open Casual stroll

@@Denim&Venom,

@@cwhip9,

@,

@@Missklang,

"Try not to get your stick stuck somewhere."

Last wasn't sure if Priestess even heard her, but it didn't matter right ow either. She had said about things what she could, there had been some minor agreeing on things, and now it was just to get a move on. Though she would say, she wasn't too thrilled about the secret passageway. Things like that didn't awaken an urge to explore in her as much as the want to brick the way so there wasn't an opening for attackers, but considering everything, she wasn't going to do that here. This place might be a ruin now, but it had still once been the home of her majesty, Princess Luna, and defiling her home unless there was a definitive reason was sacriledge.

She hadn't yet heard the vixen hollering about getting stuck, but plenty on some door she had found, so for the time being, there wasn't anything she could do there anywat. As she wandered some steps behind and placed herself next to Crescent, she took a look on Syo, Missklang, Seamore and Shaman, trying to take in if there'd be a problem with anypony besides the obvious in Seamore being tired and Crescent currently not being able to see.

It didn't really matter much at this point, but old habits died hard, and after seeing that things looked as well as could be expected, she nudged to Crescent with her left foreleg.

"Hey, are you ready?"

________________________________________________

"You're not supposed to sit on it alone."

Brittle walked over and spread her insectoid wings to flutter up a little and place herself on the other part of the seesaw. When she did, it started to go downwards, then when she reached the bottom, she would flutter a little with her wings again and push off with her back hooves to make her go up. The system was simple, and Charlie should be able to pick up on it quickly. Although the wings part wasn't needed that much. It was just that Brittle - although a half-converted Changeling with lesser weight than a regular pony - was still a little heavier than Charlie looked. It might not be so, but it seemed that way to her at least.

__________________________________________________

@@Moonlit,

Omen had only half listened to things between the princess and Serenade whilst she walked over to Ziggy to try and get a better look on the somewhat immobile pony.

To be fair, all she could was half listen as she didn't understand the Siren tongue, and only getting the parts from Luna didn't tell her much right now, except that something had gone wrong with the spell she had used. Or it had been the wrong one perhaps? Magic was hard to try and understand most of the time.

As for Ziggy... Well, she was still alive, that was one thing at least. Her eyes was open wide and she had moved a little beyond the normal up and down motion of her chest as she breathed. The movement in question had been when Serenade had moved and she had turned around, going a small step closer to the mostly-transformed Siren, as if an invisible leash was on her.

More than likely it was a leash of magic that made her follow the Siren in her docile state. Far as the blank look in her eyes told, she wasn't really *there* consciously, but she was on an autopilot that seemed to follow Serenade, so at least having her get along if it was shouldn't be a problem.

Things like this wasn't what Omen thought of though. All she could see was the odd behaviour, the blank stare and the silence, and all it made her think of for some reason, was woollen sweaters. Though she wasn't sure why that was exactly.

"Is she broken?"

_________________________________________________

@@Damonater,

"Perhaps mister pianopony needs a hug?"

Blitz had learned much from her idol, Pinkie Pie, and amongst the things she had gathered whilst watching her were that when in doubt, a hug always went a long way. Unless it was a monster. Then it either didn't work, or you had to use bigger hugs.

Like always she gave a hug, she went directly for the front leg that the pony wasn't using to wipe the tear from his eye and gave him a quick hug before making a small jump backwards and bounced in place for a few seconds.

She wanted to say a few things more, like asking what he used all the things in here for and why he was crying, but Summer already asked the second one, and she was more curious about that right now as well. Along with the other stuff she had said too that was, but they'd see if mister pianopony would answer anything, and if so, in what order.

Seamore Sandwich · November 17, 2015

@@Denim&Venom

@@Blitz Boom

@@cwhip9

@@Melke

@

@@Missklang

"So we're going to stay in the safe room, then? What are we going to do as far as sleeping arrangements go? I mean, I've got my sleeping bag, but what are the rest of you going to use?" Seamore asked. "Wait, I've got it." He went over to his cart and came back with his rolled up tent on his back with the sleeping bag. "If we don't find anything suitable for bedding up there, we can lay this out and somepony can sleep on that. It may not be the most comfortable option, but it's better than nothing."

@@Blitz Boom

Charlie followed Brittle's lead and pushed off the ground and flapped his/her wings. "Wow! If the whole world is this much fun, I can't wait to see it all." Despite the smile on his/her face, tears started running down Charlie's cheeks. He/she had never been this happy before, aside from when Renius was cutting him down and helping him to pass on to the Realm of Dreams, nor had he ever had any kind of fun.

@@Blitz Boom

@@Moonlit

"Her condition should pass in time, but if she is not better by the time we reach the library, we can look for a solution there. Now we must go find the others. There was a group traveling to this place seeking shelter for the night. I allowed them to pass through my Dreamscape to get here. They have something I need for the replacement to your amulet. We must move quickly, my spell won't last long," Luna said to the others. She lit up the place with her horn and lead the way toward the door. She knew exactly where she was going.

Denim&Venöm · November 17, 2015

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

"If I recall, the war room is on the same floor as the princess's chambers. What are the conditions of the other rooms upstairs?"
The drones began to stream their sights to their queen.

"Celestia's chambers are in fair condition, given that is the room regularly used by the element bearers. Recently refurbished, cleared of infestation. Decor and linens are dated. Equivalent to a two and a half star hotel room. Considering the premises is over 1000 years of age, that's quite the compliment, my queen."

"Luna's chambers are the complete opposite. Not as in completely atrocious. But as in-" The drone approached a doorway, which led to a view over the tops of the misty Everfree forest, dark purplish storm clouds beginning to build overhead, and a pile of rubble leading straight down.

"That's a no go obviously."

"There's a lavatory on this floor, at one point a rather fanciful one. Plenty of hard water stains, but the infrastructure's in decent shape. Apparently a back up system that makes use of rainwater has been implemented into the plumbing. So with years of rainstorms, plus the oncoming one, facilities will have running water. Again my queen, not in the best shape. Still in the processes of cleaning & refitting, but it's functional."

"Other rooms include three storage closets, a display room for antiquated armor and weapons, another display room, that judging by the discolored squares on the wall as well as empty pedestals, was an art & artifacts gallery. There's another empty room, rather wide one. We do not know what it was for. Shattered windows, and water damage have left the floor unstable. There is also what appears to have been a servants quarters or maid chambers. Remnants of bed frames are strewn throughout. These are the rooms closest to you."

"Proceed to check on the status of the war room. See if it is safe for entry and or habitation."

"Yes, my queen." They all replied.

Shaman cleared his throat. Petey then spoke up. "Dare's Sunbutt's room... pffft hahahah... sunbuut hahahah. Her woom is good. But dat bewongs to mommy & daddy! Intonashonowl dibbz code. Dares moonbutt's woom... pffft moon butt! Hahahaha! Moonbutt's woom is gwone. Aww. Dares, Ser-vants, ka-war-ters, but dey empteee. Dares, a big woom. But it bwoken. Dares an emptee woom. For art n suuf. Dares a old woom wiff, armors, in it. And dares the rarwr woom. Oh ands a potty!"

"Close enough."

Moonlit · November 17, 2015

@@Seamore Sandwich, @@Blitz Boom, Serenade moves closer to Ziggy, and whispers something in her ear. She then turns her attention to Princess Luna, "ελπίζω να μην γυρίσει την πλάτη σε μια σειρήνα και υπνωτίζουν τους επίσης." She bows her head, her voice tiny and fragile. She steps behind Luna and let's the Princess of the Night lead.

(Translation: Hopefully I don't turn back into a Siren and hypnotize them as well)

cwhip9 · November 17, 2015

@@Blitz Boom, cresent herd Lasts blood beat and felt her nudge "ready as long as I can hear your blood i'll be abel to follow, im half tempted to hover it like how some pegisie fly in place, but that's worse with these yelling at me" the batpony said eyes closed still facing Last. He then turned towards shamans odd blood beat, he whispered to her hopping not to get the others attention

"call me paranoid but dose something seem, off about shamen?"

Damonater · November 17, 2015

@@Summer Breeze

@@Blitz Boom

Barrel tried to calm himself down as he kept slightly shaking. He attempted to talk to the other two voices. "M...My name?" He asked but was ready to reply as he tried to compose himself.

He continued, "Well... I never knew my actual name... But... *sniffle* I named myself Smoking Barrel. But I do prefer to be called Barrel for short."

Smoking Barrel looked up at the grey pegasus with the pink mane and tail. He blushed a tiny bit but got back on track. "It's nice to meet you... Summer Breeze. I haven't met or seen any pony in years." Barrel said while wiping his last tear away.

Barrel then looked over at the second, rather small... Unicorn Filly. His first thought was, Such a odd colour pattern for a pony...

He felt the warm hug on his front leg and felt a little warm inside. But no smile is shown. He kept a bland, lifeless expression as he always does.

"And that piano over there... I made that myself... I guess I taught myself over the years of having the thing. Everything here is either found of hoof-crafted myself." Barrel explained to both of them. He then got up and still kept shaking, and yet another tear went down his eye while the other side remained dry.

"I... I am... Sorry about the mess..." He said as he thought for a few seconds as he moved of his scrap and rubbish under his project workbench.

Many things are on that bench such as poorly drawn up plans, notes for himself, metal, and not to mention his precious vodka. But left to the workbench, stood his most precious weapon... "Wunderwaffe-DG2" He worked on this weapon for many years

But of course, if these weapons got out to the public, all hell would break loose.

Barrel turned back to Summer Breeze and asked, "You live near here? How come we have never met before?"

Edited November 17, 2015 by Damonater

Summer Breeze · November 17, 2015

@@Damonater, @@Blitz Boom,

"And that piano over there... I made that myself... I guess I taught myself over the years of having the thing. Everything here is either found of hoof-crafted myself."

'did you make that yourself?!' said summer surprised 'that's amazing! it looks really good and it sounds even better!' and she played a few notes to listen to the sound of it. it was a really good sound, just incredible that anypony could make something like that himself.

"You live near here? How come we have never met before?"

'i just came back here, i lived in fillydelphia for three years with some friends of my grandmother after she died. because i wasn't old enough to take care of myself. but now i am and i came here last night when blitz visited me, then we heard your beautifull piano and i wanted to see who my neigbour was' summer told barrel. 'you said you haven't seen anypony for years but maybe you knew my granny, she was allways really friendly and it looked like she knew anypony. but how can you possibly live without talking to anypony for so long' then summer realised she was asking a lot and she stoped talking and looked to blitz, maybe she could say something to, or introduce herself. but it was really kind of her that she gave barrel a hug, he clearly needed it.

Edited November 17, 2015 by Summer Breeze

Melke · November 17, 2015

@@~Sole~,

The scythe sliced the crystal minion in half and it shattered into tiny pieces. Dyr laid on the grass, under the light of the full moon, waiting for you come back.

"That was a big waste of my energy... I might not last the night."Dyr said as you came closer.

"That happy little furball of a sister-in-law's allowance of magical support is expiring, I might get forced back to my own world before I have a chance to cut down that Prospector."

Dyr's body was starting to turn transparent, along with her scythe, she sighed as she looked up at the moon.

"Geez. Without someone to anchor me to this world, I am going to disappear." Dyr spat in annoyance. "What does that annoying little hyperactive cat have that I don't?!"

@@Blitz Boom,

@@Denim&Venom,

@@cwhip9,

@,

@@Missklang,

Within one of the towers (Luna's room), the mysterious being stood up and he had a smile on his face. He held out a small gemstone, an opal, and started to mutter a sort of language that was completely unrecognizable. The opal shined dimly and then was engulfed by shadows. He let it fall to the ground, and the shadow grew out and started to take form of an alicorn: one whose only desire is for eternal night. But this was a mere shadow and had no real capabilities in comparison to the original.

"Come, my lovely spirit of resentment, we have some preparations to do. Especially since, I am expecting a more rowdy guest to pop in later." He whispered to his creation and they both melded into the shadows and leaving the room. The being was masking his signal and presence well enough to not get suspicions onto him.

Meanwhile, back with the group, Syo was waiting about for everyone to decide what they are going to do. Syo just followed along the group but her drive to see more is getting the better of her. She started to blink around the place to look at every bit of things. "This place is really depressing. Everything is broken."

She then teleported beside Priestess without warning. "So what are doing?"

Edited November 19, 2015 by Melke

Blitz Boom · November 17, 2015

@@Melke,

@@Denim&Venom,

@@cwhip9,

@,

@@Missklang,

Last didn't skip a beat as she dryly replied to Crescent in a low voice.

"With this gathering, define *off*."

She knew what it was that he had meant. The flickering, the odd voice that had come up now and again and so forth, but as she had said, how did he define something being *off* with their meddly crew? A talking portal cat, a former shrine guardian, a combat-ready bat pony, a large, talking fox, her likely Changeling Husband and their six kits, the merchant/lumberjack that had gathered them up to begin with and... Well, Missklang. It was hard to put few words to describe him.

That wasn't even mentioning the ones that weren't here right now. The odd gryphon, the other talking cat, - this one with a scythe - the plant pony and the Shinigami or whatever it was that Priestess had called her.

Frankly, it was getting to the point where any oddity right now just made her feel... Jaded. As if even the most unravelling thing wouldn't even surprise her anymore. Startle slightly, perhaps, but not surprise her.

As such, she really didn't care much for focusing on the oddities going around anymore unless it was something that they needed to be generally worried about. Like if Crescent grasped somepony, flew up to the ceiling and started to drain them, or Seamore would crush somepony with a tree, or hell, ludicrous as it sounded, that Shaman would turn out to be an actual Changeling queen that had filled this castle with her minions, and they were walking right into the open maw of a hive.

Oh great, now That thought was gonna haunt her mind... Like she wasn't paranoid enough as it was.

"I can sleep on stone. Let's just get moving."

Last let out a small sigh and prepared to get going. She would follow when they would start to move, slowly, so she could guide Crescent properly and be ready if he fell on the stairs.

________________________________________________

@@Moonlit,

Ziggy didn't respond more than she had already. Like in a trance, she just kept following Serenade.

"If there are others here, I can find them. Warn them that we come. Bring them a message perhaps?"

Omen was following on the side, roughly a meter from Serenade's right, though it wasn't the concealed Siren she focused on when she said this. It was the Alicorn leading her. Considering that the one in front tended to be in charge, and since royalty often made the decisions, Omen looked to Luna for answers on what to do. Just like she had with master long ago.

She, and her kind in general, were not ones that took many decisions on their own. Their masters tended to be the ones who told them what to do, and if they were gone, often her kind just returned home to tell what they had seen, and bring something back for the family to explore.

Omen was more free in it, since she had kept around now and again, even without master, but she were still not used to taking decisioins on her own. Some actions, what roads to take, small things like that she could do well. But when it affected others, she had to ask a leader of the ones it concerned.In essence, it meant that she was looking at Luna as a surrogate master for a time now. Not as bound as she would be to Discord, but still, she would let the princess of the night direct what to do until things returned to something she understood. Something simpler.

_______________________________________________________

@@Damonater,

"Wauw, you Made that?"

Blitz was halfway looking at Barrel, and halfway at the weird things around them, though mostly the piano for now.

"Man, and here I thought making a replica party cannon was hard. That thing looks Really complicated. Hehe, you're a good thingmaker Barrel."

It was tempting to go over there and have a look inside, but she knew that was bad. She wouldn't like it if somepony started to lurk inside her things when they were done cause it could be broken, and she bet that he wouldn't like it either if she fell in or something and broke that. He seemed to like his music, so it wouldn't be nice.

"Oooh, could it be he might have made something for you grandmother Summer? Might be something cool like that somewhere in her house."

If the two of them had lived this close for a while, and Summer's granny really were the kind who knew everypony, then odds were that it could be true. Or she might have tossed some things off here that was trash to her but materials for him. One pony's trash were another pony's treasure after all. Or materials, depending on who the treasure-finder were.

Her eyes was drawn away from Summer shortly after, intrigued to find more things to look at in this maze of fun things, when her gaze fell on a thing she didn't knew what was. It Looked pretty, and like it was meant for something, but she couldn't really place what that'd be.

"And... What's that?"

She said, whilst pointing at the Wunderwaffe-DG2, curious as to what a thing like that was used for. Farming perhaps?

Seamore Sandwich · November 18, 2015

@@Denim&Venom

@@Blitz Boom

@@cwhip9

@@Melke

@

@@Missklang

Seamore started making his way up the spiraling ramp toward where Priestess was. "Don't go too far ahead of us now, we don't want to get split up. We should definitely stay close together. I hear there's trap doors and secret passages everywhere and the only ponies who know all of the triggers are the two Princesses." The safest thing to do was to stay in view of each other, so they would know if somepony triggered something.

@@Blitz Boom

@@Moonlit

"I think it best we not startle them by appearing unexpectedly, between the Guardian of the Shrine and a certain energetic unicorn, I don't think it would end well." Luna's horn started to glow as she pointed it at the wall. As she turned her horn away from the wall, she pulled with it a small ball of light. When she stopped, the ball of light expanded and became a hologram of the castle. Parts of the image, specifically the parts that were no longer intact, were flickering. There were a bunch of different colored dots inside the hologram moving around the castle, many small ones that where barely visible and some at the spiraling ramp going up, as well as four in the room they're in, one representing each of them. "They're traveling through the safe room. We will meet them on hoof." The map, an enchantment on the castle meant to help detect intruders and to help locate the Princesses in the event of an emergency, disappeared shortly after. Luna assumed that the smaller dots were just animals that took shelter in the abandoned castle, but she still had an uneasy feeling about it, although she wouldn't let it show.

Luna opened the door with her magic and stepped out into the hallway. "This way," she said, turning left toward a staircase at the end of the hall.

Moonlit · November 18, 2015

@@Seamore Sandwich, @@Blitz Boom, Serenade nods, and follows the Princess, occasionally shaking her head back and forth. She's also blinking rapidly, and the air around her has the sweet, pungent aroma of a beach before a storm. Between blinks, her eyes alternate between their normal color, and glowing green. She also looks back at Ziggy and grins, but only when her eyes are green.

Blitz Boom · November 18, 2015

@@Moonlit,

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ho9rZjlsyYY

"Okay."

Omen didn't care much for the reason Why she was told not to go as much as the no itself. She didn't know what a *guardian of the shrine* was, or why she put a strange emphasis on *energetic* unicorn. Though really, when she were told not to go, what did it matter to know those things anyway? If the ones mentioned were dangerous she could take care of herself, and protect her mistr- Luna, as well as the others to some extend, even it sounded like the unknown ones just didn't do well with getting startled.

It didn't matter really. As the odd, holographic map of the castle showed up, and Luna told them to simple wander towards the little dots there, it was all she needed to know for now.

She did give a glance towards the interaction between Ziggy and Serenade though. She didn't really understand what was going on, beyond Ziggy perhaps being hypnotised in some way and just following, which was the gist of things, granted. Still, there were questions about how it worked. Right now it looked like the Siren just stared at times, and then everything went on as normal. Nothing new, nothing odder, just the same, silent pegasi on their track.

Perhaps thshe would understand later. Right now though, she already had an order to follow.

Damonater · November 18, 2015

@@Summer Breeze

@@Blitz Boom

'i just came back here, i lived in fillydelphia for three years with some friends of my grandmother after she died. because i wasn't old enough to take care of myself. but now i am and i came here last night when blitz visited me, then we heard your beautifull piano and i wanted to see who my neigbour was' summer told barrel. 'you said you haven't seen anypony for years but maybe you knew my granny, she was allways really friendly and it looked like she knew anypony. but how can you possibly live without talking to anypony for so long'

"Oh... I am sorry about your loss there. But I do not think I knew your grandmother Summer. As far as I know, the only friend I have in my life is... well... myself." Barrel said to Summer while turning to Blitz. He continued on to answer some more.

"Living without no communication to any pony... It's hard to get by but I got used to it when I grew up here on my own."

Hehe, you're a good thingmaker Barrel."

"Why thank you little one. Your warm words make me feel a little better about myself." Barrel replied to Blitz.

"Oooh, could it be he might have made something for you grandmother Summer? Might be something cool like that somewhere in her house."

"I really do not know about that. I venture off just anywhere that doesn't have any other pony around. Also, are you guys related in anyway? Like mother and daughter or...?" Barrel asked both of them with a confused tone.

"And... What's that?" She said, whilst pointing at the Wunderwaffe-DG2, curious as to what a thing like that was used for. Farming perhaps?

Underneath his aviators, his eye widened as the little filly saw the Wunderwaffe. Barrel quickly rushed in front of it as it was highly dangerous to others around him. "It's something that some ponies should never lay their hooves on. Something that should never go to the public... Because if it does... All hell breaks loose." He says all that in a calm matter. Not wanting to upset the little filly and scaring both of them.

"I never really knew my parents that much. They didn't really care about me. I ran away from my actual home when I was at a very young age. I fended for myself in the Everfree and grew up here. Of course, I would sneak into town like the ghost that I am and peak into the classrooms windows... Trying to get some sort of education. It worked out for a while... Not only that but me having to sneak a few things from town and back into here. It hasn't been easy but yet... I am still here." Barrel paused and gestured to a mirror.

"See that mirror... Thats who I talk to... well, what I talk to..." Barrel stated to both of them.

Summer Breeze · November 18, 2015

@@Damonater, @@Blitz Boom,

Also, are you guys related in anyway? Like mother and daughter or...?"

summer smiled to blitz 'no, definitely not. i met her when she visited me a few hours ago, by the way, i just finished college, i would be a very young mother if she was my daughter' summer told barrel, but it was not such a strange idea. summer looked older as she was, especially when she was a bit tired like now.

"I never really knew my parents that much. They didn't really care about me. I ran away from my actual home when I was at a very young age. I fended for myself in the Everfree and grew up here. Of course, I would sneak into town like the ghost that I am and peak into the classrooms windows... Trying to get some sort of education. It worked out for a while... Not only that but me having to sneak a few things from town and back into here. It hasn't been easy but yet... I am still here."

'well that's such a coincidence. my father didn't care for me either. and i don't know my mother. i walked away and my granny raised me. it's sad you didn't have a granny like me' said summer with a smile. she didn't say it because she wanted compassion but she wanted to let barrel know that he wasn't the only one to grow up without parents. but still, they where not the same, summer had her granny and he had nopony 'but, why did you sneek into town like a ghost. didn't you want to make some friends' asked summer. it sounded a bit strange to her that he didn't want to know anypony. if you where lonely, you would find somepony to talk to. it sounded logical to summer.

Edited November 18, 2015 by Summer Breeze

SugarfootWillie · November 18, 2015

@@Blitz Boom,@@Seamore Sandwich, @@Moonlit,

On Griffon Wing We ride

Soaring o'ver skies

To the land, Ever Free,

Of any pon-y.

From the Empire of stone,

To the ancient we abscond,

And hail the Two Sisters

Of infamous renown.

Aught for aught is known,

Of how long we have flown.

The will of the strong bends under winds stronger still,,

Both fain, both wane

Over inert and unstoppable mind.

Leagues have past, surly at last,

We reach our destination.

Hark! The unbridled land!

Thy wrath hast stayed

for another day! O' Fortuna-

Thou hast right us done.

On doorstep we land,

And in awe regailed

by the light which shines not,

and soul to hail not.

These lands froth despair

And deter many a mare-

Or colt, philly, or steed.

Brambled Branches leap,

As if our souls they wish to keep,

And stain the ground with our former lives.

The moon so coldly, glares overtly:

'On this land last you step, til Styx

Carry ye Home.

"Mein Vater, mein Vater, und hörest du nicht,

Was Erlenkönig mir leise verspricht? -
Sei ruhig, bleibe ruhig, mein Kind;
In dürren Blättern säuselt der Wind. -"

"Mein Vater, mein Vater, und siehst du nicht dort

Erlkönigs Töchter am düstern Ort? -
Mein Sohn, mein Sohn, ich seh es genau:
Es scheinen die alten Weiden so grau. -" **

Megalithic doors guard the daemon's horde,

and the void which caters to the nightmare shadow

leeches the Light Of The Mare.

Before this portal we stand, and enter too.

Refuge for the lame

only later to be maimed.

What lies within?

A labyrinth by Daedalus and Pan.

Where lurks the Minotaur?

Echoed trots court company

Shadows lurk within.

Hark! the Throne Hall!

Pray thee ghost of light,

dost thou court these halls?

Surly so for death has yet to sew

the harvest of cordial woes. ***

Hark! Further Still!

Pipes lavishly kept amidst unrest,

to bellow again and

commanding to regain

stillness befitting a concert.

Durst we press a key?

Perhaps the keys are fit for keys.

What legends were told,

Forgotten and old?

Do we unlatch their oppressive hold?

Shadows stir near the glory we wish to unfold,

Thirsting for Mirth buried by this hole

We ignore the unusual pattern,

and play, accommodating laughter,

Toccata and Fugue, D minor.

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

**translation:

"My father, my father, and can you not hear
The promise the elf-king breathes in my ear?"
"Be calm, stay calm, my child, lie low:
In withered leaves the night-winds blow."

"My father, my father, o can you not trace
The elf-king's daughters in that gloomy place?"
"My son, my son, I see it clear
How grey the ancient willows appear."

***woes = friend

Edited November 18, 2015 by SugarfootWillie

Blitz Boom · November 18, 2015

@@Damonater,

"So it's something dangerous?"

Blitz both sounded and looked disturbingly excited about hearing what Barrel had to say about his creation.

She was gonna say something more to that when the talking shifted to something else and went over from him asking if she were related with Summer - which Blitz didn't think she were, but you never knew - and over to family in general.

From the sound of things, it wasn't really a happy talk like it usually became when family was mentioned. Barrel had taken off, fended for himself and gotten more and more isolated, whilst Summer had a father she didn't care for and a mother she didn't knew, though she at least had her granny, so that was a nice thing.

"I don't know my mother either. Or my father. I think.... I don't know really, I can't remember anything before the giant kaboom, so perhaps I did before that?

But, I wanna hear why you don't have friends out here too. There's so many friendly ponies in Ponyville that it's hard not to get at least one, even by accident. I had a friend fall on me from the sky."

Denim&Venöm · November 19, 2015

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

"Well, I'm gonna be entering into the saferoom, which leads to this castle's war room. From there we'll be heading to the various rooms on this floor to rest for the night." It was here where Priestess began to tap on various points of the wall, sniffing around while brushing various spots with her tail. She stopped. She pressed on a section of wall. There was a click. Dust fell as a section of wall pressed in. She nudged her way in.

Inside was a room the size of a walk in closet. Shelves lined with crates, jars adorned both sides. Crates that looked to have once held food were empty and falling apart. However, jars filled with water, pickled fruits & vegetables, jams & honeys appeared to be intact, enduring for a millenia. "Well at least we won't be starving anytime soon." She walked up to what was the door or passage that lead to the war room. She undid the metal latches & bolts that held the stone wall section in place. "Wait here while I scope things out. Don't come in until I say it's clear." She hit a lever, and the wall shifted out. Priestess peaked her head out. The first thing she saw, were three changelings inspecting the room. They all looked to her. She walked all the way in, pressing the passage mostly closed. She pointed to each of the lings, then to the door. They nodded, then lightly buzzed their way out the door. "Clear!"

Back at the ground floor, Shaman was observing the events above, and Petey was feeding off of Last. He noticed his dad's coat continue to crackle a bit. "Daddy, why are you sparkling?"

"Because I'm allergic to Everwood." Shaman replied though the hive.

"What's that?"

"It's the magical tree's that Mr. Seamore was carrying around."

"Can I get sick too?"

"You could, but only if you touch them. You stay away from them, or the spirit's that are kept inside, you should be fine."

"Is mommy allergic to Everwood too?"

"No, she isn't. Heck, she has an entire stick of it going though her. Neither are Cliff, Clive & Dime. You, Miles, Dio and I, however, are. It makes it hard for us to appear as we do. Think that one time when you snorted a whole jar of cayenne pepper, but everywhere."

"Gotcha. Wait. I did touch mommies stick though. Why aren't I aw sparky?"

"Well, you were just feeding from her, so there's a chance that you had enough love energy to resist it. That and the fact your currently feeding off of Miss Last is probably neutralizing the effects."

"Dat's a big word. Newtwalizing."

"It is isn't it?"

Edited November 19, 2015 by Denim&Venom

Seamore Sandwich · November 19, 2015

@@Blitz Boom

@@Moonlit

As Luna walked through the hall, the sky visible through the broken ceiling overhead, she couldn't help but remember living with Celestia in this very castle. The memories hurt as she looked around. Just down the hall, Celestia was once given praise for a sunny fall helping to bring a better harvest. In a room to the right somepony had thanked her for making the days of summer longer so they could enjoy them more. If you went to the other end of the hall and turned left, you would eventually find the place where she and Celestia battled before Celestia banished her to the moon. Painful memories indeed. But the Princess of the Night kept her composure and lead onward silently toward the staircase that would lead them to the hall the two sister's rooms were in.

Damonater · November 19, 2015

@@Blitz Boom

by the way, i just finished college, i would be a very young mother if she was my daughter'

"Ahh... I see. Well congratulations either way. Tell me, how old are you anyway? I would most likely would be your age." Barrel said to Summer Breeze, shaking a little due to nervousness.

Barrel both listened to them about their stories without their parents as well. It seems as he was not alone in the situation. But they were more fortunate in his eyes as they had somepony else to take care of them like Summer's Grandmother.

He took a minute to think. He looked at both of them, it looked like they were all family.... Barrel, Summer and Blitz. All together in one place. Being... Happy. Then he snapped back to reality, knowing that would never happen. He shook his head and rubbed his eye under his aviators. "Errggh..." He grunted as he rubbed his eye.

"So it's something dangerous?"

"Errr... Yeah." Barrel replied before slightly burping in his mouth. "Eghhh..." He grunted once again as his breath stank even more. He moved his head downward so that they could not smell the smelly breath.

I can't remember anything before the giant kaboom, so perhaps I did before that?

Barrel raised an eyebrow in concern, "Ermm... What 'kaboom' are you talking about little one?" He asked hoping his parents had nothing to do with whatever that meant.

'but, why did you sneek into town like a ghost. didn't you want to make some friends

But, I wanna hear why you don't have friends out here too. There's so many friendly ponies in Ponyville that it's hard not to get at least one, even by accident. I had a friend fall on me from the sky."

"Well, being beaten as a little colt by my father was rough... It made me think that everyone was out to get me. Even just your average looking pony. I even thought you were out to get me... But you're not obviously so I feel slightly relieved. I feared everything and everypony for those years growing up out there. Hence, why I created basic survival weapons and gear to protect myself from sticks and dirt." Barrel stated to both of them.

Barrel picked up an empty bottle from the ground, "This began at an early age as I found one just laying around. I heavily consumed it for a while as I found more and more out there. But the taste got less and less intense for me over the years. Nowa days I just drink it now and again..."

He then turned around so that they both could not see his face, "Hold up..." Barrel then softly rubbed his other eye as it was itching. He then quickly put back on his aviators and turned back towards them. "Sorry about that, just had an itch." He then went to his piano chair and looked back at Summer and Blitz.

Blitz Boom · November 19, 2015

@@Melke,

@@Denim&Venom,

@@cwhip9,

@,

@@Missklang,

Last nodded as Priestess went in and scouted out the room. Normally she wouldn't like having a job like that go to an unarmed civilian, and especially not when her kids were around in case something bad was in there, but magical beings were never truly unarmed, and considering that she wasl doing fine even though she was still impaled on a stick, Last would venture that the vixen was durable enough to not get stricken down in one blow, in case something Were in there.

Besides, this place probably had the chance that crumbling floors could randomly happen, and since neither of them had wings it was more likely that magic would save a life than her plummeting down and hoping the fall wouldn't be too great. Still, she hoped it would not take Too long before she was out again.

Pushing her paranoia aside for a bit, Last let out a deep yawn and shook her head a little whilst looking at the door, waiting for things to happen. It was a bit strange that she did that though, as she didn't normally feel tired this early in the night, but it Had been a long day with a good deal of odd things happening. More than likely the reason why she felt a little drained.

________________________________________________________

@@Damonater,