't want to shop at them. Sure it might just be carefully picking the best of the bunch, but it were just as likely that there had been tampered with things. Not with machines like back home, since the equine world weren't as technological, but magic could do all sorts of things too he'd learned.

 

After looking a bit at things he rose his head and gave a grin towards the shop keeper at the stall, sure that he would find at least some of the stuff he were after here so he could get some brewing done during the day.

 

"Heh, seems like I came to the right place. Mind me asking, is there a limit on what quantity of things I can buy here or is it grand if I clear out a few things?"

[Moonlit 593]

@@Blitz Boom, The song tapers off when she notices, and Serenade swims over to Fah'lina slowly, gracefully and taking her time doing her best not to appear aggressive. Indicating the surface, Serenade will head up and lie on the surface. She'll scan the area around her looking for both Ziggy and whoever else might be nearby. 

Edited April 22, 2016 by Moonlit

[EQ_Theta 457]

@@Blitz Boom

 

A plan was definitely in order but Senlin wasn't too sure. He had something in mind but he always preferred to make things up as they go, if only because there was always the possibility of something going wrong or not according to plan. The general idea was still there, though. Find a way around the wards, find Lin, and the rest will become relevant in time. 

"There's a thought." He replied but was unsure. "If someone is watching us, then they would be a diversion. But they may be able to tell us what we need to know. But let's not get ahead of ourselves. Maybe there is no one there, only the wards. Let us wait and see."

Senlin remembers the claw marks left on the tree trunks, etched into the wood with a quick slash of his claws. He left a few more on the way to the wards just to be sure he knew where he was going. It wasn't too long until the two of them were back at the warded area of the forest. 

[redaxted 1,765]

@@Blitz Boom

Cyan Flare watched hopefully as somepony approached her stall. "No, no, feel free to buy as many as you like!" she replied to question. She smiled at her first customer of the day, and hope there would be more to come. "My brother and I grew these fruits and vegetables..." she said. "He has a passion for this sort of thing." She thought of her older brother, Golden Spell, who was currently visiting Canterlot to see their parents. Cyan Flare hasn't seen them in a while herself, but hadn't been able to go along seeing as he could only afford one ticket. He had offered her it, but she refused and said that he had a store to run anyway.

[Rapid Wind 47]

@Blitz Boom

 

Rapid Wind looked at the large bat pony in night guard armour and flinched a little, but noted his expression appeared neutral and he didn't appear to be here to arrest him and for what crime? Stepping off a train wasn't against the law. Rapid also knew some night guards had served Nightmare Moon, but even they didn't assault or arrest ponies without reason or so Rapid hoped, but he decided to find out more about the large bat pony.

 

 "Hi, I'm kinda of new here and who are you?" Rapid asked politely feeling it served his best interests to be polite.

[cwhip9 1,078]

@@Blitz Boom, Cresent sheathed the blade back in the gauntlet approaching the blood beat of the cat eyes still closed the roar almost made him shoot them wide open as tempting as it was. The roar seemed to scare him still making him shut his eyes tighter,

 

"well then, I think our....friend here would be a welcome sight to them. If we can get answers that is." Cresent was going full on hearing blood using that as a guide to not give into his fear of the dragon was probably standing next to him still.    

Edited April 23, 2016 by cwhip9

[Blitz Boom 4,614]

@@Rapid Wind,

"..."

Stargazer didn't say anything to the pony, he just kept starring. At the same spot where he had the entire time, not flinching when he were spoken to or approached, not batting a... Wait a minute...

"...Zzzzz."

Standing still, eyes opened and focused on the main path where passengers of the train would walk to or from, but nopony were home to really see anything behind the slightly glassy look in the guards eyes it would appear. How cold it be, considering that he seemed to be sleeping.

The low snore gave it away when you got close enough, but at a distance it would have been near impossible to tell, and for anypony standing right in the spot where he were faced, it would have been the obvious thought to think that he were looking at you, even if the lights were out and he were just standing around for whatever reason.

Still, nothing golden could last, and a little after Stargazer had been asked a question by Rapid, a passing pony bumped into him and a small jolt went through him. The other pony took little notice and just mumbled *Sorry* before going onwards, whilst Stargazer hastily corrected his pose and in a half-doozy state just went "No Captain, not at all." to Rapid.

Further he didn't get before his brain kicked in over his instincts and he began to get more aware of his surroundings, seeing that this was not the typical guard position in the princess' castle where he had just been caught taking a subtle nap on the job, but instead the station in Ponyville where he had been... Well, stationed, for a lack of better words.

 

The last two or three days had been hectic and given him little to no time to actually rest, so he had thought that he could sneak in a few minutes when there hadn't really been anypony here. This was mostly just watching to make sure about something anyway, and the presence of a guard tended to be enough of a deterrence for the criminal kinds, so it couldn't hurt. Yet now, looking around, a few minutes had perhaps been too wishful of a thought.

 

What had happened while he had been out were something he had to figure out, but first he had to deal with the civilian in front of him that looked like he might have approached him before.

 

"My apologies sir, I guess I must have dozed off a little. What can I help you with?"

 

It were awkward to admit things like this, but fortunately it was only inside he squirmed like a little colt whilst outside he stretched his back and wings a little to get the stiff feeling out of his body. He could use a crack of the neck and legs too, but one thing at a time.

 

________________________________________________________________________

 

 

@@Moonlit,

 

That Serenade tried not to look aggressive was likely a good idea as the... Shall we say *Mimic*, would have likely just bailed straight off the bat instead of just swimming there dumbfounded at what she were faced with, unsure on what she were going to do here as the sort of thing that she were used to seeing were wolves, ponies, some plants, fish and so on. Not a fish/pony combination like this.

 

Hesitantly, she slowly followed the former pony towards the surface and when she broke the surface of the water, began to make wide arm movement towards Serenade, scratching her head and looking like she were basically trying to ask *What the... What?*. Yet the movements would be all she would have to work with as the critter-chatter  wasn't exactly easy to understand unless you knew how to speak with animals.

 

Fortunately it wouldn't go on for long, as another voice that were easy enough to understand would break through above them with a gleeful tone going "Cannonball!" that made Fah'lina look up just in time to see the white and pink striped Ziggy curled up and headed directly towards where she were currently swimming.

 

A quick moving mimic diving and a splash later, a wet Ziggy broke her head through the surface and spat out water like a fountain before going into a giggle.

 

"Hehe, that was fun. Did you enjoy your swim?"

 

_______________________________________________________________________________________

 

 

@@Wolves,

 

Happy were rotating a potato in his hoof when he were told that there wasn't a limit, which made him grin even wider whilst he pressed the potato ever so slightly to find out how soft it were currently.

 

"Well, you can let him know that it have paid well off. You can just see that this is a good product that's gonna make for some solid vodka when it's distilled right. I'll have the lot of them."

 

He put the token potato down on the desk whilst pointing towards the rest of the root vegetables to indicate that he were going to clear house, so to speak, whilst internally praising his luck that he had found a place that actually had some good ones of these. He were getting sick of making the bland, grain and sugar based vodka that were bought, yes, but felt under his standard to make. The potato based ones had the option to get some real flavour and taste into things, and since he took some pride in being a brewer and not some cheap home distiller who just focused on getting drunk regardless of taste of quality, being able to get right into the good stuff again was a welcome thought.

 

With this sort of quality it should be a good batch too, which were also why he offered genuine praise to this vendor. Normally the praise he did were false and just to keep up his cover, but damned be if he hadn't hit a jackpot that was worth giving a thumbs up for. Or well, in this form, a hoof up he supposed. Pony lingo were still a bit out there for him sometimes.

 

"I'll also take a half dozen of these, about ten of these, a bucket of these, and-"

 

He kept on for a few things, each time putting a token fruit or vegetable up to show how many different ones he were talking about, thinking that she would recall the number of each, but being ready to mention them again if needed at the end. This went on until there were pretty much a representation of every different thing in her stall, except for apples and pears.

 

"-And... Heck, might as well make it a full round right? I'll take a half and half bucket of pears and apples to finish it off with."

 

Being done, he took his left front hoof back to behind the scarf around his stomach and pulled out a bulging leather sack with a thick piece of string tightly keeping it shut. It wasn't all the bits he had with him, but he really didn't like wandering with satchels, so he kept the rest in his own wagon and used this when he needed to go shopping. It was irritating to fell bouncing into his side, and it tightened around his stomach as he had to tie it into the scarf a bit, but when you needed to buy stuff you had to keep the coins ready. He couldn't just walk between his own cart and here without it looking at least a little like he were just joking and intended to leave after all.

 

"So, what's the tally miss? And don't worry, I have some more bits to go around in the wagon if this goes over three hundred. I ain't in the business of stiffing a fellow vendor after all."

 

He could arguably try to haggle over things, but ponies tended to have fair prices to go around and as he had learned whilst running into a griffon town once, he was a horribly bad haggler. Better to just pay what was on the sign when it were and get through it, instead of potentially end up like he had with the griffons and pay time and a half for things when all had been said and done.

 

__________________________________________________________________________________________

 

 

@@EQ_Theta,

 

"Okay. I will wait and see."

 

Thinking over things as they wandered there though, Omen couldn't help but to think that if it came down to it, she'd have to take a hold in whoever they might meet to make it fit things. After what Senlin said, if there were one, they might know some things that the two of them were going to need to know, and if they didn't keep tabs on whoever it could be, then how would they be able to answer?

 

No, if there were one, and whoever it were tried to get away, it made more sense to just take hold in them one way or another.Perhaps opening a gate when they tried to escape and lead them to her home? It weren't easy to just get out of there without help if it were, and her siblings could help look i he/she tried to hide.

 

It would be something she had to think more about... But as they had reached the part where they went last night, her time for now were going to be limited for that. Unless they were send in circles for some hours again.

 

"...Do you think we should mark the trees when we go this time? Or will the magic still make us go in a circle?"

 

____________________________________________________________________________________________

 

 

@@cwhip9,

 

"Oooh, sending this towards the guards as a present? I like the way you think."

 

Zinthar bent down and whispered into the ear of the thing more and it turned around, facing the way they were headed before and began to wander down there instead whilst Zinthar pulled his tail from the horror's neck and jumped back down on the ground, landing a few inches away from Crescent.

 

"I'd suggest giving it a little head start. I don't want to clean spatter of my fur."

 

With that, he more or less wrapped himself around the bat pony, purring ever so slightly as he walked around Crescent whilst leaning up against him, making it hard to get past without stumbling over the cat. Something which were an issue enough with just normal sized cats, but certainly didn't get easier with this pony-heightened one.

 

As the horror rounded a corner a few seconds later though, he would stop and give the pony the room to move right again before slowly walking nonchalantly down the hall.

 

"Now then, shall we before we miss the good pa-"

 

Further he didn't get before the wall that had taken a few hits broke down, though this time from the other side, and a half dozen armed beings of varied sizes and shapes burst out and surrounded them silently, weapons at the ready.

 

They didn't have any tentacles, so... Dream guards perhaps? Zinthar might have been able to answer that, but unfortunately, the blast of rock had also made one of said rocks make first contact with his head and the cat had been knocked out cold. He wasn't bleeding and were still breathing, so he weren't seriously injured it seemed, but if Crescent wanted answers right now he would have an easier time getting them from the ones that had them surrounded.

Edited April 23, 2016 by Blitz Boom

[EQ_Theta 457]

@@Blitz Boom

 

Markings on the wood made sense but the wards would send those into the void back to where they started. Strangely enough, only a small portion of the woods had wards and while Senlin remained silent for a while to look around, he noticed the wards only protected one section; it is possible to move around it. 

"We could mark the trees around the wards. I could also fly up to examine this area from the sky and see if this is warded region is the only one of its kind. Maybe we won't have to tarry long here if that is the case. Let me have a look." 

Senlin flew up and noticed that the darkened area of the woods was exactly what he had noticed: only one area was isolated with wards. The rest was untouched. He returned to the ground a little more satisfied.

"As expected, the wards only affect this section of the forest. Looks like we won't have to worry too much." 

Edited April 23, 2016 by EQ_Theta

[redaxted 1,765]

@@Blitz Boom Cyan Flare's bright golden eyes lit up as her customer placed many fruits and vegetables on the counter and told her how much of each he wanted. After a day of nothing, he'd come along prepared to take on awful lot off of her hooves. She smiled as she tallied the quantity of everything and then worked out the price in her head. Just to check she'd gotten everything right, she quickly scribbled down the sum on some paper and then told Happy the price. "That'll be 224 bits, please!" ((Just a random estimate, not sure how much bits would be worth)) she told him. "How are you going to carry all of this?" She asked this out of curiosity and then spotted the wagon he was talking about. It was full of bits.

 

Cyan turned away, towards the ground, to cough and then covered her mouth her good politely as she looked back at Happy. "Sorry... I think I need to see a doctor about this," she explained.

[Moonlit 593]

@@Blitz Boom Serenade cocks his head to one side listening to the 'mimic' before smiling, hiding her fangs. She was about to open her mouth when Ziggy cannonballed into the lake. Taking a facefull of lake water, Ziggy comes up to see the Siren spitting water and glaring at her. A smirk then forms on Serenades face, and using her tail fluke splashes Ziggy, she then dives underneath the water's surface.  

[cwhip9 1,078]

@@Blitz Boom, "Zinthar!" Cresent flung opened his eyes seeing the armed beings his blade activated again giving an electric blue fierceness that light his surroundings and could be somewhat blinding.

 

The pony stood over the knocked out cat blade at the ready, he looked around ready for the creatures to strike more annoyed at his guide going down.

 

"get us out of here or you all will bleed dry if not from me then my pet!" he said Blade at the ready waiting.    

[Seamore Sandwich 471]

@@Lonk Chase

@@GingerLightning

@@Blitz Boom

 

The trees bent as the Pheldagriff pushed past them with no struggle at all. His path was a straight line directly toward Ponyville and nothing would get in his way, not that anything could. Sisilia stayed close to 'Grandfather,' as she'd called him. She knew the story. The tale of the snake who ate the sleeping Panther. The Panther that tried to claw its way out. She also knew of the mysterious traveler who had brought new life to the creatures, thus creating her first ancestor. Grandfather was the one who created her species, and though she wasn't well educated, Sisilia believed that she could still learn something from such a wise creature. When they reached the edge of the forest, the wind barrier could be seen swirling into the sky. "Zhu," the Traveler said with a smile. His plans were coming together perfectly.

[Blitz Boom 4,614]

@@EQ_Theta,

 

Omen's eyes were fixated on Senlin when he flew around.

 

She had many times wondered what it would be like to look down on the world through something else than gates, but it had not been her masters will when he made her to give her wings. Why she wasn't sure, but perhaps it were to make it harder for her to find him when he wanted to be alone, before he knew he could just ask her not to show for a while instead?

 

It had been one of several things she had just filed under *Master haves his reasons* back then and only started to really be curious about long after he were gone, when the stranger made her doubt the ideal she had seen him as. But, one day she would find him, and then she could ask this, amongst a bouquet of other things, and hope that he would answer her. If not... Well, she couldn't make him answer things if he did not want to, so it would likely just end there if it came to that.

 

The lingering thought toned down as Senlin returned back to the ground and declared the wards to just being here where they were. How he had seen that were curious, but perhaps the trees carried signs? She could have a look later and find out if it were. Might be something worth knowing for another time.

 

"So, it's just here, but still warded? How are we getting through?"

 

____________________________________________________________________________________

 

 

@@Wolves,

 

Happy almost took a step backwards when the mare started couching, but stopped himself midway whilst looking at her. Thankfully she hadn't gone off all over the wares, but still, germs were a thing and he didn't want to be under the weather in Equestria. His transformation magic tended to get... Erratic, when he were struck by flu, and he had heard stories on his way here about how they handled changelings.

 

Frankly, it were getting tempting to just turn around and wandering off just to be on the safe side after this germ factory on legs had revealed she were carrying at least some degree of virus, and rightly so he'd think. Nothing good could come from being around a sick pony who were so far off she wanted to go to the... Hospital...

 

Whilst outside he were looking pretty much unfazed, inside a cackling laughter started to ring through his head at the opportunity that had suddenly presented itself to him. A boon rather than a curse if this got played off right.

 

"Crickey, that really doesn't sound too good, huh?"

 

Happy took a step forward and put his best concerned look on whilst putting down the leather pack, then opened it and revealed rolls after rolls of bits packed inside dried bark, much like the rolls of coins that he had known back in the human world. This was cruder, but it made the counting of these things easier when you bought bigger bundles like he normally did when he needed stuff from local markets.

 

He cracked one of them open on the desk so that she could see that it were filled with exactly 30 bits, then put down six more and cracked one in half so the math would go up.

 

"Look, I know this might seem a bit pushy, but how about I'll make sure you get to the hospital safely? If it's a virus it can really muck you up, and I'd hate to think of your brother getting back to hear you staggered into a trash can or something worse. Ain't right for either if you to go through."

 

He had to wait just a little before he could stack up his wares and get them to his wagon, but he'd keep the concerned face and tone on and wait that bit more for the hidden gem that could be presented in helping this pony out.

 

Not so much that he'd get some local goodwill - which granted, he could always use as it made it easier to learn things and spread word that were good for business - but that he'd be able to get a first-hoof look at the local medical facilities without having to take over somepony's form or lurk around like a creeper, which he'd learned the hard way tended to end poorly.

 

As part of the ways he checked out if a city was ripe for take-over, inspecting how they handled injured or ill ponies, who worked there etc. etc. were important things as, if things started to get into a stalemate instead of a quick victory, they'd begin to use that sort and the staff to get patched up and back on the field. If the medical facilities were bad that wasn't an option, and it made it even easier to take over, but if it were good... Well, knowing that, and a few faces that could be taken over, were a solid strategy for taking them out from the inside, and figuring out the degree and the folks there all started with getting a looker at things. Something that he casually could get a crack at now.

 

Granted, it were unlikely that his own hive would ever invade here. They tended to take fringe towns and societies on the edge so they could keep some empty tundra behind them and make sure they weren't surrounded or their victims suddenly got help from nearby towns, but it depended on how it'd go when he learned more of how Queen Chrysalis were getting at things locally.

 

It it went poorly like he'd heard, they might just move in and give Equestria a taste of Real power whilst taking over a small town like this as a new base. And if Chrysalis held out better than rumour had it when his hive had heard of her attack on Canterlot... Well, some goodwill in helping her sack a town couldn't hurt. Might just stop him from getting sent back to his hive pinned to a board like a butterfly, and he couldn't deny that a good old-fashioned invasion sounded rather tempting. It had been a while since he'd been part of that.

 

_______________________________________________________________________________________

 

 

@@Moonlit,

 

Ziggy giggled when she got re-splashed for her little spur of the moment before, then looked over to see... Nothing.

 

"Awh come on, this is cheating. You two swim Way better than me."

 

Despite the words, the tone were playful, and she tried to look down and see if she could see something through the surface of the water, but so far no dice considering that it were night. This sort of time of day wasn't ideal for her to see much, even with the light from above, and it weren't exactly powerful enough light to make it day-time sparkly as much as somewhat viewable to a point, then nothing. And in the nothing were both of the others it seemed.

 

Fah'lina certainly were. The mimic were about a meter below the splashing pony's hooves, looking like she were contemplating doing something against the equine in retaliation. Perhaps bite her again? Tie a stone to her tail for fun? Sure, she wasn't a powerhouse exactly, but pegasi didn't weigh That much, and in water her tail had some power to push her around...

 

Further it didn't get before Serenade got into view and Fah'lina once more focused her eyes on the Siren. She could always go after the striped one after all, but with this one she still wasn't sure what to think or do. Cautiously floating where she were for now seemed like the plan, but it would perhaps change depending on how things went.

 

________________________________________________________________________________________

 

 

@@cwhip9,

 

The others around him began to prepare fangs and swords of their own, looking ready to pounce on the intruder and force him to the ground if he got any closer to any of them or started to swing his own blade around.

 

"Hold your blades."

 

The others kept still as a creature exited from the hole in the wall that the horror had almost gotten through on it's own. It seemed to be some sort of snake with six arms, but whilst slowly approaching Crescent - whilst still staying at a safe distance - she started to seemingly flicker like an imagine on a bad tv and suddenly, a pony stood in the stead. A simple earth pony stallion with a brown coat, yellow mane and tail, and orange, unblinking eyes. Nothing special really, but that didn't seem to be the point either, and just a form to approach this equine easier.

 

"Horror's don't speak. Who're you, and what are you doing here with That."

 

The pony nodded towards the unconscious Zinthar. She apparently did not think fondly of him, but considering everything, that feeling might be mutual when he woke up. Getting a rock to the head wasn't exactly a good start to a beautiful friendship after all.

 

He didn't carry any weapons of his own, but it seemed the ones surrounding Crescent were under his command and would likely strike if Crescent tried to get even a few inches closer to him with the fighting attitude he had going right now. Something that would not end well as he were rather obviously outnumbered.