private The Northern Odyssey

[Inactive01 5,299]

@@Sterling Crimson, Clover looked grim with determination as she glanced over at Sterling. "Right," she said. "I'm ready and waiting for the signal."

 

Clover looked around the hall. It was empty of ponies, and the giant monster dog seemed to be retreating slightly, probably cuz it was baffled by the shield and didn't understand why it could not attack.

@Pripyat Pony

 

Sterling was ready to go now that Clover was. It was time. Sterling quickly gave out the signal, knowing that the monster could hurt them as soon as the shield was retracted. Nevertheless, he went along with the plan, for her knew that they couldn't stay like this forever.

 

"Ok Clover... on three... one... two... three!" Sterling quickly retracted the shield and rushed out of the room, struggling to catch up with all the others. When he eventually did, he could see Evening in the distance and quickly held her as tightly as he could.

 

"EVIE!!!" was the only thing Sterling could say as he continued to run and hold her tight...

----

Applejack was continuing along the rear with Steel. She could clearly see Red still trying to court on Neon when it was going to be an impossible task. She merely turned away, not wanting to see his face ever again...

[Pripyat Pony 2,608]

@@Sterling Crimson, Clover's horn glowed as she pulled the shield in, keeping it just behind herself and Sterling as they galloped down the corridor. As soon as they were clear, Clover shot a final spell which sealed the corridor with a wall behind them as a final precaution. Of course, the giant dog could smash it down, but it would give them enough time to get clear. The biting cold assailed them as they reached the outside, and Clover cast her warming spell.

[Steel Accord 6,660]

((OOC: Apologies for the long absence everypony. If you'll further excuse me for a little rail roading, it's in the name of getting this show back on the road!))

 

The friends set out against the cold and unknown. Their only shelter in this land now seemingly gone, with only the promise of a clue guiding them against the biting haze.

 

Sterling held Evening close as he lead his friends. North kept them on the correct heading while Clover did her best to keep them from freezing to death with her warming spell. Neon and Red tried to give each other space despite the looks the latter was shooting the former. Meanwhile Steel and Applejack took up the rear.

 

"We need to find shelter!" The apple farmer shouted to be heard over the gales.

 

After a bit of searching, they found a cave in the side of a mountain, all spreading out and engaging in their various rituals and conversations. Considering the recent events and their relative lack of visible progress, the tone is far from chipper.

 

((OOC: Re-post bump))

Edited January 13, 2014 by Steel Accord

[Pripyat Pony 2,608]

Clover busied herself making a temporary door with a spell so that the heat wouldn't escape from the cave. She sighed, heavily. "What do we do now?" she asked Steel. "We're no closer to finding out what's causing this horrible cold than we were back home. I don't mean to stay here for long, but we ought to plan what we're going to do next."

[Steel Accord 6,660]

Clover busied herself making a temporary door with a spell so that the heat wouldn't escape from the cave. She sighed, heavily. "What do we do now?" she asked Steel. "We're no closer to finding out what's causing this horrible cold than we were back home. I don't mean to stay here for long, but we ought to plan what we're going to do next."

"We can't be too far from the illusive allies Safe Guard spoke of." Speaking of the sheriff made Steel wince with the knowledge that he was more than likely dead.

 

"We'll stop this! I know we will. Remember when we were almost lost in the Labyrinth? We got out of that, we can find what's going on here."

 

Steel held Clover in a reassuring embrace and gently kissed her horn.

[Pripyat Pony 2,608]

@@Steel Accord, Clover smiled at Steel and put a foreleg around him. "Thank you," she said. "I suppose I am being a bit negative. It's just this cold, and everything that's happened to us so far. It's hard to be optimistic. But at least we still have each other, and we have our friends."

[Zhooves 843]

North did his best to help them navigate the snowy landscape as they moved along...

"At least the temperature is not that bad..." he said, looking at the others. "Sorry, good for me that is. Though it could be worse I guess... It could have been winter too.".

 

As they entered the cave, he placed himself a bit closer towards the exit. "Hm..."

[Steel Accord 6,660]

@@Zhooves,

 

"Way to rub it in." Steel chuckled. North didn't seem to hear his jab though as he hung close to the exit of the cave. Steel knew North well enough to trust the young one's hunches. "What's on your mind my friend?" Steel asked as he walked up next to the younger pegasus.

 

((OOC: Hehe, when you think about it, you are kind of like our Pinkie Pie. Noticing things that others miss and having "hunches" that inevitably prove correct.))

[Zhooves 843]

"Me mind?" he said, looking at Steel. "Ah, right. We are in a cave... Which is good shelter from the weather outside... Possibly the only shelter for a long distance... Would it not also mean it more likely that there might be something else in here with us? he continued, before he looked towards the entrance. "Somepony near me feels amiss though..."

Edited January 15, 2014 by Zhooves

[Steel Accord 6,660]

@@Zhooves,

 

"Don't go giving us MORE reason to be paranoid my friend." Steel chuckled. "Since we are all more or less staying here for the time being. How about a story? Ever hear the tale of the old mare with the golden hoof?" Steel put his wing around his muzzle and raised one eyebrow to give a half-hearted attempt of mystique. 

[Inactive01 5,299]

Sterling wasn't sure what to do now at this point. He continued to hold Evening closely, thinking hard on the large monster that tried to take not only them down, but the whole town. What Sterling also wondered was how all this was related to the never ending snow they all experienced in Equestria. They had to solve that too, and fast... because if they didn't... Sterling didn't want to think about that. He just wanted to solve the problem. 

----------

Applejack was walking around the room, unsure why Steel was trying to suggest telling a scary story,

 

"Dontcha think we've already had enough scary moments in one night Steel? We should be tryin' to find a way to stop the never-ending snow in Equestria! Plus, we gotta face a huge Diamond that we ne'er e'en seen before!" Applejack's frustration was beginning to show, one that was compounded by what she thought was unrequited love from Red...

[Budding Night 1,043]

Evening didn't know what to do, she didn't know what was happening, all she would dare to do is continue to stay close to @@Sterling Crimson. She wasn't sure what emotion she was feeling. She was scared, but.. wasn't. It wasn't exactly bravery she was feeling, but more curiousity. She had an urge, a want to explore this strange and dangerous land, though she wouldn't dare stray from the group. The current problem at hoof definitely wasn't going to get them moving any time soon either.

 

Upon hearing @@Steel Accord talk about a story, her ears pricked up. She let a small smile form on her face at quickly glanced at her husband before slowly walking over to where Steel and North was and sat to the side of them, her smile turning nervous.

"May I.. listen in?" the mare asked shyly, not wanting to interrupt the two by accident.

[Steel Accord 6,660]

@Everypony

 

"Sure Evening! As a matter of fact, why don't we all settle down for a little abnegation?" Steel called his friends to gather around, Clover providing the familiar warmth akin to a campfire.

 

"This is the story . . . of the old mare and the golden hoof . . . ." Steel began to weave a tail of suspense and a vengeful spirit. "Who's got my golden hoof? . . . ." Steel began to reach for Red Talon.

 

"Well Ah sure don't!" AJ blurted out.

 

"Oh dammit Applejack, you ruined the atmosphere!" Steel cursed the farm pony. "I've got nothing left now."

 

Suddenly, a chill wind ran through them all, but it din't originate from outside the cave but from deeper within. 

 

"Whooooooooooooooos got my golden hoooooooooooooooof?"

 

"All right Steel, quit it!" Applejack berated the story teller.

 

"AJ . . . that . . . . wasn't me."

 

"Whooooooooooooooos got my hooooooooooooof?"

[Zhooves 843]

@@Steel Accord,

"I guess I would not mind... Not really anything else t' do while we are stuck in here... Unless you want to go out, that be." he said, and begun listening to Steel telling them his story. He tilted his head a bit when Steel started speaking of this mare he had not heard about.

His ears perked up quickly as they heard the voice sounding though the cave.

[Pripyat Pony 2,608]

Clover shivered as she heard the eerie sounding voice echoing thru the cave, but she quickly pulled herself together. "I'm going to go out there and see who it is playing tricks on us," she said. "I won't stand for it! Who's gonna come with me?" Clover felt furious with whoever was outside; why couldn't they just come to the cave like a polite pony and talk to them rather than playing jokes?

[Steel Accord 6,660]

@Everypony

 

"Whooooooooos got my golllden HOOOOOOOOF?!"

 

With a loud rumbling the cave entrance collapses. The party is now sealed inside, the way lighten by the unicorn's horns.

 

My gooooolden hoof . . ."

 

The voice continues to moan. If one is observant, there is a golden glint further down in the cave.

[Zhooves 843]

He looked towards the entrance as it collapsed, and almost had to cover his eyes as the unicorns lit up the cave again as what little light from the entrance vanished.

"I wonder why that happened... Well, I guess we have no choice..." he said, and stood up. "Deeper we go, no?" he said, looking up at Steel.

[Pripyat Pony 2,608]

Clover was startled when the roof collapsed in; she lit her horn up and looked to the back of the cave. "Well, I guess we had better follow this passage," she said. "It would take ages to dig our way out from this end; maybe there's another entrance farther back."

[Budding Night 1,043]

Evening couldn't help but gasp and jump back as the cave's entrance collapsed in. At first, she was both a little skeptical and worried as too if the voice was one of the group playing a joke or not, but after that disaster happening her skeptical feeling disappeared. After a dry cough or two, the mare light up her horn and let her light blue aura light up the area and intertwine with Clover's green light.

 

"I agree" she said weakly, her fear being fairly obvious in her voice. Evening cast her eyes into the darkness of the passage, her eyes glued to spot, everything that could happen to them going through her head all at once. "Even if we don't know what lies ahead.. We know how to defend ourselves, even if we are a little..." she gulped hastily, her eyes still hadn't moved

 

"..scared"

[PinkieShyFlutterPie 408]

Neon listened to Steel as he started telling the story of the mare with the golden hoof. Her parents never told her stories really, so...She didn't know much about this story. A shiver ran through her...Not from the cold but from the eerie voice. "What..The heck was that?" She looked around the group, it didn't seem like it was any of them who had said it, it didn't sound like them. She thought it must just be a prank, like Clover said. She looked around cave when she heard the voice again...Where was it coming from?

 

She turned to where she heard the rumbling and saw the cave entrance collapse. She took a couple steps back then stomped her hoof angrily  "I'm beginning to think hanging out with you guys is bad luck" She sighed "No offence.." She turned around and looked farther down the cave... "Alright...Let's go farther down the dark cave...I'm sure nothing will go wrong down there.." She said sarcastically.

 

She wasn't in the best mood, considering everything happening, all the bad luck.  And, also, because she often isn't in the best mood when she doesn't get enough rest. She tried to make herself think positively tho, maybe nothing bad will happen, maybe their luck will change and they will actually find a way out without any trouble...Maybe...She wasn't vary good at being positive. 

Edited February 1, 2014 by PinkieShyFlutterPie

[Steel Accord 6,660]

She took a couple steps back then stomped her hoof angrily  "I'm beginning to think hanging out with you guys is bad luck" She sighed "No offence.."

 

"None taken." Steel provided. "I'm beginning to think the Powers that Be just have something against us." Steel trotted over to where he placed his scabbards and drew Donkey Jote. "Somepony keep the light on me, I'll lead the way."

 

Steel trotted slowly ahead of everypony, the voice died down, but Steel could feel something still beckoning them deeper. 

[Budding Night 1,043]

"None taken." Steel provided. "I'm beginning to think the Powers that Be just have something against us." Steel trotted over to where he placed his scabbards and drew Donkey Jote. "Somepony keep the light on me, I'll lead the way."

 

Steel trotted slowly ahead of everypony, the voice died down, but Steel could feel something still beckoning them deeper.

 

"Maybe they just how how powerful we really are together as a group and don't want to be outranked" Evening said with a light-hearted giggle, almost absently obeying Steel's request of a spotlight. She was doing her best to stay on the positive side of the situation even though a part of her mind was already deep in negativity.

 

She almost felt as though she didn't have the heart to be so negative around other ponies, or was the word she was looking for confidence? She couldn't tell the difference, they're all the same to her, just difference spelling and pronunciations.

 

The path ahead of them had a disturbingly sinister vibe to the purple mare. To her, there was a such a sensation, such a desire aching deep in her mind to gallop ahead and abandon everybody, just run and run and run, thirsty to discover what lies ahead, craving to get a bitterly sweet taste of the danger she never dared to approach or bypass, the danger she...

 

'No! What are you doing?' she thought to herself angrily, grimacing in the disgust that was often her mind.

 

She let the expression go and quietly sighed to herself. 'I'll never learn' she thought 'How do I get this out of my head?'

 

(A little looksee in the mind of Evening Glory Looks may be deceiving, don't let the shyness fool you)

 

(This okay, @@Steel Accord?)

[Inactive01 5,299]

Sterling wasn't interested in the story from the start. So when Steel began to tell it, he instantly took no notice. However, when he started hearing chants from nearby, he suddenly jumped. He hugged Evening all he could, wondering what the voice could possibly be. This was a moment where he didn't want to lead. They were already inside the cave, and the way out was already closed. He wasn't even sure why they were inside the cave in the first place. Without any light, Sterling jumped, keeping a tight hold on Evening, like a husband would towards his wife whenever he was inwardly scared about something...

Edited February 1, 2014 by Sterling Crimson

[Steel Accord 6,660]

((OOC: Hey guys, quick announcement. I won't be able to post the update for this week. I'm really sorry, but my classes have just begun and I need to focus on them for right now. I'll get back to you guys and for right now, don't post continuations in the mane thread. Use the OOC thread for discussion, responses and such. Thank you very much my friends and your continued play is appreciated.))

[Steel Accord 6,660]

@Everypony

 

As the party makes their way deeper into the cave, they notice the walls become smoother, almost worn. As if by purposeful design. 

 

At last, they reach the dim depths, where they nary can see anything beyond the light provided by the unicorn's. Their journey though, terminates at the end of the tunnel. In their way stands a mighty stone door. Beset at both sides by what appear to be statues of guards, and extensively carved with geometric patterns and runic sigils. 

 

((Hope you guys are ready for what's behind door #1!))

Edited February 8, 2014 by Steel Accord