open Casual stroll

Windy Breeze · February 21, 2021

Looks like Molotov did had to accompany Blitz in her early years before she grew enough to be a matured discerning filly despite of her still childish attitude. Molotov's reasonings prove to be right when they went into a large restaurant, trimming with fun activetes like dancing in the ballroom or what it seems to be a pool of balls of every colors of the rainbow with foals having fun.

Blue, who walked behind Luna as Molotov stared at her, and hearing he was examining her body with some kind of glasses, her wings unconsciously unfurled, feathers spread in its gracious colors of yellow and blue, her tail quickly tucked between her legs. It didn't help when Light decided to chime in as he and Molotov began talking about things she couldn't comprehend, their words bounded all over her brain. She trembled, trying to get her body to obey so she could ran away from the stallions. The last thing she would want to happen is someone messing with her body or her body disintegrating in a flash of light.

“Um...I..think so...” she said through a fake smile filled with worry, ”I think it doesn't hurt to try your inventions, M-Molotov...and to try the 'Iris' you talked about, Light"

Midnight_Aurora · February 21, 2021

@Blitz Boom

Cacora's PoV:

**While being curious, but also wanting to help with her now slightly taller form, Cacora decides to help the small one reach a higher place of being.**

**Cacora motions holding up a chittin covered hoof to and for the creature trying to climb her shark pony friend. Her body language shows something a kind to Fluttershy's nature with other creatures. She also says, using her natural affinity for emotions to better understand the creature, in a very calm and gentle voice,** "Here, let me help ya with that problem. Why don't you come rest on me. I am a bit taller than her in this form."

**Her daminor shows of a kind caring being that is also curious about what is around her. She is also looking for and listening for language ques to help decode the creatures native language, another natural ability she learned her kind had back during her training days as an infiltration specialist scout. Only reason she ain't smaller than just a foot or two shy of Big Mac sized is because of her most recent change. One of three she is probably going to undergo.**

@Blitz Boom

Silverwing's PoV:

**He does as instructed and doesn't resist. However, unlike last time, his magical field is still stable enough to not have another problem. The bigger problem would actually be that he looks like someone used chaos magic on a Breezie and made them pony sized, with proportionate appendages.**

**When she mentions that it might be safer with Lyra he gives a very respectful but definite,** "Nope. Not happening. I don't even desire to think of what she would want from me if she found out I am a pure blooded human. And trust me, I can think of allot of things she would want from me. Many of them Not Safe For Wuna or NSFW for short. Plus, her obsession almost boarders on just plain crazy."

**He does take the opportunity to observe the area more carefully. Peaking just enough to see where near the castle they appeared. He does make sure no guards see him peaking though. Very self aware of his surroundings.**

Evil Pink One · February 21, 2021

"excellent!" Light shouted with excitement

" I tried it before and died 3 times from that one experience, my body was to bulky and not smooth enough they said."

Light said with a disappointed look in his face.

" But you! Your body is at a perfect angle and state! And with the help of Molotov's contraption youd be able to achieve Iris mode without a hitch! You can make a very airodynamic jet and bady frame for her right Molotov?"

Rising Dusk · February 21, 2021

@Blitz Boom

It was still surprising how easily the mundane might amuse another. Taxi cabs wouldn't be all that considered luxury in a city like Manehatten. A cheap mode of transportation to travel the long distances from once side of the city to another. Somepony was still having to run, but not everypony was as fit or had the stamina of an Earth Pony cart puller. Gold Mane stared out the window peacefully, watching the city pass by as the taxi moved through the streets with that soothing clack of wooden wheels on cobblestone. "Sort of like a wagon. More of a carriage or enclosed cart with the primary purpose of carrying creatures rather than goods," Cork explained. "Very useful when you want to give your hooves or wings a rest and have a spare Bit or two to pay for the convenience. The number of ponies in Equestria that can use teleportation magic is actually quite small. So our land relies on public transportation such as taxis and trains for the most part." Still much more luxurious forms of transportation were available should a pony wish for such a thing, much like the luxury carriage employed by Dawn. A pony who didn't even need such ways of transportation, but did so merely for the luxury of it.

Grave was rather adorable, like watching a filly in a candy store. Taking in a new world far different than her own. "Not all towns in Equestria are like this. Manehattan is the largest city in the land. Every town is unique in its own way, but creatures from all over do live all over. That does include Diamond Dogs, Kirins, Yaks, Griffins, Changlings, Hippogriffs~" Gold Mane trailed off as Grave took notice of one of Manehattan's largest residence. Mostly small dragons roamed Equestria, but the occasional medium popped up here and there. "Dragons. That would be a dragon. Princess Twilight and her friends worked hard for many Moons to build friendships long thought impossible by ponykind here in Equestria."

"Many make their homes here and it sure makes for a lively city," Cork chuckled. The traffic on the streets was rather light this time of day, but by the time they finished getting Omen through the paces at the Court House, traffic was going to be a different story going home. "Say darling, do you have a place you'll be staying?" the older mare inquired of the other. A concern that needed to be mentioned due to her unusual entry into the land of light by way of mirror. Plenty of overnights in the city were available until more permanent arrangements could be made. If Omen didn't already plan to keep her house in Harrowmark and commute via mirror on the daily.

EQ_Theta · February 21, 2021

@Blitz Boom

“I’m worried about that. The elders and the longma in general don’t know that it was Discord’s doing, but if we say too much, they might exile us again, this time permanently. As much as we could explain our case to Ghilan, I’m afraid he’s outnumbered; Discord may be reformed, but probably doesn’t matter.”

“Maybe it would be better if we don’t say anything, or bring it up at all. The longma haven’t kept up with that matter in a long time. Perhaps it will be in everyone’s best interest to not bring up the past.”

Lin pondered on this matter as she waited in line, hoping Omen would understand. As much as she wanted to be distracted by Sen right now, this is an important matter that could leave lasting impressions. Lin, and to some degree, Sen, see Discord as a friend, but not many who know his impact on Equestria could confidently say the same. If the longma knew that, they’d quickly turn on Omen, the siblings, and anyone who harbored similar sentiments.

Meanwhile, Sen returned to the group and listened to Rosa, turning around to see one more pony photographer taking snapshots of the scene, including one where she caught him off-guard. It wasn’t as embarrassing as the incident earlier, but he still felt a little exposed. By then, it probably didn’t matter as he laughed it off, smiling and nodding at the filly before turning back to the thestral.

“Before you ask, those little fillies and colts asked if I could juggle, make balloon animals, ride a unicycle, or do any combination of those things. I don’t even know what a unicycle is!”

“Seriously? All that time spent traveling Equestria and you don’t know what that is?” Lin paused to think about the incredibly odd circumstances that would make her brother unaware of what a balloon is, but after a while, maybe there was a reason for it. “Imagine a seat with a wheel. Now think of yourself sitting on it while you're holding a- Actually, don't imagine anything further than the first thing I said.”

Sen knew Lin was thinking of something given how she was trying even harder not to laugh. In her mind, she saw her brother juggling balls while balancing on a unicycle surrounded by balloon animals. Silly enough indeed, but if it were to happen in reality… Well, the whole clown look would get more eyes on him.

“I don’t want to know what you’re thinking about,” the longma sighed before turning to Rosa. “Anyways, I caught a glimpse of you two talking earlier and Lin looked worried for a second. Is something wrong?”

Edited February 21, 2021 by EQ_Theta

Catpone Cerberus · February 22, 2021

@Blitz Boom
Ruby put the bag on her back in a way that it wouldn't fall off, but other than that she was her usual uninterested self during the interaction with the guards.

"Bird pestering will be next, I want to get my treasure back to Ponyville as quickly as possible." "We need to head to his boss's mansion in Canterlot (I hope I remember the city right), and while it is true that Charir may have some trouble with crowds, ponies are prey animals, and the interaction with the guards indicate that he isn't scared of them." "I also know a side entrance to the city from the forest with bit less ponies along the way." "Though I still need to explain the situation to Charir before we get there." she also needed to think a second about how to explain Charir to everyone else, but she had some kind of idea already and would tell Leviathan too when it was time for it.

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"Yes." Scarecrow stated "The risk is a small one to me when compared to the potential gain." "I admit that I am not optimistic, the things I have already tried make me doubt her ways to be any more effective, but if nothing else I could learn useful information." he explained "The worst case situation is that she can't help at all and a single pony who is considered weird by many knows my true nature, and while I believe she would not seek to spread the word, It's unlikely she would be believed here either if she did."

He looked into the direction of the town "Ultimately the disguise is only a temporary solution to a permanent problem, I may became part of civilization, maybe even some day I will be accepted as I am, but in the end it all will be meaningless to me, I will outlast generations, and eventually I'll outlast civilization itself, and longer I exist, more my remaining memories will lose meaning." "So if there is even the tiniest hope for me to leave this existence, I'll take it." he had once upon the time even considered to anger the protectors of Equestria to see where it would lead, but he had then learned the history of Discord, most of which he had forgotten at this point, and he had realized that the most likely result would be for him to turn to stone, which wasn't really any better than this.

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The siblings didn't bother correcting Onache, because it didn't really matter in their eyes, that and her critique was accurate for the time their kind had been used as slaves, there was also the fact that they didn't really know what to call it, because while they were imprisoned, they didn't know what for, since most criminals just got executed, nobody knew why some creatures were kept alive in the prisons instead. It could have been some kind of slavery as far as they knew.

They used the hour of alone time to discuss their current situation and Onache, it was clear this place wasn't the same where they came from, but it was hard to figure out if it was really any better, considering they hadn't seen anything outside this room. Onache was also a wildcard, the ulterior motives were obviously there, and the way she talked about slavery was bit concerning, but at the same time, between her and Solar, she was the preferable option for now.

They were still in the room when Onache got back, but neither were in the beds, and instead they were standing next to them and moving around a bit, laying in place didn't feel that good especially after being chained in one position for years, they also wanted to know how well they could move in their current shape. The fruits were mostly gone, one or two being only left.

They greeted Onache, and for the meat, both cooked and the raw would be taken, as they could eat both, and while cooked tasted bit better, they weren't picky. Even the bones would get eaten, but not before Trox used his metal arm to crush them into smaller pieces. They of course thanked her for doing this for them, but it was more formal sounding thanks than something someone truly desperate would say.

Blitz Boom · February 22, 2021

@Califorum

On 2021-02-20 at 11:41 PM, Magnolia said:

"I believe that...seeking out my former enemies of that nature might be improbable. It has been so long and they might have died or...went elsewhere in life. Who knows...but as for what I have within me, their former power I don't believe that they deserve it...after all I like having what I have now. As much as that maybe...selfish. It fulfills me. I still feel this hunger within me...to be stronger...faster and more powerful? But I won't seek it out anymore...for yours and my sake. But we shall see what the future holds...

And as for what you say about good creatures...there is no good and evil you know? Its all just...individual minds who are broken on their own paths, doing things for the reasons they do...but still some of them like the ones I have met have not taken a better path...but I hope those that I took down years ago have found a better path...or gotten what they really deserved by the law...but I don't know that and probably never will. Not that it matters as...we have our own things to figure out, you know?"

Zeehva did not speak further of her husband, as it were a topic that right now, mostly dimmed her mood, and made Magnolia apparently rather uncomfortable, and uncertain of what to say or do. It were best if they simply moved on to other things, and instead tried to find new topics to discuss. Though she were going to make one remark further on this one, as the fate of Magnolia's former victims, would be a topic that were best touched upon a little further, it seemed. It were hard to say though, but she could only try, and then hope it did something good in the end.

"Borrowing power is not inherently wrong, nor is feeling a want for more of it. It's what you do with that urge, and how much you keep, that defines what sort of pony you are. If those in the past are too far from your memory to get to, then let's try to focus on what happens in the future, okay? If ever we run into those from your past somehow, you can think on things then, but I won't push you. I'll just do my best to offer advice, and support."

She could do a great deal more really, but in this context, she'd rather focus on that, than say, how she may end up having to have Magnolia encased in living ruby, in case she reverted to a path of evil, and went completely off the rails. Which were something she didn't want to mention, because she sincerely hoped that it would not happen. Magnolia could be a force for good in some way, even with the sort of thing that she did, if utilized right, and given someone to help her shoulder things. At least that were her sincere hope.

On 2021-02-20 at 11:41 PM, Magnolia said:

As for the spotted boar that had came rumbling out of the brush Magnolia would have noticed early on. Spending time in these woods allowed her to be on alert more so than usual and so she were easily able to dodge the incoming piglet while warning Zeehva of it. Although it was a small piglet in likely cases. No harm done. Magnolia would shift the shadows around her, forcing the piglet to go back from where it would come. At least getting it out of this area. She was not one to harm innocent animals. Monsters and those that attacked her? Yes. But a piglet? Definitely not.

The piglet seemed rather confused by what she had just done, but it were a small mind. And a young one at that. So it simply just kept running the way it now faced, back towards where it came from. Which sounded like it were a good idea, as not long after, a deep, loud grunt from a larger boar were heard, before the weak, joyful squeal of the piglet. It seemed the parents had been going after it, and had Magnolia not send it back, they'd likely soon have to deal with an enlarged, angry wild boar. Which tended to be a bad idea to get riled up, even if both of them could likely deal with it somewhat simply.

Another sound caught Zeehva's attention though. A low rumbling at first, yet as she perked her ears, she could almost swear that she heard... Maybe the sound of carts on rocks? It were rather weak right now, but it sounded somewhat like that.

"Can you hear that? I think there might be a cart of wagon on a road somewhere nearby. Perhaps we're not that far from a town after all. Or at least someone who could tell us where we are.

Should we follow it?"

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@Silicon Chimera

"I don't see why not, if it moves along the plot. Though I am new in this town, lured in by plant and crown, so I know not where the best meal is around.

Perhaps our path goes, to the place marked as *Sloppy Joe's*? It seems to serve beverages which much variety. perhaps they even have decent tea?"

It were pretty much in eye sight. A coffee shop it seemed, that looked rather homely and welcome, with the name of *Sloppy Joe's* hanging over the door.

A burly, well groomed stallion would be standing outside, humming along as he swept the area where the outside chairs stood, whilst inside, they'd be able to see a variety of beings, wandering towards a barista, serving out cups of coffee, and various kinds of what Orchid would assume were containers of food. Seemed as good a place as any, yes?

If she had no issues with that, he'd head towards that, though before they entered, he'd whistle out to Bellarouge, and have her jump up to lay on his back. Not everywhere allowed pets, but at times, they would accept it if they did not move around, or cause issues. Worst case, she'd have to stand outside for a bit, but it didn't seem to be an issue as they approached, and the muscular stallion greeted them with a warm smile, and a small wave. A good indicator of the place, he'd say.

They'd have to stand in line for a little, but there were a board behind the barista that showed what sort of things they served in here. Seemed to be varied coffees, a few variants of tea, water, and sodas. There were also baked goods, various meals, ranging from hay burgers to full on stews, and even meat dishes. An unusual sight for what seemed to be a pony establishment, but who were he to judge? Although there appeared to be a griffon in here though. A frail little thing, sweeping the floors, and cleaning off the tables in silence. He didn't seem to be comfy around others, and didn't say a word, nor made eye contact with anyone here. Unusual for their kind, really, but that seemed to be a theme with this place.

"Anything you wish to try, that catches your eye? Worry not of the price if you wish to also eat. Consider it my treat."

(The barista)

(the stallion outside)

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@Windy Breeze

On 2021-02-21 at 1:22 AM, Windy Breeze said:

We went to the end of the hallway, with the last room being the storage room. Cimex turned to us and said “Now, both of you may feel uncomfortable, but don't worry. The storage room is just an obscure path to the secret room I talked about. Trust me on this okay?” that sounds very suspicious. There's guilt in her face, maybe she saw the ponies we passed just seconds ago as she's talking to me and Sorrow. I can't blame her, but I wanted to tell her there's an alternate way to sneak past them.

They might not be dead, but it still wasn't incredibly comforting to see so many just laying around, collapsed and unconscious. Especially the foal. It always felt wrong when something were done towards one of them, even tough this were thankfully not dangerous to the little one, it seemed.

She were also getting a little suspicious about all of this, with the setup they were going through. The changeling seemed to have some guilt on her face, as she lead them on, and this about having to go into a storage room, to get to a safe room? It were sounding a little fishy.

Legion were clear on their general opinion at least, even if Aurora might not be part of the ones of those that were skeptical: They did not trust this changeling. Something about this whole setup, set off some alarm bells with most of them too, and voices came to warn of trusting this one too much.

"Are you sure? Usually storage rooms only got one way in and out."

Her eyes would dart towards Razor, with the question lingering in her eyes about what they were supposed to do here. He claimed he knew her, and that they could trust her, but this were starting to feel like a trap. Were she really as trustworthy as he had claimed? Only he likely knew the answer to that, though he hopefully was right, if he kept on trusting her. Because if he weren't, they were soon going to be in big trouble.

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@Midnight_Aurora

On 2021-02-21 at 3:30 AM, Midnight_Aurora said:

"Here, let me help ya with that problem. Why don't you come rest on me. I am a bit taller than her in this form."

The grumbly were more than happy to take her up on the offer, and would grab out for her hoof before she were even truly within range. Once she were though, he'd grab hold tightly, and pull his tail out of the shark mare's muzzle, who figured that now were the time to let go of the weird thing she had found. Once it were up on her, it would climb up and not settle down, before it rested on Cacora's head. At which point, it would look down, to meet the gaze of the frizzle, still trying to reach up towards it with its fuzzy hands. Though now, it were well and truly out of range, and due to its form, were not good at climbing others. It were too smooth for that, in its current state, so the grumbly were safely out of reach.

It eventually gave up, and lowered the free floating hands. It would then give an annoyed glare to Cacora, with its single eye, before slithering around, and pop into a bush. It would find another target for its purpose, for now.

Seeing it leave, would make the grumbly let out a long sigh of relief, and lay flat down on its furred stomach, still up upon Cacora's head. It would also ramble incoherently, and poke her slightly on the top of her head with one of its wooden fingers, which seemed to make Rose giggle, and clap a little.

"Well well well, look at our very own lifesaver! Literally. The frizzles lay their eggs inside the grumblies. If it had gotten hold of this little guy, he would have gotten all five eggs shoved into his gullet, and been used as an incubator. You totally saved his life, and he's saying that he owes you big time for that. Seems like you've gotten yourself a devoted fan now, even if the frizzles aren't gonna like ya now. Maybe there's gonna come a few around to meddle with you later? Hehe, future fun time, maybe."

Wouldn't be long after this, that they'd reach a large, wooden table, with stumps around that could function as seats. On the table, were various wooden mugs, and a large can of warm, orange liquid. Pumpkin latte, to be exact.

There'd alsp be two bowls on the table. With one being filled with pony treats like candy, oats, and muffins, and the other filled with stuff like broken glass, rusty wires, poison joke, moss-covered bark stumps, and so on. Basically, nothing in that bowl, were considered edible by normal beings.

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@Midnight_Aurora

On 2021-02-21 at 3:30 AM, Midnight_Aurora said:

**When she mentions that it might be safer with Lyra he gives a very respectful but definite,** "Nope. Not happening. I don't even desire to think of what she would want from me if she found out I am a pure blooded human. And trust me, I can think of allot of things she would want from me. Many of them Not Safe For Wuna or NSFW for short. Plus, her obsession almost boarders on just plain crazy."

**He does take the opportunity to observe the area more carefully. Peaking just enough to see where near the castle they appeared. He does make sure no guards see him peaking though. Very self aware of his surroundings.**

His form wasn't that unusual to Vivid, but then again, she had been locked down for a long time. After a while, she just assumed there had come many weird races out during the years. As she were initially more focused on hi magic, and then the human aspect, she hadn't really given much thought to the moth-like look of Silverwing. Though in fairness, she had been away for millennia, and just recently gotten out. And if what Shining Armor and Cadence said of Twilight were true, she were busy these days making connections with creatures all over Equestria. Seemed reasonable to her to just assume these overgrown bug ponies were one of them, and simply a race she had just never run into yet.

That, and she sort of assumed that this disguise, or persona, or whatever it were that SIlverwing presented himself as, were a representation of a race that were actually in Equestria. Seemed odd to pick a form of something unseen.

"I'm not going to hoof you over to her. It would gain me nothing... Currently."

Her naturally alluring, teasing voice - a side effect of her demonic influence - made it hard sometimes to tell if she were kidding, but she would give a sly smile and just move along from there. Which honestly, didn't help either. Could be worse though. At least she were influenced by a more alluring aspect of the demons, and not the gruff, deep voice. That would simply be weird.

Moving ourt from here, they would not see anypony initially. But it wouldn't be long before a bat pony crossed a corner, munching on a caramelized apple. Likely his lunch break. And as he saw them, he paused. Nearly froze, as his brain were trying to wrap around the two weird ones he were having a look at right now, and formulate some sort of response to it. Like, were they enemies? Should he call the others? Had Star Spangle put a hallucination spell on him again, to have his fun? He'd need a bit of time to process.

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@Rising Dusk

On 2021-02-21 at 7:45 AM, Rising Dusk said:

"Sort of like a wagon. More of a carriage or enclosed cart with the primary purpose of carrying creatures rather than goods," Cork explained. "Very useful when you want to give your hooves or wings a rest and have a spare Bit or two to pay for the convenience. The number of ponies in Equestria that can use teleportation magic is actually quite small. So our land relies on public transportation such as taxis and trains for the most part."

"Wauv. That's smart. There's not a lot in Harrowmark who can teleport either, but we usually just walk, or go around in open wagons, pulled by larger creatures. Not that a lot walks out of the villages they're in. Been dangerous to do that, unless you were a courier, and most of that stuff is done by crow. Sounds like Equestria figured out how to make things a lot more convenient.

Is this a taxi, or a train? And what's the other one? Is it bigger?"

She may have to see it to believe it when it came to trains, but it were a rather marvelous invention, that she would in time, encounter and find wondrous. There were nothing like that she could draw comparisons to from back home. Not even a caravan, which were probably the closest one could get. The technology to make that sort of thing alone would be baffling. Though really, Harrowmark would get confused by a toaster. It wasn't really much it would take to blow her mind right now.

On 2021-02-21 at 7:45 AM, Rising Dusk said:

"Dragons. That would be a dragon. Princess Twilight and her friends worked hard for many Moons to build friendships long thought impossible by ponykind here in Equestria."

"Can you imagine one of those becoming a risen? Big diamond dogs are one thing, but that one would be a biiiig problem. Especially if it stayed smart.

It sounds like they're not that friendly? Or you had issues between you, that this princess of yours sorted out? We only have ponies and diamond dogs back home. This place is insanely diverse, and really open too, if you get in past enemies. Says a lot of good things about this place that you can get past what I'm guessing were some sort of really bad grudge or something, if royalty had to step in to sort it out.

...Is it like, prey and predator issues? I mean, just look at those teeth! I bet it could eat lots of ponies."

On 2021-02-21 at 7:45 AM, Rising Dusk said:

"Many make their homes here and it sure makes for a lively city," Cork chuckled. The traffic on the streets was rather light this time of day, but by the time they finished getting Omen through the paces at the Court House, traffic was going to be a different story going home. "Say darling, do you have a place you'll be staying?" the older mare inquired of the other. A concern that needed to be mentioned due to her unusual entry into the land of light by way of mirror. Plenty of overnights in the city were available until more permanent arrangements could be made. If Omen didn't already plan to keep her house in Harrowmark and commute via mirror on the daily.

This one she didn't answer right away, as she were watching somepony with a strange box on the street, wherein music came out of. She had seen music boxes before, but this were really elaborate, and had a lot of sound to it. Also, it were placed right in front of a store with what she'd guess were musical instruments. She recognized a few of them at least, so she just assumed the rest of them were that too.

"...Huh? Oh, that. Nope, but I still got some gold hidden nearby. I were washing the gold I'd been able to get when the weird ones showed up, so I got some stuff on me. Just dropped it off somewhere else, as it got in the way when they were making the dress.

I dunno though. Like, four bracers and a lump the size of my hoof. How much is that worth here? Actually, just the lump. The bracers were a fun thing to scavenge in the ghost town I've bee living in the last few years, so those would be kind of nice to keep. Plus, they're heavy, so they help giving some good exercise, for legs and wings alike.

If the lump lasts for a few days, I bet I will have found some sort of work to do by then. I dunno how Equestria works, but long as there's menial labor to get done, there's a need for someone to do it. Maybe a farm needs some help, or I can help clear a road for boulders? Maybe someone needs help finding a magical trinket I can sniff out? Lots of things. Just have to get a smiole on my face, be positive, and try and warn them about this shimmer before it goes off someday. Equestrians seems to get really weirded out by skeletons for some reason. I dunno why though. We all got them. What's the big issue? It's not like I'm munching on flesh, or bleeding constantly.. I don't even got a stomach mouth. Just an innocent little see-through pony, hehe."

She got to some extend that it was weird, but really, it wasn't That bad in her mind. So they could see through her to some extend. Big deal. She were still a regular pony after all. She weren't judging them for their silly hats, so surely they could give her a pass too, yes? Cork and Gold definitely had at least. And they were super nice ponies to boot. This were the sort of coworkers she'd love to hang around. They weren't all judging and antsy. Confused at first maybe, but they got over it.

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@EQ_Theta

On 2021-02-21 at 1:54 PM, EQ_Theta said:

“I’m worried about that. The elders and the longma in general don’t know that it was Discord’s doing, but if we say too much, they might exile us again, this time permanently. As much as we could explain our case to Ghilan, I’m afraid he’s outnumbered; Discord may be reformed, but probably doesn’t matter.”

“Maybe it would be better if we don’t say anything, or bring it up at all. The longma haven’t kept up with that matter in a long time. Perhaps it will be in everyone’s best interest to not bring up the past.”

"Then that's settled. Omen?"

"Yes?"

"Other longma don't like Discord right now, and that might make them think badly about Sen, Lin, and Ghilan. You don't want them to be hurt, or banished, right?"

"No."

"Then all you have to do, is not to talk about Discord when you are around other longma. And if they ask, just don't tell them. It isn't lying, if you just don't say something, right?"

"I understand. Master Discord told me this too sometimes."

"Yes, see? It's just like when you were asked about what you could share earlier, by Tomb. So just do the same with this subject."

Omen nodded. She understood, and would no longer bring up the matter of Discord, around other longma. It were restricting her speech some perhaps, but it were for the betterment of them all, and it wasn't as if Rosa were lying. It would hurt her friends, were she to be open about this, so it were best to just feint ignorance.

On 2021-02-21 at 1:54 PM, EQ_Theta said:

“Before you ask, those little fillies and colts asked if I could juggle, make balloon animals, ride a unicycle, or do any combination of those things. I don’t even know what a unicycle is!”

“Seriously? All that time spent traveling Equestria and you don’t know what that is?” Lin paused to think about the incredibly odd circumstances that would make her brother unaware of what a balloon is, but after a while, maybe there was a reason for it. “Imagine a seat with a wheel. Now think of yourself sitting on it while you're holding a- Actually, don't imagine anything further than the first thing I said.”

"Balloons are stretchy bags of thin rubber, in which you blow air to make them large, and if you use the right gas, also float. If you use your breath, they tend to stick to the ground, which can be good for certain birthdays. Balloon animals are when you use specific elongated ones, and with some technique, can fold several into one another, to make an animal shape. They're highly popular with kids of most races, not including griffon and dragons. Sharp claws, you see. And dragon whelps have an instinctual want to poke at things, and hunt. They can be rather bratty.

And juggling is essentially throwing various objects into the air, catching them, and then keep that going. Usually in a pattern so that you use the same hands for around 3-6 objects, and keep them in constant motion. It is wildly more difficult than it looks, and the last time I tried, I ended up unconscious."

Explaining helped him stifle his laughter, though it were still tempting to chuckle some, at the very least. There were just something endearing about his cluelessness, though Rosa felt sure that when one day he actually saw juggling, Sen may well be impressed. It wasn't as easy as he had assumed, at least. Not even with something as simple as three bowling pins.

On 2021-02-21 at 1:54 PM, EQ_Theta said:

“I don’t want to know what you’re thinking about,” the longma sighed before turning to Rosa. “Anyways, I caught a glimpse of you two talking earlier and Lin looked worried for a second. Is something wrong?”

"No, no need to worry. We have just made a deal with omen about not mentioning Discord around other longma. Just so that it doesn't potentially sour the meeting with the elder council, if they learn you associate with a former servant of his. From what Lin said, the story between your kins would likely mean that a bunch of traditionalists, would be less inclined to keep an open mind."

They would soon be at the end of the line, which went by rather fast. The wait line for the developed picture were something else, but the picture itself did not take long, most of the time, and soon enough they'd be able to see the one in charge. An elderly stallion, with a small pair of glasses at the end of his wrinkled, grey muzzle, and a camera stand. An old school version, which were a little cumbersome to wander around with, but professionals loved it. Made for clearer, more professional work they claimed, though of course, some just liked the novelty. At least it wasn't a black and white camera. Artistic types like that could get tedious.

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

@Catpone Cerberus

10 hours ago, Catpone Cerberus said:

"Bird pestering will be next, I want to get my treasure back to Ponyville as quickly as possible." "We need to head to his boss's mansion in Canterlot (I hope I remember the city right), and while it is true that Charir may have some trouble with crowds, ponies are prey animals, and the interaction with the guards indicate that he isn't scared of them." "I also know a side entrance to the city from the forest with bit less ponies along the way." "Though I still need to explain the situation to Charir before we get there." she also needed to think a second about how to explain Charir to everyone else, but she had some kind of idea already and would tell Leviathan too when it was time for it.

"Do you stash your treasure there, or are we going to rob the place?"

It was a fair question to ask really. They were dragons, and had a general want to hoard. A mansion meant that someone in there likely had a big load of gold and other valuables, so it were only fair to go by that, and assume that Ruby might think that the bird and his boss being absent, made it a perfect time to rob it. Personally, Leviathan didn't think it worth the bother to do that, but who were she to judge? If Ruby wanted to deal with the law, that was on her. If ever they knew that she were two different forms, that were.

"And I'm not worried that he might get scared of them. Why would he be, since all he's seen so far, is them needing help from stronger beings than themselves. Along with them being prey, as you say.

And the prey part is what concerns me. It's not worth the effort, to go through the trouble, that comes from him trying to snack on a pony in Canterlot. Or attack one of them for looking at him funny. Sneering and threatening is fine. They expect that from us. But I'd rather not have a couple of princesses, and a satchel of harmony, looking to turn us into stone.

So please. Just tell him to be indifferent towards these prey for now, and if they seem to look at him like he's worth less than them, or they're disgusted, make him give them his best snarl. They might expect it, but it always makes them jump. It's pretty satisfying, actually."

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

@Catpone Cerberus

"It would sadden me to see you leave, and I believe Crow would perhaps miss you too. Yet I understand your perspective on things, and if there is a way for you to find peace, I will help you, in every which way I can. I could hardly call myself your friend, were I not willing to help you with something you are justifiably yearning for."

It were as she suspected then. A shame in a sense, though it were a great omen for him, and she should be happy about that. It would be selfish of her to instead feel saddened over her want to have him as a friend.

"Pray tell then: If she cannot help, but perhaps her family could, what then? Would you be willing to travel to where they reside, to find your answer? I know you have been hesitant about leaving the area before, and even going in here were a push. If you were required to go further, would you be able to? I hope it will not come to this, but her talks of her family having their main home within these lands, makes me think they may have a seat of power, and this area does not have that aura that she have. It may be far from this area."

Were she herself able to go with him if it were? She were not certain, but she'd like to be there to support him. It were just that she had things to do here too, and she had to find some way to give herself time if it were. Perhaps she could find herself some assistants among the animal, who could help her with the worst? A thought to keep in mind until later, if needed.

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

@Catpone Cerberus

11 hours ago, Catpone Cerberus said:

They greeted Onache, and for the meat, both cooked and the raw would be taken, as they could eat both, and while cooked tasted bit better, they weren't picky. Even the bones would get eaten, but not before Trox used his metal arm to crush them into smaller pieces. They of course thanked her for doing this for them, but it was more formal sounding thanks than something someone truly desperate would say.

She simply observed the two as they ate, and sat down in the corner once more.

"It seems like you are improving. Good. It would hardly do you any good if you were stuck here for days on end, without sign of improvement.

I assume in my absence, you had a talk of my motives, and whatever or not I am worth trusting?"

She'd give them a few moments of silence to respond, or potentially even deny her claims. Didn't matter to her whatever they said. She would proceed the same, once she were done correcting her attire, in those few moments.

"You don't think me dense, do you? You come out of nowhere, from a world where trust is suicidal, and run into one like me. A creature you don't know what are, who have shown to brazenly meddle with others heads. I find it inconceivable to think that anyone but a fool would trust me on the spot then, and I do not insult your intellect by thinking you would. I expect you to have the same curtsey towards me.

So, let us stop this threading around, and cut to the chase then: I have a vested interest in helping you, because it helps me too. My position with these ponies are frail and weak. A potential bond in its infancy. To gain further ground, and secure my small part of the forest to myself, rather than have it overrun by pesky guards. I want to raise a hive and a sanctuary, yet that sort will require a certain degree of trust with them, and these ponies value helping others, and friendship. They see me helping you to establish yourselves, and then in turn, they are likely to be lenient towards me.

So yes, I am using you. However, is that truly a bad thing? It is still helping you, and will give you a powerful ally in the times ahead. The one one you currently have, mind you. And it does not make my want to help you any less sincere. It simply means that we both gain from this."

Why not be straight forward by this point? Sure she could change their mind, but it were simpler if they did not run around with worries of what her plans might be for them. Were she upfront, this could be moved past, without her needing to maintain a set of memories for them, that made them think her more or less their deity. It would not hold in the long run, and would likely only make her position weaker.

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

@Neoeryn

A humming went calmly through Ponyville, drawing the eyes of a few ponies here and there. The sound came from a moving cloud it seemed, travelling in ground level. It glowed a soft green, and underneath the elongated cloud (roughly three meters long), floated a series of fresh lily pads, dripping with water that didn't really come from anywhere sensible.

As the cloud travelled calmly through town, anyone who came in contact with it, would sit down, and seem to space out, in a completely relaxed state. As if their worries and obligations had been lifted from their shoulders for a time, by this odd anomaly.

It seemed harmless, but the ponies around still did what they could to get out of its way fast. Barring a few sorts who had seen the effect, and could really do with a few moments of peace.

Once in a while as it travelled through, a calming, melodic voice would let some words flow through town, carrying a light, female voice.

"Child, oh child, where may you be? Where may I find you, oh, spirit so free? Ive come from afar, though yet I can't see. That sweet, dear child, of calamity."

It would repeat every few minutes, with the little song reaching far and wide in town, as the cloud passed through. For most, it wouldn't make much sense. But a certain draconequus should know who it were this one were searching for. Both of them frankly should, seeing as Discord lived in this town, but what had he to fear?

Everything were going to be okay.

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

@Windy Breeze @Califorum @Kujamih

On 2021-02-21 at 12:25 AM, Cali said:

"You shouldn't be running off like that. It's kinda dangerous. I'm not your babysitter but still. Don't run off like that." Cali said rather awkwardly.

Blitz were currently having a blast in a foals only playground of plastic balls, with some slides and such buried within the area.

In other words, she weren't listening to a single word being said to her right now. Though the mare at the counter did, so she at least knew now for sure that this one were in after Blitz. Which just made her raise an eyebrow even further.

On 2021-02-21 at 12:25 AM, Cali said:

"Uh, I guess I'm one of...Blitz's friends. Whats on the menu? Some others are coming..." she said awkwardly as she pulled out entire gold bars and placed them on the counter. She had no idea how this place worked in terms of money. Gold bars would do probably. They had the United States seal on them. Guess where she got them. "I don't understand how anything works around here. If these bars are too much I can just break off a small piece and pay with that, then. But I am hungry. I haven't eaten in months, not that I really have to eat but still...what ya got?" she took upon a more of a southern, Texan accent as she asked that question.

She wouldn't say anything for a time, until her coworker elbowed her, and she'd awkwardly clear her throat.

"Right, right... Sorry, we're not used to see those two have friends. They-"

Her words were cut off, when the gold bar were placed on the counter, and she went totally mute. This felt a good deal over her paygrade. Which were why it were probably best that a slightly older mare tapped her on the back, and made her stand aside, that she may take over. A more friendly one this too, as she kept an open mind, and looked calmly at Cali, behind her halfmoon glasses.

"Sorry about that miss. I am her supervisor, and it's a pleasure to see you. A full gold bar would likely buy you everything on the menu, around three times, so I would say that a minor amount would likely be better. If you would please look at the board behind me, you can see what we have of food, and I can tell you how much would be needed for that.

If you are very hungry, I would suggest perhaps going for a Big Bonanza meal. There are three hayburgers, two extra large hayfries, a grand soda, a bowl of dipping sauce of your own choice, and a fourty pack of veggie nuggets. It's usually for families, but if you're starved, it might do the trick. And would amount to a slice roughly... This big."

She'd indicate where she meant on the bar. A fairly reasonable amount. This wasn't a high end restaurant either. It were a simple, down to earth family establishment. That wouldn't last if they jacked up the prices, right? Silly idea right there, and something that had been the downfall of similar places, who attempted to do it to lure more high end clientele in. Never ended up going well in the long run, but hey: Less competition.

On 2021-02-21 at 12:41 AM, Kujamih said:

" Oh i know a technique used by rainbow dash called "Iris" you turn into literal light and move like light as well... Just remember to turn back to solid... The only known ponies who can do that in the entire unvierse is rainbowdash and windy breeze. Wanna be one of them?"

On 2021-02-21 at 2:08 AM, Windy Breeze said:

Blue, who walked behind Luna as Molotov stared at her, and hearing he was examining her body with some kind of glasses, her wings unconsciously unfurled, feathers spread in its gracious colors of yellow and blue, her tail quickly tucked between her legs. It didn't help when Light decided to chime in as he and Molotov began talking about things she couldn't comprehend, their words bounded all over her brain. She trembled, trying to get her body to obey so she could ran away from the stallions. The last thing she would want to happen is someone messing with her body or her body disintegrating in a flash of light.

“Um...I..think so...” she said through a fake smile filled with worry, ”I think it doesn't hurt to try your inventions, M-Molotov...and to try the 'Iris' you talked about, Light"

"Turning into light isn't really a big deal. It's just releasing all your energy. Any mad scientist can get that done. It's that part about turning back solid that's the rub, yeah. If I knew how they did that, I'd be able to get some interesting experiments done for sure. Not on ponies though. I ain't crazy. But just imagine the sort of robots one could have with that sort of ability. They could be in a special capsule up near the capsule, and then whenever there were issues, the guards could dispatch them as quickly engaging backup. Just imagine how helpful that'd be to smaller communities and towns, without many, if any, guards in the area? Not to speak about the movers. Could get a whole ton of ore from one place to another, in the blink of an eye, without having to deal with that pesky teleportation magic."

Molotov were feeling positively giddy and spry as they chatted about this. Always lovely to have a scientific talk with someone who could appreciate it, and fire back with something interesting in turn. Though it seemed to make Blue a little uncomfortable. He could see it both with his exposed, regular left eye, and then the one covered by his specialized eyewear. A funny construction that had a myriad of various glasses in layers in front of his eye, with small levers protruding from the top and side that he could adjust to account for various things he needed to see. Be it normal, thermal, x-ray, zoom, that sort. It were extremely helpful for his work, but he tended to use it everywhere. And at this point, it were more or less an automated act to adjust it with his magic, more often than not. It barely even registered anymore, unless he tried to do something very specific.

"Oh man, sure are a lot of good ideas here. But not the one about experimenting on you, Blue. That'd be crazy talk. The sort of thing I'm talking about would first have to be build, then tested, then retested at least fifty more times under various conditions, and then a few more just to add some variables. And that's before the first test on any live tissue even begins. This whole thing would take a comfy ten years before I'd consider it safe for any sort of pony to use, and even then I figure it's just gonna need to be for wing amputees in the army, who got a special permit for it. I were just spit-balling ideas before. Ain't gonna try anything like this on you. That'd be crazy talk. Only pony I've ever inserted experimental technology into, is myself. Had a surgeon that owed me a favor help set the wings in on my back.

Got me laying down for months after that, and it tingles in my spine when there's a thundercloud nearby, but it worked. Only an 11.7% chance it would have paralyzed me for life. Still nothing I'd do to others though. They're still in their testing stage, and I'm the subject.

So yeah, don't worry that noggin of yours Blue. I ain't gonna harm a hair on ya. Pretty sure if I tried anything, Luna here would beat kick me into next week too, eh?"

Now come on then Light, let's stop messing with the poor mare before she ends up thinking we're crazy or something. Y'know, crazier than somepony saying they died three times is, since that'd be real crazy talk. Though I'm totally game for trying this sort on another creature, once the testing phase is done. You ever considered what a mechanical spider, or mosquioto, travelling at the speed of light would be like? Beyond the sort to make most folks scared outta their good skin?"

Sphinx-Ara · February 23, 2021

@Blitz Boom

Silica would smile and nod, looking in the direction of the cafe and smiles more "Sure, we can go there" she'd say to Orchid, following him and Bellarouge to the cafe. "Your treat? Well that is awfully kind of you" she smiles and waves to the pony who smiled and waved to them.

As they entered the cafe and she looked at the menu, she would think for a moment "Oh, I'd love a mint chocolate mocha with a nice warm stew, please" she'd tell Orchid "Oh and please make the mocha a large, I haven't one in ages"

Windy Breeze · February 23, 2021

@Blitz Boom

“Um...yeah. We trust you” Well not really. I was very skeptic. A storage room is always a bad sign you will be foalnapped, having read a few crime novels in the past. I haven't put much trust to Cimex despite what Razor told us about her. I heard someone spoke, Probably Sorrow or some of those more reluctant spirits.

Cimex suddenly let out sigh “The look on your eyes tells me both of you are wary of me. Tell the stallions who built this inn the storage room is the most creepiest place in Equestria” she opens the door.

It was all what I was expecting; a small room with shelves with large amount of boxes. Cimex was the first one to enter. I was a bit hesitant mainly because it's a storage room but I found my hooves taking it's first step into the room. I felt a smooth brush against the fur of my side as Razor followed her, his eyes filled with worry. Lucky for us, the room wasnot like a maze and we immediately found Cimex standing by a door with a title on top saying 'There are no changelings here!', implying she doesn't want anypony to enter. Now what if the secret room she was talking about turns out to be her living quarters?

“Look, you don't have to believe. You can just turn around and go. I'm not going to force both you to follow me here” Cimex frowned, staring at us coldly, “Besides, no-one ever trust a changeling”

Edited February 23, 2021 by Windy Breeze

Evil Pink One · February 23, 2021

6 hours ago, Blitz Boom said:

@Califorum

Zeehva did not speak further of her husband, as it were a topic that right now, mostly dimmed her mood, and made Magnolia apparently rather uncomfortable, and uncertain of what to say or do. It were best if they simply moved on to other things, and instead tried to find new topics to discuss. Though she were going to make one remark further on this one, as the fate of Magnolia's former victims, would be a topic that were best touched upon a little further, it seemed. It were hard to say though, but she could only try, and then hope it did something good in the end.

"Borrowing power is not inherently wrong, nor is feeling a want for more of it. It's what you do with that urge, and how much you keep, that defines what sort of pony you are. If those in the past are too far from your memory to get to, then let's try to focus on what happens in the future, okay? If ever we run into those from your past somehow, you can think on things then, but I won't push you. I'll just do my best to offer advice, and support."

She could do a great deal more really, but in this context, she'd rather focus on that, than say, how she may end up having to have Magnolia encased in living ruby, in case she reverted to a path of evil, and went completely off the rails. Which were something she didn't want to mention, because she sincerely hoped that it would not happen. Magnolia could be a force for good in some way, even with the sort of thing that she did, if utilized right, and given someone to help her shoulder things. At least that were her sincere hope.

The piglet seemed rather confused by what she had just done, but it were a small mind. And a young one at that. So it simply just kept running the way it now faced, back towards where it came from. Which sounded like it were a good idea, as not long after, a deep, loud grunt from a larger boar were heard, before the weak, joyful squeal of the piglet. It seemed the parents had been going after it, and had Magnolia not send it back, they'd likely soon have to deal with an enlarged, angry wild boar. Which tended to be a bad idea to get riled up, even if both of them could likely deal with it somewhat simply.

Another sound caught Zeehva's attention though. A low rumbling at first, yet as she perked her ears, she could almost swear that she heard... Maybe the sound of carts on rocks? It were rather weak right now, but it sounded somewhat like that.

"Can you hear that? I think there might be a cart of wagon on a road somewhere nearby. Perhaps we're not that far from a town after all. Or at least someone who could tell us where we are.

Should we follow it?"

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

@Silicon Chimera

"I don't see why not, if it moves along the plot. Though I am new in this town, lured in by plant and crown, so I know not where the best meal is around.

Perhaps our path goes, to the place marked as *Sloppy Joe's*? It seems to serve beverages which much variety. perhaps they even have decent tea?"

It were pretty much in eye sight. A coffee shop it seemed, that looked rather homely and welcome, with the name of *Sloppy Joe's* hanging over the door.

A burly, well groomed stallion would be standing outside, humming along as he swept the area where the outside chairs stood, whilst inside, they'd be able to see a variety of beings, wandering towards a barista, serving out cups of coffee, and various kinds of what Orchid would assume were containers of food. Seemed as good a place as any, yes?

If she had no issues with that, he'd head towards that, though before they entered, he'd whistle out to Bellarouge, and have her jump up to lay on his back. Not everywhere allowed pets, but at times, they would accept it if they did not move around, or cause issues. Worst case, she'd have to stand outside for a bit, but it didn't seem to be an issue as they approached, and the muscular stallion greeted them with a warm smile, and a small wave. A good indicator of the place, he'd say.

They'd have to stand in line for a little, but there were a board behind the barista that showed what sort of things they served in here. Seemed to be varied coffees, a few variants of tea, water, and sodas. There were also baked goods, various meals, ranging from hay burgers to full on stews, and even meat dishes. An unusual sight for what seemed to be a pony establishment, but who were he to judge? Although there appeared to be a griffon in here though. A frail little thing, sweeping the floors, and cleaning off the tables in silence. He didn't seem to be comfy around others, and didn't say a word, nor made eye contact with anyone here. Unusual for their kind, really, but that seemed to be a theme with this place.

"Anything you wish to try, that catches your eye? Worry not of the price if you wish to also eat. Consider it my treat."

(The barista)

(the stallion outside)

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

@Windy Breeze

They might not be dead, but it still wasn't incredibly comforting to see so many just laying around, collapsed and unconscious. Especially the foal. It always felt wrong when something were done towards one of them, even tough this were thankfully not dangerous to the little one, it seemed.

She were also getting a little suspicious about all of this, with the setup they were going through. The changeling seemed to have some guilt on her face, as she lead them on, and this about having to go into a storage room, to get to a safe room? It were sounding a little fishy.

Legion were clear on their general opinion at least, even if Aurora might not be part of the ones of those that were skeptical: They did not trust this changeling. Something about this whole setup, set off some alarm bells with most of them too, and voices came to warn of trusting this one too much.

"Are you sure? Usually storage rooms only got one way in and out."

Her eyes would dart towards Razor, with the question lingering in her eyes about what they were supposed to do here. He claimed he knew her, and that they could trust her, but this were starting to feel like a trap. Were she really as trustworthy as he had claimed? Only he likely knew the answer to that, though he hopefully was right, if he kept on trusting her. Because if he weren't, they were soon going to be in big trouble.

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

@Midnight_Aurora

The grumbly were more than happy to take her up on the offer, and would grab out for her hoof before she were even truly within range. Once she were though, he'd grab hold tightly, and pull his tail out of the shark mare's muzzle, who figured that now were the time to let go of the weird thing she had found. Once it were up on her, it would climb up and not settle down, before it rested on Cacora's head. At which point, it would look down, to meet the gaze of the frizzle, still trying to reach up towards it with its fuzzy hands. Though now, it were well and truly out of range, and due to its form, were not good at climbing others. It were too smooth for that, in its current state, so the grumbly were safely out of reach.

It eventually gave up, and lowered the free floating hands. It would then give an annoyed glare to Cacora, with its single eye, before slithering around, and pop into a bush. It would find another target for its purpose, for now.

Seeing it leave, would make the grumbly let out a long sigh of relief, and lay flat down on its furred stomach, still up upon Cacora's head. It would also ramble incoherently, and poke her slightly on the top of her head with one of its wooden fingers, which seemed to make Rose giggle, and clap a little.

"Well well well, look at our very own lifesaver! Literally. The frizzles lay their eggs inside the grumblies. If it had gotten hold of this little guy, he would have gotten all five eggs shoved into his gullet, and been used as an incubator. You totally saved his life, and he's saying that he owes you big time for that. Seems like you've gotten yourself a devoted fan now, even if the frizzles aren't gonna like ya now. Maybe there's gonna come a few around to meddle with you later? Hehe, future fun time, maybe."

Wouldn't be long after this, that they'd reach a large, wooden table, with stumps around that could function as seats. On the table, were various wooden mugs, and a large can of warm, orange liquid. Pumpkin latte, to be exact.

There'd alsp be two bowls on the table. With one being filled with pony treats like candy, oats, and muffins, and the other filled with stuff like broken glass, rusty wires, poison joke, moss-covered bark stumps, and so on. Basically, nothing in that bowl, were considered edible by normal beings.

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

@Midnight_Aurora

His form wasn't that unusual to Vivid, but then again, she had been locked down for a long time. After a while, she just assumed there had come many weird races out during the years. As she were initially more focused on hi magic, and then the human aspect, she hadn't really given much thought to the moth-like look of Silverwing. Though in fairness, she had been away for millennia, and just recently gotten out. And if what Shining Armor and Cadence said of Twilight were true, she were busy these days making connections with creatures all over Equestria. Seemed reasonable to her to just assume these overgrown bug ponies were one of them, and simply a race she had just never run into yet.

That, and she sort of assumed that this disguise, or persona, or whatever it were that SIlverwing presented himself as, were a representation of a race that were actually in Equestria. Seemed odd to pick a form of something unseen.

"I'm not going to hoof you over to her. It would gain me nothing... Currently."

Her naturally alluring, teasing voice - a side effect of her demonic influence - made it hard sometimes to tell if she were kidding, but she would give a sly smile and just move along from there. Which honestly, didn't help either. Could be worse though. At least she were influenced by a more alluring aspect of the demons, and not the gruff, deep voice. That would simply be weird.

Moving ourt from here, they would not see anypony initially. But it wouldn't be long before a bat pony crossed a corner, munching on a caramelized apple. Likely his lunch break. And as he saw them, he paused. Nearly froze, as his brain were trying to wrap around the two weird ones he were having a look at right now, and formulate some sort of response to it. Like, were they enemies? Should he call the others? Had Star Spangle put a hallucination spell on him again, to have his fun? He'd need a bit of time to process.

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

@Rising Dusk

"Wauv. That's smart. There's not a lot in Harrowmark who can teleport either, but we usually just walk, or go around in open wagons, pulled by larger creatures. Not that a lot walks out of the villages they're in. Been dangerous to do that, unless you were a courier, and most of that stuff is done by crow. Sounds like Equestria figured out how to make things a lot more convenient.

Is this a taxi, or a train? And what's the other one? Is it bigger?"

She may have to see it to believe it when it came to trains, but it were a rather marvelous invention, that she would in time, encounter and find wondrous. There were nothing like that she could draw comparisons to from back home. Not even a caravan, which were probably the closest one could get. The technology to make that sort of thing alone would be baffling. Though really, Harrowmark would get confused by a toaster. It wasn't really much it would take to blow her mind right now.

"Can you imagine one of those becoming a risen? Big diamond dogs are one thing, but that one would be a biiiig problem. Especially if it stayed smart.

It sounds like they're not that friendly? Or you had issues between you, that this princess of yours sorted out? We only have ponies and diamond dogs back home. This place is insanely diverse, and really open too, if you get in past enemies. Says a lot of good things about this place that you can get past what I'm guessing were some sort of really bad grudge or something, if royalty had to step in to sort it out.

...Is it like, prey and predator issues? I mean, just look at those teeth! I bet it could eat lots of ponies."

This one she didn't answer right away, as she were watching somepony with a strange box on the street, wherein music came out of. She had seen music boxes before, but this were really elaborate, and had a lot of sound to it. Also, it were placed right in front of a store with what she'd guess were musical instruments. She recognized a few of them at least, so she just assumed the rest of them were that too.

"...Huh? Oh, that. Nope, but I still got some gold hidden nearby. I were washing the gold I'd been able to get when the weird ones showed up, so I got some stuff on me. Just dropped it off somewhere else, as it got in the way when they were making the dress.

I dunno though. Like, four bracers and a lump the size of my hoof. How much is that worth here? Actually, just the lump. The bracers were a fun thing to scavenge in the ghost town I've bee living in the last few years, so those would be kind of nice to keep. Plus, they're heavy, so they help giving some good exercise, for legs and wings alike.

If the lump lasts for a few days, I bet I will have found some sort of work to do by then. I dunno how Equestria works, but long as there's menial labor to get done, there's a need for someone to do it. Maybe a farm needs some help, or I can help clear a road for boulders? Maybe someone needs help finding a magical trinket I can sniff out? Lots of things. Just have to get a smiole on my face, be positive, and try and warn them about this shimmer before it goes off someday. Equestrians seems to get really weirded out by skeletons for some reason. I dunno why though. We all got them. What's the big issue? It's not like I'm munching on flesh, or bleeding constantly.. I don't even got a stomach mouth. Just an innocent little see-through pony, hehe."

She got to some extend that it was weird, but really, it wasn't That bad in her mind. So they could see through her to some extend. Big deal. She were still a regular pony after all. She weren't judging them for their silly hats, so surely they could give her a pass too, yes? Cork and Gold definitely had at least. And they were super nice ponies to boot. This were the sort of coworkers she'd love to hang around. They weren't all judging and antsy. Confused at first maybe, but they got over it.

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

@EQ_Theta

"Then that's settled. Omen?"

"Yes?"

"Other longma don't like Discord right now, and that might make them think badly about Sen, Lin, and Ghilan. You don't want them to be hurt, or banished, right?"

"No."

"Then all you have to do, is not to talk about Discord when you are around other longma. And if they ask, just don't tell them. It isn't lying, if you just don't say something, right?"

"I understand. Master Discord told me this too sometimes."

"Yes, see? It's just like when you were asked about what you could share earlier, by Tomb. So just do the same with this subject."

Omen nodded. She understood, and would no longer bring up the matter of Discord, around other longma. It were restricting her speech some perhaps, but it were for the betterment of them all, and it wasn't as if Rosa were lying. It would hurt her friends, were she to be open about this, so it were best to just feint ignorance.

"Balloons are stretchy bags of thin rubber, in which you blow air to make them large, and if you use the right gas, also float. If you use your breath, they tend to stick to the ground, which can be good for certain birthdays. Balloon animals are when you use specific elongated ones, and with some technique, can fold several into one another, to make an animal shape. They're highly popular with kids of most races, not including griffon and dragons. Sharp claws, you see. And dragon whelps have an instinctual want to poke at things, and hunt. They can be rather bratty.

And juggling is essentially throwing various objects into the air, catching them, and then keep that going. Usually in a pattern so that you use the same hands for around 3-6 objects, and keep them in constant motion. It is wildly more difficult than it looks, and the last time I tried, I ended up unconscious."

Explaining helped him stifle his laughter, though it were still tempting to chuckle some, at the very least. There were just something endearing about his cluelessness, though Rosa felt sure that when one day he actually saw juggling, Sen may well be impressed. It wasn't as easy as he had assumed, at least. Not even with something as simple as three bowling pins.

"No, no need to worry. We have just made a deal with omen about not mentioning Discord around other longma. Just so that it doesn't potentially sour the meeting with the elder council, if they learn you associate with a former servant of his. From what Lin said, the story between your kins would likely mean that a bunch of traditionalists, would be less inclined to keep an open mind."

They would soon be at the end of the line, which went by rather fast. The wait line for the developed picture were something else, but the picture itself did not take long, most of the time, and soon enough they'd be able to see the one in charge. An elderly stallion, with a small pair of glasses at the end of his wrinkled, grey muzzle, and a camera stand. An old school version, which were a little cumbersome to wander around with, but professionals loved it. Made for clearer, more professional work they claimed, though of course, some just liked the novelty. At least it wasn't a black and white camera. Artistic types like that could get tedious.

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

@Catpone Cerberus

"Do you stash your treasure there, or are we going to rob the place?"

It was a fair question to ask really. They were dragons, and had a general want to hoard. A mansion meant that someone in there likely had a big load of gold and other valuables, so it were only fair to go by that, and assume that Ruby might think that the bird and his boss being absent, made it a perfect time to rob it. Personally, Leviathan didn't think it worth the bother to do that, but who were she to judge? If Ruby wanted to deal with the law, that was on her. If ever they knew that she were two different forms, that were.

"And I'm not worried that he might get scared of them. Why would he be, since all he's seen so far, is them needing help from stronger beings than themselves. Along with them being prey, as you say.

And the prey part is what concerns me. It's not worth the effort, to go through the trouble, that comes from him trying to snack on a pony in Canterlot. Or attack one of them for looking at him funny. Sneering and threatening is fine. They expect that from us. But I'd rather not have a couple of princesses, and a satchel of harmony, looking to turn us into stone.

So please. Just tell him to be indifferent towards these prey for now, and if they seem to look at him like he's worth less than them, or they're disgusted, make him give them his best snarl. They might expect it, but it always makes them jump. It's pretty satisfying, actually."

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

@Catpone Cerberus

"It would sadden me to see you leave, and I believe Crow would perhaps miss you too. Yet I understand your perspective on things, and if there is a way for you to find peace, I will help you, in every which way I can. I could hardly call myself your friend, were I not willing to help you with something you are justifiably yearning for."

It were as she suspected then. A shame in a sense, though it were a great omen for him, and she should be happy about that. It would be selfish of her to instead feel saddened over her want to have him as a friend.

"Pray tell then: If she cannot help, but perhaps her family could, what then? Would you be willing to travel to where they reside, to find your answer? I know you have been hesitant about leaving the area before, and even going in here were a push. If you were required to go further, would you be able to? I hope it will not come to this, but her talks of her family having their main home within these lands, makes me think they may have a seat of power, and this area does not have that aura that she have. It may be far from this area."

Were she herself able to go with him if it were? She were not certain, but she'd like to be there to support him. It were just that she had things to do here too, and she had to find some way to give herself time if it were. Perhaps she could find herself some assistants among the animal, who could help her with the worst? A thought to keep in mind until later, if needed.

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

@Catpone Cerberus

She simply observed the two as they ate, and sat down in the corner once more.

"It seems like you are improving. Good. It would hardly do you any good if you were stuck here for days on end, without sign of improvement.

I assume in my absence, you had a talk of my motives, and whatever or not I am worth trusting?"

She'd give them a few moments of silence to respond, or potentially even deny her claims. Didn't matter to her whatever they said. She would proceed the same, once she were done correcting her attire, in those few moments.

"You don't think me dense, do you? You come out of nowhere, from a world where trust is suicidal, and run into one like me. A creature you don't know what are, who have shown to brazenly meddle with others heads. I find it inconceivable to think that anyone but a fool would trust me on the spot then, and I do not insult your intellect by thinking you would. I expect you to have the same curtsey towards me.

So, let us stop this threading around, and cut to the chase then: I have a vested interest in helping you, because it helps me too. My position with these ponies are frail and weak. A potential bond in its infancy. To gain further ground, and secure my small part of the forest to myself, rather than have it overrun by pesky guards. I want to raise a hive and a sanctuary, yet that sort will require a certain degree of trust with them, and these ponies value helping others, and friendship. They see me helping you to establish yourselves, and then in turn, they are likely to be lenient towards me.

So yes, I am using you. However, is that truly a bad thing? It is still helping you, and will give you a powerful ally in the times ahead. The one one you currently have, mind you. And it does not make my want to help you any less sincere. It simply means that we both gain from this."

Why not be straight forward by this point? Sure she could change their mind, but it were simpler if they did not run around with worries of what her plans might be for them. Were she upfront, this could be moved past, without her needing to maintain a set of memories for them, that made them think her more or less their deity. It would not hold in the long run, and would likely only make her position weaker.

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

@Neoeryn

A humming went calmly through Ponyville, drawing the eyes of a few ponies here and there. The sound came from a moving cloud it seemed, travelling in ground level. It glowed a soft green, and underneath the elongated cloud (roughly three meters long), floated a series of fresh lily pads, dripping with water that didn't really come from anywhere sensible.

As the cloud travelled calmly through town, anyone who came in contact with it, would sit down, and seem to space out, in a completely relaxed state. As if their worries and obligations had been lifted from their shoulders for a time, by this odd anomaly.

It seemed harmless, but the ponies around still did what they could to get out of its way fast. Barring a few sorts who had seen the effect, and could really do with a few moments of peace.

Once in a while as it travelled through, a calming, melodic voice would let some words flow through town, carrying a light, female voice.

"Child, oh child, where may you be? Where may I find you, oh, spirit so free? Ive come from afar, though yet I can't see. That sweet, dear child, of calamity."

It would repeat every few minutes, with the little song reaching far and wide in town, as the cloud passed through. For most, it wouldn't make much sense. But a certain draconequus should know who it were this one were searching for. Both of them frankly should, seeing as Discord lived in this town, but what had he to fear?

Everything were going to be okay.

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

@Windy Breeze @Califorum @Kujamih

Blitz were currently having a blast in a foals only playground of plastic balls, with some slides and such buried within the area.

In other words, she weren't listening to a single word being said to her right now. Though the mare at the counter did, so she at least knew now for sure that this one were in after Blitz. Which just made her raise an eyebrow even further.

She wouldn't say anything for a time, until her coworker elbowed her, and she'd awkwardly clear her throat.

"Right, right... Sorry, we're not used to see those two have friends. They-"

Her words were cut off, when the gold bar were placed on the counter, and she went totally mute. This felt a good deal over her paygrade. Which were why it were probably best that a slightly older mare tapped her on the back, and made her stand aside, that she may take over. A more friendly one this too, as she kept an open mind, and looked calmly at Cali, behind her halfmoon glasses.

"Sorry about that miss. I am her supervisor, and it's a pleasure to see you. A full gold bar would likely buy you everything on the menu, around three times, so I would say that a minor amount would likely be better. If you would please look at the board behind me, you can see what we have of food, and I can tell you how much would be needed for that.

If you are very hungry, I would suggest perhaps going for a Big Bonanza meal. There are three hayburgers, two extra large hayfries, a grand soda, a bowl of dipping sauce of your own choice, and a fourty pack of veggie nuggets. It's usually for families, but if you're starved, it might do the trick. And would amount to a slice roughly... This big."

She'd indicate where she meant on the bar. A fairly reasonable amount. This wasn't a high end restaurant either. It were a simple, down to earth family establishment. That wouldn't last if they jacked up the prices, right? Silly idea right there, and something that had been the downfall of similar places, who attempted to do it to lure more high end clientele in. Never ended up going well in the long run, but hey: Less competition.

"Turning into light isn't really a big deal. It's just releasing all your energy. Any mad scientist can get that done. It's that part about turning back solid that's the rub, yeah. If I knew how they did that, I'd be able to get some interesting experiments done for sure. Not on ponies though. I ain't crazy. But just imagine the sort of robots one could have with that sort of ability. They could be in a special capsule up near the capsule, and then whenever there were issues, the guards could dispatch them as quickly engaging backup. Just imagine how helpful that'd be to smaller communities and towns, without many, if any, guards in the area? Not to speak about the movers. Could get a whole ton of ore from one place to another, in the blink of an eye, without having to deal with that pesky teleportation magic."

Molotov were feeling positively giddy and spry as they chatted about this. Always lovely to have a scientific talk with someone who could appreciate it, and fire back with something interesting in turn. Though it seemed to make Blue a little uncomfortable. He could see it both with his exposed, regular left eye, and then the one covered by his specialized eyewear. A funny construction that had a myriad of various glasses in layers in front of his eye, with small levers protruding from the top and side that he could adjust to account for various things he needed to see. Be it normal, thermal, x-ray, zoom, that sort. It were extremely helpful for his work, but he tended to use it everywhere. And at this point, it were more or less an automated act to adjust it with his magic, more often than not. It barely even registered anymore, unless he tried to do something very specific.

"Oh man, sure are a lot of good ideas here. But not the one about experimenting on you, Blue. That'd be crazy talk. The sort of thing I'm talking about would first have to be build, then tested, then retested at least fifty more times under various conditions, and then a few more just to add some variables. And that's before the first test on any live tissue even begins. This whole thing would take a comfy ten years before I'd consider it safe for any sort of pony to use, and even then I figure it's just gonna need to be for wing amputees in the army, who got a special permit for it. I were just spit-balling ideas before. Ain't gonna try anything like this on you. That'd be crazy talk. Only pony I've ever inserted experimental technology into, is myself. Had a surgeon that owed me a favor help set the wings in on my back.

Got me laying down for months after that, and it tingles in my spine when there's a thundercloud nearby, but it worked. Only an 11.7% chance it would have paralyzed me for life. Still nothing I'd do to others though. They're still in their testing stage, and I'm the subject.

So yeah, don't worry that noggin of yours Blue. I ain't gonna harm a hair on ya. Pretty sure if I tried anything, Luna here would beat kick me into next week too, eh?"

Now come on then Light, let's stop messing with the poor mare before she ends up thinking we're crazy or something. Y'know, crazier than somepony saying they died three times is, since that'd be real crazy talk. Though I'm totally game for trying this sort on another creature, once the testing phase is done. You ever considered what a mechanical spider, or mosquioto, travelling at the speed of light would be like? Beyond the sort to make most folks scared outta their good skin?"

@Windy Breeze @Blitz Boom @Califorum

".... Well if any solid object didn't turn to light OR become a mass that is omnipotent. Then whatever travels with the same speed as the light would turn into dust.... Actually dust will kill you... Hence why i died the first time.... Because i didn't... Time ....properly my Iris mode.... And didn't turn into light..... Then! Theres a matter of turning INTO light because if you turn everything into light...you would ....well... dead and none existant.... Which i forgot to NOT turn my memory into light and just leave them as electrical signals, so whenever i want to turn back to solid i would still remember that im alive..... Which also made me lose some of my memory....

now body wise is still important even though we turn into light.... Because... Less mass means less magic to use to turn our body into light and also we need to propel ourself first before turning into light.... Because yeah ... When you turn into light.... You pretty much stick to what momentum you where on.... So if one just turned into light..... Well that's that....just a weird stationary light ... Like a ghost stuck on a wall not moving...

which also killed me because i burned out before i could reach the speed of light..... So i can only do a flashy run is all."

" Apparently princess twilight checked my future before i did the attempt and made me quit the project... Because she had enough seeing me...dead."

EQ_Theta · February 23, 2021

@Blitz Boom

Lin nodded and smiled upon hearing and knowing Omen had grasped the necessity of keeping mentions of Discord to zero. The longma herself understood that as well, knowing that she couldn’t speak of her friendship with the draconequus as openly, or even in private. Though huts afforded her a degree of privacy, she still can’t talk about Discord under the assumption that anyone could be snooping or eavesdropping through open windows. After all, no one back home had anything resembling a door.

Meanwhile, Sen was just as happy with Rosa bringing up the concerns about Discord to get things settled. By then, he wouldn’t worry too much as he knew he could count on Lin and Omen to keep quiet about him. And for all of what Lin and Rosa explained about unicycles, balloon animals, and juggling, those were enough to distract him. It still wasn’t amusing to imagine himself doing those things, but maybe it will look much better if someone else did those.

“Thanks for bringing up that whole issue with Discord to Lin and Omen. I appreciate that kind of foresight. And about those clown acts I brought up? I won’t lie, those sound amusing. Well… maybe not if I’m doing them. Juggling might be fun but I can only do it with two wicker balls. Anything more and it might not be so fun. Doing it with daggers is just odd. And a little scary.”

“Who knows, Sen? Maybe you might start getting in the habit of juggling anything you find at home.”

“No. Even if it’s just for entertainment, no.”

“You’re no fun! You hear that, Rosa? Omen? Sen can be party pooper!”

Lin poked her tongue out and teased, having a good time just messing with her brother. She would take this moment to just let loose and have all the fun she could get. By then, the queue had shortened to the point where they would be next. Here, she had an idea on what the picture should be, and she was getting giddy with excitement.

“Okay, everyone. It’s our turn! Big smiles like this is the best night of your life!”

Windy Breeze · February 23, 2021

@Blitz Boom @Kujamih @Califorum

Luna liked the idea of having helpful robots take over a tasks, but at the same time she objects, the thought of ponies losing their jobs to a non-living thing and future generation ponies just lazing around does not sound good to her, but she kept her mouth shut, only a frowned told Molotov If her opinion.

Meanwhile, Blue sighed in relief that she wasn't having to go through any surgeries. Good, she wanted her body to stay always the same it is when she got out of her mother's womb. Molotov even got to make Luna giggle, imagining what it would be to send somepony soaring to the skies with a girlish scream.

For Blue, meet a pony from another world died three times, even if it sounds impossible is still a bit creepy, but she somehow successfully does not show it or give a hint. His tale did caught her attention, and also a concerned Luna.

“J...Just how many times did she saw you die?” Blue asked.

Evil Pink One · February 23, 2021

@Blitz Boom @Windy Breeze @Califorum

"Enough for her to vomit at my face and turn white i guess... Im guessing she seened more than 3 though....hmmmmm. but dont you worry! From my experience and Molotov's mech. Skills, you can be the third person to be able to go Iris mode!"

Octavian · February 24, 2021

On 2021-02-20 at 10:12 PM, Blitz Boom said:

On 2021-02-20 at 2:47 PM, Fuchsia said:

"Thanks I'd love to!" she begins, "I did promise Clairvoyance Proudhorn I would help her with a job on the Tall Tale Coast after this though..." she trails off non-commitally,

"If you have given your word, then I should not try and lure you away from that. It is important to keep your promises after all, though know that my offer stands at any time you wish to enact upon it. Even if I am not there. Grim Night will ensure that I am notified as soon as can be, and you are free to relax around the house if you so wish to, whilst waiting.

Of course, I could also offer my assistance in what you are to do after this, and could then extend the offer again? The Tall Tale Coast have a lovely scenery, and there is nothing that needs my attention in Canterlot currently.

I do not wish to sound clingy though, so if you think it is overstepping a boundary, you are at any point, encouraged to tell me to back away, and I will do so. I'd hate to sour things so early on in our adventure, simply because I seemed too pushy."He were in essence, insisting that she'd come around at some point, but trying not to be pushy about it. It were unseemly, and not something he wanted to be the thing that broke a potential friendship, with a promising, experienced adventurer, such as Fuchsia.

Fuchsia smiles at the gentlecoltiness and at the sincere enjoyment of her company. "Thanks Billowing, if we survive this place then I'd love to see your place... and then if you fancied we could go on to Tall Tale." Tall Tale coast wasn't too far from Canterlot so stopping off there would work, and she was intrigued by this stallion and also the change to stay with him in the Pony capitol. She hadn't stayed much in Canterlot at all - it had stayed a sparkling marble silhouette for much of her travel in pony lands.

Quote

On 2021-02-20 at 2:47 PM, Fuchsia said:

"Thanks Billowing - saved my flank."

"I am certain that you would have noticed in time, but what are partners for, if not to help one another, just in case? Better to not risk potential harm in here. especially from old darts. Dreadful things that's usually on those things. I know one who had a blowfly infestation from one of those things. I did not see him in the advanced stages of that, but it sounded dreadful, and I were told that he were more than happy to accept the unicorn I hired to go there, and offer him to have the worst of that experience, wiped from his memory. Not an offer I extend often, but some things are best forgotten

Fuchsia grins back but shudders at the story of a fly infestation. As a pony who travelled in insecty jungly environments she waged a perpetual war against flies.

Quote

."

On 2021-02-20 at 2:47 PM, Fuchsia said:

Fuchsia's eyes go large as she sees the skeletal hoof - signs of death still gave her the creeps. Pony life doesn't prepare you for things like that. Still, she keeps a grip of herself- it was hardly the first time she'd seen a skeleton - or more recent kills for that matter :s Fuchsia similarly deduces that the hoof must belong to an adventurer. She gingerly trots towards the hoof, waving her dream-catcher at it just in case, and will pick it up and store it for burial in Equestria if there is no sign of any evil magic on it, or traps around it.

As she pickets the hoof, she responds to Billowing's question: "Hmmm..." she considers seriously. She peers closely either way - both paths seem equally dim and musty. She sniffs the air and approaches both walls on either side to feel them with a dull pink hooves and even gives them an experimental lick- sticking her tongue out at the dry mildewey taste. Finally she sits on the ground in the centre of the path, puts both hooves on her muddy flanks - where her cutie-mark would be - and closes her eyes. Eventually she responds, "Left feels like it is guarding something, it feels rougher, tastes sourer and looks dimmer. However, I have a hunch that right wants us to think it is right and is a trap! I feel it in my heart." she says, and begins to go left.

Expand

There were nothing going on with the hoof, nor around it. It were just a piece of somepony long gone, laying around and collecting dust, it seemed.

Now, something were going on with choosing a path, but that were mainly Smokey giving a few blinks, before letting out a low, yet hearty laughter at the deduction that he had just heard.

"Remarkable decision making. I am not one to argue with a gut feeling though, so you are correct. Left it is. Let us see what adventure awaits us, in the dark depths of theis long forgotten structure."

And so, they would wander into the left passage, and wander a path that were taking them further down, towards the heart of the temple.

The walls around them would eventually begin to carry old, rough looking carvings on them. They were weathered with time, but they seemed to be focused around deer, as fawns and bucks were seen in several places, wearing garments more befitting of certain older cultures, in the deserts of Saddle Arabia. Or perhaps even in the area around the main capitol of the sphinx themselves.

"Fascinating. It isn't often you find old deer mementos anymore, as they are often highly protective of their ancestral grounds. Peculiar how a structure so much more than most things I see them included in, have seemingly been left to time. Makes one wonder, what peculiarities they may have kept down here."

They wouldn't get much in the way of details, sadly. Plant life, and erosion from time, had made most of the depictions illegible. Hopefully there'd be more further down. Strange enough really, that there didn't seem to be any traps right now... Maybe it were but an omen. Or perhaps there were some reason, why there were nothing set up here?

Fuchsia peers with interest at the picture of the deer. She hadn't had much experience with deer at all in her travels, due to their secrecy other than one time back when she was a filly. One winter when Cloudsdale had scheduled the winter a little earlier than usual she had had a rare encounter with a fawn on the edge of the forest and they had played together a while with a few other village ponies. She wondered what deer might worship and peered in frustration at the incomplete picture, scanning for more in vain by the light of her bauble. She listens closely to "Do deer have leaders like the Princesses? Could this be a place built by a deer princess?" Fuchsia wonders aloud.

Quote

Partially, the fact that at the bottom they'd find a large rock blocking their path, would answer the question. Somepony else had already triggered this one, or it had just snapped at some point. Either way, it were in the way of the door now, plugging it nice and snuggly.

"Now this is a dreary sight. Nothing that can't be dealt with though, if you would simply give me some time."

He'd need said time, to use his horn, and have the smoky aura start to dance around the stone, until it slowly began to seep in via a crack he found in the boulder. More and more smoky aura would pop out of his horn,and flow down there, as his expression got strained, before finally-

"Insert sound of large rock cracking!"

The boulder would crack in half, and his horn would finally stop glowing. Smokey would however, also shake, and have to take a seat, whilst gasping for air.

"*gasp* *gasp* That were... Urgh, quite challenging. It's *gasp* rather dense. Pure amphibolite I think. Just... Give me a m-moment, please."

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

Fuchsia's anticipation had been rising steadily as she travelled down into the softly-lit darkness. She initially groaned in frustration at the rock, also embarrassed at choosing the route - thinking that her hunch had been wrong, but this turns to eagerness when Billowing reveals he can go through the obstacle. The rock would almost certainly have sealed the place off from trespassers!

She waits anxiously, catching glimpses of his magic working in the gloom. Unicorn magic was not something she was all that familiar with and she wondered whether Billowing's magic was tied to his talent, like many unicorns, or - as she suspected - his talent was tied to magic at some level and he was able to master a variety of spells. The smokey way it worked was fascinating, unlike any unicorn she had encountered in fact.

When the boulder splits she crouches low in alarm! Her hoof goes to her dagger ready to fling it at anything that might have been attracted by the noise.

"You ok Billowing?" she whispers in the gloom. "You don't think the snake things might have heard..." she trails off as fur prickles with dread - her perked ears detect a distant noise, a faint rustling and hissing from back up the way they came.

"Quick!" she whispers, grabbing Billowing by his hoof and, if he is willing, hurrying down the passageway through the broken rock, her magical wind-chimes clutched in her mouth.

Midnight_Aurora · February 24, 2021

@Blitz Boom

Cacora's PoV:

**Cacora knows there is always reprocutions for every choice but life will live on. The creature will find another to carry on it's kind.** "In honesty all things deserve a chance to live life to its fullest. Besides, this one might love somebeing and the loss of love could affect how the love flows. On another note, this is an interesting setup. Were we expected?"

**Cacora looks around for the hostess, hoping to finally better understand what it is she is supposed to do and what her path will be.**

@Blitz Boom

Silverwing's PoV:

**At first Silverwing doesn't fully know weather to trust or not to trust Vivid fully. But she was the first he had come across that wasn't after some alterier motive. But before he could speak on it, he notices the night child. And makes to move to a more non-threatening posture.** "Well, if it isn't one of the night watch. A Bat Pony or a Thestral I wonder. Though that may depend on if they are a natural born or one of Luna's gifted."

**He says analytically, placing the bag of scrolls along with the hoof written letter for the sisters next to another bush.** "And that takes care of that. Hopefully the sisters get those."

**He then says to the night guard,** "Many praises to the beautiful night and her beautiful sisters' day."

**Silverwing then awaits Vivid's move before making his next move.**

Catpone Cerberus · February 24, 2021

@Blitz Boom
"I have treasure there in temporary safekeeping, would have been foolish to carry it around." Ruby informed, robbing the place would have been nice too, but she didn't want to destroy the partnership quite yet, it was too profitable "And don't worry, he may be getting used to me, but he still fears what I may do, if I tell him to leave the ponies be, he will leave them be." "I'm mostly curious how he will react to my transformation, and if the zebra-amulet hides me even from him." her kind had one extra way to spot each other that other creatures didn't, as they could feel each other's presence, and she wasn't sure if the magic on the necklace was enough to hide that too.

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"I wouldn't leave immediately, but I would be willing to leave eventually, because after I get used to this look, there's no reason to hide in the shadows anymore." Scarecrow stated "The travel itself won't be a problem, as I can't get tired and need no breaks, so I can just walk or fly wherever, the only thing keeping me in the forest for this long has been my monstrous appearance." going somewhere else could also have a positive effect on his mental state, since staring at the same dark forest for all eternity didn't exactly help with already unpleasant existence.

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"Among other things yes." Trox admitted without too much hesitation, he saw no point in lying , especially when they knew that Onache could get inside the minds of others, as far as they knew, she had already read their minds.

"Yeah figured something like that." Sheska said in rather neutral manner "As you said, we come from somewhere where trust is a matter of long consideration, and mutual gain is only expected, since all creatures by nature put their survival above all else." "But the way you have blatantly shown your more worrisome aspects, has worked in you favor to certain extend" "In short, we don't necessarily trust you fully, but that's life, and from our current options you are the best one." "And honestly, the worst case scenario that you make us your slaves, sounds still better what our lives have been until this point." maybe a bit sad thing to say but it was also true, at least as slaves they would be fed and they didn't need to worry about being killed constantly, the last moments before they got put to sleep also didn't exactly make her life any better, there was a reason why she didn't talk about it.

Blitz Boom · February 24, 2021

@Catpone Cerberus

"I look forward to the day when he does what you tell him, not out of fear, but out of respect. But whatever works for now I suppose."

Dragons lived long, and were stubborn, and often, hard to get out of their set way of thinking. Getting the poor little thing to get past his fear, may well take decades. And to some extend, she believed it might always be there, in one form or another.

"Well, I couldn't feel you out before trying to take it, so I think your amulet might do well. Though if it doesn't, that could work in our favor. It would make it somewhat simpler for him to find you, if somehow we ended up getting separated. Maybe we should land somewhere still outside of the outskirts of town, and try to sort this with him? It shouldn't be too long before we reach the forests near the edges of that place. Would be as good a place as any, I'd think.

As for the place you stash your treasure, I'll look forward to seeing it. Maybe figure out where the bird sleeps in there, and leave him a little snow cloud."

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@Catpone Cerberus

"That's good. And you have my word that if I can, I will follow you on this road. I just need to find some among the animals that may oversee things for me for a time. It finally seems to have eased down, after the desert area arrived, so that should help stabilize things a little by little. And at least some of the critters have taken well to it, such as the scorpions. It is likely for the best they are concentrated in there, before they accidentally poison someone."

They were sweet things overall, but they got startles easy, and reacted instinctively, by trying to attack the perceived threat. A sad situation when that happened, as even if they weren't the most venomous of their kind, they were still not good for your health to be stung by. Especially if help were nowhere near.

Crow would poke Scarecrow with its beak, and make a more firm grab with its talons, to show its support to this, and willingness to follow. It may spell bad news for itself, but it would be fine, one way or another. Worst case scenario, it would just be reverted to its base parts, and that did not seem to happen when the two of them were unbound. Why would it the second time around?

"Hmhm. Seems like you have another vote of confidence. Earth Mother smiles upon you today, Scarecrow. Though, what should we do until the time comes, when she is ready to speak? We could simply wander and observe, if that is your want? In town or here. It matters little to me."

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@Catpone Cerberus

"It is good we are on the same wavelength then.

Though, I wouldn't make you into slaves. There were a time when I rightfully earned my title as The Slaver Queen, even if I only took few at a time, and treated them well. Yet that time is done. I were tricked, and then subsequently presented with another way to feed my hive, which did not require me to hunt and entice prey anymore, so I took it, and turned into that colorful monstrosity you witnessed when first we met. An annoying side effect, that I have yet to get used to, by beings I have no wish to meet ever again, but it were a price worth paying a thousand times over, if it means I no longer have to cull my eggs, or hear my children starve.

Still, you have witnessed that this change have not caused me to lose my skills, and my reputation yet lives. You may see now why I need what proof I can get, that I can do good with others, yes? If they see this, they may give me the chance to prove I have been reformed, to some extend. I don't expect complete trust by them in the slightest, but at this point, I will settle for begrudging tolerance."

She were not meddling with their heads, as she still saw no need for that. In fact, she were even honest with them. A strange thing for her, yet she would admit it were somewhat... Tolerably uplifting to share something which had weighed on her shoulders. She supposed there were something good to be said for that.

As for their group, they had now reached a point of mutual understanding, of why they had a need for one another. All the incentive to work together, and none at all to stab the other(s) in the back. All in all, not the worst foundation for a working relationship.

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@Midnight_Aurora

"I don't think it had the time to love something yet. Mom made this place like, a few hours ago. Then again, some things are fast, I guess.

And we had some other guests. Sorta figured we might get more, so mom prepared for it. Soon as one knows where you are, they all come in droves, right? Anyway, if you're thirsty or hungry, go for it. Mom's still gonna be some time I think. She said she went out to play with a bunch of weird folks in the forest. Sorta thought that was you at first."

Suddenly, from behind the bushes, cam an enormous creature lumbering out. Or well, really big at least. A solid five meters tall, with a physique like an overgrown gorilla. Even wandering on smaller back legs, with a larger upper body, and powerful arms. All covered in mossgreen fur Including its long, blades tail. It's face were wrong though. With buglike, segmented eyes, and instead of a mouth, a pile of three strange outgrows, that seemed to be able to grind against one another.

"Henry! You've gotten better at sneaking, huh?"

Rose fluttered up and patted the immense creature on the head, and he sat down calmly. Gave them a chance to see that there seemed to be a layer of scales on his back, under the fur.

"₲ɄɆ₴₮₴ Ø₣ ₥Ø₮ⱧɆⱤ?"

He pointed at the others, and it seemed the face bulbs were grinding together to make for words. Gruff ones, but still.

"No, ours I think. This is Cacora. And this is one of mom's projects."

She'd point at the shark mare, that were currently hiding behind Cacora. This creature were huge. She felt unsure what to do, other than this.

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@Midnight_Aurora

The thestral seemed to just get more and more confused, as Silverwing spoke. Seemed like Vivid had to step in here and make it somewhat clear what were going on here.

"He have some magical scrolls for the princess. If I understand correctly, you should be calling on the Vault Guards, and have them deal with this, to see if they are safe? And while you do that, we leave peacefully. If they ask who it is from, inform them that the delivery is on behalf of Vivid Loss. Princess Luna will know who I am."

With that, he'd get up, and awkwardly nod, before going away to fetch the correct guards.

"I assume a somewhat new hire. And no, not one who were *gifted* as you put it. I don't know many laws, but I know that is strictly forbidden, and something from the days of Nightmare Moon. An interesting period of time, that I missed entirely.

We should likely wait here until they return to pick these up. I'm not overly interested in having to deal with them thinking we came here to cause harm. May have helped what you said though. I don't know. I were never one to send my praises to Luna, nor listen in to what others said, as they uttered them."

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@abrony-mouse

13 hours ago, abrony-mouse said:

"Thanks Billowing, if we survive this place then I'd love to see your place... and then if you fancied we could go on to Tall Tale."

"Sounds like a plan. And I rarely stay home for long periods of time. There is always something calling out in the great, grand world. Mostly I'm home when I have need of a rest, or in case of family celebration, or issues with them, or my health. For the majority of time, my home is handled by a caretaker I hired, and my cousin Rose. She does wonders with the garden work, and I provide them both with pay and lodging for their work, of course. It's a spacious place, so you needn't worry about a lack of space for us all to gather."

It were a mansion, with around a dozen rooms, a large kitchen, several bathrooms, living rooms, a foyer, and so on. He did not really need that much space, but he had grown up in a small, cramped house, with a tightly knit family. When he got his fortune, he wanted someplace with space, for when he'd eventually settle down, and start his own family. He had thought recently that he had found the mare he'd finally settle down with, but... *sigh* Now were not the time to think of his broken heart. There were adventuring to do.

13 hours ago, abrony-mouse said:

"Do deer have leaders like the Princesses? Could this be a place built by a deer princess?"

"They do not have a singular, overall leader like a princess. They live primarily in tribes, and amongst those, are leaders of said tribes. The largest tribe, have the leader with the most influence, back in their more ancient, secluded forest towns. Though enough pressure from other tribes, can overrule their decree, if I understand things correctly. I have yet to see that capitol of theirs, but one day perhaps, I will have earned their favor enough to have a tour of that place.

As for this place... They worship primarily their ancestors, if anything. This may have been build in honor of a leader of great importance to them."

13 hours ago, abrony-mouse said:

"You ok Billowing?" she whispers in the gloom. "You don't think the snake things might have heard..." she trails off as fur prickles with dread - her perked ears detect a distant noise, a faint rustling and hissing from back up the way they came.

"Quick!" she whispers, grabbing Billowing by his hoof and, if he is willing, hurrying down the passageway through the broken rock, her magical wind-chimes clutched in her mouth.

"I'm... I'm fine. Just took more effort than *pant* I anticipated."

The sound of the snake were not comforting to hear right after saying that. Nor that it were some way from them, yet made such a loud hissing? It were not the one he had seen last. This one were likely bigger. Much, much bigger, potentially. It were hard to tell with how sound could be in places like this, but best to be cautious.

He'd wince as he were grabbed, and more or less forced to come along, but he'd bite it in him, and stagger with Fuchsia into the darkness. Hopefully they wouldn't face something horrendous down here.

As they wandered, something would stir again further down. An energy that seemed to pulsate, as the two ponies wandered further than the stone, and made their way into the depths of the temple. What might it be? There were no saying, unless they lived to make it down there, and see for themselves.

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@EQ_Theta

On 2021-02-23 at 2:37 PM, EQ_Theta said:

“Thanks for bringing up that whole issue with Discord to Lin and Omen. I appreciate that kind of foresight. And about those clown acts I brought up? I won’t lie, those sound amusing. Well… maybe not if I’m doing them. Juggling might be fun but I can only do it with two wicker balls. Anything more and it might not be so fun. Doing it with daggers is just odd. And a little scary.”

“Who knows, Sen? Maybe you might start getting in the habit of juggling anything you find at home.”

“No. Even if it’s just for entertainment, no.”

“You’re no fun! You hear that, Rosa? Omen? Sen can be party pooper!”

Rosa had a hearty laugh at seeing the sibling teasing going on, from Lin's side. It were one of those innocent kinds of fun, that were just delightful to witness in his eyes.

"I'm with Lin on this. You should be more open to new experiences, Sen. Not with daggers, as that could cut you, but just imagine you juggling balls, pebbles, various fruits, or even tools once you got trained. You'd make for the talk of your town for sure. The first and greatest clown of the longma. And you already got two objects juggling down. How much worse could it be to train to take in three? Or seven? I'll throw in a smoke bomb, and an egg to juggle, if it helps."

They were going at him, but it were just hard not to, as it were amusing imagery to have him juggling various things around. A unicycle would add a bit more spice to it, but the juggling alone would be priceless, and a delightful party trick.

"Maybe if I followed you around, playing a trumpet, you would feel more encouraged? A little theme music to your act."

Okay, it were starting to be a little mean perhaps, but come on. It were fun. And he'd surely put his foot down if it got too much. They didn't want to be cruel after all.

On 2021-02-23 at 2:37 PM, EQ_Theta said:

Lin poked her tongue out and teased, having a good time just messing with her brother. She would take this moment to just let loose and have all the fun she could get. By then, the queue had shortened to the point where they would be next. Here, she had an idea on what the picture should be, and she was getting giddy with excitement.

“Okay, everyone. It’s our turn! Big smiles like this is the best night of your life!”

Within a minute, the flash would go off, and the mother and two foals, would be on their way over, to wait for the picture to be developed. As they then started approaching the elderly stallion, he'd give them a tired smile, and nod at them slightly.

"Hello there, younglings. Come closer come closer. Let's get you set in, so you can have a nice picture. How many would you need?"

Rosa would look towards Sen and Lin for this. He'd like one, but them, he'd have to know more about. One each? One together? A half dozen?

As for the stallion, he'd point them towards the stand where all others had stood too. The backdrop were a painting of the town, though they had the option of standing away from that if they so chose. It were not the taste of everypony after all, and he accepted that.

As they moved in, he'd extract a roll from the camera though, and carefully take it out. At the sound, the small filly from before came back, and eager accepted the roll from the stallion.

"Grandpa! Can I make the ones I took of them too? Please?"

He'd look towards them, and Rosa nodded enthusiastically, with a warm smile on his face.

"Go ahead dear. Just be careful, okay?"

She'd nod, and be on her way to the back again, whilst he replaced the roll in the camera.

"My granddaughter. She have a talent for photography, so whenever these festivals happens, she wants to help out, and learn more. Your pictures from her will be good, I assure you. Please forgive her for not asking permission to take them first. She is still young, and likes to take pictures of things as they happen."

"There is nothing wrong with enthusiasm for your craft, sir. And I can imagine it giving the pictures a sort of spontaneous joy over them, as it isn't set up, but little moments in time."

"Well put, young man. We will see how it looks when they are developed though, but I know my little glimmering star. She won't disappoint you."

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@Windy Breeze

On 2021-02-23 at 2:16 AM, Windy Breeze said:

“The look on your eyes tells me both of you are wary of me. Tell the stallions who built this inn the storage room is the most creepiest place in Equestria”

If Windy had the guts to go in, so would Sorrow, though with some hesitation. And now, a blush on her face, as she were called out on her apparently, unsubstantiated worries, as there were indeed a door in here after all.

"I'm sorry about that, miss. It's just that... Well, it's hard to know who to trust, with what's going on right now."

On 2021-02-23 at 2:16 AM, Windy Breeze said:

“Look, you don't have to believe. You can just turn around and go. I'm not going to force both you to follow me here” Cimex frowned, staring at us coldly, “Besides, no-one ever trust a changeling”

Ooof, that one hit rather hard, as it went into a rather common thing that irked several changelings, and made a lot of them still hide their real faces in society: The reputation of being untrustworthy monsters, that still wanted nothing more than to trap and drain every pony they came across. The eternal boogiemen of the shadows.

"I have trusted changelings before, and I will do it again. I'm not worried because of what you are, Cimex. No creature is untrustworthy, or evil, just by what they are. It's just been a very, very paranoid day here. Topped of with some bad ponies chasing us. But... If Razor trusts you, I will try and do the same."

She took a deep breath, and wandered forth into the secret room, ready to try and prove a point, regardless of how Legion were yapping a little right now. Now they just had to hope the trust wasn't misplaced.

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@Silicon Chimera

On 2021-02-23 at 1:47 AM, Silicon Chimera said:

As they entered the cafe and she looked at the menu, she would think for a moment "Oh, I'd love a mint chocolate mocha with a nice warm stew, please" she'd tell Orchid "Oh and please make the mocha a large, I haven't one in ages"

"It's a good choice. The stew of today is Goldenwind Root Stew. Got a lovely, flowery smell, and a cute golden hue. Tastes like a load of spices though. Really good, flavorful stuff."

The barista butted in there, as this seemed her que to try and sell the food on being good. Which it were. She'd never say otherwise. Especially since their cook would slap her if she did.

"Then that we shall try, while my little eye... Spot some mint tea, and what else might be... Another of the stew of roots, with some garlic flutes. and a minor dish, of small bits of fish."

Bellarouge started to purr when she heard that, but she stayed in position on his back.

"Aaawh, she's So well behaved! It'll come up soon. Just find a table, and we'll get it to you."

There were a few good tables nearby, with one having been newly cleaned it looked like. Might as well pick that one, yes?

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@Califorum

On 2021-02-23 at 12:12 AM, Magnolia said:

"The past...shouldn't consume the future. At least...we should try to move on from that but we'll keep that in mind should we come across those of my past. However unlikely it is. We may meet more ponies of their...wrongdoings and I'd say we are prepared to deal with that...but not readying your mind for what may come is like jumping into a pool of liquid, that of which you may not know..." Magnolia had spoke somewhat ominously, yet shakily.

"You would have made a good zebra, Magnolia. Even if you don't rhyme, you remind me of them, with the way you express your uhm... Wisdom. Sorry, I had a better way of saying it somewhere, I think.

I just mean that it's sage words, since it is best to prepare for having to do something bad, just in case there is no other option. It's always good to hope that it doesn't come to that, but we can never know for sure."

A sad truth of the matter. Especially if you went out and tried to do good deeds. Eventually, you'd run into the sort who wouldn't want to stick around and listen to reason, nor generally talk. And at times, the only way out were to take drastic matters into your own hooves. Though, hopefully not the sort that would lead to death. That was a treshold that she had thankfully yet to thread over, and hopefully, neither would Magnolia.

On 2021-02-23 at 12:12 AM, Magnolia said:

Magnolia began to lead Zeehva towards the sound of what was apparently a wagon cart on a nearby road. "We have no other leads as to where we are. So it is wise that we do so. However, remain weary of whoever we should meet. I have met ponies who...appear one way, and then strike at your weaknesses should you let your guard down." Magnolia would speak tactfully, making sure Zeehva was by her side at all times.

"Don't worry. We'll have each others backs."

With those hopefully encouraging words, Zeehva would lead the way towards the sound.

Though, the further along they got, they did still not see a road. And also, the sound did not move away. It sounded like it were stationary, but how would that make sense with a cart, or wagon? Maybe it wasn't that which she heard?

That thought started to make its rounds in her head, as they got closer, and she began to think that what she heard wasn't so much a cart, wagon, or anything else crossing a road, going through the calm forest. It were starting to sound more like a low snore. Well, low for whatever creautre that let it out she imagined, as it were heard from some way from the creature.

She still wasn't entirely sure though, so she'd whisper for Magnolia to keep her voice down, just in case, and kept walking on. It might not be the wisest decision she ever made, but she were curious. Were this perhaps one of those Ursa Majors she had heard so much about? A quick peak shouldn't hurt if it were, right? Not long as they kept quiet.

As they passed a row of tall, tall trees, they'd finally be able to see what it were they had heard. And well... It wasn't what she expected, that was for sure.

In front of them, were not an Ursa Major, but a dragon. One around fifteen-twenty times their size, slumbering on a clearing in the forest.

It seemed to be a bipedal variant, with glasses, socks, and for some reason, a large saddle on its back, over a blanket. Judging by the overall look, she'd judge this one to be female, and one who did not have much to fear from the local ecosystem. What would be dumb enough to try and attack something like this?

It were curious to see one like this, as she weren't used to see them with any sort of accessories. And glasses? A saddle? Socks?! This was weird for sure, but probably best to leave her alone, and be on their way in peace.

"Mmmm... Hello there, little ponies."

She'd open her eyes, and look at them both with an amused, kind glance. Still got Zeehva to jump though, which did bring a bit of a smile on to the dragonesses face.

"What is a couple of ponies doing so far away from your towns? It can be dangerous out here, you know?"

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@Califorum @Windy Breeze @Kujamih

On 2021-02-23 at 1:53 AM, Cali said:

"Well for your information I am from another dimension so I have no idea how anything works here. Wait...you said Hay fries? Why not normal fries, like out of potatoes? Or pizza? Or maybe even like a Burger or something like that?" Cali spoke in a more confused way. "If you want I could entirely buy out this entire place and you'd never work again...orrrrr..."

"Most of our clients are ponies, so hayfries are what we mention first. But we do have potato fries and vegetarian pizzas as well. Nothing with meat though. We are not that kind of establishment."

On 2021-02-23 at 1:53 AM, Cali said:

"Choice is yours...do you want an extremely large amount? Or the small one? Either is fine by me. If you want a really huge tip I'd want you to come on over to those chairs over there and massage me while I chow down on the food like ravenous vulture. I am in the mood for a burger, a....grand soda is it? And how about 3 large fries. Sure. I'm starving...you know it costs a lot of energy traveling into other dimensions and fighting enemies that come back to life...and constantly shifting into vehicular forms...all that you know. Usual stuff....so I'd like to chill out and have a chow with yall." she said in a rather Russian accent.

It was a testament to how long the mare had been in customer service, that she were able to maintain her smile on her face, even though she furiously wished to give a few choice words to this crazy one.

"I'm afraid we don't offer those services here, but there is a lovely spa three blocks west of here, whom can help your tired hooves. If you would still like your order, we can prepare that now ma'am."

If she still wished to eat, she'd be asked to go for a seat, after regular payment were done. Without a big tip, or any potentially, but she did not care. Working in the food service industry, this mare had managed to keep some degree of dignity still. And she were not going to sell that last sliver of self respect she had, nor act unprofessionally. She were the manager of this place, and she would act like the mature, rational pony she were expected to be.

As for the words Cali said about shape changing and dimensions... She just assumed the mare were crazy, but ultimately harmless. If the harmless part changed, she'd have to take action, though thus far, she'd try and be professional.

On 2021-02-23 at 5:56 AM, Kujamih said:

" Apparently princess twilight checked my future before i did the attempt and made me quit the project... Because she had enough seeing me...dead."

".... Alrighty then, that's a big pile of messed up right there. I'm with the princess though. Best to try and stop it, if you could end up dying. Ain't a big issues with machines, long as they don't have sentience. Living being? That's going dark side, and we ain't well of with that popping up here.

Besides, being dead means you won't have time to sort out how to be better, so you don't disintegrate permanently. Ain't that a good reason to live?"

Sure, this one were part robot as it were, but there were still a good deal of fleshy, living being to him, and he got why Twilight might not have been keen on having those parts disintegrate, or go splat over a few kilometers.

On 2021-02-23 at 2:47 PM, Windy Breeze said:

Meanwhile, Blue sighed in relief that she wasn't having to go through any surgeries. Good, she wanted her body to stay always the same it is when she got out of her mother's womb. Molotov even got to make Luna giggle, imagining what it would be to send somepony soaring to the skies with a girlish scream.

For Blue, meet a pony from another world died three times, even if it sounds impossible is still a bit creepy, but she somehow successfully does not show it or give a hint. His tale did caught her attention, and also a concerned Luna.

“J...Just how many times did she saw you die?” Blue asked.

Least the girls were doing fine. Sure Blue got a little white 'round the temples from hearing this, so to speak, but it could've been worse. The giggle she had before practically made up for it, putting this at roughly neutral. Y'know, if you wanted to be pedantic about it, and try and spin things in a good way. And considering he didn't often make mares laugh, as much as kick him in the face, he were more than pleased to try and look on things positively.

On 2021-02-23 at 4:12 PM, Kujamih said:

"Enough for her to vomit at my face and turn white i guess... Im guessing she seened more than 3 though....hmmmmm. but dont you worry! From my experience and Molotov's mech. Skills, you can be the third person to be able to go Iris mode!"

"Jeez. Must be some messy deaths then. Or the princess is a little more squeamish than I gave her credit for. Either way, this just makes it more clear that even if I did start looking into this, there'd be no way I'm putting Blue through it. Gal got a good life in front of her, and if this ever got to live testing, it's not gonna be tested on just about anypony. It's gonna be a tight ship. Y'know, if Princess Celestia allows it to go through in the first place. If she says no, it's not happening.

Now come on yall. Can't we stop talking crazy for just a bit? We're here. Let's go in and get some chow. And just you go up and order first. I'll just have a look to make sure the munchkin is still in the ball pit, alright?"

Evil Pink One · February 24, 2021

"... You can be boring sometimes Molotov..."

Light then went to the counter to try and order some food, but Cali is making a scene on the counter and is holding up the line.

" What's Cali up to now?"

Neoeryn · February 24, 2021

On 2021-02-22 at 5:33 PM, Blitz Boom said:

@Neoeryn

A humming went calmly through Ponyville, drawing the eyes of a few ponies here and there. The sound came from a moving cloud it seemed, travelling in ground level. It glowed a soft green, and underneath the elongated cloud (roughly three meters long), floated a series of fresh lily pads, dripping with water that didn't really come from anywhere sensible.

As the cloud travelled calmly through town, anyone who came in contact with it, would sit down, and seem to space out, in a completely relaxed state. As if their worries and obligations had been lifted from their shoulders for a time, by this odd anomaly.

It seemed harmless, but the ponies around still did what they could to get out of its way fast. Barring a few sorts who had seen the effect, and could really do with a few moments of peace.

Once in a while as it travelled through, a calming, melodic voice would let some words flow through town, carrying a light, female voice.

"Child, oh child, where may you be? Where may I find you, oh, spirit so free? Ive come from afar, though yet I can't see. That sweet, dear child, of calamity."

It would repeat every few minutes, with the little song reaching far and wide in town, as the cloud passed through. For most, it wouldn't make much sense. But a certain draconequus should know who it were this one were searching for. Both of them frankly should, seeing as Discord lived in this town, but what had he to fear?

Everything were going to be okay.

Calamity, who had been waiting in line at Sugarcube Corner, twitched her ears and listened to the sound. She had to admit, it was quite calming, but she wasn't so sure where the source was from. She left the bakery to find the source, only to be greeted by the view of a cloud -which had appeared more like a mist- that seemed to put the townsponies into a relaxed state. She wasn't sure where it had come from, as neither did the townsponies.
"Huh, this is quite... strange."
She went to touch the cloudy mist, only to be stopped by someone.

Sphinx-Ara · February 24, 2021

@Blitz Boom

Silica would smile, licking her muzzle at the sound of the stew "That certainly does sound amazing" she;d say to the barista before looking to Orchid and Bellarouge "The kitty sure is well behaved, and friendly too" she'd say, giving the kitty a pet with her hoof before nodding to Orchid and following him to the table "sure, nothing like a freshly cleaned table" she'd say, sitting down. "So, you're a...botanist then?" she would ask Orchid.

Octavian · February 25, 2021

5 hours ago, Blitz Boom said:

23 hours ago, abrony-mouse said:

"Thanks Billowing, if we survive this place then I'd love to see your place... and then if you fancied we could go on to Tall Tale."

"Sounds like a plan. And I rarely stay home for long periods of time. There is always something calling out in the great, grand world. Mostly I'm home when I have need of a rest, or in case of family celebration, or issues with them, or my health. For the majority of time, my home is handled by a caretaker I hired, and my cousin Rose. She does wonders with the garden work, and I provide them both with pay and lodging for their work, of course. It's a spacious place, so you needn't worry about a lack of space for us all to gather."It were a mansion, with around a dozen rooms, a large kitchen, several bathrooms, living rooms, a foyer, and so on. He did not really need that much space, but he had grown up in a small, cramped house, with a tightly knit family. When he got his fortune, he wanted someplace with space, for when he'd eventually settle down, and start his own family. He had thought recently that he had found the mare he'd finally settle down with, but... *sigh* Now were not the time to think of his broken heart. There were adventuring to do.

Fuchsia smiles at Billowing's acquiescence, curious to see the place the adventurer calls home. She notices BIllowing lapse into thought as he thinks of home - reminiscent of a moment earlier. She stores the moment away, wondering about its significance.

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23 hours ago, abrony-mouse said:

"Do deer have leaders like the Princesses? Could this be a place built by a deer princess?"

"They do not have a singular, overall leader like a princess. They live primarily in tribes, and amongst those, are leaders of said tribes. The largest tribe, have the leader with the most influence, back in their more ancient, secluded forest towns. Though enough pressure from other tribes, can overrule their decree, if I understand things correctly. I have yet to see that capitol of theirs, but one day perhaps, I will have earned their favor enough to have a tour of that place.As for this place... They worship primarily their ancestors, if anything. This may have been build in honor of a leader of great importance to them."

Fuchsia listens with interest to the deer lore, which reminded her rather of the way the buffalo lived. If her thoughts had not had to flit towards danger she would have loved to pick up on this - why would a tribal society who worshipped their ancestors have built a temple? And why in this jungly forest. Perhaps this area was once an important place to the deer?

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23 hours ago, abrony-mouse said:

"You ok Billowing?" she whispers in the gloom. "You don't think the snake things might have heard..." she trails off as fur prickles with dread - her perked ears detect a distant noise, a faint rustling and hissing from back up the way they came.

"Quick!" she whispers, grabbing Billowing by his hoof and, if he is willing, hurrying down the passageway through the broken rock, her magical wind-chimes clutched in her mouth.

"I'm... I'm fine. Just took more effort than *pant* I anticipated."

The sound of the snake were not comforting to hear right after saying that. Nor that it were some way from them, yet made such a loud hissing? It were not the one he had seen last. This one were likely bigger. Much, much bigger, potentially. It were hard to tell with how sound could be in places like this, but best to be cautious.

He'd wince as he were grabbed, and more or less forced to come along, but he'd bite it in him, and stagger with Fuchsia into the darkness. Hopefully they wouldn't face something horrendous down here.

As they wandered, something would stir again further down. An energy that seemed to pulsate, as the two ponies wandered further than the stone, and made their way into the depths of the temple. What might it be? There were no saying, unless they lived to make it down there, and see for themselves.

As they staggered downwards, the hissing sound grew behind them. Fuchsia's large pony eyes flicked back and she barely suppresses a scream as the source of the hissing becomes apparent - the yellow eyes of numerous snake-monsters flash yellow in the gloomy light of her bauble. They are still a way off but are gaining on her. She has to resist the urge to gallop madly away with fear.. it takes all of her self-control, built up over many adventures, not to go with her instinct. Instead she keeps a hold of Billowing's hoof and canters down into the depths, trying to think what to do to scare them away.

She gets a thought - her hoof goes to her saddlebag for another weapon - something she had actually had with her for years since visiting the alchemists in the Tall Tale coast - a vial of firey oil that explodes when it shatters, creating a mini ball of fire in the vicinity, but it is a dangerous measure in a dry enclosed space like this. She will release it as a last resort if they come close.

"Thmm oo mmmm! (There's too many)." she squeaks through the dream catcher in her mouth as they plunge downwards into the gloom.

She is too focused on potential traps and the pursuing snake-things to register the pulse, but right now she would take any amount of strange pulsing over the poisonous death behind them D:

Toastypk · February 25, 2021

"So this is it."

The unicorn stepped off the train and into Ponyville for the first time.

Stygian had a rough past year or two. It was around that time that he was desiring darkness to consume the world after a thousand year displacement, only to have his life turned around by those he had just declared to destroy, and these six or seven new ponies too, not the least of which was the purple alicorn, Twilight Sparkle. Reconciling with his friends he once vowed to eradicate with darkness was one of the biggest healing moments of his life. Nay, THE biggest.
Looking back at what he wanted, he couldn't help but feel this unavoidable guilt.
...But that was only SORT OF him, right? That wasn't ALL his true desire, was it? Surely the whole "bonding with shadow" thing had something to do with his decisions, too... but it doesn't matter, that was all in the past.
Regardless, his experiences provided plenty of content for books he wrote about himself, which became hot sellers. And since Twilight became the ruler of Equestria, he and his strategic thinking have helped inform the occassional decisions she's had to make. All and all, he was doing better than he ever had.

But he really just had a curiosity to absorb regular life, too, that wasn't just Canterlot. Something... smaller.

This weekend seemed to be the perfect time. No weather was scheduled, he had nothing to do, so he thought he would finally see Ponyville. He had stayed primarily in Canterlot, but was often curious about the town just out of view from there.

It was almost like his village of years ago, just more polished, and less... dirty. He honestly felt at home there.

The stores, the houses, the big school. the impossible-to-miss crystal castle... there was so much he could try first.

EQ_Theta · February 25, 2021

@Blitz Boom

“Not you too, Rosa! Balls are fine, maybe rocks, but I don’t know if I could devote time to practice juggling. Not when there’s a lot work to return to back home.”

“Come on, Sen! You’ve already got the clown paint. Go all in and embrace it! If Rosa will play a trumpet, I’ll join in as well. I won a flute earlier, and I’m itching for some practice.”

Sen was beginning to get exasperated by the teasing. He knew it was all for fun, but pushing it any further might just cause him to lose it. These were his friends, though, so he’d try to extend his patience as much as he could, but he could feel himself at his wit’s end. Even so, he’d do his best to laugh it up despite his growing irritation.

Frankly, this was a somewhat nicer than all the gloom he’d experienced. It’s been a long time since he’d remember a moment quite like this, the fun and good-natured ribbing and teasing. It was probably a during training with a few of the young hunter recruits taking bets on who’d be the first to leave a scratch on the hunt master. That was a tough day of training, but the young ones had fun.

“Okay! You win. If I can spare the time, I’ll try.”

By then, Sen’s attention was drawn to the elderly stallion in charge of the photo booth. Once it was their turn, Sen and Lin would be moving in to take their places, though Sen was the first to do so. Lin hung back for a bit, wondering how many copies they’d like. Rosa definitely wanted one, and the siblings could share among themselves. Omen’s new frame ought to have something to fill it… Seemed like a simple breakdown.

“Good evening,” Lin bowed and greeted the stallion. “Could we get four copies of our group's photo together?”

As for Sen, he gestured the others to join him by the backdrop. He could already see himself pulling Lin, Omen, and Rosa in for a group hug. But that thought was interrupted upon seeing the filly from earlier. Here’s hoping the pictures she took earlier weren’t too… unflattering. The longma was worried he might have looked awkward.

“If there are no last-minute requests, I think we’re ready.” Lin would take her place among the group before Sen pulled everyone close. “Remember, everyone, big smiles!”

Blitz Boom · February 26, 2021

@Neoeryn

"There you are, child."

The cloud would stop as it encountered Calamity. As she reached out to touch it, the cloud too would reach gently towards her, but when she were stopped by another, the cloud retracted too.

"Children. You don't have anything to fear. I wouldn't harm this precious sliver of unrefined chaos. I only came to help."

The cloud would coalesce, and the lily pads spread out, before a form would emerge from the dissipating clouds.

Eight spindly, long legs would gently land on the lily pads. Each of them a different color, and leading into a dark-multicolored torso. Behind it, an abdomen, dangled, following the same pattern of darker rainbow colors that the torso did, with a marking on top. One that looked like a cackling, malnourished equine face, which if you looked on it, would move to look at you with its empty eyes. Sockets carrying a sense of malice, yet there were a circle of mint-green clouds dancing around and through it, which radiated the same calm that the cloud had before. It would mean that the more you looked, the more there would be both a duality of fear and peace that would go through you, though which one were noticed the most, would wary by how the viewer felt. If they were balanced, it would be neutrality, and the face would be smiling in their eyes.

As for the rest of the being, the torso would change from the thin, almost bone-like spider beneath, to a risen body of a mare, belly upwards. She'd be thin and much like the face, seeming malnourished, with visible ribs showing. Instead of front legs, she would have no arms or legs, but just free floating dark hands, with clawed, elongated fingers, which were currently gathered together, palm to palm.

Further up the dark-grey equine body, you'd find it ending in an equine head. Malnourished as the one on the back, with the skin seemingly just covering the skull. From her head sprang minty-green, long hair, which despite being clearly rather thin, still somehow managed to spring lusciously and long, and gathering in three formations to the back, and sides of her head. The formations being simple circles, looping perfectly. And within each of those circles, were a small, golden figure. One looking like an open maw, within a maw. Another like the head pictured on her abdomen. And the third of a hand, clutching a coin.

Her teeth were looking like they had been cleaned in mossy water, and as she opened her eyes, you'd find that there were little more than pure darkness, with a small, flickering yellow light deep within each of them.

The whole look of the essentially malnourished, gangly drov-like creature, should be inducing fear to those around her, and yet she radiated only peace and calm. Even in her eyes, one would find only kindness and warmth, though it didn't seem fitting of the creature, which had the height of an alicorn, and floated on the lily pads, a quarter meter above ground

Some other things seemed to be worn by her. Each leg had a golden ring near the *knee*, with three of them inscribed with a name each. *Avarice* *Consumption* and *Fright*. The rest seemed blank for now.

She also had small bowls floating near her, each filled with seeds, or water, which birds would soon land and enjoy merrily of.

There were also floating a somewhat large assortment of ornaments around her body, in varied patterns. They were all no bigger than half a bottlecap, yet several of them seemed to be too complex to have always been said size, and there were seemingly hundreds of them too.

Her eyes would seek Calamity's own, and with a smile on the nearly lipless, darkened face, she'd begin to speak. Which seemed to radiate from her, rather than being spoken with her mouth.

"It is good to meet you, child. I am Fright, though some of my students have come to call me Lily Pad."

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

@Califorum

On 2021-02-24 at 9:14 PM, Magnolia said:

"Suffice to say, we are rather lost. It is a long story. Where are we at?"

The dragoness weren't walking, as much as she were still laying down on her stomach, and even leaned down to better face the two ponies.

"A bold soul, I see. You do not fear dragons, but know what we are like, hmm? Heh. You need not worry about old Gretha, young one. My years of needing to challenge those smaller, are long past me.

As for where you are, you are in the middle of the Luna Majora Forest."

"L-Luna Majora? That's the wilderness some kilometers from Deltrot, right?"

The dragoness slowly nodded.

"Yes. A noisy place in my mind, but you ponies seem to like the constant sound of your towns. One should enjoy the calm serenity of nature sometimes. It's nice and peaceful. For me, anyway."

She'd let out a small chuckle. She did not boast, nor show the arrogance or challenging attitude you found with the general perception of dragons around Equestria. Yet she also didn't fear Magnolia. Whatever darkness resided in her eyes, did not rock this creature in any kind of way. She were not used to having much being a threat to her, and a small pony like this, who did not attack her yet? She did not see much to worry about. Besides, if she attempted a spell, it would not take long to crush the pony under her foot. She may be old, but that meant little for dragons, except for size.

"Do you need help getting back to your town, little ones?"

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

@Silicon Chimera

Bellarouge purred, as she were getting pet. Like many cats, she enjoyed the attention and affection, which made Silicon one of her favorite new beings she had met recently. Because she lingered, and gave more pets because of it. What wasn't to like there?

As they sat down at the table, and the mare asked Orchid her question, he didn't answer at first. He were brushing the seat first. A small habit that he had gotten over the years, due to less clean places than this. Seemed perfectly fine here though, which brought a smile to his face, and got him to sit with delight.

"A botanist indeed, aiming for no small feat. To find and study every plant that may be, and harvest samples and seeds, that may come home with me. To Zebrica they go, with my knowledge in tow, and in time we plant them, and harvest what may grow. Potent elixirs and enchantments you see, if what makes a zebra's heart, flutter with glee.

You seem like you travel, this I feel is the truth. What brings you to the worlds marvel? The curiosity of youth?"

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

@abrony-mouse

On 2021-02-25 at 1:08 AM, Fuchsia said:

As they staggered downwards, the hissing sound grew behind them. Fuchsia's large pony eyes flicked back and she barely suppresses a scream as the source of the hissing becomes apparent - the yellow eyes of numerous snake-monsters flash yellow in the gloomy light of her bauble. They are still a way off but are gaining on her. She has to resist the urge to gallop madly away with fear.. it takes all of her self-control, built up over many adventures, not to go with her instinct. Instead she keeps a hold of Billowing's hoof and canters down into the depths, trying to think what to do to scare them away.

She gets a thought - her hoof goes to her saddlebag for another weapon - something she had actually had with her for years since visiting the alchemists in the Tall Tale coast - a vial of firey oil that explodes when it shatters, creating a mini ball of fire in the vicinity, but it is a dangerous measure in a dry enclosed space like this. She will release it as a last resort if they come close.

"Thmm oo mmmm! (There's too many)." she squeaks through the dream catcher in her mouth as they plunge downwards into the gloom.

She is too focused on potential traps and the pursuing snake-things to register the pulse, but right now she would take any amount of strange pulsing over the poisonous death behind them D:

Snakes. Why did it have to be snakes? Wouldn't a singular one have been enough? That he felt more comfortable with. One large monster, meant you knew where to keep your eyes. Several of them, spread around and aggressively wanting to bite down on you though, complicated things. There wouldn't be a safe angle for something like that. And worse yet, due to his weakened state after the stunt he pulled earlier, he were slowing them down, which meant that the snakes were gaining on them.

Mostly, he did not see their kind as being overly vindictive, so he had some doubt that this were revenge, for how he treated the last of them. Rather, he's assume this were simply aggression, and that it didn't matter who entered here. It only mattered that some did at all, and the two of them had wandered deep within their domain.

Fuchsia withdrew something which he assumed were a weapon of sorts, though didn't throw it. He assumed it were because it would cause some collateral damage, which may include themselves, yet it were a risk over a guaranteed end by snakes. Frankly sounded better, than being messily eaten and devoured.

He did not have anything that would clear the hall with him, as he did not think it wise to do so, and there were no side ways, so he couldn't distract them with smoke.

Looking around though, he did see something that he could use. An old school trap, usually put in place to punish those whose greed and arrogance made them go too far into the complex the builders wished to protect: A falling stone slab/wall, which would block off the path entirely. Something which were obviously there, as he saw some risen rocks, as well as a long hole in the ceiling, which would fit such a construction perfectly.

Taking a chance on this, he'd clench his teeth, and prepare to do something reckless.

"Brace for impact!"

With that, he'd throw himself and Fuchsia forward, whilst using his magic to press down on the risen stone. And as expected, there would come a rumbling from above, before not ten centimeters from where they had landed, a solid, thick piece of rock fell down, and slid almost perfectly in place, trapping them on one side, and the encroaching snakes on another.

"That was a close one. Fuchsia? Are you okay? I'm sorry for pushing you so, but it was imperative that they and us, were on separate sides of this wall.

I realize we are now trapped here of course, but fret not. We are seasoned adventurers. We will find a way out. Through that wall if we must, though I'm sure there will be a secret passageway somewhere. Olden complexes like this, tended to have a way out, in case of them accidentally setting of a trap, and getting stuck themselves."

A minor setback, but they'd get past it. Which were more than what could be said for the snakes, who'd be unlikely to get through a meter thick, solid stone wall.

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

@EQ_Theta

On 2021-02-25 at 3:10 PM, EQ_Theta said:

“Good evening,” Lin bowed and greeted the stallion. “Could we get four copies of our group's photo together?”

"Of course. One for each, I assume?"

"I have this."

Omen wandered forward, with the frame and note that said she had won a picture in this, held in her muzzle.

"Ah, so you're the second of the three, I see."

"The second of the three?"

"That booth have gone on for a long time, but there is always a pattern I find. Three beings every time, choose the frame and free picture as their price. A lovely griffon couple were in earlier to get theirs done, and now this psychic are the second."

Omen would tilt her head, and look cluelessly at Rosa for answers.

"What is a psychic?"

"It's a broad thing, but can include how you project your words into others heads, rather than speak them."

She nodded slowly, and would look back at the seemingly also confused elder stallion. Though he would eventually shrug, and just move past it. Always some odd balls at these things, and these were apparently among those sorts this time around.

On 2021-02-25 at 3:10 PM, EQ_Theta said:

As for Sen, he gestured the others to join him by the backdrop. He could already see himself pulling Lin, Omen, and Rosa in for a group hug. But that thought was interrupted upon seeing the filly from earlier. Here’s hoping the pictures she took earlier weren’t too… unflattering. The longma was worried he might have looked awkward.

“If there are no last-minute requests, I think we’re ready.” Lin would take her place among the group before Sen pulled everyone close. “Remember, everyone, big smiles!”

Things would proceed after that though, with Sen leading them on to gather up, and prepare for the photo. He got slightly distracted by the young filly, but she hardly seemed to notice, and just went on to work on the roll of pictures she had just gotten handed by her grandpa.

The picture ready, and stage set, the picture would be taken, with Omen looking unblinkingly into the flash, and Shrimp... Acting really confused at the sudden light, which would mean that despite the four pictures being taken quickly after one another, he'd have four different angles, with his face confused every time. After the fourth though, he hid in Omen's mane, as he weren't sure what were going on here, and had gotten kinda spooked.

"Good, good. If you would please go to the waiting area, we should have your picture ready in around... Fifteen-twenty minutes, I think."

He'd direct them to an area were various creatures would be hanging out, doing small talk as they were waiting for their pictures to be finished. One of them - a young diamond dog with a chip in his right ear, that had a build somewhat like a dwarf from any typical fantasy - pointed at Sen with a meaty finger, and a grin on his face. There'd also be a female diamond dog there, about his age, that'd roll her eyes, and slap him on the back of the head for that. Might be she were smaller, but one glare from her told wonders of who were the one in charge of the two.

A couple of griffon females were instead fixated on Lin, and the strangeness of her outlook. Something which they thought might be a kind of costume. Not like the extravagant, feathery dresses they wore though, no no. A more down to earth, dark one, but nonetheless interesting to the pair, who just looked, whilst one of them absentmindedly plucked a loose down from the other one, and let it fall to the ground.

There'd also be one who'd look at Omen. A stallion, with a rather spaced out look, as if he were in kind of a daze. Though even through that, he looked as if the weird mare reminded him of someone, and he were wrecking his brain to find out who.

They could interact with any, or ignore them entirely, and just wait it out as a group. Completely up to them.

As for payment, Omen had handled that before they left the stand, when the elderly stallion had mentioned it. The delivery method were odd, but it'd give him a story for later, to share with others that worked the carnival. Omen and the others may well end up being a talking point of some interest by the vendors, carnies, and locals, in due time.

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

@Toastypk

"*gasp* New friend!"

Stygian would find himself suddenly engulfed by a force from above, that grabbed him in an instant, and dragged him in to itself.

IN other words, a rather fast pegasus had flown down from the skies, and were now giving him a big hug. A rather large mare, to be exact, as he were pressed against her chest, despite him standing up tall when she had grabbed him.

After she'd let go - resistance would make her relinquish her grasp - she'd bounce a step back, and look down on the stallion with a happy smile on her face.

It was an odd one for many, but with Pinkie being the way she were, Ziggy had blended in well locally over the last several weeks, and rarely got any odd stares anymore, regardless of how she stood out.

For one, she were a pegasus, but with zebra stripes and traditional rings around her legs, albeit pink. She also wore frames with no glasses in, which just seemed weird in general for some. And it also didn't help her that she were a good head to head and a half taller that most ponies. She wasn't Celestia height, but it were roughly that of Luna. Not a regular thing, but some just grew large. Not a lot around here though, with Big Mac being just about their largest specimen.

"Heyah there. Im Doc Zinger, but most just calls me Ziggy. You looked like you could use a hug."

She'd like to say that she needed more reason than that to tackle somepony like that, but she really didn't. If somepony looked like they needed a hug, she'd swoop in from above, and make it happen. Sometimes she'd then take off right after, nd really confuse folks, but she didn't have a lot to do today, so she'd stick around for a bit at least.

"I haven't seen you in town before. Are you new? You better watch out if you are. Pinkie likes throwing welcome parties, and she'd just itching for another excuse, ehehe."

If she radiated more joy and happiness, she might actually explode into rainbows and kittens. Hopefully that wouldn't be too overwhelming for Stygian. Though on a plus note for him, it didn't seem like she had any idea who he were. Or if she did, she didn't care about the things that had happened with him, and The Darkness. Either way would potentially work in his favor, if he cared to make connections to new ponies in town.

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

@Kujamih @Windy Breeze @Califorum

On 2021-02-24 at 8:15 PM, Kujamih said:

"... You can be boring sometimes Molotov..."

"I know mate. Safety and procedure can be boring. But when it comes to science, you can't risk the lives of others, only your own. If you start using other folks as test subjects on something woefully untested, you're straying into the realm of madness. Now don't get me wrong, plenty of folks thinks that us Boom's are crazy, but there's limits. Like my wings here. I felt confident they were ready for a test, but I ain't gonna put some poor sap under the knife who doesn't know the full risks, just so that I can grab some credit."

On 2021-02-24 at 8:15 PM, Kujamih said:

" What's Cali up to now?"

"I dunno. She looks a bit miffed though. Lemme try and go talk to her, right after we order some chow. Ain't a point in being here, if you're not gonna eat, eh? And I'm seeing my favorite lass of the employees, right in front of me."

He'd give a grin to the mare who first noted when Blitz and Cali went in, and she gave him a somewhat forced smile.

"Helpful really. The usual for Blitz and I, thanks. Now you go order yours mate. I'll go see what's up with the lady."

On 2021-02-24 at 11:42 PM, Cali said:

"Ah...I'm kinda thirsty..." she would say and from a red portal she'd pull out a bottle of Bleach. Due to her atomic manipulation and shapeshifting ability, she could do this with no ill effects...she screws the cap off and proceeded to glug down some bleach. "Mhm yeah, thats the stuff."

She would've just about drunk the bottle when he showed up, and gotten quite a lot of horrified, and downright scared looks from other folks. Guess he had to try and clean the air then, no pun intended.

"It's alright folks. Just a trick she likes to play on folks. Nothing to worry about here. See? She's perfectly healthy."

It were hard to argue against that, even if she then started to chew on the plastic bottle. Best to just roll with it for most and keep some distance from the mare, just in case. Could be a draconequus in disguise, or really just some performer messing with them via illusions. It happened at times in larger towns like theirs, albeit rarely. And ewell, no pony could just drink bleach and live, so that at least told them that this were likely not what it seemed.

Molotov though, would sit down, and look at Cali with a cheeky little grin on his face.

"Why so glum, chum? Anything your ol' friend Molotov can sort out for ya?"

Edited February 27, 2021 by Blitz Boom

Evil Pink One · February 26, 2021

At the counter light just replied to the cashier, " I'll just get what their havin." So he could quickly join up with them.

As he sits with the group, he could see Cali chuggin up kerosene.... Light some how knows that Cali is bored at this moment and instinctly put out his front left hoof revealed his claws and casted a whicker of flame to burn down the belched kerosene Cali is about to perform.

" Cali you know i hate that smell... Oh .. sorry different Cali.... Im starting to appreciate my dimension Cali now..."

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