open The Seventh Stone

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Hello, everypony, and welcome to The Seventh Stone.

 

The Seventh Stone is an extensive role play that I have plotted and planned for ponies of more advanced games. Long story short, this is not for the faint of heart or those who write short post lengths! I’m looking for ponies that can write in a novel format, write coherent and proper sentences, and contribute to the plot (that means not leaving someone else filling in all the holes). Also, please be literate and please play nice! Anypony can join!

 

One more thing: When speaking out of character, please, please, please, distinctly tell us so!

If you wish to join The Seventh Stone, please follow the rules I have written above.

 

PLOT

The Seventh Stone

Deep in the heart of undiscovered Equestrian lands lies a secret protected by an ancient civilization of Earth Ponies called the Sages of Time. These sages, along with the aid of a single family line of unicorns, have harnessed the power of dark magics dealing with the delicate balance of time and space itself. Rumor has it that the earth has become so tainted that scarce anything aside from their native plants will grow; seeds that fall upon that darkened earth will shrivel and die before their roots even attempt to grow.

Their community is said to lie in the mountain ranges, hidden by a veil of steam from the natural springs.

Once thought to be long lost and is now nothing more than an old pony’s tale, a map has suddenly appeared in the possession of a young Pegasus of an unusual and unknown origin. She appeared in the newly settled Ponyville with two broken wings and a terrible case of amnesia. In her saddle bag she carried nothing but a map, a dull green stone speckled with dark blue. Now, she finds herself a little lost, a little confused and in need of a helping hoof.

The year is 1910. Ponyville has barely been settled. The land is fresh and fertile, the ponies are developing their homes and magical sciences, and a great adventure is about to unfold.

What will you do?

 

>>I will be posting my first right after this<<

 

It had been three days since the pegasus pony found herself in Ponyville. Her first instinct had been to fly, to shroud herself in the clouds and relish the soft, cool rush of wind and misty water. But when she stretched out her legs and stumbled in a dreary stupor she began to feel a constraint. Her wings had been bound by medical cloth and set with dowels of soft wood so the hollow bones would set properly. It was then that the pain had begun to ache and grow until her head spun and she sat down. A bowl of hot liquid was pushed to her lips and after realizing through the haze of her brain it was food she drank greedily.

"They're broken." a voice had caught on her ears. She opened her eyes to match a face to the silky smooth drawl. "Do not fret, you are sure to have a swift heal but I would ask you not to stand so suddenly. Would you like some more?"

 

Sky Song had learned, ironically, that she was suffering from amnesia, broken wings and was currently set up to live and sleep on the floor of Valium Vermont, the local physician. It was a nice little set up with a pile of hay topped with a bear pelt and a home-made quilt. The small shanty had recently been built with a clinic attached to the east where he cared for his patients and bandaged them. The fact that she had been taken into his home was nothing but an act of charity for the unknown pegasus. Well, maybe she wasn't entirely unknown, her cutie mark had sparked a flash of a memory and she had remembered her name and she had also remembered her love of song, thanks to the power of her heart's desire.

 

Now, there was a different feeling in her chest; the feeling of a heavy burden was weighing her down like a tonne of bricks and her head felt thick as she wracked it in an attempt to remember. If only she could remember...

 

Sky Song found herself at the center of the little village, watching the hustle and bustle of the settler ponies as they did everything from build to bake. Maybe if she had some pony to talk to, some pony who could at least keep her company until her mind defogged and allowed her to see the world in a clearer light.

 

EDIT: Since there is a new RP forum more suited, this game has been moved from the C.C to here! Also, since it cannot be found in the Archives for some reason (not sure if I have to do it or how) this game will start from where it left off.

 

The mayor was re-folding the documents as the ponies filed out of the building. He mumbled something to a short unicorn beside him, most likely his assistant, before handing her the documents that she floated away with magic. She trotted away as Cloud approached the mayor. He, the mayor, wasn’t surprised that someone was approaching him at all and even less amused that it was a stranger to the town. His alliance was suspicious to the stallion that had the lives of dozens of ponies in his hooves. “You’re right, lad, it isn’t your concern.” His tone was as even as he could make it. “Now if you don’t mind, I have some business to attend to.”

 

Sky Song also stayed behind. She was watching the unicorn with the documents disappear into a back room before turning her attention to the mayor who was obviously in a hurry to get out of there. Perhaps there was something on those papers that were more serious than he said. She trotted a bit closer to possibly get a word in but she turned to Crystal as he began leaving, instead, and followed him. “Crystal? Where are you going?” it was getting a little difficult to keep up seeing as she had almost exhausted her energy for the day but she had to try. She didn’t have a good feeling about this.

Edited February 16, 2012 by SkySong

[Strong Hooves 289]

Cloud merely sat there, unsure of what to do next. His only chance at seeing what these documents were shattered as the mayor denied his request, though he expected it to be so. He felt tired, like he all the energy he had had been sapped away, What a day, he thought to himself. Only this morning he was a carefree adventurer, looking for his next thrill, now he was just cleared of an accusation of murder, yet he felt as if these town ponies would never treat him the same again. He shook his head and ran a forehoof through his mane, and looked around. He saw Sky Song following Crystal, and decided to go as well, these were probably the only ponies that would speak to him after today's events. He trotted up to Sky and Crystal asking, "Is it ok if I hang with you two?" as he followed.

[Aureity 3,055]

Crystal Flame turned as Sky Song asked her question. "There's a reason I got spared," he said simply. "I don't know what that reason is yet, but either whoever-whatever is pulling the strings needs me for something, or there's something that prevented me from meeting the same fate as everyone else." Crystal's eyes narrowed. "So I'm going to use that time to see if I can find out what happened."

 

He then turned to Cloud, who had also asked a question. "There's no 'hanging' to be done here," he replied flatly. "Hundreds of ponies have just died, my comrades among them. Ponyville's defenses are nonexistent, there's no time to be wasted. I'm going to put out a call to see if any new volunteers wish to take up arms in defense of Ponyville, and then I will explore the town while I wait for the recruits to come. Assuming anyone is brave enough, of course," he added, rolling his eyes.

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The dark coated Pegasus was frowning and panting; about to turn to Cloud and agree on his suggestion of forming a party but it was Crystal who spoke first and his words were not very welcoming. The sudden idea that he really was the soul survivor of the Ponyville Militia Massacre sent a very terrifying and very real sensation of dread like a vice on her heart. Certainly there was a reason he was spared and Sky Song had a feeling it wasn’t because he hadn’t been there. It made no sense that the town’s militia would be murdered like this with only one survivor especially since it was clear the murder was thorough. A sudden fog wrapped her brain and she felt like it was a real chore just to think.

 

“I would join…” she spoke softly and at the same time she was rubbing a foreleg against the other like a shy filly; she simply just had an itch. “When my wings are better, of course, but I would help. I want to help you.” Somehow, she felt like if she mentioned her wanting to improve her memory it would seem offensive. He had just been victim to a great loss, why should he ever care to hear about her problems? “I can fight when I have to, I guess, and I think I’m a good flyer. So long as I can’t remember who I am or what I was, I can be anything and I want to help.”

 

Sky Song felt her knees grow weak as though a heavy sleep was about to fall upon her. She fought it back, sweat forming on her brow with the effort and her eyes followed the black dots that began to form. With a deep breath she sat down just as a blue pony with a mane and tail of the same colour trotted over out of the Town Hall. He was an Earth pony with a satchel around his waist. "Wait!" he called, clearly addressing the trio. "The mayor begs an audience of you three. He is waiting in his office. Here," quickly, the strange pony tucked his head to the side and pulled out three necklaces, each one with a metal tag reading V.I.P. "You'll need these to get in. You will have access to nearly every room in the town hall. I don't know what's up, and I'm very busy, but the mayor is going to draft every able-bodied pony in Ponyville as his personal guard. Maybe you three are fir-" he took another look at Sky Song and stopped. "Never mind." he trotted away, looking for places to hang the posters that were in his bag.

[Strong Hooves 289]

Cloud was somewhat worried about Crystal, being the only survivor of a mass murder must've been hard enough, then being accused of the crime only worsened the situation. Cloud looked to Sky Song, he couldnt help but to admire her, she was quite pretty after all, but now wasnt the time to worry about such matters. He noticed that she looked rather weak and tired, and was about to ask if she was ok, but then the messenger pony came by and told them that the mayor wanted to speak with them. Why me? he thought, Im just a traveler who was in the wrong place at the wrong time, what would he want with me? He took the necklace nonetheless and placed it around his neck, then looked to the others slightly surprised, "This is... unexpected" he told them. "Also, like Sky said, I'll join and help you out Crystal, this is some serious business and I feel it is only right to help you, I've adventured all around Equestria in some of the most untamed parts, I know quite a few survival techniques as well as being able to hold my own in a fight, and I have excellent flying skills and various... talents... regarding weather. Feel free to decline my offer, but I really do wish to help you out, so... Should we get a move on? Id hate to keep the mayor waiting"...

Edited February 23, 2012 by Strong Hooves

[Aureity 3,055]

Crystal frowned. "You guys don't have to do this...you could get hurt. This isn't going to be a cakewalk-we're dealing with a murderer and whatever he's doing, he's very good at it." He really didn't want them to get hurt, possibly killed, just because they thought it would be an adventure rather than a dangerous hunt. "You can't under-" His objection was halted by the arrival of the pony and the receival of the name tag. Glaring at the metal plate, he sighed. "Never mind, looks like fate decided to put us in this together anyway. Well, let's get a move on, shall we? The sooner we can start searching the better. Something worse might happen tonight."

 

Sad, really, he thought to himself as he led the way into the town hall. Just this morning I was one of the most cheerful, albeit lazy, ponies in Ponyville. And now look at me. Some things really do change you. Having been to the mayor's office before for a military award ceremony, Crystal remembered the general direction in which to go. After a few turns and walks down a few hallways, he paused at a large ornamental door. "This is it," he said simply. "The mayor should be here. You all ready?"

[Strong Hooves 289]

Cloud followed Crystal, anticipation building as they approached the office. Finally! Some excitement! he thought to himself, it was far too long since his last adventure, and this one proved to be the best out of all of them. Albeit, this was quite dangerous, but he had been thrust into danger ever since he was a colt, he was prepared for this... he HAD to be. Standing tall, he nodded to Crystal and said, "Ready"

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Any sign of affection that could have been seen by Sky Song were unfortunately unnoticed. She was tired, with fever and feeling like she was going to be sick. The day had taken such a toll on her and she knew that the doctor was never going to shut his pie hole about it; but that wasn’t fair, he was a nice pony who helped her out in her time of need. The Pegasus just felt she didn’t need to be lectured about her choices. She didn’t like admitting she was wrong. With a heavy sigh, she put the necklace on awkwardly then slowly stood up.

 

“I can’t imagine I would have anything else to do.” Sky smiled a bit, “And… I feel like I should. I can’t explain it, at least not now. I almost feel like this is somehow my fault.” Of course, she was not blaming herself for the murders of the ponies but she somehow knew the cause of the incident was her purpose for being in Ponyville. With a cough and a deep breath, the pony with the broken wings got herself together and gathered enough energy for this final trek; or so she thought.

 

Upon entering the town hall, Sky Song could barely remembered what happened between her first step inside to the mayor’s door. The moment she lifted a hoof to knock on the mayor’s door she fainted.

 

Aw nuts… were her last thoughts before the fever and darkness took over and her body went limp.

[Strong Hooves 289]

Cloud immediately reacted as she fainted, catching her just in the nick of time before she hit the ground. "Of all the rotten luck" he said quietly, looking to Crystal, "Im gonna go find a doctor, I heard there was one that lives nearby, this mare has been stressed too much today" he then placed a hoof on her forehead, "She's burning up, why she chose to go strolling around with a fever is beyond me. You go on ahead and see what the mayor needs, I will catch up as soon as I make sure Sky is in good hooves". Without waiting for a reply, he hoisted the unconcious mare onto his back and walked off to find the town doctor. After a few minutes of asking directions, he came across the doctors home, lifting a hoof to knock on the door, then looking back at Sky Song as he waited for the door to open...

[Aureity 3,055]

Crystal just frowned in consternation as the events unfolded before his eyes. When Cloud had dragged Sky Song out of the building, Crystal muttered, "Fantastic. And this is one of the ponies that's going to be tagging along while I try to get this done as quickly as possible? Not only does this mean I'll be grounded due to her broken wings, I'll have to spend half my energy making sure she doesn't faint again. I'll be lucky to figure out what happened at all."

 

He sighed again as he realized once more just how much he had changed. Oh well, better go figure out what I need to figure out. Let's get this over with. Opening the door to the mayor's office, he stepped in and said, "Hello, Mr Mayor! I apologize, the other two whom you sent invitations to had to decline due to an 'incident', but they'll be back shortly."

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In her current state, Sky Song was nothing but a limp sack of potatoes. Unconsciously she dreamed about her venture down to Earth and the crash that happened which landed her in Ponyville…

 

Darkness… I remember there was a cloud. Someone was chasing me. Where am I? Who am I… Wait! Stop! Don’t, please, it’s not fair… where do I go? What do I do with this? I have to hide. I can’t be here anymore. I won’t do that! It’s just so wrong, I can’t…

 

Wait a minute, there, a shadow… thunder… lightning bolts. It’s very hard to see, I can’t tell who it is…

 

NO!

 

Dr. Valium’s door opened just a crack; enough for the stallion to peek outside before swinging the door open happily. “There is my patient! I was quite worried about you, you know?” though he could tell she was unconscious, he spoke to her as though Cloud wasn’t even there at all. “Where did you run off to? I saw you got in a bit of trouble but at least it’s all over now. Goodness, you’re burning up! Have a lay in the hay and I’ll bring you something for your fever.” He gestured for Cloud to rest Sky on the hay pile that was covered in a sheet for comfort. Dr. Valium trotted off into his work area and returned a moment later with a bottle of… something and a bowl. “Thank you for returning my patient! I’ll be more careful not to let her out of the home from now on!” obviously he had not heard of the mayor’s expectations to be in their company.

 

Meanwhile, in the Town Hall, the Mayor was at his desk going over the documents again and again. “This can’t be…” he mumbled to himself, practically leaping across his office to open a drawer and dig inside for a folder. “It should be here…”

 

When the door opened he jumped and yelped but immediately began laughing and shaking his head. "No, no, it's only... welcome! Welcome, Crystal." his demeanor had changed significantly and his eyes darted one way and another. "Oh, I see... well, I might as well tell you and you can tell the others when you have the chance." The mayor opened a drawer to his desk and pulled out a small brown box. "I want you to have this."

Edited February 24, 2012 by SkySong

[Strong Hooves 289]

Cloud nodded to the doctor respectfully, "Not sure why she thought going for a walk with a fever would be good for her" he said as he set her down on the hay pile. He sat down next to her, looking at the doctor, "I'm not sure you will be able to keep her here for too long though, the mayor himself requests an audience with her, me, and a militia pony named Crystal." Cloud eyed the stuff in the bottle, "Ugh... What is that stuff?" he asked, then got another question in his head, "How did you find her?" he asked indicating Sky.

[Aureity 3,055]

He looks panicked, thought Crystal as he watched the mayor attempt to cover up his slip of emotion. He's hiding something, but at this point I really don't care, I just want to get out of here as fast as possible. Crystal took the box. "Um..thank you, Mr. Mayor." Examining it, he could find no clue as to what its contents held. He frowned. "What...is in here?"

[Page.Turner 940]

Dr. Valium yawned as he set down the bottle and the bowl and began pouring some of the smelling concoction into the latter. “She shouldn’t have been walking at all, fever or not,” he smiled a bit, “I had given her some medicine for pain which effectively numbs the pained area. Unfortunately, it also tends to numb non-pained limbs or joints because this medicine is not particularly the best but we’re working on it in the lab; my assistant and I. While her wings heal, which is a bit of a painful process, this is supposed to help her along. I have some pills for the fever, though, I’ll be right back.” The stallion disappeared back into his lab and returned with a small silver tray carrying a tiny plastic cup with three little pills inside. “Find her?” he blinked. “Ah… well, I wasn’t the one who found her. Incidentally, as you may remember, Haste and his folks found her. It seemed as though she had crash landed though the way her wings have broken, it looked forced, like another pony had done it…” he put the pills in the bowl and watched them dissolve. “Regardless, she’s here now. I’ll fix her up! It’s what I do!” he smiled to Cloud, putting the dark thoughts out of his mind.

 

The Mayor began to tidy his desk with trembling hooves, shaking his head. “You’re welcome.” He had taken a few deep breaths and seemed to be regaining his countenance. “Why, it’s just a rock. Just a very shiny, pretty looking rock. I believe it is a rare item, indeed, but it would give me no greater pleasure than to give it to you as a gift… for becoming captain. I apologize, there seems to be no time for a coronation ceremony. Perhaps we could have had a drink or two if your friends had been able to make it. Go on! Take the box. No need to be shy!” he smiled at Crystal, looking relieved that he was agreeing to take the stone off his hands.

 

The very stone inside the box looked like an ordinary speckled river rock about the size of a crab-apple. It was a dark blue colour with brown speckles; it was oddly heavy for its size and seemed to throb when held like an egg with a baby chick inside ready to hatch. But this was no egg; in fact, it didn’t really seem like a stone. Though it would not conjure any feelings of impending dread, it certainly was mysterious.

[Strong Hooves 289]

Cloud nodded at the explanation, mentally thinking it wasnt such a good idea to use an imperfected medicine on a patient, but he kept his mouth shut. "I know how that feels, Ive broken my wings more than once before, even bent the joint in the completely wrong direction once". At the mention of Haste's name, he began to think about how the young colt was doing, his mom didnt seem too happy last time I saw, he thought to himself. Cloud's ears then perked with new interest, "Forced crash landing?" he said with concern in his voice, "But who would do that? Who would WANT to do that? Especially to her? She doesnt come across as a mare who wants trouble". He began to think there was more to this pegasus than met the eye, but what?

[Aureity 3,055]

"Erm...thank you, sir." Crystal Flame gingerly took the box. Maybe it's a good luck charm or something? Or maybe it's just a weird looking rock. Whatever, I need to get started on looking for clues. Sunlight doesn't last forever! Taking his leave from the mayor's office, he walked eagerly back out of the town hall, blinking in the warm afternoon sunlight. He briefly considered looking for the other two, but dropped the notion almost immediately. I don't want them to get hurt. I'm dealing with survivor's guilt already. With the strange box in hoof, he proceeded to the armory that loomed above most of the buildings on the eastern side of Ponyville, near his house. Well, if he had access to the best equipment now, he might as well use it.

Opening the door with a creak, he gingerly proceeded to the top floor via a winding stone staircase. Just yesterday there would have been soldiers guarding this place, he thought ruefully. I have to figure this out, soon. Pushing open the door to the room that once belonged to his own commander, he stepped inside, passing the neatly made bed and breakfast meal that still lay undisturbed, as if their owner had just taken a walk and would come back for them soon. He grabbed the nearest pair of spiked horseshoes, and after an awkward five-minute struggle he managed to put them on. He was about to put on the rest of the armor, but a loud crow's call caused him to glance out the window and double over in surprise-it was almost sunset. To hay with that. He reached across the desk and grabbed the ceremonial falchion blade that lay across it with his teeth. Let's do this!

On his way back out, he had to stop by the barracks that housed-or used to house- the soldiers. To his surprise, he saw a few villagers lining up by the entrance, who began jumping when they saw him.

"You're finally here," commented a bored voice behind him. Whirling around, he saw his friend Dichromate lazily leaning against a lamppost. "Look, we've got nilch for defense, so I thought I'd take the liberty of putting up a few recruitment posters in the town square. And here's the result." He indicated the line that Crystal now realized stretched around the back as well.

"I have other things to be doing," sighed Crystal. "I can't deal with this at the moment."

"I thought so," said Dichromate. "So I already have it taken care of. Don't you worry-just ask, and I'll start training them."

"You? You're not a military pony..." Crystal frowned doubtfully.

"And I've had more fighting experience than many of those who were in the military, god bless their souls." Dichromate retorted.

Crystal was about to object again, but the shadow of the sun passing behind a cloud caused him to change his mind. "Fine. Go ahead, I'll be back later to check up on your progress."

Dichromate gave a wry smile. "You won't regret it...sir. Good luck out there."

Crystal spread his wings and had flown away before Dichromate had even finished his sentence.

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“Ahhhh… if you don’t mind, I’d like to have a look at your wings before you leave. Before coming to Ponyville at the request of a good friend and neighbor, I used to work in a small hamlet just below a colonized cloud city called Stratus City. Pegasus ponies young and old would sometimes fall from the sky from one problem or another and after a while I learned that wings were possibly the most delicate part of a pony! Broken once, they will never be the same again no matter how confident a pony might be. Of course, not every pony is the same and I have seen clean heals but I like to make sure.” It was very clear that Dr. Valium was a bit of a rambling chatterbox or perhaps he was trying to avoid a dark subject. Regardless, he almost didn’t even acknowledge Cloud’s final questions. After hesitating, the doctor brought over the concoction to Sky Song and tried to make her drink. “I’m not sure why anyone would want to harm her.” He started slowly, “But I am sure that it might do well to pay a visit to the ponies who found her.”

 

Sky Song drank the mixture as best she could while unconscious. Because her reflexes were slow and she was working on instinct, it took her a while to get it all down. Dr. Valium was very patient and he would hold the bowl for her all the while it took her to drink. He may have seemed a bit silly at times but he was very dedicated to his work.

 

As Crystal left the office, the Mayor of Ponyville watched him. He was standing still behind his desk, staring at the door as it slowly closed with a final thunk and a clang. He listened to the sound of Crystal’s hooves. When he was sure the other pony had left, the mayor approached the door on the other side of the office that lead to his assistant’s room. She had been gifted her own office after the mayor realized the large room was meant to be a closet. It seemed too pointless. He had no reason for a closet since it wasn’t like he had a vast collection of suits or outfits. A modest and economical pony, he kept himself groomed and presentable with as little he could. It was only after he had met his assistant for the first time that he felt she would be able to make more use of it and he even had a window built in so she wouldn’t feel claustrophobic. But now… now it was all a waste.

Before he knew it he had entered her room and closed the door. She was a very clever pony, yes, and she knew very well what they would have to expect for now. “Sir-“she began.

“No, no. Don’t speak. You know what we have to do.”

“… Of course.” The young unicorn moved around to a filing cabinet that was as tall as her. She unlocked the bottom most drawer with her magic, a spell of her own private device, and withdrew from it a large black book with a clasp.

 

“God help us.”

 

A pony approached Dichromate. She was a unicorn with a less than appealing colour scheme. Her body was the shade of sickly looking moss. Her mane and tail were short and honed a single colour of gray-blue that was so dull it seemed more apt to absorb light than reflect it. The same went for her eyes; the irises were a strange mixture that created a very reddish-brown but at this moment it would be hard to tell. The strange unicorn’s pupils were so dilated they practically took up the whole eye itself. To make the strange image complete, she had a crooked horn and her hooves were either cracked or cloven. It was hard to tell.

She stood near Dichromate and stared at him for a long and awkward moment before smiling; her teeth were surprisingly white. “Who was that?” she asked, gesturing to the sky where Crystal had left.