open Transformation Time! (RP)

[Lord Valtasar 12,690]

"making a convincing disguise sounds like an impossible task, not to mention whoever we present as will have to have a card already since we wont be able to talk in order to make one" she did have a card for several of the libraries but she'd rather not encourage that particular plan

"finding a way to comunicate sounds like more trouble than it's worth considering we'll be back to ponies come nightfall, i think it's safe to rule that one out" at least i hope we'll be she thought

"another plan would be for one of us to pretend to be somepony's pet, walking beside them as they enter, but i believe the no animals plan might interfere there"

"now breaking in might sound like the more dangerous idea, but i'm leaning towards that one, and here's why" she said as she pointed on the royal library on the map "i designed the stained glass windows for this one, and i have the blueprints of the building, and while there are guards, they won't suspect us animals unless we get caught cold hooved once on the inside"

"what do the rest of you think?"

[Splashee 28,563]

@Lord Valtasar

Splashee put a smug smile on his face. "You designed the stained glass Miss? You know by now I am all in for breaking in", as he thought of the train dining incident. "But I am willing to do anything at this point, I'll go with whatever we all can agree on"

@ExplosionMare @Emerald<3
He looked at the others to listen to their opinions.

 

[ExplosionMare 18,062]

@Splashee Granite looked over at Splashee. He knew the other options didn’t work, so he had to go with the last one. He was a bit apprehensive about it, but if was caught for breaking in a library, it’s not like anyone would send a turtle to jail.

“Alright, that sounds good. We could break in, but we’ll have to be really careful. Even if we don’t end up in jail because we’re animals, I don’t want anyone to get caught,” Granite replied thoughtfully. 

[Emerald Claus 24,849]

@Splashee @ExplosionMare @Lord Valtasar

Emerald stopped licking herself and sighed, "I'll do anything to get back to normal again." She answered, "Anything."

She licked her paw again and ran it through her kitty ears, "I'm not gonna be losing myself anytime soon."

[Lord Valtasar 12,690]

"in that case, can you get that other scroll i was talking about? those are the blueprints of the royal library" she hated to be putting her through that again, right after she had fallen, but she seemed as determined as the rest of them to get back their pony bodies, so she had to do her part

"looks like we're all in agreement then, Granite, no offense, but you're the one that ponies will notice less, your duty will be to try and track any patterns the guards might have,"

"Splashee, i believe you're the best one to distract any guards for a moment if we don't find any weak point in their patrol patterns, try not to act if it's not absolutely necessary, it's no good if we get the book and you end up getting caught"

"Emerald, you'll be the one sneaking in and opening the door for me if we can find an openning"

"and i am the only one who can realistically carry a book without making too much noise or taking too long, so i'll be going in, Emerald can come as an extra pair of eyes to help locate it"

"and then we all meet back here, well.. on the park outside not on my house, in case we're going to be followed"

"any questions or different suggestions, i must say i don't know your particular skillsets so i'm all ears if you have something to suggest?" if they failed, a second attempt would be so much harder since they'd be on the lookout after, it had to go right the first time
 

[Emerald Claus 24,849]

@Lord Valtasar @Splashee @ExplosionMare

"Doors?" Emerald repeated as she jumped from shelf to shelf, trying her best to keep her balance this time. She grabbed the scroll and dropped it down, hoping that Solumn would catch it.

"I'm not really good at opening doors, anymore." She admitted as she jumped to the ground, still as frightened as before but just better at disguising it.

"I'll try my best, but I'm just too small." She sighed sadly, "Wait... Solumn, you have horns. Can't you use the tips to pick the locks?" She questioned, "Because if not, I'll still try my best to get the doors open. I can't promise anything, though."

 

[Lord Valtasar 12,690]

"i don't know how to pick locks.."she was quite offended by that, what did they think she was? some petty thief? she only suggested a heist because they were in big trouble "just unlock the doors and i can handle the opening from the outside" she sighed, they were all tense, no gain in getting upset at eachother, she finally unrolled the blueprints and started checking for potential openings so Emerald could enter

[Emerald Claus 24,849]

@Lord Valtasar @Splashee @ExplosionMare

Emerald Heart tensed up at the offended tone in Lullaby's voice. She hadn't meant any harm, she was just trying to help.

It's like every single thing I do lately is thr wrong thing.

"Okay..." 

[Splashee 28,563]

@Lord Valtasar

Splashee looked up at Solumn Lullaby when he got the command to take care of any guard, and nodded. Bummer he thought to himself. But then he heard he would get a chance to study the blueprints to the library!

He immediately started looking through the blueprint standing next to Lullaby, and pointed at one section in the far back. "Look here, this place is built to be a mirror of the other side. There are two corridors of similar length leading to the back end of the library. But... Can you see it?" He pointed at a section that was not symmetrical at all.

"The two royal sisters have their own secret section in the library, but no one knows how to get there. Well, I happen to know", He circled one of the corridor's walls with his beak (only as a visual gesture, not drawing!). "This is a secret doorway. Thankfully it is not protected by a magic seal. It uses old fashion trap door mechanics".

 

(I am stopping here, even though I would continue telling where this leads to, i just want everyone to be able to add to the story if needed. I am using the information from Equestria Girls special "Forgotten Friendship". And that special cavern underneath the library has a lot of spells that could probably destroy Equestria if it got to the wrong person! I think Netflix has "Forgotten Friendship" if you haven't seen it, but also Hasbro's Youtube channel has the uncut 5 parter in multiple languages, one of the best episodes in the entire MLP in my opinion)

[ExplosionMare 18,062]

@Lord Valtasar Granite was surprisingly happy he was seen as the most unnoticeable. Ironically, he thought all his tendencies would make him the most noticeable. Nodding in agreement to the plan, Granite replied,

“I’m good with patterns so I can definitely do tracking. It’ll be pretty easy to hide too since I’m so small,”

“Don’t follow them. Look for a way out. Feel pain leave your body.” Thorns commanded. The tone in his voice was more luring than demanding this time. It was as if Thorns was acting as a guide, not a threat. The unusual change in Thorns could not bother Granite, not now. Not when a more pressing matter needed to be dealt with.

[Lord Valtasar 12,690]

"i hope we won't need to go to a secret section to find what we need, because then, if we get caught we're in real trouble" how did he even know about such a section, it didn't seem like he just noticed the pattern of the building, looked like he knew what he was looking for, no matter, whoever he was, it might actually come down to going there, and she'd be glad of knowing of it then

"let's head out then. we have some observation to do" while Granite would be watching for the guard patterns, the rest of them would go around checking for pottential entries for Emerald, hoping they can avoid sewers since then they'd also have to worry about smell alerting the guards, plus it was simply too vulgar, even as animal criminals they had to retain some dignity

"stopping somewhere to eat wouldn't be a bad idea either, maybe i can pass as a little pony if i cover myself enough" she said throwing a shawl over her and putting her largest hat to hide the horns from beeing too obvious, this time she remembered to take her saddlebags, and gave 3 bits to Granite for earlier today on the train, it wouldn't do to forget, she was a mare who payed her debts,

[Splashee 28,563]

Splashee was having second thoughts about telling his new friends about the secret part of the library. Maybe he should have left that information until they were inside the library, take off by himself to find the cure. Why did he feel so egotistical all of a sudden? Is this the effect of being a duck?

@Lord Valtasar
"I'm hungry, however Miss Lullaby, I should be able to just eat whatever can be found on the streets of Canterlot", He explained, "I am a duck after all, I can live off crumbs". He tried his best to not say anything that would show how insecure he was about sharing or giving at this point. The duck inside of him was getting much harder to control.

@Emerald<3

Then Splashee realized something important. "Miss Emerald, it will be dark in the library.... um because it is dark at night". He shook his head thinking, way smooth Splashee. "You will be able to see in the dark with your cat vision. You need to be our eyes looking for the entrance to the secret section of the library, and the two books that will be the key to opening the trap door to get there".

He pointed to the blueprint again, "Here, on any of the high book shelves, you will see a white and blue book next to each other, with Celestia's and Luna's marks on them. Pull them out of the shelf to trigger the shelf to open like a trap door, a secret entrance"

[Emerald Claus 24,849]

@Lord Valtasar

Emerald Heart suddenly licked her lips, "Come to think of it, I haven't eaten anything all day." She admitted, "I normally would get a sandwich... but I'm a cat. Some milk and fish would be purrrrfect." She covered her mouth in embarrassment, raising her hind leg up and scratching behind her ear again, "Meow..." She shook her head, "Meow! No! I mean... uh... yeah."

Her ears perked up when @Splashee made a sudden request of her.

"Yeah, I guess you're right Splashee." She agreed, "But how do you know about all this?" She asked, licking at the side of her body, unable to control her actions.

 

[Splashee 28,563]

@Emerald<3 @ExplosionMare @Lord Valtasar
"My mentor knows a lot of things. I am in debt... I mean I owe her... Quack!" Splashee interrupted himself as he realized this is a subject he is forbidden to talk about.

"There was a time before Equestria, a darker time... There is a key to all of that stored among much more, in the secret library of the two sisters. We are talking bad stuff that much not fall into anyponies hooves.", he said while staring into Granite Rose's eyes. "By knowing this, I know there is a cure to our animal transform there as well, I just know it!"

He flapped his wing to get ready to move out.

Edited July 24, 2019 by Splashee

[Emerald Claus 24,849]

@Splashee @ExplosionMare @Lord Valtasar

Emerald Heart nodded and followed him, cursing herself for acting so... catty.

"Alright, I trust you." She said, "I just hope you know which way to go..."

And that there really is a cure.

[Lord Valtasar 12,690]

"well.. you might be ok with eating anything but i for one want to stop by a food stall" this animal thing was getting ridiculous, they were just outside the house and her mouth was watering over the park grass.. PARK GRASS! this was just so.. delicious? NO! it was absurd,  snap out of it Lullaby you're better than this,  it has to be done soon or we might end up losing ourselves completely, and by Celestia's flowing mane i'll do what needs be done even if Equestria falls for it

[Emerald Claus 24,849]

@Lord Valtasar

Emerald Heart noticed the hungry look in Lullaby's eyes as she was staring at the park grass.

"You think I'm okay with this? You seriously think I'm okay with this? Because I'm not! I'm fighting this as much as the rest of you are. Look, I can't control my temper, everything on this entire damn planet is a distraction to me, and just a few seconds ago I was giving myself a cat bath." She placed a hand over her heart and exhaled slowly, "Look, I'm sorry for shouting at you, but you really do need to realize that you're not the only one that matters here. We're in the same boat, so we look after each other."

She offered a kind smile to her friend, "Go with your gut. Eat what you're new body wants you to eat. I'm not saying you shouldn't fight our problem, because we should. It's just... the more you fight your food cravings, the more you want it." She stated, "I'd figured that out a couple minutes ago." 

"Besides, how are you supposed to get something when nopony can understand you and without any cash?" She pointed out.

Edited July 24, 2019 by Emerald<3

[Splashee 28,563]

Splashee was looking at his destroyed wing again while listening to "Emerald the Cat" vent over her situation. What would Zyyz order me to do in this situation? I am always in her debt for saving me that day. But I still can't understand why she did it, and now my inner duck is taking control, making me fail my objective.

@Emerald<3 @Lord Valtasar @ExplosionMare
"Emerald, please calm down", he said with a low tone. "We need to stay together, as a unit, to function". Splashee didn't like how the group started to fall apart so early. Solumn Lullaby is questioning her loyalty to her kingdom and will not consent in the action he will have to take before this is over. Granite Rose... Well he is about to lose it any moment now, I can see how he struggles his demons inside of him. Emerald has the most power of all of us, but she is too focused to be a simple pony to use her full capabilities. How do I keep myself from not failing my mentor, and collect what I came here for?

"Oh, see, some delicious snails crawling here on the road!", Splashee immediately started swallowing them whole, to everyone's disgust!

[Emerald Claus 24,849]

@Splashee @Lord Valtasar @ExplosionMare

(Hey @Splashee, I meant to tell you this earlier but you need to stop controlling the others' OCs).

Emerald just looked at Splasher strangely, "What are you talking about? I just apologized to Solumn." She said, "If I ever go out of line, please tell me. I don't want to do anything that I'll regret." She looked back to Solumn, "I am sorry though, could you please forgive me?"

[Lord Valtasar 12,690]

"oh yes this is such a great idea, let's not fight it, let's take the easy way out and blame everything to innevitability and on that spell, i got plenty of bits, and by Starswirl's beard i'll starve to death before i eat the grass i trot on, don't you get it? we HAVE to fight it, or we'll lose ourselves"
 

*sigh* "let's just go.. we have somewhere we need to be, and not as much time as we thought we did apparently, we don't have to like it, but we have to do it regardless, if anypony is having second thoughts, now is the time to bail" the last thing i need is someone bailing during the heist, i can't possibly do it alone but i'd trot into Tartarus and back if i need to, oh who am i kidding, i wouldn't get past the first guard.. this secret section at least explained why there were guards in a library, she could never really fathom why before

she put on a calm facade and spoke softly so everyone will have to quiet down in order to listen, that way the tension would lessen, it was a trick she picked up observing the royal court while working on those massive windows "you have nothing to be sorry for, we're all tense and tired, who's still willing to go through with this?"

[Emerald Claus 24,849]

@Lord Valtasar @Splashee @ExplosionMare

Great. Another problem caused by me. 

"I never said that I wasn't in." She said, "I want to get back to normal."

That was the last thing she said, quickly shutting her mouth and decided it would be best for everypony if she just stayed quiet the rest of the trip, then nopony could get hurt because of her short fuse.

She would just stay in the back and not talk to any of them.

I'm stupid. I'm worthless. 

I wouldn't be causing this much harm if I could just control this. 

This is all my fault. 

I am so ridiculously stupid. I shouldn't even be here, I'm not good enough to help them out. I deserve to be yelled at.

I yelled at them, and now it's my turn to be shouted at.

Don't mask your anger, Lullaby. Just yell at me. I deserve it. 

She thought to herself.

 

Edited July 25, 2019 by Emerald<3

[ExplosionMare 18,062]

@Splashee @Emerald<3 @Lord Valtasar

Granite almost felt embarrassed being stared at, but he decided to let it go this time instead of letting his delusions kick in. Besides, he had better things to think about, like finding water, or finding a sunbathing spot-

Wait a minute! What am I saying, I’m not supposed to be a real turtle! Guess it’s getting to me too, it’s gotten to everypony else.

Granite Rose sighed to himself, feeling rather dumb for his turtle instincts. He couldn’t help it of course, but he didn’t want to act more like a turtle than he already had been. It was strange enough being carried around all the time. 

Thankfully, he wasn’t the only one feeling off. Everyone else was giving into their animal instincts as well. Granite’s face hardened, realizing they might not break the curse at this rate if they don’t act on their plans soon.

Edited July 25, 2019 by ExplosionMare
Added stuff

[Splashee 28,563]

"Welp, this is not going to be easy. But I'm ready to head out", Splashee said. He decided to stay in the back, letting his friends show him how things are done around these parts. I have done too many bad decision so far. Maybe I can learn a thing or two by just observing, he thought.

[Lord Valtasar 12,690]

Lullaby was a stuborn mare even at her best days, and this was far from her best days, but somehow, even though they just had a fight, she cared for her new friends.. Friends? she realised she just called them friends even if only inside her head, she never had friends before.. the thought filled her with emotions she didn't know how to feel about, but they were good emotions, and she was about to scare them away.. she had to do something

she took a turn towards the market, making sure not to talk, she just put what she wanted in her saddlebags and then nodded and payed once the salespony named the price, her horns were visible from behind, and they'd surely notice once she walked away, but the hat did it's job from the front so she took advantage of it, once she had payed, nopony cared if she was a pony or not, they just went to their next customer, it was weird shopping food from a pet shop but pony food wasn't good for all of them anymore

it was hard for her but she decided she had to do it "I.. I'm sorry everypony" she already felt so much better after saying it, why was it so hard in the first place? "this meal is on me.. an apology of sorts, please accept it, we'll need our strenght" 

[Emerald Claus 24,849]

@Lord Valtasar @ExplosionMare @Splashee

Emerald stared at Lullaby with keen interest. Nearing her, the cat pawed at the ground nervously.

"I'm sorry too. I know it's no excuse, but my cat form seems to be making me have such a short temper." She stood on her hind legs, wobbling a bit as she got closer, opening her paws for a hug, "Friends?"