private The Northern Odyssey

[Budding Night 1,043]

The feeling was close to being indescribable. It felt like falling onto broken glass and there being no way to stand up again. Heck, Evening wasn't even that close to her, but what seemed like the only good memories left would now be marked with something to forever grieve over. She stared down at the ground, it all happened so fast.. at such a bad time.. 'Why DJ...' she thought to herself, momentarily closing her eyes to let another year fall 'Why?'

 

@@Zhooves

 

Evening reopened her eyes and placed her focus on the little blue colt again as he entered through a door. Her eyes flickered to the dark white sky, then to the snowy ground where the young Pegasus had just been stood

 

"He's never coming back.." she whispered.

[Pripyat Pony 2,608]

@@Steel Accord,

 

Clover could hardly believe it. The ship had exploded, but she didn't care about that. What was awful was that DJ had perished. Vinyl sobbed hysterically on the shore, where everypony had been thrown, and Clover tried as best as she could to comfort the stricken mare.

 

"Don't worry," Clover murmured to Vinyl, passing her a clean hankerchief. "We will find out who did this, and believe me, we will make sure that they suffer for this."

 

Clover's eyes were full of fury as well as full of sadness. DJ, their friend and the captain of the ship, was dead. How did the ship explode? Obviously, they were on the right track and somepony wanted to stop them. Well, Clover was determined that whoever it was would not stop their mission. They would find out who was responsible for the everlasting cold weather and put an end to it!

[Steel Accord 6,660]

((Sorry for not responding sooner - I read it all and decided I would reply at a better time... Then a couple of things came up as well as the internet going derp...))

 

@@Steel Accord,

 

Standing outside the warehouse, he hesitated slightly as he looked at the entrance. After seeming to be thinking for a moment, he finally started moving towards the door. Taking one final, tired look at his surroundings, he entered the door...

The little filly had once again dissapeared, with no fanfare such as the flash typically associated with teleportation.

 

The warehouse seemed to be owned by the Manehatten museum, judging by all the replicas and genuine artifacts stored there.

 

Among them, a peculiar looking device. It looked like a piece of vaguely triangular wood, wrapped loosely in cloth. The artifice sat upon a podium underneath the only lit lamp in the warehouse.

 

The plaque below it read, "ARTIC EXPEDITION FIND, #27"

 

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

 

@Everypony

 

Steel arose an looked around at his friends in various states of mourning, before realizing they were missing one.

 

"Hey! Where's North?"

Edited October 16, 2013 by Steel Accord

[Commander Bubbles 1,343]

Red was furious. His rage continued, and seemed to go on without any end. Just then, however, he overheard that they had another member missing. It was... North!

Oh no! Red thought to himself, First DJ, now North? Where could North have gone?

Pulling himself together, Red frantically flew around the vicinity, searching for North.

[Zhooves 843]

Taking a few steps within the warehouse, he took a look around. Not much seemed to catch his interest, though the one light in the room created what to North was almost a painful contrast to the darkness. Approaching it, he tried to read the plaque, seeming to take his time.

 

"Arktisk ekspedisjon..." he whispered to himself, before he moved his attention to the object above it - leaning up against the podium with his front-legs to try and get a better view.

[Steel Accord 6,660]

@@Zhooves,

 

There sat the object, the expedition scientist could not discern it's nature apart from it was enchanted to an almost frightening degree. Upon the cloth read a name in a strange runic language, one that was the ancestor to North's native tongue. Even if he couldn't read most of it, one word read clear.

 

 

"Skíðblaðnir" . . . . Skidbladnir.

[Zhooves 843]

@@Steel Accord,

North went up and took a closer look, reading what stood on the cloth.
"Skidbladnir... Sounds familiar in a way... Sounds like... Skib... One way to say ship... Could this belong to one?" he spoke to himself, looking at the object with curiosity, tapping lightly at it with a hoof.

Edited October 17, 2013 by Zhooves

[Steel Accord 6,660]

@@Zhooves,

 

As North nudged the item, it actually flipped open. Then, by itself, flipped over again, revealing more of the wood. Soon the wooden artifice continued to unfold outward, constructing something larger and larger. The podium the machine sat upon broke under the weight and North was likewise threatened to be crushed if he stayed any longer in the presence of the expanding contraption. 

[Inactive01 5,299]

@Budding Night

 

Sterling was still bust comforting his wife. He didn't notice that North had just walked away from the scene. He didn't notice that Steel was frantically searching for North. And he didn't notice that they both could have possibly discovered a ray of hope for the adventurers. All he could think about was his dear Evie...

 

"Oh Evie... I'm not sure how things will proceed at this point. All I can say is to have hope... who knows... maybe... maybe DJ somehow got off... He may have looked dead, but he may be more alive than all of us right now..." spoke Sterling as calmly as he could. Deep down, he was still in tears, but he wanted to comfort Evie...

 

Meanwhile, Applejack continued to look around frantically. Another two of the group was missing! She remembered a fighting pony and a small colt among them, and she hadn't seen them anywhere! She decided to trot around the harbour in hopes of finding them... They already lost one, and Applejack wasn't willing to lose another...

[Zhooves 843]

@@Steel Accord, 

North stood there in wonder as the object expanded, he stepped back. As he noticed he was endangered by the expanding object, he turned around and began running out of its expansion.

 

"Now, what could this be? Seems like... Some kind of magic..." he spoke to himself.

Edited October 17, 2013 by Zhooves

[Steel Accord 6,660]

@Everypony

 

Suddenly, a thunderous crash was heard across the wharf.

 

A little aways was the most absurd of sites, a Viking ship; who's sized dwarfed any galleon, had burst out of a warehouse wall and crawled across the land.

 

As if called to it, the ship found it's way into the harbor and docked itself opposite of the sunken vessel.

[Budding Night 1,043]

@@Sterling Crimson

 

Evening thanked her newly wed deeply for the support, she wanted to believe what he had said, she really did, but it felt like there was a sort of.. gap that was missing, and without it, she couldn't believe it one hundred per cent. She lifted up a hoof to Sterling's forehead, which felt heavier than usual. She moved some black hair of out Sterling's eyes and was about to give him a kiss on the forehead when a loud crashing noise rumbled throughout the wharf.

 

She jolted at the sudden loud noise, hurting her legs and front leg from her hoof instinctively moving to her mouth to stop her from shrieking. Her head whipped around to look at where the foreboding sound came from. At the sight of the object, her eyes widened and jaw dropped slowly. 'What is..' is all her thoughts could really gather. She watched it as it moved across the land and parked itself parallel to DJ's sinking coffin. 

 

"What.. ?" she muttered, slowly approaching the boat. Her hoofsteps seeming to get lighter with every step. When she got to the side of the boat, she stroked the side of it, it seemed in perfectly good condition from the fact that it came crashing out of a warehouse. She took a few steps back to properly look at the ship. It was a Viking's ship, it was fairly small, but still big.

'Where did that come from?' the dark purple mare thought curiously 'How did it do that?'. Her eyes wavered to the place it had come out of from the warehouse and back to the ship

 

"Hm." said to herself out of confusion, the ship seemed to give her the tiniest slice of.. peace.

 

(Furthermore I apologise if I don't post for a few days at a time. I've got tests to determine how good of classes I'll be in for my new school next year and I have LOTS of studying and extra work to do because I'm so far behind all the other students. Really sorry if that does end up happening!)

Edited October 18, 2013 by Budding Night

[Commander Bubbles 1,343]

Red Talon was suddenly distracted by a loud crushing sound. He turned around to see a... giant... Viking ship that... came out of... nowhere?

"What the serious fu-" Red said aloud before being cut off by another loud crushing sound. The ship had pulled itself right next to the wreckage, hitting what remained of The Odyssey.

"What... just happened?" Red said to @Sterling Crimson. "And where did North go?!"

[Inactive01 5,299]

@Budding Night

 

Sterling was still hugging Evening dearly while she shed her tears. While he was hugging, he could hear a faint voice calling out to him. It was Red! It seemed like he wanted to ask him something! He was wondering where North and Steel went off too! When Sterling looked up, he could see that both of them were gone! 

 

Just before Sterling could get up in search for his friends, he heard what sounded like a loud creak! He turned in the direction where the sound originated, and he was astonished at the sight. He could see a large wooden boat like the Odyssey. What amazed him was how much larger it seemed compared to their previous ship. Sterling could only look with awe and amazement as the ship continued to sail towards Manehattan Harbour.

 

------

Applejack continued to look all throughout the harbour for Steel and North, but there was no sign of life anywhere within the growing snow. Applejack then turned back towards the harbour, dejected at the possibility that they lost another friend. When she looked up however, something was off. There was a large wooden ship that stood before her eyes! It was certainly larger than the ship that blew away from the explosion, and it certainly caught her eyes! She quickly trotted back towards the ship, wondering where it could have possibly come from...

[Steel Accord 6,660]

@@Steel Accord, 

 

Steel found North staring awestruck at the massive barge. 

 

"Young North . . ." Steel began, not taking his eyes from the ship. "I think finding ships should be your cutie-mark."

 

@Everypony

 

Steel flew over the vessel and waved to his friends.

 

"Friends! We can use this to get to the Frozen North!"

Edited October 20, 2013 by Steel Accord

[PinkieShyFlutterPie 408]

@@Steel Accord, 

 

When Neon heard that North had gone off and they didn't know where he was she looked around, she didn't see him either. She got worried, where had he gone off too? She stopped crying, she was still vary sad of course but she had to help find North and help find a way to make this cold go away. She wiped her eyes with her hoof then got up to try and find North, but before she could a viking looking ship sailed up right by where their ship had...blown up. "What the...?" Neon was saying when she saw Steel. She looked up at him confused "Where did you even find this ship?" 

[Steel Accord 6,660]

@@Steel Accord,

 

When Neon heard that North had gone off and they didn't know where he was she looked around, she didn't see him either. She got worried, where had he gone off too? She stopped crying, she was still vary sad of course but she had to help find North and help find a way to make this cold go away. She wiped her eyes with her hoof then got up to try and find North, but before she could a viking looking ship sailed up right by where their ship had...blown up. "What the...?" Neon was saying when she saw Steel. She looked up at him confused "Where did you even find this ship?"

"Not I dear Neon!" Steel pointed to North at the dockside. "Young North, as before after the faithful shipwreck that banded us all together, has found our peculiar mode of transport."

 

((Flam: "I say! Our mode of locomotioooooon!" I couldn't resist.))

 

Steel landed next to the younger pegasus.

[Zhooves 843]

North simply stood there, watching as the ship moved towards the water, and moving out of the way whenever it seemed to move in his way.

@@Steel Accord,

"Uh, yeah... By now, at least..." he said, looking behind him slightly. "Nei, still blank..." he continued, before he started moving towards the ship, looking up at Steel with a small smile when he landed next to him.

[Pripyat Pony 2,608]

@@Steel Accord, Clover had been worried almost out of her mind when she realised that Steel and North were missing. She had just decided to go and look for them when there was an almighty crash and a ship appeared out of nowhere! She gasped, first with surprise at the sight of the ship then with relief as she saw North and Steel.

 

"A ship!" she said to Steel. "Where on Equestria did you find a ship?"

[Steel Accord 6,660]

@Everypony

 

Once the others all found their way to the ship and North had explained the name of it was Skidbladnir, Steel landed upon the deck in front of his gathered friends (and Applejack.)

 

"My fellows," He began. "we have been dealt . . . a crushing blow. The stallion that kept us together and lead us all through so much, the stallion that we had called Captain, leader, and friend . . . is dead. His last orders, issued by divine charge, were to journey to the Northern tundra and stop this blight. If any should not wish to go any further, I understand. However, should we press on, we have a matter to decide together, as friends." Steel looked up at the mast. "The Skidbladnir needs a captain. Who among us, should we elect captain? My vote . . . the good Dr. Sterling." He pointed to the unicorn healer.

[Inactive01 5,299]

@Steel Accord

@Budding Night

 

Sterling quickly got on the ship, after noticing its splendor and glory. He was still stunned at its size, but he quickly shook his head to get on. As soon as he was on, he quickly motion to Evening to come along as their ride was ready. 

 

When he noticed his other friends getting on the ship, he took a seat at one of the ship's benches, wondering what should be done now at this point. Where would they sail? How would they defeat the threat of snow and the source of all the fear and coldness that enveloped the land? 

 

Applejack too trotted quickly onto the ship, realizing that there was no time to waste. She wanted to get the ship a-sailing as quickly as she could but she noticed that everypony was still looking down at the loss of their friend... 

 

Meanwhile, Sterling continued to sit on the bench waiting for Evening to come. It was then that Steel gave out his speech that would change everything... he wanted him to be the leader of the ship?! What was he thinking?! This was preposterous! How could he, an indecisive, nervous stallion, be a leader?!

 

"Steel... Me... me... the leader?" was all Sterling could say in short utterances, unsure of how to respond...

[Steel Accord 6,660]

@@Sterling Crimson,

 

"That's just my vote, Doctor, I would gladly put my life into your hooves. We shall put it to a majority vote though. You're free to vote against yourself or abdicate the position if elected by majority. In my opinion though, you'd be a great leader, being a husband is in part being a leader after all."

[Budding Night 1,043]

@@Steel Accord

@@Sterling Crimson

 

Evening had found the strength hooves again when her husband motioned her to follow her on the ship. When slowly trotting onto the vessel she looked around, admiring it, still having the question on the tip of her tounge of how it got three and how the young North Light had found it. It was amazing and all, but it was something that Evening just simply couldn't push out of the way to make way for other thoughts, it was ludicrous.

 

Evening had been taking silent account of the new earth mare. She seemed kind, and her accent was very friendly.. but she was new. Being the shy mare she was, she didn't really feel super comfortable with this pony around, but to be fairly honest, at first sight be looked... honest. She wasn't sure how, but just looking at her, she already seemed to have an impression on her, though she couldn't really figure out whether it was good or bad. She stole a glance at the blond-maned mare, she looked like she felt she was out of place, and Evening could take a few guesses why.

 

The mare had been a few meters behind Sterling when Steel Accord started his little speech. She smiled sadly when talking about DJ, no one could have ever expected something like that to happen.. Though when Steel voted Sterling as the leader, the purple unicorn could feel a big smile grow slowly across her face. She walked closer to Sterling and gently put a hoof on his shoulder

 

"I agree with Steel" she said shyly, smiling at the silver stallion "Though I'd say I'd vote you aswell." She nodded at him politely then kissed the Crimson stallion on the cheek

"You'd be a great leader, sweetie" she whispered in his ear, trying sugar coating her words with all the kindness she could.

[Pripyat Pony 2,608]

"I agree, too," Clover said. "I feel that Sterling would be best cut out for the position of leader. As a mage, I much prefer to act under somepony's guidence rather than make the decision about how to act, myself. And of course, Sterling, Steel and I will support you in your role so you don't need to worry about a thing."

[Inactive01 5,299]

@Everyone

 

Sterling looked around and noticed all of the members nodding in agreement to him being the new leader of the group. Even Applejack looked like she wanted to agree. After all, she knew that Sterling played a big role with his sacrifice for his wife. She trotted up to Sterling and gave him a nudge.

 

"C'mon Sterling! Ah reckon you'd be a great leader fer us all! We're all puttin our trust in you! Ah say yer up fer it!"

 

Sterling looked increasingly worried about being a leader, but when his wife Evening gave him a comforting kiss and sugar-coated her words perfectly, Sterling couldn't say no...

 

"You... you all want me to be leader? Then... I guess... I... I am leader. Let's just make sure we know where we're going! Wouldn't want to get lost right?" replied Sterling with a nervous chuckle... He wasn't sure how he was going to do this, but he knew... there was no turning back.