open Casual stroll

[Lucid_Nightlight 923]

@Blitz Boom @EQ_Theta

"Looks like she's back, got any i-"

Lucid noticed the cardboard cutout and the blinking.

"Seriously, that's how you're going to hide?"

Lucid looks at Fluttershy, he thought about getting out of there, but a lightbulb appeared above his head. He had a better (or worse) idea.

"Alright, I'm looking for Discord and he likes you on a platonic level, so I'm just gonna try and hold you for ransom so that he appears."

Lucid then proceeded to make a cage appear around the pegasus, oblivious to the potential trouble he may be getting himself into.

[Lucid_Nightlight 923]

@Blitz Boom @EQ_Theta

"Looks like she's back, got any i-"

Lucid noticed the cardboard cutout and the blinking.

"Seriously, that's how you're going to hide?"

Lucid looks at Fluttershy, he thought about getting out of there, but a lightbulb appeared above his head. He had a better (or worse) idea.

"Alright, I'm looking for Discord and he likes you on a platonic level, so I'm just gonna try and hold you for ransom so that he appears."

Lucid then proceeded to make a cage appear around the pegasus, oblivious to the potential trouble he may be getting himself into.

[Storm Shine 1,196]

@Blitz Boom @EQ_Theta

The discord-shaped smoke silently followed Omen and her group before letting out a noise like a dying airplane and then projecting Discord's voice, "I'm a bit of here or there or perhaps even where and when right now..." followed by a robotic female tone, "To leave a message please press or say 1 followed by your message."

 

Meanwhile in Canterlot, Discord nodded and followed along, "I do agree that a house made entirely of Jade is in poor taste.. So boring! At least throw some other things in there, maybe a little less green." He then had a great (In his everypony's opinion) idea, "Oh, what about a marshmallow house? Puts the Fun in Functional, cushy enough to be safe, and of course it would be quite delicious! Doesn't that sound just perfect?"

Stop doing that discord!

Oh but it's simply so much fun! Besides, what's a little harmless fourth wall breaking among friends, hmm?

[Victoria Sponge 1,017]

@Blitz Boom

Victoria thought for a moment and opened her mouth as if to say something but hesitated.

"Hmm, sorry I don't know of anypony like that. If you're looking for cake or dresses then I can show you every shop in town, but I don't really get sick very often, and if I do I normally just put up with it."

Victoria's immune system was as strong as her spirit and her stubborn nature meant she never let any kind of sickness get in her way, she didn't remember needing a doctor or any kind of medicine since she was a little filly.

"If none of you know I'm sure Battenberg would, she gets sick all the time!"

She knew Battenberg was out of the way which would make the route a little more complicated than 'swinging by' but she was really eager to see her sister and give her a long deserved hug.

 

[genessee 535]

@Blitz Boom

Lance nodded and trotted towards the kitchen, keeping an eye out for Alonsus or his Pegasus friend.

I wonder what Straw wants to ask about. I hope it isn't bad.

Lance didn't like the idea of going on more deliveries-- if he went alone, he'd probably get lost. If Berry accompanied him, she might dig deeper into exactly what Lance needed...

Oh, no. If Berry tells Alonsus that I was asking around, I'm screwed! But if I ask her not to, she might think I'm a spy or whatever and tell Alonsus, but if I keep quiet she might think I'm plotting something. Crap, what am I supposed to do?

By the time Lance had reached the kitchen, he was beginning to panic. However, a staff member might think he drank some of Berry's coffee and pass it off as a rookie mistake.

 

 

[Sekel 694]

@Blitz Boom

KARMIC FATE

“Can you stop peering into my future!? I can feel your weird, tendrily thingies and it’s really unnerving!” Karmic shook her head, her black and white mane whipping back and forth in an effort to dispel some kind of evil ward or something. She felt the discoloured tentacles continue to prod and poke at various images and visions in her mind. She heard what he said about following him and figuring he was her best shot at leaving, decided to follow and hopped outside the cell.

“Get them out! Get them out!” Karmic shouted and rubbed her head against the cobblestone floor, attempting to get rid of Zhu’s stupid tendrils.

[EQ_Theta 460]

 @Blitz Boom @Storm Shine

 True, the thought of needing another magically-empowered creature to have a physical form sounds strange but after learning about Mother’s dealing with other creatures, the form Discord chose is tame by comparison. Now if it were something eldritch… that would be a lot more difficult to think about, mostly because thoughts like those ventured into the unknowable; plenty of things could be so strange that thinking about it will give major headaches at best or drive one to outright insanity at worse. The laws of nature would certainly be nothing to them if they could simply break them. Thankfully, the chaos of Mother’s realm and Discord’s magic was more than manageable for Sen, but all this wondering was interrupted by the group’s arrival.

“Makes me wonder what a creature of pure order would be like? An entity that is the complete opposite of Discord… Oh, I see we’ve arrived. Where do we start?”

As for Lin, it would seem rather odd that a jade house would be a possible thing. She mostly knew the use of that material for small trinkets and jewelry but a home made out of the stuff? Kind of a waste of good material. Better to carry it around rather than have someone hack off pieces of it.  

“A simple house? I understand; you never forget your first, and I like simple things. It just works as a home when everything is where it’s at, nothing to make things look complicated.”

She then turned to Discord while following Clayton to the home next-door, seemingly unfazed by his arrival. Or she tried to avoid jumping back in surprise but she still froze up a bit before continuing. “Marshmallow houses, huh? Wouldn’t that attract insects? The temptation to eat the house is there and I don’t think it’s a good idea if one’s house disappear quickly because someone forgot to fill their belly.”
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@Blitz Boom @Lucid_Nightlight

Strangers breaking into their home looking for Discord and messing up the place? Fluttershy couldn’t believe it but being in the cage didn’t seem to deter her, especially the blinking cardboard cutout. They wanted Discord? They’re going to have to try something else to get him. She stayed put in the cage but she didn’t seem to mind for now because she still got help very close by.

The blue jays and the ducks, angry enough from having trespassers in their home, decided to run at the pony at the intruders and… do something. Pecking, making loud noises, anything that can keep them from leaving while drawing attention to the other animals living in and around Fluttershy’s cottage. Fortunately, the front door was left open and in came the snakes, woodpeckers, raccoons, and bees. Even Angel came in riding on the shoulder of Harry the bear while preparing to put Lucid and the cutout in the corner. The cavalry arrived and they trained their eyes on them, ready to make their move. 

“As you can see, we’re not all so helpless. Now how about you tell me what you want with Discord?” 

Edited February 13, 2018 by EQ_Theta

[cwhip9 1,078]

@Blitz Boom At the word pagen crescent felt a knot of worry from his belly. "It is a possibility " he nodded as the cat did some more looking around he joined the hopefully less crying colt draping his wing around the youngster "cover, hey, come on big guy we cam get through this all right" he said knowing trying to calm the colt more before questing him would be best "told ya id be back eh?  " 

[Blitz Boom 4,640]

@Storm Shine @EQ_Theta

"Pure order... A rock?"

Omen knew master as one who changed everything around himself, never had anything stable and destroyed and created on a whim. Sometimes not even his own whim, as the chaos itself just made weird stuff happen without him at times.

A stone sounded like the opposite to Omen. It was solid, unchanging unless it was chiseled, sometimes even in color and shape, and it was a building block of things meant to last. It was a stable thing, even if time and weather took away from it, and considering everything, it was the best idea she had to what the opposite of Discord might be.

Rosa on the other hoof, didn't think it sounded correct. A stone were a tool, not an entity, and it couldn't make the decisions needed to make it something to consider. Otherwise, they'd have to include all kinds of inanimate objects, and they'd just stray further away from the subject then.

"I imagine a floating sphere. A single color with no flaws in design, turning everything it touches into other floating spheres. Thoughts and will wouldn't be welcome to something that only made order, though you'd have to ask him."

He turned his head towards the cloud that was following them.

"1. What is the complete opposite of you, Discord? End message."

The last part was not something he knew if he should add, but Discord were not a creature were reason had much to do with things, from what he could gather.

Meanwhile, they'd be able to see a shed on the edge of the mine, where their path were leading to, and a group of workers knocking on it. Whoever it were that were inside (Sturdy, tussled, short hazel mane and tail and a dark-grey coat) popped out and listened in to what the workers were saying, which quite obviously would be about the approaching group. Something about the way they just looked over and pointed before flying together towards them with, just gave an impression that seemed to insinuate it.

Sen might need to get ready to speak his way out of some issues here, before guards were called on them and tossed them out.

Meanwhile, in Canterlot, Clayton cringed when the talk about a marshmallow house came up.

"Non-edible houses only please. I don't want to think of the nightmare it would be to build something that could be eaten by a passerby."

The thoughts did come, but the thought were so absurd that he had a hard time to visualize a functioning construction. The candy would be too weak to carry a roof, would spoil fast, insects as mentioned was an issue and how did you even go about stacking them up properly? Using regular cement? It wasn't bearing, and the clearest image he could conjure in his mind included a roof falling down and crushing everything.

"Mr. Quartz?"

A small jolt went through him as the store manager arrived with what he had asked for. Apparently the thoughts on the housing project the others had mentioned had ended up distracting him too much to notice her before this.

"A-Ah, thank you."

"Would there be anything else?"

Clayton washed the worst dirt off his face with the wet blanket, and went on to the top of his neck before answering the surprisingly calm manager. It was getting easy for him to see that Belladonna's tutelage of her had paid off when she could keep her calm in strange situations like this...

"If you could please send Tips to check on my house, then meet me at belladonna's place, that would be much appreciated. I fear there might have been an... Unusual burglary, so anything out of place would be good to hear about. And please ensure that she understands not to interact with anypony or anything up there. I'd prefer the scene to remain intact, in case something happened."

"Right away sir."

She wandered off once more, this time to fulfill the unusual request, leaving the group in peace, whilst Clayton finished his small cleanup.

"Could we go now, please? And... Y-Yes, I think I should mention, the jade building was not made in jade itself, it was layered over the actual walls. The owner wanted the gem itself to just be it to begin with, but I managed to at least convince him that it couldn't be properly isolated then. It's still hideous, but I did it as functional as any work, and the best that I could with the specifics provided."

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@Battenberg

"Whelp, I'm gonna take off and find her then. You kids have fun, alright?"

Benny's ears went on stilts and he turned to his sister.

"Waif, ve shouf goh fwho."

"What did mom just say about you needed to chew your food? That counts before you talk too smart guy. Also, I ain't taking you. Mom's been looking forward to seeing you, and even with Dad a little under the weather, you can't just rummage off like it was nothing right now."

"Then we should go with you."

Toxen and Benny looked surprised at Pop as she rose from her seat and said this. The pressure of all the eyes on her right now made her feel a little uncomfortable, but she had seen an opening here to perhaps help with things, and perhaps get on a little better standing with her inlaws.

"Victoria knows the best way there, and since we aren't having a conversation about Benny and me after all, I should make myself useful. Let me be that by helping your father, please."

The part to Victoria - and the subsequent look she gave her - were meant more as an escape option for Victoria. Pop had some idea how to get to Battenberg's bakery now by backtracking their path, but she'd like their new friend to not be standing for a scolding, or having to see a heated argument between mother and son, regarding his choice of mate. Something which she hoped wouldn't happen, but she really had no idea. Benny would defend her if she were talked ill about, and Jade was a stubborn, short-sighted dragoness. It might end up in a tip if something were mentioned in the wrong circumstances.

"...Okay, but you stay safe out there, okay? Guess that leaves us some alone time to catch up too mom."

"About time too. We might live centuries, but that's no excuse to not visit more than twice a year."

"I know mom, things have just been getting crazy at work lately."

"Work... Pipes need changing..."

Jet got up from his seat and wobbly started to make his way to the other side of the house before slumping down on the floor. Benny would be over with him soon after, but they might already be on their way outside. At least if it were up to Pop, who watched Toxen shrug her shoulders and signal that it'd be fine if they joined, and then tried to direct Victoria with her, if the mare didn't wander on her own. Hopefully she'd see that this was a family matter right now, and that they'd be better of helping out another way.

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@genessee

The only one who seemed to notice anything about Lance, would actually be the one least likely to say something about it.

Stare had been glancing in that direction when he had wandered out and followed him with her eyes for a little while, but customers were calling, so she looked away and went to attend them instead. She did think that Lance had acted somewhat weird though, but that seemed to have been the case ever since he had returned with Alonsus. The bulky stallion had been weird as well actually... Did something happen on their tour? She'd ask them, but she'd get too nervous about snooping into their private lives... Perhaps she should ask berry when she had the nerve to. The conspiracy fanatic had no problem snooping in on things, and she always seemed so friendly, so perhaps that would be okay? She had to think about this...

Meanwhile in the kitchen, Chop were cleaning some dishes over at the sink, whilst something stirred in a few pots at the stove. He had something in the oven too, but it was hard to see from here. Some kind of pie more than likely.

On hearing somepony at the door, he directed his sight towards the door, and looked at the new deliverycolt with tense muscles, as if he were ready to attack him. It faded when he recognized who it were, but he had been in the guard for too long to not tense up when he heard noises from angles he couldn't see. Not an easy situation when he had first gotten out of the hospital post shark attack and needed to adjust to the loss of sight in one of his eyes, but there had been a lot of things that hadn't been easy then...

"Done with the deliveries?"

He had expected more time if it were. Alonsus were efficient, but he talked too much for his own good, and got distracted at times. It sometimes added unnecessary time to these things, which Chop frowned upon. Warm food shouldn't be served cold because somepony blabbered their muzzles off and got on their way too slowly.

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@Dji

He had briefly set his eyes on Karmic, as he waited for her to wander out of the cell, but it sounded like his probing had an effect on her that he hadn't observed in others before. Interesting, yet he wouldn't poke at it more and put his hood back on, averting his eyes from her face and making him once again rely on sounds, the ground that he could see, and the warmth signatures that his tongue brought back to him. If he were indeed the source of the tendrils she mentioned, this should cause them to stop.

"Every creature is a flower, who unfolds when my gaze falls upon them. Such is the burden of my curse."

If Zhu could choose who he'd see, life would be simpler. He might not need a cloak constantly, he could have been around others when he grew up here in the castle - even if it would likely still have been best that he remained hidden from all but the most loyal to the princess - and perhaps his life would be less miserable.

Yet such were not his fate, and the isolation it required him to take had sometimes been a hard one to bear, before he accepted his lot in life and the limitations thereof. He were content with it now, and had learned to accept, and to at least filter through the potential he saw, rather than be flooded with everything at once and feeling as if his head were about to explode.

"Are you feeling better? If so, we should leave. It will not be long before they come to find me, and for now, they are not the ones I need to direct."

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

 

@cwhip9

Cover-up practically threw himself at Crescent when the bat pony started to talk to him, pushing his front hooves around the older stallion, and crying into his coat.

"A-All of t-them are gone! E-everything is d-destroyed. Why d-d-d... W-Why didn't it take m-me too? I don't... C-Cant..."

The colt went into a fit of blubbering words that was basically incomprehensible, though it sounded as if he were trying to say what he just did before. Asking why it was that he had been left under that house, whilst the rest of them were taken, and their homes destroyed.

"*sniff* I-It doesn't make sense..."

Slowly he'd get to his senses and start to talk. His grip loosened on the bat pony several minutes after he had first grabbed hold of him, and the shaking hooves were returned to the ground, though Cover-up still looked into the ground. He couldn't face his house. It just kept reminding him of that day, just like his tattoos did.

Or rather, the scars beneath them did.

*Barring a miracle, you will carry these for life.* That was the message he had been given by the doctors when he woke up in the hospital back then. A wide array of craters, scars, discolorations... His coat and skin was a mess, and the best he could do was to cover them up. That was the best thing his special talent had ever allowed him to do, though it was all just patterns of black. He really wished to be able to blend colors, so that perhaps maybe, one day, he'd be able to hide how he looked under these properly. Besides the missing patches of hair that were, but at least he had a short coat to begin with, so it wouldn't be as noticeable.

Yet so far, he hadn't been able to do that. He had gotten some tentative results with grey, which had been very exciting, and convinced him that training would be all it took him, but that was somewhere far into the future. Right now, this were all he had to work with, but considering the alternative of drawing every pitiful and disgusted eye of ponies he got around, or carrying a robe for the rest of his life, it wasn't the worst thing that could happen.

"D-Did you fi... I-I mean, was there a-anything?"

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

 

@Lucid_Nightlight @EQ_Theta

Anomaly tries to keep her disguise going, until rodents started to wander over and chew on the cardboard to rile her up. Which it did. She might offer something of herself for others to eat sometimes, but that didn't really hurt her. Truth be told this didn't either, but she needed an excuse to start moving after all of the stuff going on made her think this was getting a bit out of hoof.

The cardboard melted to the ground, and from the pool of slime now coagulating there, several tentacles appeared, that latched to a wall and dragged the ooze with it.

She got stomped on before she got that far though, so she'd just turn solid and tower up from there, tripping over whatever had thought her something to walk on, and rose as a large, solid diamond sunflower.

"Haha, this is so cool. Just like a fairy tale princess with all the animals, and you didn't even need to sing! Nice.

I'm Anomaly, and I followed Lucid on his Discord hunt to have something to do. Big bull came and smacked us around, then somepony wanted to play pranks-"

A sign appeared above her head reading *This one* in red neon letters.

"- and then crazy pony started to play with cages, but keeping hostages aren't fun, that's just mean. Zhu says not to hurt others."

She rapidly stretched to the cage, knocking away opposition from the animals, and opened her toothy mouth wide. Not to eat Fluttershy, obviously, but to start eating the cage in large chunks. Thankfully it wasn't made from pure iron, or she'd be in so much trouble right now.

Well, more than she already were going to be, since the pet master sounded grrrrrouchyyyy.

Edited February 14, 2018 by Blitz Boom

[Lucid_Nightlight 923]

@Blitz Boom @EQ_Theta

Lucid watched as Anamaly ate at the metal bars. He knew it was a good idea to make them out of copper.

"First of all, if I didn't like animals so much, I'd probably would've destroyed them all already considering the whole reality warping thing. Second, Discord pulled a fast one on me, it caused me a bit of an unsolvable issue."

Lucid was a little hesitant, there was definitely more to this than Lucid was letting on. He was tense, desperate for answers, and starting to panic internally. He needed to find Discord, he needed answers from him. It was soon obvious that this was about more than just the stick. Something happened, maybe Lucid lost something or someone. Whatever it was, this was personal.

He held the stick up in the air, giving off signs of aggression.

"Now, tell me where he is before I do something we will ALL regret."

[Storm Shine 1,196]

@Blitz Boom @EQ_Theta

The discord shaped cloud of smoke coughed slightly, some slightly darker smoke escaping its mouth, before it began to speak. "The opposite of me is something you don't want to meet, trust me. Thankfully he's quite happily sealed away in his own little dimension of perfect order - Because if he wasn't, nothing would be as you know it but everything would always be as it would be known. Ponies would not have cutie marks, they would not be different colors, and they would not be allowed to have individuality of any sort... And that's just the beginning of what could happen..." The cloud said ominously, its cloudy eyes glowing an eerie red for just a moment at the end.

[Sekel 694]

@Blitz Boom

KARMIC FATE

Karmic grumbled something unintelligibly. She shook her head to dispel the last of the tendril feeling but couldn’t help herself. She shivered as she trotted after Zhu.

“You are something else entirely,” Karmic mumbled and gently prodded the guard when they got to him. She saw the brick and looked up. In a mere second, she saw another brick fall and hit Zhu on the noggin. But another future showed him sidestepping the brick calmly, letting shatter harmlessly on the floor.

”Should I, or shouldn’t I? The interesting one is the first one,” Karmic whispered to herself and caught up to Zhu, but kept a few paces behind him for safety.

[EQ_Theta 460]

@Blitz Boom @Storm Shine

"Lead the way, Clayton. We'll be right behind you."

Lin wouldn't really have much left to say. The jade house still lingered in her head with thoughts of uncertainty flitting in and out; this time it seemed so small and insignificant given the situation but she found it to be somewhat comforting. No tense moment needing her to coming up with plans from start to finish, picking out the little details that went into such. Sen had a knack for these things but only when he was in the field and just looking at what it could be and not what it is. That's something she envied about him, much as he seemed reckless most of the time. 

But back at the quarry, things seemed to already be looking interesting or tense at the very least. Their little discussion on order and what its counterpart of Discord is interrupted by a growing crowd before them. Discord's presence is already putting everyone else on edge and while he didn't pose a problem at the moment, it would appear Discord's redemption isn't common knowledge. Or if it is, a very difficult thing to get used to. Sen isn't going to jump into talking out of fear of getting everyone else into trouble. Speak when spoken to... that's what he knew and maybe it will help now. 

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@Blitz Boom @Lucid_Nightlight @Storm Shine 

"All right, I'll call him but only because it's important to you." 

Fluttershy stepped forward to her animal friends and gestured them to calm down. Though justified with their anger that their home was invaded and Fluttershy was put in a cage, the tone in their friend and caretaker's voice let them know it's safe. It isn't the case for the ducks, the bear, and Angel, however, as they still kept their eyes focused on Lucid. He still doesn't sit well with them. The pegasus proceeded to the kitchen and grabbed a tea set tucked away in the cupboard, a special one reserved for a regular hangout with Discord, though she isn't sure if it will get his attention. Those weekly tea and cucumber sandwiches were usually planned ahead; calling him for an unexpected arrival didn't seem like it could work. Then again, could Discord hear her if he is in another realm? Only one way to find out. 

"I apologize if this doesn't work. I haven't tried this before so I'm not sure if Discord will come if I do this."

The pegasus picked up a small teaspoon and tapped it several times along this side of the pot. 

Discord? We've got guests. Somepony's looking for you and it's urgent!

[Victoria Sponge 1,017]

@Blitz Boom

"I would rather like to see my sister, and of course you need me to point out who she is since you haven't met her yet despite knowing the location of her bakery. We best hurry, Battenberg will be closing up soon."

Victoria was in no hurry to stay in this tense environment, dragons didn't scare her but she didn't exactly like them or the way they generally behaved.

She watched Jet attempt to move once more and his son rushing to his side as he collapsed, she showed more concern than she would have prior to meeting her new friends but this did not stop her eagerness to leave as she led the way out of the building.

She breathed in the cool city air and closed her eyes.

"Good to be outside once again, things were getting a little heated in there and I'm not talking about the temperature. No offence Toxen, just I don't think your mother really approved of two ponies in her house, and I'm not sure how to feel about your father yet because he hasn't really shown his true colours yet."

[Storm Shine 1,196]

@Blitz Boom @EQ_Theta

Discord blinked slightly as his ears suddenly burst into fire. "Excuse me for a moment." He declared politely, disappearing and leaving a discord-shaped balloon animal floating in his place.

@EQ_Theta @Lucid_Nightlight @Blitz Boom

"Fluttershy? You called?" Discord asked, poking his head out from within the curtain of her mane. "Oh, we have guests? Should I set the table?" He asked as he noticed the others in the room, holding up a large table pulled from... Somewhere... in the air by one of its legs.

Edited February 17, 2018 by Storm Shine

[cwhip9 1,078]

@Blitz Boom Crescent was glad to see the colt tackle him. He held the colt as he soon found strength and stand " alot of things don't make sense, but I will find answers cover" he said soon letting the colt down he nodded. "Zinthar found somthing. He somewhat recognizes some markings but come on ill show you" he said leading the colt to the pedistol Zinthar found. At the colts stage answers were needed most with how crescent felt. Loosing everything changes you, and the unknown can scare most others then most. "These runes may be older then me but maybe these could be recognizable for you" he said hoping it will lead to somthing. 

[Widdershins 9,960]

   @Dji & @Blitz Boom

Hovering midair and a bit too uncomfortably far from any of the nearby rooftops; the bobbing rhythm pulsing through Kaltrop's wingbeats and through her body only serves to drive the point across to Dawn Streak of the unstable position she's found herself in straddled uptop a lithe young drake.

 "No! You charged a dragon and expect me not to defend myself?! Why would I listen to you and not just toss you off?!!? If you wanted a fight, then keep fighting!"

*************************************************************************************

@Blitz Boom

  Not having been expecting anypony else around the farm judging by how quiet it had been when he was coming up; Ambie jumped a little at the sound of another voice calling out to him. Remembering to untether himself from the wagon and putting it away in the barn, he slowly trots out the barn to greet Happy Hour with a slight stutter to his welcome from surprise.

   "Im-Imma, I'mma notta Chameleon.   ...So, why'd you come & go; come & gooo~?"   His eyes wandering off a little at the end as he vaguely realizes how awkwardly he's phrased his question.

***************************************************************************************************

Back at Smokey's Mansion:

   Oh, never meant to say that Legion would never work as a concept.  Just that you get something like this when working it through these means. Disembodied Souls exist by whit of their Unrest & Confusion. Adding more to that is likely to-

  Not having paid attention to any of what had scuttled into the upstairs hallway the group had been standing in and addressing the situation, Widdershins was caught off-guard by Rose's shovel midway through his part self-grandiosing, part avoidant speech and partway through his body as well. 

 Doubling over the shovel as most would when socked in the gut (If Draconequui even have guts, that is.) he folds over it to drop his muzzle to the ground, leaving the shovel pretty much solidly stuck where it had struck him. Whimpering quietly and despondently to himself, enough of a pause is held long enough for Grim to catch Rose up on the situation. However much can be heard over the howling vortex of angry souls not a couple yards away.

    Rude much...

                   .....

 

 Bad Day. 

[Blitz Boom 4,640]

@cwhip9

"N-No, I can't..."

Cover-up followed Crescent for a little, but once he realized that they were going into the ruins of his former home, the tattooed colt stopped and averted his eyes, refusing to go into there. It was too painful to even be near. inside... He couldn't do it.

"Hmhmhm, and to think you thought that I was going to be an issue here."

The colt felt a cold shiver go down his back as the feline monster snuck up on him, carrying a piece of a crate with some texts on it. It was a little smeared in it here and there, but in fairness, cats weren't supposed to be able to write at all, and his only working tool had been a stick of wet charcoal. If this wasn't good enough for them, they could bite him.

"*Thirteen branches, of holy oak*. And that symbol again."

Zinthar spat out the piece of wood in front of Cover-up, who had skittered a little away from him, toward his old home. Apparently, the feline caused him more immediate concern that the painful memories.

"I don't... It's hard to r-read."

Zinthar scowled at that comment.

"Focus on it, and get some answers. I'll get back to my little treasure hunt."

A vague purring sound came along after Zinthar expressed the last one, betraying how much this was pleasing him. Not messing with the colt per se, but more trying to piece together what was going on, and finding the remnants of the offerings. He couldn't wait to see what next would be there, as he jumped over and dived into another ruined building.

Back with Crescent, Cover-up slowly picked up the board and starred at it intently, trying to understand what he was seeing here.

"...I can't read it. I-I'm sorry. We have a lot of b-books in the Weeping Willow... Perhaps we can look for something t-there?"

Crescent would be pointed towards the most intact of the buildings in town, which - considering the size and detailed carvings - had likely been someplace of importance once the town still stood. Mayor's office, meeting hall, or something like it.

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

 

@Storm Shine @EQ_Theta @Lucid_Nightlight

Before the lord of chaos showed up, Lucid's antics were making Anomaly roll her eyes. She liked a good performance as well as anypony, but he was smearing the villain speech on a bit thick for no reason right now. Fluttershy did seem like she'd help, even after what they had done, so it seemed silly. Plus if he wanted to make a villain speech, he needed a cape. Everypony knew that you needed that, or at least a twirling mustache, or it just didn't seem right.

As soon as Discord popped into reality though, Anomaly gleefully ignored the crazy pony and looked to her side to gaze at him.

"Discord."

Anomaly's voice turned dark and deep as she saw him. Every punctuation trembling with rage, and untold promises of horrible things to come. Not just to him, but to everything else within sight, and reality seemed to know, as things began to tremble around her.

Clusters of dark gems began to grow slowly all over her body and she rose a few inches into the air, starring at Discord with eyes as cold as ice, but flaming with an all consuming fire, hungry to devour. There was such a huge amount of rising anger in that glare, like Discord had done something to a being that should not have been crossed, and it just rose along with the trembling around her.

"I will fini- Whu?"

Three seconds. That were as long as things took before Anomaly snapped out of it and things fizzled out. The rising feeling of anger and pure destruction vanished into thin air, she hit the ground again, and the dark gems retracted and vanished, leaving just the metallic flower she had taken the form off to shake her head.

She warped and twisted into her actual form after she were done shaking things back where they should be on the first floor, and looked between the ones gathered with some degree of confusion.

"That was weird."

Her gaze fell on Discord again, but she didn't feel anything this time. Whatever had caused her to get a small relapse like that were gone in the moment again, though it did make her wonder if Discord and her might have history. Not the current her, obviously, but this wasn't her first life either.

"Say, you ever knew a draconequus that was like, really destructive and bent on demolishing reality? I don't remember who I were before I got resurrected, but whoever it were apparently didn't like you. Oooh, were you one of those who killed me?"

Anomaly's tail wagged in excitement, and the flowers around her neck brightened. It seemed that if he were, it wasn't something she held against him. Quite the opposite actually.

Anomaly had been resurrected about 700 years ago, by a crazed doomsday cult that wanted to bring an old draconequus back that had been such a violent, destructive sort, that some of her kind had been forced to end her existence, before she obliterated creation as they knew it. Their kind might warp, change and distort, but there was a difference between that and removing it all, and since most did want to have creations to toy with, having somepony like who Anomaly used to be weren't feasible.

Regardless, when the draconequus had been brought back, it had been several millennia, and her soul had long since been cleansed, leaving only the smallest bit of the old one left. The one they got back were more of a blank state, looking at them in confusion and with a smile on her pumpkin face, rather than the destructive monster they had expected would rise in the mixture of parts they had gathered, where nearly none of them were original. (here was a reason she were floral in places, such as her head being a pumpkin. They simply hadn't had access to more than a few small pieces and had to improvise.

 Zhu had taken her away, given her the name Anomaly rather than reuse a name that had been lost to history, and raised her to be good, and respect life. He made sure that she became more or a creator than a destructor, which were shown on the isle she called home, where she warped and mutated everything around her with glee. Heck, she couldn't even really destroy something anymore, which became an issue with some of her creations that she made around Equestria. She had to resort to mutating them into less volatile things instead most of the time, or eating them, and she didn't like chewing on her own creations that much. Felt sorta wrong.

All things aside, it might well be t hat Discord had never done a thing towards whoever Anomaly used to be, and that he might even have never met her. Discord were a big name among them, so it might simply be that the tiny bit that were left of the old her, lurking deep in her instincts, just knew about him when she was alive the first time and had reacted on it. Only Discord knew, and it was hard to say if he'd tell the truth on the matter, when confronted with the question.

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

 

@Battenberg

When they got out, Pop would take some deep breaths and look into the sky with a smile over having more sensible temperatures to be in again. Might be she could handle the warmth in there, but she still liked the atmosphere out here more. It was less... Judgemental.

Meanwhile, Toxen just shrugged at the comment made towards her mom, and stretched wings out.

"Eh, mom's close-minded and archaic, no biggie there.

As for dad, he is a stubborn sort who judges others on their first impression, and doesn't back down from his opinion. But he isn't like mom, who just doesn't like any of you sorts in advance. he keeps an open mind and makes a case by case assessment, so when he's up and running again, I frankly think that you'll have a fair chance with him. You two are a joyful little bunch, so long as you're honest and he sees that you and baby bro really are hitting it off, you might end up getting his vote."

"Well, that's good to hear at least. Perhaps if there's enough of us pressuring there, Jade will give in too."

"Dad's opinion matters more, believe me. He might do everything he can to make mom happy, but he's more set and driven than she is if it comes down to it. Just give him a good impression and give it some time.

Anyway, let's leave Benny to deal with the parent trap, eh? Lead the way Vicky, and let's check your sister out."

Toxen waggled her eyebrows at Victoria before she started to wander down the street towards the way she had encountered their little group before. Solid bet that was the way they had to go.

"We should probably follow.

I'm honestly a little terrified Victoria. So far, Benny's family is pretty uhm... Varied."

She said the last bit whilst looking towards Toxen, who would be out of earshot for now.

"I'm really happy to have you there to help me through it Victoria. You're a good friend."

She took another breath of fresh city air whilst she thought on how strange it were to say that considering how they had started, but things changed. In cases like this, thankfully for the better.

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

 

@Storm Shine @EQ_Theta

A shiver went down Rosa's spine at Discord's words. It seemed that whatever his opposite were, were something even he didn't want to face, and if a demi-god like him had any kind of reservation about another creature in this manner, he'd believe that the order being were a problem, to put it mildly.

However, the ponies who approached them were there now, so he couldn't focus too much on it, and instead needed to keep track on them. Hopefully, the creature Discord spoke of would remained sealed so that he didn't need to think on it at all later, but that was a thought for another time.

"Halt. What brings you into my mine?"

It seemed that the one the workers had been getting were going to do all the talking, and the others just work as muscle then. And they had even gotten the one in charge here. How fortunate.

"Hail. We-"

The pony took a step forward and stomped, which surprised Rosa slightly.

"I did not ask you, spy. Darkenhold have brought me nothing but grief, and if I thought it feasible, I would have you detained."

"It wouldn't work."

"And that is your only saving grace. Now, one of you tell me why you are here, what that cloud is, and why you have brought this miserable traitor to Ponykind into my domain."

"I'm Omen. This is Shrimp."

The refraction lifted his head a little and chirped before laying down again along Omen's mane. He were drowsy and wanted a nap, and even if he didn't fit completely into Omen's mane anymore, he were still attempting to lie in it like he had thus far. Honestly there were still plenty of room, as he were rather small, but the way he laid and Omen's mane waved constantly, it made it apparent that the white and golden creature were there now.

.What the forepony bit notice in however, were more in regards to the words getting projected into his head, which frankly weren't too comforting. Mind readers and spies... This did not bode well.

"You stop talking too, and stay out of my head. You, Longma, speak for them."

Meanwhile, Clayton would lead the way for his companions (or well, his companion and balloon stand-in) down the street for about two minutes, then halted in front of a rather simple looking house. Red bricks, dark roof, chimney, and an oak door. Rather regular, though the fenced garden certainly wasn't.

The entire thing were full of plants ranging from regular medicinal plants to more strange ones from other areas of Equestria, and even a few from outside the country. All of them were sectioned and clearly taken well care off in their areas, with varied water supplies, and even small glass cages over some of them, to add more heat.

Clayton looked up, seeing there were smoke rising from the chimney, and let out a relieved sigh.

"She's home, thank Celestia for that."

He went over and used a spare key in his pockets to unlock the heavy gate in front of the house, and beckoned for Lin to follow. Hopefully, she'd bring Discord's balloon too, in case it didn't just follow them, though it likely had. Something told him that the lord of chaos would want a presence.

Going to the door he knocked fie times, then entered into a room that the outside really should have warned about.

There were shelves lining the walls after the short entry hall was passed. All of them were filled with books, vials, crystals, samples, herbs, claws, bones, cloth, etc. Everything prepared to use in something, which were where the small cauldron in the middle of the room, suspended beneath the chimney in chains, came into the picture.

Whatever were brewing right now, it smelled ridiculously sweet, though if they wanted answers to what it were, they'd have to ask the resident currently adding an undetermined power to the pale-blue mixture.

"Female of undetermined race, carrying some traces of draconian and equine parts, and one balloon in the shape of Discord. Interesting."

Belladonna were an analytical sort, and not one who got flustered or shaken easily, so when she saw Clayton with the odd company, she analyzed it calmly, rather than get all bend out of shape over the intrusion.

It was on purpose that she said this out in her calm voice rather than taking it into her head too. She found it was a good way to test those she met that were somewhat strange, to see their reaction, as well as to calm Clayton. He seemed more contend when he knew that she were simply analyzing instead of preparing a counter assault.

"It's good to see that you're home. It have been a troubled day."

"Take a shower."

Clayton got a sudden red tint on his cheeks.

"You are in disarray, and your stress levels appear to be within the margin of 3,4-3,7. Cleanse yourself to reduce it whilst I entertain your guests. You will find a set of clothes and glasses on the third shelf."

"You prepared for me to take a shower h-here?"

"I take height for every contingency."

Clayton felt a little awkward, but did as he was asked and scurried on to the back where the shower were.

"I am Belladonna Venin. Personal assistant of Clayton Quartz. Who are you?"

With him out of the room, Belladonna would direct her attention to her guest and her balloon, though she'd keep stirring the cauldron with the long-handled silver spoon that her horn directed.

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

 

@Dji

Zhu heard the comment about him being something else, but he didn't react on it. Didn't seem like there'd be much of a point to doing so currently.

So he just kept on walking, calmly making his way towards the guard and the exit, when the rock fell and hit him on the neck. His knees gave away, and he fell to the floor, hissing in pain.

A few red droplets made their way towards the floor from underneath the hood, whilst Zhu disoriented took a shaking paw to his chest, and began rummaging around his robe.

Much as Zhu could see what might happen, he were unable to see his own future. Reflections didn't work, looking at himself in other ways didn't do anything either, and if he was involved in the future of somepony else, theirs would get blurry in that area. Another reason why he mostly had to stay on the sidelines and direct things, rather than be involved in things personally.

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

 

@Widdershins

Rose did not seem happy that the shovel hadn't really done anything, but before she could do something more in her aggravated state, she were pulled back by Sorrow, who were trying to focus amidst the screaming of the spirits. It might be impossible for most normal beings to hear them, but she certainly could, and it was getting intense at this point.

"Easy Rose, easy."

"Grrr, accursed homewreckers! I will bury the both of you for what you have done!"

At that point, Sorrow found it best to cover Rose's muzzle before she got herself into further problems, whilst Grim had a more direct approach to things. Namely to go over, pull the shovel out of Widdershins, and then throw it as hard as he could into Legion.

By some kind of miracle, none of the debris hit the tool as it soared in there, and the blade made contact with the skull.

Even the regular ponies would be able to hear the scream made as the pure iron hit the spirits and interfered with the bindings that were keeping them together in the skull. Rapidly, the items in the room stopped moving and the strong aura around the vessel began to blink and stretch, then-

"Crack." (Or boom, or whatever)

The specters bolted away from one another and burst through the walls, scattering around the house. As they had no mass, they thankfully didn't make any structural damage, but the items in there (and the beings outside the room) would get hit by the blastwave, and the window in said room would shatter.

Grim stood his ground, whilst Sorrow and Rose stumbled back, with the later stumbling awkwardly into a pedestal with a vase and knocking herself out cold. Said vase would almost fall on her and cause both physical and financial damage, but it just managed to not tip over, and soon stopped tipping around again. Close call there.

"...Urgh, that felt horrid..."

Grim had both gotten a hit of the shockwave, and a spirit passing through him, and he couldn't say which was worse. The pressure that made him ache, or the cold sensation and the want to scrub his very essence with soap. Probably the later.

"Rose? Rose!"

"Easy honey, easy. You won't make it better by shaking her around."

Sorrow did not seem too convinced by that, but the way Rose rattled around didn't make her feel good either. She knew that her friend wasn't severely hurt or worse, as she would be able to see the signs of her spirit leaving or lingering a little outside of the body, waving between life and death, but it still didn't make her less worried about her.

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

 

@Widdershins

"Karma, karma, karma, karma, karma chameleon... Awh bloody hay, now this song is going to get stuck in my head all day."

It was a ridiculously catchy tune, even if he couldn't repeat half of the actual lyrics for the life of him. But hey, he'd have a chance now that this thing was going to circulate his skull for the foreseeable future.

"Okay, before I disappear in pop, I got the cart done like I said. Just give it a sanding in the corners one of these days or you might get splinters."

Happy suddenly heard a pony behind him, and swung around to see what appeared as a blue mare with a turquoise mane and tail run towards them.

"Hey there sugar. Anything we can help you with?"

"I've been looking for you. Well she did, but then she heard that you had been seen and she sent me looking. Oooh, she's gonna be thrilled!"

The mare turned around and let out a loud whistle towards where she came from, making Happy want to slam her in the neck to knock her out. He didn't though, since he didn't want to attract too much attention. Though he did wonder if anypony would believe Ambie if he claimed to have seen Happy knock somepony out and drag them with him...

She wandered off before that, running back the way she came from, seeing whoever had apparently sent her out to look for him. With his luck, it'd end up being the guard.

"Well, sounds like we're going to have some company. Wonder how long it's going to take."

The answer would be around a minute, before a tall, elegant mare who carried herself like a noble would come into view. The mare who had called her would look at her with joy and almost wag her tail, whilst Happy's jaw figuratively fell.

As she got nearer, he let go of his disguise. A flash of green was all it took, and the appearance were dropped, even though he had seemed hellbent on keeping it up so far, even though the episode last night had exposed him to a good portion of the town with no current consequences.

A few steps further, and he knelt before the mare, who got a small, satisfied smile on her muzzle.

"I see your prolonged leave haven't dulled you."

"Never, my queen."

Onache were not one to shower her subjects with praise, but Happy would seem to deserve a compliment at some point. Not now however, as something caught her nose that clearly displeased her greatly: Namely Ambie.

"You reek of both them and us. How unsightly."

It was clear by the way she spoke of and looked at him, that she did not enjoy Ambie being a thing. Predators and food should not mingle, and the only reason she did not currently dispose of the gnat personally, were that she contemplated running a test on him first.

Onache were called the Slaver Queen for a reason. her specialty were to twist and turn the minds of those too feeble-minded or weakened to stop her, and implant, erase, or alter memories. Such as she had done with the pony who had led her here. A temporary servant and food source she had found crying at a lake outside town. It had been pathetically easy to sway the creature, and make her certain that Onache were the most important being in her world, whom she should do what she could to please.

If she did not feast upon until she were gone, the absence would eventually make her forget that Onache had even been there, but currently it were unlikely that she would let her servant and food source go, unless something happened that required her to leave town in a hurry.

There were another limit to her specialty than simply the strength of mind however,a nd that were in that she could not sway changelings. However, she had yet to try on a halfblood, and if that worked, that would present an interesting option for the making of a future workforce, absent from the hivemind, and possible to mass produce with some kidnapped ponies and her own offspring. Intriguing, but she were still considering simply basting this one to goo for being a blasphemous creation.

Edited February 17, 2018 by Blitz Boom

[Storm Shine 1,196]

@Blitz Boom @EQ_Theta @Lucid_Nightlight

 

Discord blinked as he slithered the rest of the way out of Fluttershy's Mane, "Hmm.. Perhaps? When you're as old as I am, some memories just seem to.. Slip through the cracks." The spirit of Chaos said noncommittally, shrugging as elsewhere (In Twilight's Library) a book liquidated and fell through a random crack before reforming in a space that was just large enough to hold it. Discord chuckled, knowing that it would drive Twilight crazy once she noticed. (Because random)

@EQ_Theta @Blitz Boom

Meanwhile, with Omen's Group, the Discord-shaped cloud was performing a very rude gesture involving two chickens, three snakes, four dozen kumquats, and a fishbowl. All of the necessary props were formed from smoke similar to it's body, and while the intended recipient (AKA the very rude pony) may get that he's being insulted (Somehow) He would likely never understand the full meaning behind this gesture.

 

While all of this was happening, over at Clayton's Group the Discord-Balloon was taking large bites from a very gouda cheese wheel. (That was terrible and I should feel bad for that pun.. But all I can do is laugh.)

[Lucid_Nightlight 923]

 @Blitz Boom @EQ_Theta @Storm Shine

Lucid looked up at Discord. One who didn't look closely enough would think that Lucid was evil. He was not evil, just broken. The part Lucid left out, the detail that was left unsaid was about to be revealed.

"I've finally found you. I demand full power on the stick so that I may bring back my friend, so that I can undo the accident."

Deep down Lucid knew that he could never bring him back, his friend was gone, but Lucid couldn't move on. They say there are five stages of grief. Denial, Anger, Bargaining, Depression, and Acceptance. Lucid was was at the bargaining stage. There was no bringing back his friend, but he couldn't move on.

"I will not stop until my demands are met. I will have full power and my friend WILL be brought back."

But of course, the fact remains, his friend can't be brought back, no matter how much power he had. He just didn't want to believe the truth. 

[Storm Shine 1,196]

@EQ_Theta @Blitz Boom @Lucid_Nightlight

Discord gave Lucid a scrutinizing look before sighing slightly, "I could do that" He said, "But I think we both know just how little it would accomplish." The spirit tapped the stick in question, "Do you really want to keep going Lucid? Some things can't be changed... Some things simply can't be taken back."

[FanOfManyShows 396]

@Blitz Boom

Warlock flew into a wall, at a high speed, unsure what just happened. Whilst those back at the battle field would notice somepony was missing. A particular changeling who flew right into Warlock before he teleported, the velocity carrying over. Warlock stood up and growled at them. "You aren't-"

The changeling general stood up and glared at Warlock as he stood above him. "I know." He pointed his spear to Warlock as his horn glowed, the magic being sucked to Warlock.

"Don't think you can call them to my location." Leo threw his spear forward, Warlock hitting it away from him, the spear inbedding into a wall.

"Not like I need only her to know."

Warlock looked around, they were in the middle of a town in Canterlot. "Ho- I wasn't going to teleport here!"

"I did." He extended out his wings and went to grab onto Warlock. Flying him upwards at high speeds as Warlock pushed out of his grip, then falling down. "Idiot."

Behind Warlock sprouted two wings, made of fire, and burning feathers, extending them outwards, instantly stopping his fall only a few feet above the ground. Ponies screaming in a panic as they thought he was going to die. "Surrender now!" A guard yelled, pointing a spear to Warlock.

He looked to them with a glare. "I've been told that before." He lifted a hoof to the guard and pulled all the magic out of him, the guard collapsing. 

Leo landed hard behind him, cracking the ground, flying forward and impacting Warlock, sending him flying across the town. Letting him go, causing Warlock to tumble about. "Magic usage by earth ponies is banned, you know that. Using it only attracts gu-"

"Stop talking!" Warlock flew forward at high speeds, but then stopped, about to hit the changeling's face. "Sapphire..." He looked away, and then to the library, with a smile. The changeling knocked away by an unseen force. "Begone, I have other things to deal with." He flew upwards to the library, many ponies calling guards to the situation. Possibly making this Warlock deal more public than before.

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

Sapphire looked to the books, giggling a little as she took hold of them. "I do know some rumors of these books, but not much about hearing things, I will be sure to read with caution."  She started reading one of the books, sifting through the pages slowly, to make sure she wouldn't graze over the pony she was looking for. "Although that disharmony one will be interesting to read."

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

Iron Wing looked up to the sphinx. "Tracking magic is not our specialties."

Nectar stepped forward. "Discord could track magic."

"Too much trouble to get him. Currently we need to rely on one of us to do it. Can you?" He looked to Nectar.

"Being a changeling, I can only track love magic. Or the lack of it." She said, looking down. "But not very effectively over a distance."

[Victoria Sponge 1,017]

@Blitz Boom

"I'm sure they'll love you Pop. If you're capable of convincing me like you then you can get anybody to like you. Then once you get to know them better you'll get used to their strange ways."

She giggled and put a hoof round Pop squeezing her gently.

"I'm glad you think of me as a friend now, nobody has ever called me that before."

As she smiled at Pop her eyes were visibly wet again, she wasn't used to this kind of emotional sentiment and it was giving her a feeling she'd never had before, a good one, and she was loving it. She let go of Pop and trotted gracefully past the dragon, making sure she actual was in the lead, she didn't want to get lost as she knew Battenberg would be closing up soon and didn't want to have to walk all the way to their house in the suburbs. 

Victoria was right to worry about timing, as they approached the shop they could see Battenberg stood outside, a small key glowing yellow in the keyhole of the door as she used her magic to lock up. Behind her stood Felix and a mare with a yellow coat and a cream mane with white swirls following its curves and curls. She was stood close to Felix, silently smiling as he spoke rapidly to his daughter.

Victoria ran up to Battenberg and jabbed a hoof angrily into her chest.

"Why are you closing up so early? You always have a go at me for slacking off but apparently it's fine when you do it."

Battenberg was about to say something to her sister but she hesitated noticing a difference in her tone and her lack of make-up.

"Something's different about you Victoria."

Victoria laughed and threw herself at Battenberg, wrapping her hooves around her in a big hug. Battenberg, surprised by the first hug her sister had given her in years could do little more than let out a confused squeak.

"You noticed! You noticed I was different even though I was acting like you expected me to. I love you big sister!"

Battenberg was speechless but hearing her sister say she loved her broke her and she began to cry a little, wrapping her hooves around Victoria and squeezing back, burying her face in Vicky's neck.

Felix chuckled

"Yep, our little filly's made some big life changes, she's finally become a mare."

The yellow unicorn beside him, also tearing up, trotted in to join the hug.

"You closed up early to spend more time with mum and dad didn't you? You're so sweet Battenberg, I've got a lot to learn from you. Hey you guys need to meet my new friends."

She pulled away from the hug and pointed at Pop.

"That's Circle Pop, I know Battenberg and Dad have already met her but I don't think you have mum. And the dragon is Toxen, you met her brother Benny Battenberg and dad already met Toxen."

Victoria's cuteness was pretty cute which made Battenberg laugh, she hadn't seen her sister like this since they were tiny little fillies.

"Wow Victoria, I feel like I've been sent back in time, I can't believe I've got my sister back, as she really is."

The sisters' mother stepped forward to greet Victoria's new friends, she walked slowly and cautiously and seemed to be weary of Toxen but that wasn't going to get in the way of her manners.

"Nice to meet you. I-I'm Lemon Drizzle."

Her voice was soft and quiet, more so than even Battenberg's, but you could just about make out what she was saying. She was nervously pulling on her scarf, a scarf noticeably similar to the one round Battenberg's neck but this one in purple rather than yellow.

"It's nice to see that Victoria finally has some friends, she's been an awfully sheltered girl. I don't really know what I did wrong with her, Battenberg was always such a little angel but Victoria's relationship with me has been more like a rollercoaster, I think my personality wasn't very compatible with hers and it made it harder for me to relate to her. Thank you for looking past her initial appearance, I think you'll find she's a little sweetie pie deep down."

Victoria cuddled her mother

"You didn't do anything wrong mummy, you're a great mother, my behaviour before was all on me. Things are going to be better now."

Lemon smiled, happy she'd finally been fully accepted by her daughter.

"She's always preferred her father, I think this is one of the first hugs she's ever given me. You two simply must teach me your tricks."

 

 

[EQ_Theta 460]

@Blitz Boom @Storm Shine 

A curious sort, this Belladonna... but she seemed to take seeing a strange creature a lot better than most. Calm and collected versus the whispering and gossiping, she's prefer the former by a wide margin. Clayton sure keeps some interesting company but if anypony were to point at who ends up being the strangest of them all, Lin certainly feels the the odd one out. Yet even she feels more like the most normal out of the strange entourage if Omen were with them and without any pony being in the group. Such a strange thing, an oxymoron of sorts. 

"I'm Lin, a longma and we're helping out Clayton. We're looking into the activities of someone named Silky Rose. There's reason to believe she's planning to strike at the center of Equestria and she's going to use changeling crystals to achieve that." 

That sounded like a good way to sum things up. It's not exactly a simple matter but it was better than leaving things unsaid. 

But with Belladonna having an air of curiosity, the forepony's gruff and abrasive tone. That, however, wasn't the reason Sen was very hesitant to answer. How would he know about his kind if they are the sort to stay away from ponykind and they never met before. 

"I'd tell you but I'm not sure I should. How do you know the longma? Our kind are isolationists, preferring to avoid interacting with others who aren't longma. I'm an exception, though, but you knowing about my kind is highly suspect."
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 

@Blitz Boom @Storm Shine @Lucid_Nightlight

Things were getting serious now with Fluttershy noticing the situation already tensing up. Lucid's words, Anomaly's... sudden outburst? Big words hiding even bigger and darker hints that the pegasus didn't seem to get, not entirely. There was more to know but somehow, even she shudders at the possibility of knowing something she shouldn't. Not all things are meant to be knowable and yet with emotions running high and likely to explode, there had to be some way to resolve this. 

"Everyone, calm down. I'll be the neutral party here. Tell me your stories, each of you so we'll avoid a misunderstanding. Lucid, why don't you start first." 

[Lucid_Nightlight 923]

@Blitz Boom @Storm Shine @EQ_Theta

Lucid looked down for a moment. Discord was right, his friend can't be brought back, even with his stick at full multiverse level. Fluttershy asked and Lucid reckoned it was time for an explanation.

"After the events Tirek, damage was done to Canterlot Castle. Me and my friend Verum Star decided to volunteer to help do repairs. I was working with some stone when I accidently dropped it. It crushed my friend."

There was no hiding the regret in Lucid's eyes. He regretted his past, he was saddened by the present, and he feared the future.

"I am broken and I'm afraid of what my future holds. When I was given the stick, it made my lifespan infinite. I thought maybe I could bring him back and make him immortal too, but I know I can't. I fear making new friends because I know that I will outlive them."

When his friend died, no one blamed Lucid, everyone knew it was an unfortunate accident, but Lucid blamed himself.