private Land of Shadows

[Love*Potion 575]

She heard birds chirping happy, singing their song to announce the arrival of a bright new day. The sun shone strong and tickled Kismet's nose, causing her to sneeze. With the force of the sneeze she shook herself awake and realized it was morning. It was nice; clam, peaceful, and very, very quiet. 

 

She lifted her head. Much to her surprise, she was in Central Park.

 

"How did I get to Manehatten? Am I dreaming?"

 

Suddenly it all came rushing back. The wedding; the lake; the ponies; the darkness; it was all clouding her mind. She cringed from the memories. Then she remembered.

 

Evening.

 

((Sorry for the bland and late post, i've been busy, but I'll be sure to post more later!))

[Pripyat Pony 2,608]

@,

@,

 

Clover rushed over to where DJ stood over Red. "He isn't breathing," she said. "Maybe he's... he's..." she couldn't finish her sentence, but she feared that he was dead, killed by the shadow ponies. "Do you remember the shadow ponies last night? I used all my energy, casting spells to help ponies escape." Tears slid down her cheeks. "If only I'd been there, I could have saved Red!"

[Inactive01 5,299]

@Steel Accord

@Zhooves

 

Sterling could see that DJ and Steel were both fine, and the though relieved Sterling. However, the trouble wasn't all over yet. He could hear Steel crying for help after seeing that North Light was hurt! The poor lad! He looked pretty badly injured, but it wasn't anything that was too overbearing. He rushed over to North and inspected him quickly. It looked pretty bad. Sterling replied with a solemn look,

 

"It looks pretty bad for North. It's not life-threatening, and his body can heal quickly, but the damage is still there. This will probably take 3 weeks to heal. His wings are pretty badly damaged, and he looks like he's suffered a minor neck fracture. Nothing that surgery can't fix. I can only give him a painkiller, but that could aggravate the injury. He needs to get to a hospital ASAP."

Edited August 11, 2013 by Sterling Crimson

[Steel Accord 6,660]

@Steel Accord

@Zhooves

 

Sterling could see that DJ and Steel were both fine, and the though relieved Sterling. However, the trouble wasn't all over yet. He could hear Steel crying for help after seeing that North Light was hurt! The poor lad! He looked pretty badly injured, but it wasn't anything that was too overbearing. He rushed over to North and inspected him quickly. It looked pretty bad. Sterling replied with a solemn look,

 

"It looks pretty bad for North. It's not life-threatening, and his body can heal quickly, but the damage is still there. This will probably take 3 weeks to heal. His wings are pretty badly damaged, and he looks like he's suffered a minor neck fracture. Nothing that surgery can't fix. I can only give him a painkiller, but that could aggravate the injury. He needs to get to a hospital ASAP."

Steel helped North unto his back as gently as he could.

 

"You HAVE gotten heavier since I lasts as you." Steel laughed bitterly. "Doctor, thank you my friend, but I fear your job is just getting started." Steel pointed to the gravely injured Red, who looked far worse for ware.

[PinkieShyFlutterPie 408]

@,

 

"My parents have always hated that i wanted to be a DJ. And they didn't like how i was so 'improper and went to parties' " Neon sighed 

 

-----

 

@,

 

"Red is over there i think he is still-" Neon was saying when DJ ran over to Red. She ran to catch up to him. When she really looked at Red she could tell something was wrong and when Clover said he wasn't breathing Neon's eyes started to tear up. "What happened? I thought he had just passed out..." Neon looked back at Red and started to cry, she was so confused. what had happened last night? What had happened to Red? She hoped he would be okay and that he wasn't...gone

[lincolnshirepony 527]

Blue Note felt horrified. At least more ponies had survived, but at least two appeared to have serious injuries. Would there be a functioning hospital anywhere in Manehatten? The park was less eerie now that more ponies were coming out, but Blue Note had still never seen Central Park this empty. Were all the ponies holed up at home, hiding from the shadows? And where did the shadows go, for that matter? She wished she had a better idea of what to do in such a horrible situation.

[Love*Potion 575]

@@Sterling Crimson, 

 

 

Kismet ran about, looking for her friend.

 

"No, NO! I can't lose her. Not again." the same thought cycled through Kismet's head as she swerved in and around the trees of Central Park. It was strange how - normal - everything felt. The sun shone brightly, just as it did the day before, and the snack stands around the park were filled with young fillies and colts begging their parents to buy them another ice cream cone. 

 

"It amazes me how society adapts so quickly," Kismet thought, "Ponies are afraid of what they don't understand, so they dismiss it as if nothing had happened."

 

She stopped a moment.

 

"What if.... what if it was a dream...?"

 

Kismet continued her search, but to no avail. She simply could not find Evening. She was gone, and Kismet could do nothing. Just as she was about to give up, she walked a bit further and noticed a familiar red stallion. He was with others, and tending to what looked like injured ponies.

 

"So it was real." Kismet thought sadly. "I just hope everypony is alright,"

 

She trotted over to the group to see if she could be of any assistance. It was times like this when ponies needed to join together for strength and support.

 

 

((BTW I'm using this as an opportunity for Kismet to meet the other ponies. We can make this as short or as detailed as you guys want. I'm up for anything.))

[Inactive01 5,299]

@Love*Potion

@Zhooves

@Steel Accord

@Pripyat Pony

 

Sterling could hear more shouts being raised and concerns being brought up. It was all becoming too overwhelming for the poor husband. Plus, his main concern was raised. Where was Evening?! She was nowhere to be seen! Was she kidnapped by that mare?! Was she... killed... it was a last resort thought that Sterling wanted to push away, but the thought continued to ring around his head for what seemed an eternity. He could hear Steel shouting for Sterling yet again, this time for Red... 

 

The concerns were much more massive for Red Talon. He could see Red laying here, looking lifeless... motionless... dead... Sterling instantly ran over him, extremely worried by his vital signs... He checked for his pulse, but none was there... He could only think of one thing to do at the moment: CPR. Sterling instantly performed the CPR technique and tried to give Red Talon some oxygen... Sterling needed something... ANYTHING... even MAGIC... to save Red...

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

Back in Sweet Apple Acres, Applejack was preparing herself for her special dinner with the amiable and handsome Red Talon. She was checking herself in the mirror, a most unusual thing for her to do. Applebloom then peeked through the door with a grin... She giggled quietly, but Applejack could hear. She instantly stopped what she was doing and trotted quickly to her room's door... and caught Applebloom spying on her!

"Now what in tarnation are yer doing here sugarcube?! Aren't you supposed to be gettin' ready for the dinner tonight?!" Applejack asked sternly.

"Oh Applejack! I couldn't help but see yer trying to look good in a mirror! Ah've NEVER seen you do that EVER!" Applebloom replied with surprise and fear because she was caught. Applejack then gave out a blush before replying again. She certainly didn't want Applebloom teasing her again about Red, and she couldn't use the CMC trick because Applebloom already fell for it once!

"Well like I said, it's fer a really good friend, and we have to look nice for him!" She replied with insistence in her voice.

"Oh Applejack... I can see it in yer eyes.. you really have a CRUSH on Red Talon!" Applebloom taunted. She then proceeded to sing,

"Red and Applejack, sitting in a tree, K-AH-S-S-AH-N-G!" Applejack began to show a huge blush on her face again... she relished the prospect of kissing Red on a tree someday... her friendship with him grew so strong... and in her lifetime, he was the only stallion who she could ever feel comfort living with... Nonetheless, Applejack was really becoming cross. She replied angrily,

"Will you just leave me alone for once?! Ah have to make sure everything's perfect for Red! Now GO AWAY!" Applejack them slammed the door on Applebloom, asserting her anger... Applebloom then trudged away with a giggle as she walked back downstairs to the kitchen...

 

Applejack looked back at the mirror. She did so much work making herself look pretty and natural at the same time. Still, she had a lingering feeling deep inside that she wanted to let out... She groaned and sighed deeply as she lied down on her bed... The hugs she gave to Red... the fact he came like a knight in shining armour for her when he untied her... the fact he saved her family from Raven... it was all becoming more and more unbearable for her... She groaned heavily, speaking to herself,

 

"Why do Ah have these feelings fer him?! Why me?! And why did he even go out with this no-body named Neon anyway?! Of course he wouldn't find love from a cruise ship! And he doesn't even see that Ah LOVE him!"

 

As she spoke those words, she couldn't help but feel scared... What if Red wasn't going to come? What if he couldn't make it... After all, he would still be enjoying Sterling's wedding after all... What would happen then?! Her family would REALLY be asking for her head... and she'd have to pour her heart out...

 

It was a last resort situation. She didn't want to consider it. The most important thing was that she had to get Red to quicken his pace at getting over Neon. And love her... afterwards... did she have a chance? She didn't know... but at least she could try...

 

 

 
 

Edited August 12, 2013 by Sterling Crimson

[Budding Night 1,043]

@@Sterling Crimson

Fallen leaves from the ground picked themselves up, gliding through air calmly to the last place Evening stood. The leaves formed into a group and started twirling elegantly into a circle, creating a small tornado of leaves. A wind picked up, affecting just a small area around the leaf tornado, making the smallest noise of ruffling in the air. Just simply appearing was too risky, a little show like this was fun and nessicary for times like this.

When it died, the leaves fell to the ground around the hooves of young Cryptic Night. Her brown curly-wavy hair had fallen into almost-perfect ringlets on her shoulders and was wearing a neon green beanie on her head, making her look casual enough despite the fact that her face was full of distress, depression, and most of all: fear.

She looked around the park, looking for the ponies. She had to get to them, talk to them, especially Sterling Crimson. Apon seeing them, she pushed up her brown glasses and walked towards them slowly, practicing in her head what her socially-awkward self would say to them.

When she had got to them, she was behind the one they called Sterling Crimson. He was giving another stallion, who didn't seem to be breathing, CPR. It instantly gave her chills down her spine, looking at the lifeless body, but she was here for something else.

She looked at the back of Sterlings head, then the other ponies. Cryptic may have been a filly but she was a tall one, she was near the average height of most adult ponies, and all these ones seemed fairly average, if not a bit taller, so she presumed she would be nearly be eye-to-eye with Sterling when talking to him. Or explaining. Or apologizing.

She stifled a sigh, then spoke quietly in her partly-deep young female voice

"Hello."

(I can't leave this Roleplay. It's given me too much, I just can't leave it hanging or have the risk of YOU leaving too, this Roleplay might fall a bit loose if both of us left. This has, lately, been the core to my happiness, creativity, sanity. How could I just.. leave?)

Edited August 12, 2013 by Budding Night

[Umbral Noir 1,556]

As Sterling performed CPR on Red Talon, DJ was anxiously hoping for him to be alright. Things weren't looking good, as he appeared to show no signs of life. As DJ watched in suspense, he heard a voice. As he turned, he saw another pony, looking at Sterling. He didn't remember speaking to her before, but he recalled seeing her at the party with Evening. "Who could this filly be? She certainly seems to be important friend or relative, but I just can't figure out why... I'm certain I've seen her somewhere else..."

[Inactive01 5,299]

@Budding Night

 

Sterling was still performing his CPR. Why wasn't Red being revitalized? He need SOMETHING... the look of desperation was really beginning to appear on his face. Maybe he could try a small magic trick he learned at medical school... It was risky because of its potential side effects after the recipient awoke, but it was better than just leaving Red for dead. He stood back for a moment, and then began to perform his trick by using his horn. He wasn't sure what his crimson glow would do, but it was better than nothing as he performed his trick...

 

After he finished though, he turned to a mare. It was the one who walked with Evening last night! Where was Evening?! Sterling jumped at the mare and then replied with fear,

"Where's Evie?! Where did you take her?! What happened to her?! Is she still alive?!"

[Pripyat Pony 2,608]

@,

@@Sterling Crimson,

 

Clover saw that Sterling was trying magic to revive Red; it seemed to shake her out of her state. That was something she could do! She racked her brains, trying to remember the spell that she and Twilight Sparkle had used to keep Red alive back when the whole mess with Raven was still going on... that was it!

 

She walked forward, her horn glowing, and performed the exact same spell. It would keep Red alive, if there was any life left in his body... at least until somepony could do something.

[Commander Bubbles 1,343]

@Sterling Crimson

@Zhooves

@Steel Accord



@PinkieShyFlutterPie

@Pripyat Pony

 

Despite the combined effort of all the ponies, nothing seemed to be able to revive Red. The spells, the magic, the CPR, none of that managed to give Red a vital. The situation was not improving at all for Red, as he continued to lay there, motionless. The daunting possibility that Red Talon might be... dead surely haunted the ponies surrounding him. Had his time finally come? Only grains of sand could tell...

 

***

 

"Guess that's one thing we do have in common..." Red responded sadly, "They know I'm successful, but I'm not a businesscolt... what they wanted me to be..."

Red held back the tears of sadness and frustration that rooted themselves in his parents' stubbornness and ignorance to their son's dreams.

[Inactive01 5,299]

@Budding Night

 

Sterling was beginning to get more and more worried... Why wasn't anything working?! What was going on?! What happened to him! What could have possibly caused all this damage?! Sterling's frustration was apparent to all around him and at the same time he had to hear that Cryptic had to say about Evening... what was he to do?!

[Zhooves 843]

@@Steel Accord, 

As he was lying there, he felt he was picked up. It was painful for a short while, but soon he felt like he was being carried. Familiar voices echoed, and made him feel safe, though some of the voices sounded like something terrible had happened. Trying to open his eyes a few times, he was only met with a painful blur. He tried to move his hooves a little as well, but that too was of little use...

[Pripyat Pony 2,608]

Clover gave a sigh of frustration. The spell wasn't working! She stamped a hoof in annoyance and misery. "Whatever can we do?" she said. "Maybe what I didn't want to believe is true, and Red really is dead."

 

She turned to where North lay on the back of Steel. "Maybe my magic will work on North." She used a health spell to fix up North as best as she could; he'd still be bruised but at least any bones would be mended.

[Umbral Noir 1,556]

((OOC: Starting to wonder if Red's actually dead! ))

 

DJ put up his hooves "Chilax guys! He's just sleeping!" As he looked at Red's lifeless body, DJ began to wonder if they'd lost him. He still wasn't moving and there was no pulse. As he was just about to give up hope, Red was enveloped in a white glow, causing DJ to shield his eyes. "Wha-what's going on?" DJ whispered under his breath,

[Pripyat Pony 2,608]

Clover gasped as a similar glow came from the jewel around her neck, which she had all but forgotten. She said in a whisper to DJ, "Is that your jewel making that glow? Seeing as we both have white fur... so the glow would be white from both? Or am I just going crazy?"

[Zhooves 843]

After Clover had used her healing spell, he woke up a bit more. Opening his eyes slightly, things were still a bit blurry, but nothing too uncommon for him in daylight. He avoided moving as much as he could. "Hva... What be happening...?" he mumbled, as he finally felt he could speak.

[Inactive01 5,299]

 

Sterling was still trying his hardest to revitalize Red, but nothing was working... Sterling was about to shake his head and tear up in defeat. His marriage was marred by disaster, and now death. Was Sterling destined to have a life filled with torment and sorrow? High school... Blue Note... Raven... and now this... What was wrong with his life?! What did he do to deserve such animosity from the world around him?! Every attempt at something bright became marred by darkness! What was he to do?!

 

Then... all of a sudden. In the midst of his tears, a blinding light shone in front of Sterling. He was pushed back by the light. Darkness had enshrouded the poor stallion, but now a light brighter than the Sun shone in front of his face! He shouted in agony because the light nearly blinded him. Why was this light emanating from Red? What was going on now?! Why all this ambiguity and magic?! Why couldn't he just have a world of peace for once?! 

[Love*Potion 575]

@@Zhooves,@@Pripyat Pony, @@Sterling Crimson,  

 

 

As Kismet approached the group of ponies, she noticed little North's limp body on the ground. A white unicorn was using her magic (hopefully) to revive him and mend his injuries. Kismet's heart began to race. She couldn't bear the thought of the little guy being hurt. She noticed that another red stallion was also laying lifeless on the ground. Nothing would revive him, nothing would help. It was a disaster. Ponies were injured left and right - this wasn't supposed to happen!

 

Kismet's breathing became shallow from fear, but she tried to remain composed. She pushed down any nervous, awkward feelings and summoned up all her remaining strength:

 

"Hello? Guys? Can I help? I - "

 

She was cut off by a blinding white light, seemingly coming from the lifeless red stallion's body. A small whimper escaped from Kismet's throat, her fear now stronger than ever.

Edited August 13, 2013 by Love*Potion

[Commander Bubbles 1,343]

@Sterling Crimson

@Zhooves

@Steel Accord



@PinkieShyFlutterPie

@Pripyat Pony

 

Red, due to the fact that he was basically an equine vegetable, was completely unaware of the light surrounding his body. Perhaps could it have been from the magical stone he was carrying with him?

 

***

 

Red's flashback with Neon began to fade and dissolve.

Ignorance... ignorance and stubbornness

Those were the words that were resonating while the dream world began to distort. Words Red thought to himself whilst contemplating his relationship with his parents. The dream was distorting from the hotel lounge scene to a bright orange. Suddenly, Red found himself not just at Sweet Apple Acres, but he was at Applejack's fifth birthday party. The real reason why she befriended him so quickly was because she had a crush on him. Right on that first day of grade school, she made every effort to sit at the table Red was at.

Ignorance... ignorance and stubbornness

The words continued to resonate as Red's memory of the event unfolded. However, the strange thing was that Red felt he had no control of his actions here, unlike the previous dream where it felt he had a degree of free will. Here, he felt like a remote controlled car.

(OOC: I know cars don't exist in Equestria, but that's the only comparison I could really draw to accurately describe how he felt. And Sterling, Applejack is controlled by me during dream sequences. Which, by the way, with happen moderately often)

Edited August 13, 2013 by Joey Slowgano

[Budding Night 1,043]

@Sterling Crimson

 

Cryptic didn't like being around crowds, small ones, ponies, dragons or anything else. Her lip was slightly quivering, her heart felt on the verge on exploding with sadness, but her brain told her to keep her formalities. She stood tall and confident, despite that she wanted to curl up into a ball, but not before running away and hiding.

 

She was about to say something to Evening's poor husband, Sterling Crimson, when a spectacular white light emitted from the lifeless yellow and red stallion. She sharply turned her head away and held her front leg up to her face, her eyes already burned from the mere second or two of seeing the blinding light.

[Steel Accord 6,660]

After Clover had used her healing spell, he woke up a bit more. Opening his eyes slightly, things were still a bit blurry, but nothing too uncommon for him in daylight. He avoided moving as much as he could. "Hva... What be happening...?" he mumbled, as he finally felt he could speak.

"North!" Steel said joyously. "Merciful Harmony you're awake!" He nuzzled the his young friend upon his back. "But . . . it doesn't look to good for Red. We were attacked by an unknown force. We're not sure if anypony else survived but us." Steel informed Notth Light to their situation.

[lincolnshirepony 527]

Blue Note gaped at the light coming from the unconscious stallion. Manehatten was in no ordinary state, consumed by shadowy attacks and now blinding light. She found it impossible to do anything except look away, having no desire to lose her vision. "Is this another attack? Or a retaliation from an opposing force? Either way, what good could come of this?"