private Sojourn Inn

[Ampharos 1,009]

@,

 

What does she mean? "Erm.. kay..." was all he could manage with the rope in his mouth. He had felt it moving and then stop. He assumed that meant that Curious had found Cerulean. He let out a sigh of relief and the rope almost slipped out of his grasp. Thank Celestia ah didn't drop it.  He waited patiently for the to pegasi to resurface. 

[GaleFenrir 281]

@,

 

"Evidently not the product of my wishful thinking. I wouldn't want her to cry, after all... but I would fear it... but that kind of honesty is an indicator that it probably is the real her. I... I just have to assume that it is. If it's not, then the real her is too far gone anyway."

 

Curious went up to stand to her side, and placed a wing over her in an attempt to comfort, "It's alright, everything's going to be alright. We'll get you out of here, get you to safety."

[The Elusive Cinder 1,328]

'It shows you what you want to see, but not as illusions', that was what Curious had said and it had hit Symphony straight away that there could be a problem.

 

For over ten years all that she had wanted was to see her sister again: her strong willed sister whom she had modelled herself after for those ten years - making her tough enough to survive on the streets. Tough enough to not care about anypony but herself.

 

Even after she had stopped using her sisters name she still kept the memory alive: the voice in her head that told her to run, to hide, to do absolutely anything she could to save herself - to look out for nopony else but her.

 

Any other time she would have been elated for the chance to see her face again. Now though? When she was facing the unknown and had others relying on her? Bad time.

 

Yet the voice was becoming stronger and stronger, speaking to her without being asked.

 

"Dear sister, don't be afraid! I've waited so long to see you again." Came a voice indistinguishable from hers.

Edited June 25, 2013 by Cinderscribe

[River 59]

@,

 

"Evidently not the product of my wishful thinking. I wouldn't want her to cry, after all... but I would fear it... but that kind of honesty is an indicator that it probably is the real her. I... I just have to assume that it is. If it's not, then the real her is too far gone anyway."

 

Curious went up to stand to her side, and placed a wing over her in an attempt to comfort, "It's alright, everything's going to be alright. We'll get you out of here, get you to safety."

 

She was really upset. "What happened, why aren't you... Wait.." She stopped. "That wasn't you? You didn't kiss me, or tell me you loved me?" She knew that it was sped up, so it was kind of obvious. "I give up." A tear fell down from her cerulean-colored eyes. "Sorry, sorry Curious."

[GaleFenrir 281]

@, 

 

"You have nothing you need be sorry for. You were just being honest, and I have nothing but respect for that. But we need to get you out of here." Curious said, putting his hoof on her withers to compliment the wing hug. "She rather quite reminds me of her... dammit, I won't let Cerulean be left in the state I left Gardenia in! I have no excuse."

[Ampharos 1,009]

@@GaleFenrir,

 

Diamond Dust felt a tug on the rope. He tugged back as hard as he could, backing up as he did so. Two ponies was pretty hard to pull up with just his mouth. He strained with the effort. He felt them coming up. He pulled harder. And harder. Eventually he started feeling it getting lighter as the two pegasi began surfacing. 

[River 59]

@, 

 

"You have nothing you need be sorry for. You were just being honest, and I have nothing but respect for that. But we need to get you out of here." Curious said, putting his hoof on her withers to compliment the wing hug. "She rather quite reminds me of her... dammit, I won't let Cerulean be left in the state I left Gardenia in! I have no excuse."

"I feel like a filly," Cerulean thought. "I really wish I was acting my age."

Just then she felt like she was being lifted up out of the water. Someone was pulling them up.  "Woah." She said finally. "She felt really embarrassed and happy when they surfaced. "What do I do?"

[The Elusive Cinder 1,328]

@

@@GaleFenrir

@

 

(The fact that you two are safe now does not change this post, heh)

 

"Dust!" shouted Symphony's voice from the hall. "Dust, tie the rope to something and help me!"

 

"No! Stay where you are!"" It said almost immediately after. This was punctuated by the sound of scuffling outside.

 

"By Celestia, Dust, forget what I told you and help m..."

 

Her voice cut off.

Edited June 26, 2013 by Cinderscribe

[GaleFenrir 281]

@,@, @,

 

Curious held Cerulean firmly as Dust started to pull them up. To lighten his burden, Curious flapped his wings. It didn't generate much trust, with both pegasi being wet, not enough to keep him and cerulean up on their own, but it did help in the fight against gravity.

 

However, he heard Symphony's voice from above, very faintly. He couldn't make out the words, so he assumed that she was encouraging them on.

[The Elusive Cinder 1,328]

Symphony didn't know where she was - she didn't know what was going on. All that she knew is that she had never expected this.

 

Her 'sister' had manifested as an almost exact replica of herself - not a surprise really, she had passed away when they were fillies and they had always been similar back then. Her mane was a fraction shorter, her coat somewhat sleeker, but otherwise they were the same.

 

"This isn't how I wanted things to be. I always looked out for you, even when I wasn't around any more!" the apparition hissed. "I'm not going to let you throw yourself into danger Symphony! I'll keep you safe whether you want me to or not."

 

As Symphony backed away she figured that they must be far enough away to be out if earshot of the others - since she was hopelessly lost she didn't need to worry about dust mistaking Sonnet for herself. They wouldn't be found here, wouldn't be heard...

 

Wherever 'here' was.

 

"You, you aren't real." She stammered before finding a little resolve. "You are NOT my sister!"

[River 59]

@,@, @,

 

Curious held Cerulean firmly as Dust started to pull them up. To lighten his burden, Curious flapped his wings. It didn't generate much trust, with both pegasi being wet, not enough to keep him and cerulean up on their own, but it did help in the fight against gravity.

 

However, he heard Symphony's voice from above, very faintly. He couldn't make out the words, so he assumed that she was encouraging them on.

Cerulean looked up at Curious. Dust did save them, but she felt like Curious really did. "I really like this stallion." She thought. "Even if he doesn't like me, I'll wait for him." She smiled, tears were still on her face, but they blended because she was wet. "You saved me."

[Ampharos 1,009]

@,@@GaleFenrir,

 

Well actually ah did. Dust didn't mind though. He knew Cerulean had a massive crush on Curious, so he didn't say anything. "Well ah heard Symphony actin all weird earlier. Ahm gonna go check it out." And leave you two alone. Dust turned around and smirked. He rounded the corner and went down the hall. Ah coulda sworn she was over here. He was in an empty hallway. No there was one door. He walked inside that door. When he went in, he stopped in shock. It was the mines. The coal mines. Welp, this is an illusion. Ah'll just head on out and-. But he turned to see a stone wall. "No this can't be happenin. It's gonna make me... no.... OH NO!" He closed his eyes. Tears ran down his cheeks as he remembered that day in the mines. The day his brother died.

[GaleFenrir 281]

@,

 

"Really, it was a team effort; I did the heroic dive and consoling, Dust did the heavy lifting, and Symphony... wait a minute, where'd Symphony go?"  Curious said, looking around, "wait, what did Dust mean she was acting all weird?" Curious reach up to tug his scarf, but then frowned, "and where in bloody Tartarus is my scarf?"

[River 59]

@,

 

"Really, it was a team effort; I did the heroic dive and consoling, Dust did the heavy lifting, and Symphony... wait a minute, where'd Symphony go?"  Curious said, looking around, "wait, what did Dust mean she was acting all weird?" Curious reach up to tug his scarf, but then frowned, "and where in bloody Tartarus is my scarf?"

Cerulean noticed that she was wearing the scarf. "I have it." She started to blush as she looked at him in the eyes. She felt like she wanted to kiss him.

"Um I don't know where Symphony is." She felt like she wanted to stay with him longer, alone, but she knew he wanted to find Symphony.

[GaleFenrir 281]

@, @@PinkieShyFlutterPie,

 

"Right, so, I'll leave you with Milly... and then I can go help Dust and Symphony! Just need to find Milly." Curious said to try and deflect Cerulean's obvious advances. "But, after that's sorted out, I'll come check back up on you, okay?" Curious patted Cerulean on the back, "so, let's go find Milly, you want to find Milly, right?"

[Ampharos 1,009]

Dust kept his eyes closed. He squeezed them shut as hard as he could. The tears were flowing down his face. He was about to have a breakdown when he heard it. "Hey there's some good looking ore over here!" Nonononononono. He was trying to block it out as hard as he could. It's just an illusion Dust. Calm down you got over this once. Just tune him out. *[racism 3]* There was a loud sound of a pickaxe hitting rock. Then he heard the rumbles. They were like thunder. This was one thing he couldn't tune out. He got up and ran over to his brother. "CHISEL! CHISEL STOP!" It was too late. By the time he got there, Chisel'd screaming had died down. To Dust's horror and surprise, he could still see Chisel's head peeking out of the rubble. And it was looking straight at him. 

 

"h...help m-me Dust..." Dust shook his head violently. This wasn't real. This hadn't happened. When they found Chisel he had already been dead. Through his sobs and tears he shouted at his dead brother. "NO! YER NOT... REAL! STOP... STOP TALKIN... STOP TALKIN TA ME!" He turned around to run away, to find an exit. He turned and saw his parents. "You could have helped him Diamond Dust. You could have saved him...." Dust turned in a different direction from both. There he saw his two filly sisters. "Dust why didn't ya save him?" "Yea ya coulda saved him!" Dust stopped. He just stopped. He had given up. None o these things happened. He told himself. He dropped to the floor and broke out in sobs.

Edited June 26, 2013 by Fancy Ram

[River 59]

@, @@PinkieShyFlutterPie,

 

"Right, so, I'll leave you with Milly... and then I can go help Dust and Symphony! Just need to find Milly." Curious said to try and deflect Cerulean's obvious advances. "But, after that's sorted out, I'll come check back up on you, okay?" Curious patted Cerulean on the back, "so, let's go find Milly, you want to find Milly, right?"

"Not really." Cerulean thought. She did not want to find Milly. She wanted to stay with Curious and get to know him more. "Um, maybe, sure, I guess." It was obvious she was lying. She wasn't a very good liar. She did want to talk to Curious. She felt like it was wrong having a crush on him without knowing barley anything about this stallion.

[GaleFenrir 281]

@,

 

Curious shook his head, "I can't get anywhere with this mare! I'll humor her for a while, I suppose. Symphony and Dust seem emotionally strong enough to be in relative safety, but I'll still need to make certain after a while."

 

"Cerulean, we need to talk..." Curious took a deep breath, "the first thing you should know now is that you should not get involved with me. No good will come of it. There are so many other stallions and mares in this world who you'd find a better, healthier relationship with."

[Ampharos 1,009]

((Nooooo this can't die ))

 

Dust opened his eyes. He could barely see through the tears in his eyes. He blinked several times and looked around. He was in a normal room. He got to his feet shakily and sniffled. He opened the door slightly and looked to the left. There was noone there and he walked out completely. He took a right and practically walked into the two pegasi. Dust didn't really want to talk to anybody at the moment but he also didn't want to be rude. "O-oh hey fellas..." was all he could muster.

[The Elusive Cinder 1,328]

(Forums completely stopped telling me this was being posted on, I thought it had died o.O my bad!)

@
@@GaleFenrir
@

"Dust? Are you still around here somewhere?" The crystal mares voice blindly called out from one of the nearby corridors - something was slightly off, it sounded worried, tense even. "Are they ok? Did you get them? I'm, uh, kind of lost here. Somewhere."

Edited July 3, 2013 by Cinderscribe

[Ampharos 1,009]

(Forums completely stopped telling me this was being posted on, I thought it had died o.O my bad!)

@

@@GaleFenrir

@"Dust? Are you still around here somewhere?" The crystal mares voice blindly called out from one of the nearby corridors - something was slightly off, it sounded worried, tense even. "Are they ok? Did you get them? I'm, uh, kind of lost here. Somewhere."

Dust continued walking past the two pegasi. He walked dow n the hall and ran into Symphony walking around the corner. He still had red eyes from crying and he hoped she didn't notice. "O-oh hello Symphony." His voice cracked slightly. He knew now that it was obvious he had been crying.

[The Elusive Cinder 1,328]

@

"Oh, Dust! Thank Celestia your here. Something happened and I couldn't find my way out of the maze of corridors."

 

She looked around at the stallions face. 

 

"Are you ok? You look tense, is everypony alright?" She said, her voice hardly conveying any kind of emotion other than a mild curiosity. "No, It's you, isn't it? Whats Wrong Dusty?" 

[Ampharos 1,009]

@"Oh, Dust! Thank Celestia your here. Something happened and I couldn't find my way out of the maze of corridors."

 

She looked around at the stallions face. 

 

"Are you ok? You look tense, is everypony alright?" She said, her voice hardly conveying any kind of emotion other than a mild curiosity. "No, It's you, isn't it? Whats Wrong Dusty?" 

Dust winced. Chisel used to call him Dusty. "Ah... Everypony is okay. Ah just... Ah need to get outta this place. Now." Dust was now almost panicking. He really did need leave this place. He needed to leave and tell everyone else to as well. "Maybe you should too..." He was already planning on who to tell next. He should probably go back to Curious and Cerulean...

[The Elusive Cinder 1,328]

@

"You look tense. You should probably go lie down."

 

Her mane obscured some of her features but she still watched Dust with that same look of indifferent curiosity, analyzing his every move and never attempting to comfort the clearly distressed stallion.

 

"Go lie down. Where are the others?"

Edited July 3, 2013 by Cinderscribe

[Ampharos 1,009]

@"You look tense. You should probably go lie down."

 

 

Her mane obscured some of her features but she still watched Dust with that same look of indifferent curiosity, analyzing his every move and never attempting to comfort the clearly distressed stallion.

 

"Go lie down. Where are the others?"

 

Dust shook his head. If he lied down, what would happen? He was definitely about to have a nervous breakdown. "They're.. they're back around this corner. Symphony listen to me. There is something wrong with this place. It... it invades yet mind and... it..." Dust had to stop. He couldn't talk anymore. He looked at the crystal pony one last time and collapsed to the ground.