open Casual stroll

[Seamore Sandwich 471]

@@Denim&Venom

@@Blitz Boom

@@cwhip9

@@Melke

@

@@Missklang

 

Charlie jumped into the remaining seat on the sled once Briar was aboard. "Hang on tight!" he shouted as the hallway tilted forward and they began sliding really quickly. They hadn't realized it before, but they were all suddenly wearing colorful, knitted winter hats and scarves. "Just focus on your friend and this will take us straight there!" he said to Vivid, talking over the sound of the sled sliding through the snow. "Woohoooo!!!"

 

Seamore remained silent, just watching the cute little children, knowing he should keep his distance.

Edited October 31, 2015 by Seamore Sandwich

[Missklang 1,053]

@Seamore Sandwich@cwhip9@Magos Amphrose @Melke @Blitz Boom@Denim&Venom,

 

 

"Don't touch my children, unless I permit it, which I am not at the moment."

 

 

"Don't worry, I don't eat foxes... I'm used to parents not allowing me approach their children. They find me too "dangerous"... I wonder why. I would never harm anypony..."

 

 

"Cute kids."

 

 

Missklang looked away and saw blushing Last staring at the wall. He called to her with an amused grin..

 

"Come on Last! I'm sure this wall is very interesting. In other circumstances, I would even join you to look at it, but you can't be a stone statue all the time. Stop staring at this poor wall, come over here and look at this cute fluffballs! Believe me, they are even cuter than parasites. Perhaps Priestess would even allow you to give them a hug since I can't."

[Denim&Venöm 19,112]

@Seamore Sandwich@cwhip9@Magos Amphrose@Missklang @Melke @Blitz Boom

 

Priestess heard Syo's comments. "Oh hey, look what the cat dragged in." She turned her head to face the trans dimensional feline, "You actually remember your nursing? Funny, I have barley any recollection of mine." She then saw her take a pic "Hey! Pictures cost extra!" She turned her head back to Missklang when he started speaking. "You may not eat foxes, but I can eat ponies. Keep your distance and come back with out the chaos taint and I might reconsider. Scrubbing defilement out of a kit's fur is such a pain in the flank."

 

It was faint, but her ear twitched acknowledging she heard Last's comment, and started listening in on Missklang's address of it. She looked over at Last attempting to look away with an obvious blush. She then looked over to Shaman, who noticed it as well. He turned to priestess. He smirked, then nodded. Priestess then snickered a little, looking back at Last. She heard Missklangs comments about 'hugging.' "Pfft. Not even. I'm only faintly considering Nekojin over there cause they're almost as big as she is, and more likely to kill her than vice vera. No, the only other ones who get to cuddle my tarturus spawn are my Bae, my Ane-chan, my mistress, and their half sister." 

 

She looked across her brood. "I should probably do introductions. Keep in mind most of these are placeholder names until they grasp the concept of self identification. Let's see if I remember. This one's my oldest, Dio, I think. That's Dime.  That's Cliff. That's Clive. That's Pete. That's..." Priestess stopped. She took another look at her litter. "1,2,3,4...5? Where is... dammit not agai- Miles!" She scanned the room, searchign for, and finding, a kit wandering away from the litter, and a twin tailed one at that."Miles, you deformed atrocity of nature! Get back here or I swear to Hayford..." Miles didn't seem to acknowledge, or even hear her for that matter. "Miles! Goddess dammit. Ugh!" She layed her head back onto the ground with a wump. "Bae, go get your son." She aimlessly called out to Shaman.

 

Shaman nodded. He walked away from the litter, and in several strides, he stood about a meter in front of his son. 'Miles' looked up at his father. Then, two purple sparks flickered on his back. He started hovering. In mid air. Before suddenly blitzing towards his dad in a blur- 

 

*Smack* Shaman had his eyes closed. He opened them up. Miles was now clutching his muzzle, nuzzling the top of his head affectionately, softly Brrr--rrr-rr-Ing, all the while two tiny insect wings twitched on his back. 

 

Shaman looked over at Priestess. Priestess looked back, nonplussed. She dragged her head along the floor, craning her neck back to look over at the party. 

 

"... I told you he was a mutant."

[Missklang 1,053]

@Seamore Sandwich@cwhip9@Magos Amphrose @Melke @Blitz Boom@Denim&Venom,

 

 

 

"You may not eat foxes, but I can eat ponies. Keep your distance and come back without the chaos taint and I might reconsider. Scrubbing defilement out of a kit's fur is such a pain in the flank."

 

Missklang lifted his muzzle in the air with an exaggeratedly offended look on his face.

 

" Do you suggest I'm one of those filthy tainted chaos monsters that infest with chaos on touch? I can not stand this offense to myself! I am deeply mortified of the thought as cruel as to infect a pure soul of a child with such vile magic of mine! I'm dishonored and thus I must end my life by sending myself to permanent exile on the moon.... Pffheh heh eh ha ha ah."

 

He couldn't keep the serious face too long and puffed from laughter.

 

"Sorry, that was just hilarious... But really, if your concern is that I could accidently pass chaos magic on one of those foxies you are wrong. Once I absorb chaos magic, my body transform it into normal magic, that can be used by my body and myself as a power source, keeping me alive for as long as I have it..."

 

 

 

"... I told you he was a mutant."

 

"Aww don't say that! I find him even cuter than the others! And also, there was one thing I'm concerned about. Back in the forest when I cured you of the chaos poisoning, I absorbed some of your natural magic by accident. It is still in me as it's now impossible to remove... As small children are highly sensitive to this kind of things, they could easily sense it in me and mistake me for one of your kind thus start to try to be friends... Just saying, if in case one come too close to me, don't eat me as it is not my fault. By the way, you won't be able to eat me. You will but I would taste awful and I would come back eventually... "

[Blitz Boom 4,639]

@@Melke,

@@Seamore Sandwich,

@@Denim&Venom,

@@cwhip9,

@,

@@Missklang,

 

Last didn't aknowledge Missklang's words, but you could see on her ears twitching that she had heard them at least. She were still looking towards where Crescent were/are though, so he would perhaps also see her eye narrow further and the slight blush get a small tinge extra briefly as she tried to get herself back under control. A thing that was not helped on with what Priestess had said at the start before going over to introductions.

 

She kept it in mind to want to ask a few questions later - like if she meant that her kin chose their own name and what Bae, Shaman or whatever he wanted to be called, actually were - but she kept her eyes averted some as she wouldn't... No, Couldn't, allow herself to end up as a d'aawing fool here. She were supposed to guard and keep an eye on things here, not loose any sense of self-respect and end up like a darker version of Pinkie Pie.

 

What did made her finally turn around though, was the kit that had wandered off from the rest. Listening to his mum's... Colourful words did also give her a tinge of surprise, as it sounded harsher than she had heard most families talk to their kids in Equestria, but her focus was more on the two-tailed Miles that was getting on escaping from the others.

 

She didn't go after the kit right off. He wasn't too far away yet, and he wasn't That fast really, though honestly she mostly just kept an eye on things in case something happened more than thinking he'd run from his family. She was used to sometimes a frisky Dragon or rogue Gryphon taking it's chance to quickly dive for a small one that had strayed from the flock, and though she knew in her head that this wasn't exactly a place prone to Gryphon or Dragon infestations, reflex and paranoia wasn't something that always listened to reason over experience, and right now it made her keep a close eye and stand on the ready whilst her eye followed the rather cute little fluffball.

 

It wasn't long before the kit's father was sent after him, and normally that would be the end of it, but seeing what happened afterwards with the kit starting to fly and when settled on its dad's face, showing a pair of wings, changed things.

 

She was silent for a bit, though kept her eye focused on Bae rather than the kit.

 

 

"...Never know what can hide in the genes."

 

If Miles had just sprung normal, batwings, or something overly fluffy like clouds, then she could have seen it and just thought it odd, but insect wings popping out of seemingly nowhere? She might have been isolated for most of her life, but that didn't mean that she hadn't run into Changelings before. They had tried their hooves at the shrine a few times in the past, giving it a few honest tries before it became more of a random occurrence where it seemed more like they tested new tactics or broods on them more than actually trying to take them over. It had given her ample time to learn a few things about them, and about their calling cards.

 

She kept looking for a second or two more, then just shrug slightly ad averted her eyes towards Missklang, and saying in a somewhat joking tone.

 

"So what you're saying is that you're, essentially, emergency lunch?"

 

Much as she wasn't fans of Changelings, she wasn't gonna dive deeper into that pot right now. For all she knew, Bae wasn't that, but instead just something else that had caused a genetic mutation int he crossbreeding going on. All she knew for sure was that he wasn't who they could see after all, not what was actually beneath, and considering that Priestess and Syo, she couldn't exactly stand and say that she knew all the races that were out there. These two were a new one after all.

 

Sides, Changeling or not, she wasn't gonna hurt a kid, and until she knew otherwise, those were kids. Six kids and a couple of parents that hadn't done anything at this point. Who'd be the evil one if she tried to take a swing at anypony there right now?

 

_____________________________________________________________

 

 

@@Seamore Sandwich,

 

"Very well. Let us see how far this takes us then."

 

Vivid closed her eyes and began to focus on her old acquaintance. Remembering his voice, behaviour, a few memories and the feeling of his energy that never really stopped spooking in her mind. It gave her some clear pictures, and it gave them clear direction.

 

The areas they would go by would quickly show and vanish in rapid succession as they got past with some degree of speed. At first it looked normal, though a little empty, and then... Well, then came the descend.

 

They would enter a spiral path downwards, and whilst going deeper down towards the layer where Vivid had been found before, the feeling of things and the doors started to slowly change over too. Away from the calm, the simple and the non-existent, to eventually the dark, the broody and after not too long, the looming doors trying to beckon the trio towards them as they travelled on a path of frozen stones.

 

They wouldn't slow down because of that though. It wasn't a long path, and as they kept onwards, going past these doors quickly enough so that the queasy feelings they could give off shouldn't stick, they reached a somewhat well known spot: The place where Vivid's door stood.

 

The sled would loose power and stand still a few meters from the door, then take a slight right turn before griding to a halt at a door only a few ones away from hers.

 

It looked simple all things considered. It was in a reddish oak, runes carved into the outside of it in an incomprehensible tongue and though it might be hard to see at first, it moved back and forwards ever so slightly. As if the door was breathing.

 

Much like Vivid's it carried a mark, though this didn't seem to be a cutie mark. It was 13 small creatures - one of them a pony shape - with thin string running between them and connecting them.

 

Vivid just smirked slightly at the sight and looked at the symbol a few seconds more whilst Briar made his way out of the sled.

 

"Seems rather fitting of him."

 

____________________________________________________

 

 

@@BlinkZ,

 

Sanctus gulped slightly as she saw him move towards the forest instead and hesitated on her path towards the hospital. She had hoped that he would follow there in a way, but...

 

"W-Wait for me then."

 

She turned around and got over to him so that she could follow him back down the path they had just stepped on, through Ponyville and towards the forest for a peek. Or well, what he Said would be a peel, but you never knew with ponies in this town. Sure, Gold wasn't a local, but tourists and visitors tended to just add to the pile of odd and unpredictable choices much like them, so the argument still stood if you didn't think about it for too long.

 

She couldn't see the large, pink pony from before anymore though. Her best bet was that she had entered the fast food place, but she might have just left while she wasn't watching as well. It wouldn't be the first time it had happened and it wouldn't be the last.

[Missklang 1,053]

@Seamore Sandwich@cwhip9@Magos Amphrose @Melke @Blitz Boom@Denim&Venom,

 

 

 

"So what you're saying is that you're, essentially, emergency lunch?"

 

 

Missklang put his hoof on his chest and replied in the same joking manner as Last, parodying a noblecolt.

 

"If those kids are starving to death, it would be an honour for me to donate my own flesh and blood for them. This would ease their pain as they would die much more quickly and with much lesser struggle from indigestion..."

 

He smiled warmly and looked at Last.

 

"Soo, is it me or our mighty warrior has a weakness for cute things? Be careful. The enemies will use this advantage. Imagine the whole army of changelings turned into kittens, puppies, rabbits and other cuteness... Despite the hilarious look of it, in real life. If changelings ever came with the smart idea of disguising their soldiers as little children, would the royal army have the strength to lift their spears and swords?"

 

The look on Missklang's face become suddenly very serious.

 

"From what I know, Chrysalis is able to pull that kind of dirty trick. The question is, will we be ready? I think it is a question worth the time to analyse it, don't you think?"

[Denim&Venöm 19,112]

@Seamore Sandwich@cwhip9@Magos Amphrose@Missklang @Melke @Blitz Boom

 

"Hey they're not that cute." Priestess commented on her own litter. She looked over them again."Okay fine, yes they are. Bae, bring our tone deaf monstrosity over here, if ya please." Shaman complied, gingerly walking over back to priestess while balancing a two tailed winged kit hugging his face. When he reached her, he sat down and closed his eyes, as if focusing. The insect wings on Miles flickered out in sparks of purple. Meanwhile, the static like crackling that was tapering down on Shaman had begun to start up again. He could be heard sighing about this. "C'mon you disfigured abomination. Back to mama." She said in a softer voice. Miles turned his head and finally noticed. Shaman lowered himself to the ground. Miles jumped down and rushed for a spot in the suckling frenzy. 

 

"Kay, now that that ordeal has been dealt with-" She heard Shamans crackling "-mostly, it's now time for the young ones to return in kind. Dio!" One of the kits peaked it's head out and stood up on it's mothers side. "On behalf of you and your siblings, would you kindly introduce yourselves to strangers."

 

"Bwuck Awff!" she, presumably a she, said in a cheerful tone, tail wagging. Priestess looked on.  "Almost... wh-what else do we say to those we just met?" She asked, obviously trying to hold back a smile, and probably a laugh. 'Dio' made a face of contemplation. Whether it was authentic or not is unknown. She gasped a little, face lighting up when she remembered what it was.

"Waazzthhaahpp-llbpllpllbb!?" she added extra effect to that razzberry at the end. "Good girl!" Priestess patted her daughter on the head, who then went immediately back to nursing afterwords. 

[cwhip9 1,078]

@@Denim&Venom, seeing the kits pop out of the basket threw cresent off to some degree. He'd seen many magical things in his life but this one had to be on the list of unexpectedness with the 6 kits. And he found himself thinking that they looked cute like misklang said. He was about to shrug it off until he herd there blood beats. Most of them were in unison save the one called miles that strayed from the group. his wasn't it was then cresent noticed the bug wings on the fox....he looked again at shaman, priestess, and the wandering kit.....the kits blood matched shamans odd beat pattern.....something was up. Also something about priestess remaking on miles did bristle something with cresent. was she shamed to have that kit, or was it just another affection thing? he stoped gussing knowing it wasn't is place to say.

 

@@Blitz Boom, Cresent felt Lasts eyes on him finely turning towards her "whats up? your getting quiet again" he didn't know if shed been use to batponys then again he never met a talking fox as well. Ether way her lack of talking vs the others he wasn't sure to take that as shyness or just part of her "guardian" as Luna mention before hoof     

Edited November 2, 2015 by cwhip9

[Moonlit 593]

@@Blitz Boom, "Yes. Some help would be great. I apologize, I usually not this weak this early in the evening." Serenade starts to pant heavily, she lets the saddlebags off her back, and then collapses on the ground. "I...I guess switching back and forth so rapidly..may have drained me." She looks at Omen, and is barely able to keep her eyes open. "I'm...just...going...to...rest." She slumps over, asleep.

[~Sole~ 852]

@@Melke

 

Sole tried to nod in agreement, but the vines made that difficult to do "fly now, kick ass later. Got it" he said sarcastically, before banking slightly to the right just in time to avoid another laser. He doubled his speed, and hoped the enemies had the aim of storm troopers.

[Seamore Sandwich 471]

@@Denim&Venom

@@Blitz Boom

@@cwhip9

@@Melke

@

@@Missklang

 

"Well, that was fun while it lasted. Anypony want to do it again? Wait, never mind, we have stuff to do. Anyway, it's your friends door, so it's up to you how you want to proceed." Charlie remembered Vivid's warning about the one they were there to see, so as she suggested, he would let her lead the way.

 

Seamore, who was often out of the loop when it came to important things happening in Equestria, was unaware of the Changelings' attack on Canterlot. When he saw Miles' wings, he immediately recognized them as being that of a Changeling as he has had dealings with them in the past, but he thought it best that he keep that to himself. He decided that he would discuss it with Priestess later in the privacy of her dreams, one of the Everspirits could help him reach her dreams. For now, he saw no reason to intervene.

[Blitz Boom 4,639]

@@Melke,

@@Seamore Sandwich,

@@Denim&Venom,

@@cwhip9,

@,

@@Missklang,

 

"..."

 

Last just glared at Missklang for a bit instead of answering him, trying to find what words to say to this that didn't make her appear as a self-delusional nutcase, or just a rude mare for that matter, but before she could really get anything formulated, she heard the little kit trying to speak to them and on instinct turned her head towards her.

 

The look going over her face when Dio went into the other part of the greeting could best be described as a sequence of *D'aaaaw*, then a slight jolt going through her as she realised what she was doing, and then at the end, her turned away again, a blush returned to her face.

 

She might not have said any words to Missklang, but the reaction sequence should be a pretty obvious *Yes* to whatever or not she had a weakness for cuddly little animals, though not an answer to his other question. It was an interesting dilemma though, to think if the royal guards would be able to bring themselves to hit something that looked like foals, and she would discuss that at length if it were. Just as soon as she had herself under control again.

 

Facing Crescent, the blush didn't go away fast, but she tried to keep some dignity and cleared her throat slightly before giving a few words in response to his question.

 

"Just trying to focus..."

 

_____________________________________________

 

 

@@Seamore Sandwich,

 

Vivid took a few steps over and placed her hoof on the door. She didn't push it open though, but instead put her hoof down again and turned to the others.

 

"Before we go in, there's a few things you need to understand. First off is that whatever you see or hear in there, don't let it cloud your mind and make you lash out. He might be a neutral merchant in the grand sense, but he is still a Demon, and Demons does not tolerate angry outbursts well. If you want to talk about things in there, try to be as calm as possible. That includes if he tries to taunt you to lash out.

 

Second off, don't try to lie to him if he asks you things. If you don't want to answer it, think on how you phrase it instead. You'd be surprised how much better mind games work with Demons. Likely cause they're used to do it themselves."

 

"I shall keep that in mind. But if he does speak with us, is there a name we can call him by?"

 

Vivid smirked slightly and said a long word. It would be incomprehensible for the two of them to understand, and hearing it would feel like a mixture of slight pain and chills going down their spines.

 

"But you can call him Dave."

 

Without waiting for more responses, Vivid turned around, pushed the door open and led the two of them inside.

 

At first glance, there wasn't much in here. The skies above them were dim, with dark clouds swirling in an eternally slow pattern reminiscent of a flat, spotty whirlpool, gathering at the middle and then disappearing. The ground beneath them were barren and dark, covered in a thin layer of red dust everywhere that barely moved in the slight, cold breeze going through the area.

 

in front of them, a dark mountainside loomed and stretched further up than they could see, though beyond that the area was flat and simplistic. It had to be too, considering what was there. Or should one say, Who, was there.

 

Filling a good deal of space in front of them were random beings, standing motionless and faced towards the towering mountain. Some of them recognisable as ponies, dragons and other beings from Equestria, but others were not. A Human, some beast baring vague resemblances to historical representation of Werewolves, a serpents with long arms and a few other things that seemed bizarre, even for this place.

 

They didn't notice the trio that had arrived, though right now it was debatable if they would notice anything, as random beings from different planes standing motionless like this didn't exactly scream that they had full cognitive functions.

 

"Vivid Loss."

 

A voice came from nowhere, seemingly carried on the wind towards them. It sounded a little gravelly, somewhat amused and a tinge surprised, though that last part didn't stay as the words went on.

 

"Of all the creatures to lurk in my dreams, I hadn't thought you to be one of them. Then again, I didn't expect you to play around with a garden on legs or a dream rider."

 

Vivid signalled for the others to stop and took a few steps forward, looking towards the sky with a slight smirk of her own, and a voice carrying the sly tone she usually spoke with, but with a tinge of something dark and cruel.

 

"And I didn't expect your dreams to be this dull. Not after what happened with Kreshna."

 

A chilling laughter slithered between them briefly.

 

"She was a fun one to rattle. Perhaps we can talk about that and... Other, memories when you finally get your flank around for a visit again."

 

"All in due time. I have a few clients here to handle before that though."

 

"Heh, I see. And who are the little lives then?"

 

Briar felt like somepony was glaring at him, though no eye were there to be seen by any of the others.

 

"Briar Trapjaw, Sir Dave. It's a pleasure."

 

He gave a slight bow whilst another laughter went on around them, making him feel a chill going down his spine.

 

"We will see how long you will feel that way, little plant. Now, what about you, dream walker?"

 

________________________________________________

 

 

@@Moonlit,

 

Omen looked down on the passed out Siren for a bit, contemplating what to do. She was reasonably sure that she couldn't just leave her here, but where else to take her? She had said bad things about the castle, if anypony in town saw her suddenly switch it could end badly too from what she could hear, but where else could she go?

 

Thinking about things a little more, Omen opened a gate just beneath the two of them, and as they sank into it and she began directing the unconscious Serenade and her things through the shifting realm she lived in, carrying them on dark shapes as she looked for a place to go through to the Equestrian world once more.

 

Back in Ponyville, a few minutes after this, Ziggy got out of the fast food shop with a small bag hanging from her muzzle containing a few things to eat. She was about to take off when one of the gates from before opened in front of her and Omen slowly walked outside, alone, and no longer carrying the telescope. She left the gate behind her open this time though, signalling in a sense that she wasn't gonna stay here for long.

 

"Oh hey, you're here to meet me?"

 

"No, I'm here to get you to her."

 

"Getting me to... Wait, did something happen?"

 

"She fell asleep. I found somewhere to put her."

 

"Somewhere safe?"

 

"Looked safe. Might not be."

 

As the two of them talked, Sanctus and Gold might have gotten near enough to hear them, or if nothing else see them  if they wandered in the same direction as it had looked before. Omen and Ziggy wouldn't be there for long though. A minute at most and they would leave, so if the two of them wanted to have a quick word it would have to be there before they left to meet up with Serenade again, wherever that may be.

 

(I leave it up to you where she wakes up Moonlit, in case you wanted to mingle with some of the others.)

[Denim&Venöm 19,112]

@Seamore Sandwich@cwhip9@Magos Amphrose@Missklang @Melke @Blitz Boom

Last may have tried to hide her D'awww face, but didn't do so quick enough for Priestess to not notice. She had herself a toothy grin at that. "Hey Dio. Do something else cute for mommy." she asked, hoping to capitalize on Last's weakness. Dio stuck her head up. "Wahffellthss!" She dove back into the suckle fest. Priestess waited.  

[Seamore Sandwich 471]

@@Denim&Venom

@@Blitz Boom

@@cwhip9

@@Melke

@

@@Missklang

 

Seamore couldn't help but smile when he heard the kit say something that sounded like it could have been an attempt to say 'waffles.' Not only was it cute, but it also brought his attention to something that needed to be dealt with: he was getting hungry. He went back over to his cart and pulled out a box of granola bars. After counting them out, he realized, "There's just enough for each of us. Does anyone want a granola bar? You'll have to decide if you want to have it now, or if you want to save it for the morning."

 

Back in the Dream Realm, "Hello," Charlie said, then he said the unusual, hard to pronounce name Vivid said earlier, perfectly. "The name I have chosen for myself is Charlie Everdream. I have spent the past three hundred twenty nine years of my life as a tree and I hope for a chance to explore the world as I never could before." Nopony could be sure of when it had happened, but Charlie was back in the form of a Triops (a three eyed shrimp that has some resemblance to a horseshoe crab), this time the size of a young filly.

[Melke 160]

@@~Sole~,

 

As you increased your flight speed, they chased after the both of us. Dyr gripped on tightly to the reins so that she does not fall off, Dyr was glowing with green energy as she left behind red rose petals as you flew. "And, off it goes."

 

There was a large cluster explosion in the sky. Then there was more lasers that came from the bottom and sides, Dyr pulled the reins and 'helped' you dodge them but one stray laser struck her left arm. "Me-OW! I really underestimated their proficiency. He must be growing more powerful. We need to hurry."

 

@@Blitz Boom,

@@Seamore Sandwich,

@@Denim&Venom,

@@cwhip9,

@,

@@Missklang,

 

Syo laughed heartily as she saw the little flight of Miles and then she kept the camera she was holding.

 

"Miles just need some special attention, but luckily for him... he cannot hear evil." Syo joked as she went in closer to the kits and moved her tail over them and jingled the padlock that was on the tail ring. Even for a cat, Syo has a really long tail. "I have been told that if I ever have kittens, they would die as I am never around."

 

Syo then looked around at where they were. Syo took out some of her candy and ate one before she spoke again. "So... what's the history of this place? I can find traces of magic and a lot of negativity here."

Edited November 4, 2015 by Melke

[Blitz Boom 4,639]

@@Melke,

@@Seamore Sandwich,

@@Denim&Venom,

@@cwhip9,

@,

@@Missklang,

 

Last kept her back to Priestess, but even then she should be able to see that Last's ears had perked up a little and that she had gotten a slight jolt through her at the sound of the kit attempting to say something that sounded roughly like waffles. What she might also take some notice of, depending on heow good her ears were, were a low mumbling from the mare as she stood otherwise motionless, and if her hearing were well enough, she might be able to make out the words "Don't look, don't look, don't look." repeated over and over again.

 

Seemed like Last didn't handle having her emotions show like that all too well.

 

_______________________________________________

 

 

@@Seamore Sandwich,

 

The laughter was heard again at Charlie's words.

 

"So the dreamwalker have been paying enough attention to speak high demonic, and even say it without cringing in pain? What an interesting specimen..."

 

"The dream is his afterlife. It is bound to have some perks that the living can't have."

 

"True. A pity I can't have him join my collection and find out more in detail."

 

"You will find one at some point. You always do. Now then, pick a manifestation and show yourself would you? I don't have all night with this deal."

 

The laughter bellowed out again, this time carrying a good deal of madness in the tone as something started to move towards them from the mountain.

 

It was hard to see at first, as it came from heights they could not see from down here, but as it rapidly got closer, all but Briar would be able to see a quick, red shade sliding down, head first. The eyes were empty holes, the mouth full of razorsharp teeth, and as it reached the ground and raised slightly up, they could see the long arms with the claws that matched the teeth well, though they were of greater length. It had no legs, but instead had the appearance of a long tail that it would have slithered on if there had been any weight to support, yet from the movements not making a sound, nor make the dust move even a little, it seemed to not have any weight, or mass for that matter.

 

The laughter that had accompanied it stopped as the crimson shade rushed directly into one of the beings that had their back turned on the party, and vanished from sight like there had never been anything.

 

"You need clients with more patience."

 

The vessel - a pony with a simple brown coat, regular looking, orange tail and a mane - turned around to face them after saying the few words. The vessel looked normal, and would be easier to connect with than the disembodied voice from before, though it would likely seem strange to Charlie that he had gotten through this little show to end up like this.

 

After all, it was his dream. He could form it however he wanted to. If he had wanted it, he could have just stood before them without no extra things going on, and even in another form than the roughly Alicorn-sized, crimson shade from before. More than likely, this was done more to put on a show of some kind, though if it were for the guests or for Vivid was anypony's guess.

 

"If the price is right I take any client, and what they are willing to give me in return is worth the favour I am here to cash in now."

 

Dave moved a little closer, a slightly mad grin going over his face as he looked Charlie and Briar over.

 

"And which favour would that be then?"

 

"The one where I killed you springs to mind, though depending how plentiful the parts I want are, it could just be the one with your old boss."

 

"So you're willing to cash one of Those in? Hmhmhm, these two must really have something good in hold for you. I wonder what that might be..."

 

Vivid took a step forward herself, intercepting Dave before he could come any closer.

 

"Perhaps if you play nice, I might tell you later."

 

Dave raised his hoof up and placed it under Vivid's chin, raising it up as he got closer and half growled into her face with the mad grin still on his face.

 

"And what if I don't?"

 

"Take a guess."

 

The words were more or less purred at him with an undertone of violence, though more than that wasn't said as the two looked at eachother for what felt like minutes on end before Dave let his hoof down and moved past Vivid, going over to the ones behind her.

 

"So, a full body for Charlie, and what, a pair of eyes for you, Briar?"

 

"That's won't be necessary. I already have an option from what I have been told so far."

 

He wasn't sure what was going on right now, but for some reason he felt like he should be worried. That seemed to fit as he suddenly felt a hoof on his eyelids, forcing them upwards to reveal the blank area behind it.

 

"And what parts are that?"

 

Briar moved backwards a bit, away from Dave whilst Vivid answered the question. Or he would have, if it wasn't because he couldn't move. Whatever Dave was doing, it stopped him from moving a muscle as the area beneath his eyelids were examined.

 

"Eyes from a large, chaos-infused crystal spider."

 

Dave gave off a displeased snort and let go of Briar, that were now free to actually take a few steps backwards.

 

"Amateurish parts. No socket and no nerves to tingle with, and you want to go for the simple things."

 

"And what then if I take the first favour in use?"

 

Dave's grin seemed to widen.

 

"I have something more interesting and resilient in mind then that I could be convinced to part with."

 

Moving a little closer, over to the crab form of Charlie, Dave didn't make contact, but instead just looked down with a glimmer in his eyes of somepony considering stomping down on something.

 

"As for you, what body do you have in mind? I doubt it is this form at least, unless you want your fate to be dinner?"

[Denim&Venöm 19,112]

@Seamore Sandwich@cwhip9@Magos Amphrose@Missklang @Melke @Blitz Boom

All the kits stopped their suckling and looked up at Syo's tail, all eyes and heads synchronously turning to follow it. All the kits looked at eachother. Priestess ears twitched when she heard Last's attempts at self control. She wasn't the only one to have noticed. She saw one of her brood break away from the litter. "Petey, where in the blue hay do you think you're go-" *ahem* She heard Shaman clear his throat. He shook his head a little, then motioned towards last. Priestess looked a little confused. She followed her meandering kit. And it was walking over towards Last. Last wouldn't have seen 'Petey' come from behind. She would probably only notice as Petey stood on his hind legs and began to paw up Last's side.

 

Back at the performance, the remane 5 seemed disinterested in Syo's display, at first. One of the kits, Dio, climbed onto the shaft of her moms timber, trying to balance herself on it. The remaining 3 climbed on to their mother, sniffing the air, and the stick. Priestess looked on, mildly amused, but mostly uninterested.  Shaman looked on as well, very interested. He coked his head, ear twitching, as if listening in on something. Along with the purple sparking of his coat, if one payed attention, they'd also notice his eyes changed slightly as well, flickering. The whites would get a lavender hue to them, while his iris's would get double ringed. All the kit's looked from one another, as if they were speaking in turn, but no sound could be heard. Oddly quiet for the rabble.  

 

All three looked out from atop their mothers side. Dio futilely reached for Syo's tail atop the stick. The other kit present continued suckling, until their ear twitched too, where they proceed to stop, then slowly back away. All three took a look at Dio. Took a look at eachother. Then, they all leaped off their mother at once, and onto the other end of the stick. "Ermph!" was the higher pitched sound Priestess made as she grimaced from feeling her insides being shifted by the Everwood. The three kits went down. Dio went  up. Up and up, towards Syo's tail. No doubt she was gonna reach it. Anyone looking closely could see a purple flickering on Dio's muzzle, and for a brief millisecond, see a pair of longer white fangs... before they plunged into Syo's tail. 

 

*Chomp*

[Melke 160]

@@Blitz Boom,

@@Seamore Sandwich,

@@Denim&Venom,

@@cwhip9,

@,

@@Missklang,

 

Syo felt the teeth sink into her tail and then she let out a loud scream before she subconsciously burst teleported all over the place with Dio still on her tail. After zapping to the top of a statue, on the throne, on the organ (another loud sound came) and to the top of the walls, Syo finally came back and just teleported Dio off her tail.

 

"Ow... that's my tail." Syo said as she tenderly petted her tail. To stop any more of Priestess's kits from biting her, she set her staff down and it formed an area around Syo that rebounded anything that enters.

 

As Syo took a look, the bite did not look normal for such a small kit. She pulled out some bandages and wrapped them around her tail then after a short while, the bandages disappeared but the wound is closed and healed.

[Moonlit 593]

(I'm unsure who to tag, so if anybody wants to drag me in, feel free).

 

Serenade moans a bit before rolling over, her eyes blink open and she attempts to sit up. Running her muzzle, she stops opens her eyes and...

A high-pitched shriek echoes in the dark, followed by the sound of a hyperventilating pony.

[Seamore Sandwich 471]

@@Denim&Venom

@@Blitz Boom

@@cwhip9

@@Melke

@

@@Missklang

 

Seamore opened up one of his granola bars and took a bite, this one was s'more flavored with mini marshmallows and chocolate chips. Just then, when Syo had hit a note on the organ, a passageway opened up, but it seemed the door was stuck open afterward. "I'm gonna see what room this leads to. I'll save these granola bars for all of you 'til morning, unless any of you want one now," he said, then he paused, waiting for a response.

 

@@Blitz Boom

 

Charlie knew exactly what he wanted, "I would like to be a changeling, if possible, as I would probably never be able to settle on one form. It would also allow me to blend in with many different species so I could explore more new places." Charlie could clearly understand that such a thing could be a tall order to fill, but it could also be seen that the idea of exploring new places was exciting to him.

Edited November 4, 2015 by Seamore Sandwich

[Blitz Boom 4,639]

@@Melke,

@@Seamore Sandwich,

@@Denim&Venom,

@@cwhip9,

@,

@@Missklang,

 

Hearing the sounds behind her hadn't mattered much to Last. The repeating of words had stopped, she had gotten a few good, deep breaths, and though she had so far been reluctant to face the kits, she were getting a small inkling that if she trtietried now, she could get through this with at least a little dignity left.

 

And then, something started to touch her side.

 

It was a reflex more than anything that she turned her head, thinking it might be a large rat or something before her eyes met those of the little kit pawing against her, and the feigned self control she had in her withered and blew away in the wind.

 

Seeing them had been one thing, listening to the cute sounds another, but at least with that there were some distance so she could try and ignore things better. Now though... It was like placing a muffin in front of Derpy and assume she could restrain herself.

 

"Awh, aren't you the most adorable thing ever?"

 

The words were happy as Last went down on her knees to better face the little thing with a big smile on her face and her open eye somewhat more... Well, Open. She had narrower eyes than usual ponies from birth, so it couldn't be anything near the degree of for example Pinkie Pie, though the smile and general look going over her face right now did carry some resemblance.

 

She heard a ruckus as the other kits went after Syo, and the high pitched sound Priestess made before Syo went into a scream, but she just wasn't too focused on that right now. When she eventually would be, then sure, she might have some questions or even concerns, as well as likely a comment about the offered granola bar by Seamore, but right now the little fluffball had won in gaining her attention and it was hard to refocus on something else for her in this moment.

 

_____________________________________________________

 

 

@@Moonlit,

 

A gate opened not far from Serenade after the scream, and Ziggy's head popped out, looking for where the scream were coming from with the bag still in her mouth. It might be hard for Serenade to see at first, depending on how dark the room where, but the contrast between the gate and the surroundings might shed if not light, then at least some shapes over things.

 

She jumped out more or less straight after, with Omen following troupe slowly behind her.

 

"What's with the screams Serenade? Are you hurt? I can help you if it is."

 

______________________________________________________

 

 

@@Seamore Sandwich,

 

Dave scratched his chin, then let out a low chuckle.

 

"So you're not satisfied with one form? A mortal after my own taste."

 

"If that was true, you would have picked that form yourself centuries ago."

 

Dave grinned as the dream around them seemingly started to blur a little.

 

"You know me. I don't like to be limited to even a base form. What's the fun in that?"

 

The blur stopped more or less as it had appeared, and now where it had happened, instead of the many figured from before, stood a long, heavily inscribed table surrounded by new figures. The forms would be easy to recognise for Charlie if he had even a small inkling about how Changelings looked, though there were in a varied number of shapes. Some tall, some short, some thin, some robust, varied shapes of horns, colours and eyes too.

 

Vivid slightly rose her right eyebrow at the sight, then went over to look at the parts spread out on the table. Nothing bleeding, internal things or anything like that, but there were many spread parts of Changelings in legs, heads, horns, fangs and so on. In essence, it looked much like a disturbingly realistic display of mannequins, or a weird garage sale.

 

"And here I thought you might not have any of these. That is, unless this is just for show?"

 

"They are, but that doesn't mean they're not looking like things I actually have. A few of these over the millennia have had the displeasure of doing business with me, and supported a good amount of their random drones to my collection in exchange for my services. A pity how things went for them in the end, but you reap what you sow."

 

Vivid didn't say anything to that, but considering there were a few Changeling Queens around the table display, along with some effeminate ones with manes and tails that might be Changeling Princes, she shouldn't have to either.

 

"So then, Charlie, what kind of Changeling do you look for then? Something premade, or perhaps a more... Custom made creation?"

 

parts on the table started to gather up and mix around to show a little of what he meant. From the diferent colours of the exoskeleton to the build, extra spikes, eyes, stature or even dental, there were little he didn't show that could switch around and mix and match whilst he waited for the spirit to tell him what his preferences would end up being.

 

Seemed like it was quite the favour he owed Vivid when he was willing to part with even leader parts though. Perhaps something to ask about another time.

[Moonlit 593]

@@Blitz Boom, Serenade is floating just above the ground, in full Siren form, her eyes are darting around, and is very obvious that she's panicking. "Γιατί είμαι σε μορφή σειρήνας μου , τι συνέβη όταν αποκοιμήθηκα". She floats over to where Zippy is, get's in extremely close to where the smell of the sea is overwhelming. "Μήπως κάποια από σας αγγίξει στολίδι μου". She places both of her forelegs on Zippy's shoulders, and looks into her eyes with a pleading look.

[Blitz Boom 4,639]

@@Moonlit,

 

Ziggy just looks at the Siren with big eyes, tilting her head a little from side to side before clearing her throat a bit.

 

"I erhm... I don't know what you're saying."

 

"Perhaps she's confused..."

 

Omen closed the gate and wandered a few steps closer to Serenade, not realy paying attention to where they currently were. Not that it mattered much either. She had wanted to find a place that seemed safe, not worried where it might be. For all she would know, they could currently be in Saddle Arabia or Neighpon, or just a few hooves from where they started, in a hole in the ground. Traveling in her home could make short distances long and long ones short in random order, even with a guide, and when safety was all she had to go after instead of a specific place... Well, it could be just about anywhere.

 

"You fell. I took you. Someplace safe."

 

She looked around a little.

 

"I think."

 

Hopefully Serenade would calm down a little soon. If for nothing else, then so that she would be able to smell another thing. The warm food wafting out the bag Ziggy was holding in front of her.

___________________________________________________

 

 

@@Xiflelin,

 

Though many things happened in the forest at this otherwise silent time of the night, and the little night life Ponyville had were mostly focused in a bar where Vinyl Scratch were performing and the hospital, not everything about the town were completely quiet and calm.

 

Down the street, away from the ponies that had vanished in their gate or the miner pony and his strange companion, somepony or something started to rustle. It was not much at first, just a few vibrations in the otherwise quiet part of town, but as the seconds went on, the sound increased over near the closed blacksmith. Not in the store itself, no, but in the large, metal container where the blacksmith and a few other nearby houses deposited their non-perishable trash.

 

The container's lid were bumping slightly up and down randomly, making a noticeable clang sound that anypony awake and in the street should be able to hear. It wasn't certain Why it moved, but if anypony wouldn't know better... It seemed as if something was trying to break out.

[Moonlit 593]

@@Blitz Boom, Serenade cocks her head to one side, then shakes it. "Gem...did you...touch it". Her voice is strained, like she's forcing herself to speak Equestrian. She shakes her head again, the fin on the back of head and neck scattering water droplets everywhere. She sniffs the food and smiles, revealing rows of sharp fangs, and with an almost predatory gleam in her eyes.

[Blitz Boom 4,639]

@@Moonlit,

 

"No, she and I didn't. But my family did."

 

Omen took the word on things as Ziggy grinned at Serenade's predatory one and started unpacking the food where they stood, hovered, or otherwise.

 

"We are curious. Fascinated by many things. When something or somepony solid comes through, we want to see, sometimes touch, if we're not told no. You couldn't, and I wouldn't deny my family wonders of this world, Not when we never keep, what isn't given."

 

Ziggy looked up from the three boxes she had laid out on the ground now, looking towards Omen with a sorta funny look on her face before shrugging it off and returning to the boxes. They could eat first, weird questions could come later.

 

(Insert what you want in the boxes. Tired, and not sure what sort of fried food Ponies would eat)