open Beyond these Walls: An adventure through Equestria. (Applications open!)

[Mephisto 56]

Blake sighed and walked back up the hill and toward the group. He felt the earth shift beneath his hooves with every step. As he merged with the group, he sighed. "Willow went with Tactic back to Orion. She made her own decision, and I just thought that the rest of you should know." He didn't know anyone in the group, but still clung to common courtesy.

Edited October 31, 2013 by Blake Diamante

[Geek0zoid 1,467]

@, 

"Oh, don't be silly, Aphrodite. I probably care more about you than anypony in this group." Blast assured her. "I mean, yeah, from what you've seen thus far, I'm not the best with words, but I'll listen to what you have to say. Why? Because I see you as a friend." He smiled at her. He really legitimately cared for Aphrodite and her sake. She seemed to have things rough at this point, so the least he could do was hear her out. "Now, c'mon. We've got to cross through these spikes."

Edited October 31, 2013 by StevenEarthPony

[Ihei 710]

@,

 

Aphrodite

 

"I don't get why you'd care about me," Aphrodite said, looking down to hide her blush. "It's really mostly because of my past. It's been a while since I made any friends.." Aphrodite muttered the last part. 

 

@,

 

Willow Starsinger

 

"What?" Willow backed up in shock: She never anticipated that a changeling, a changeling.. would ever be so kind to her. Did he mean it? If he was Orion's friend, he was supposed to be kind to her. "I forgive you, it's just that I never thought that.. that you would be.." Willow stuttered. 

[The Elusive Cinder 1,328]

???

@,
@,

The Drake watched with its usual level of interest as the pony transformed: untangling itself from the mare in order to get a better view of what was happening - it's instructions had been sufficiently vague to allow it room for interpretation: and the changing creature was certainly very interesting.

 

Sniffing at it experimentally, it established that the creature it wasn't for eating -  much to its resulting disappointment- by chancing a small bite at the tip of its wing.

 

Circling it in the air a few more times, it once again settled down around the mares neck - nestling into the fur. The changing creature was interesting certainly, but not as warm or comfortable.

[Umbreon 569]

Zintiik

 

@, @,

 

 

"A bug?"  Zintiik smiled slightly as he offered the suggestion to complete her thought.  "No one ever expects a changeling.  We wouldn't be very good at what we do, otherwise."  Zintiik starts to laugh, though he stops to stare at the small drake when it nips at his wing.  He didn't have much feeling in his insectoid wings, but that didn't mean he appreciated things tasting him.

 

With a disgruntled buzz, he tears his attention away from the drake and back to Willow.  "Now I can better explain how I can find your brother, at least...  I can detect his love for you.  That's how I know where to find him."  He does his best to come across as friendly, not exactly an easy feat considering his features.

 

"I...  I can take another form, if it would make you feel more comfortable.  I can look like anypony you'd want me to."  Why am I even bothering to ask?  Of course she's not going to want to be seen with a bug.  "Either way, we should probably start moving soon though...  Lord Orion must be worried about you."

[Mephisto 56]

Blake walked along, he made note of each type of rock, seeming to count them as he walked. He continually stepped through the softest rocks he knew of, but still got sliced multiple times. He dazed away eventually, beginning to get bored. His boredom quickly broke when multiple pebbles broke into a roll.

 

He skidded down the hill, far ahead of the others. His pain was mere pinches compared to the realization that he was moving toward a cliff. "Shiiiiiiii---iiiit!!!" As his body went over the edge, his forehooves wrapped around something solid, a small branch jutting out of the dell. His relief was short-lived when his grip was lost. He watched as the sky got farther and farther. He did a turn, knowing that landing on his back was undesirable. He saw a body of water at the bottom.

 

How deep? He couldn't say, but he knew it was his only chance at survival. Directing his body toward it, he vanished below the surface and stayed down their for several long suspenseful seconds before breaching the surface, and climbing out of the water and into the canyon.

[Ihei 710]

@,@,

 

Willow Starsinger

 

Noticing that the drake was comfortable in her mane, Willow decided to leave the drake alone for now. It seemed tired. "I--well, not exactly a bug.." Willow said, trying not to hurt Zintiik's feelings. "No, no, it's okay. I kind of like it better when you're in this form," Willow smiled at the changeling. She continued to walk in the direction Zintiik pointed to. 

[Geek0zoid 1,467]

@,

"You mean, you've never really had any actual friends?" Blast asked her. Now he was really concerned about Aphrodite. If she's gone this long without having an actual comrade by her side, no wonder she's always so down all the time.

"Well then, consider me to be your first." He said with a large smile. 

[00Pony 286]

(Seriously. I want a drake aspect. Stop making it so adorable! In other words, keep making it adorable)

 

 The group had begun to move through the field of razor rocks. In going with Kingfisher's advice to watch their steps, Saronyx was careful not to touch the stones. His skin was tougher than normal pony skin, and thus he was usually spared the more superficial lacerations and the like, "But what better way to cut crystal, than with diamond." He had muttered quietly to himself as he made his way through.

 

After all, Kingfisher had stated not to let the metal of armor to stop the stones, so why would a Crystal's flesh? Had it not been for the incredibly aggravating angle of the sun, and its making the ground underhoof shadowed in the worst ways possible, Saronyx might have made it through with little trouble. But with things as they were, upon exiting from the worst of it, Saronyx had made it through with a fair amount of smaller lacerations, and only one - on his upper right foreleg - that bled enough only to be a little more than annoying. Nothing serious. The blood would be clot in the wound before he would loose enough to worry about. 

 

He glanced back at the way he had come, giving a small sigh, "And it is times like this that I wish I were a Pegasus. Or a Unicorn, with the knowledge of transporting myself through the fabric of space." the Visionary said to himself.

[SilverHeart 741]

Mirror Image

 

@, @@Midnight Scribbler,

 

 

Mirror Image hesitantly stepped closer to Orion. "No, wanting to improve Equestria doesn't make you a villain. If anything that should be considered a noble goal. Whether you're a villain or not depends on how you go about it." Although sometimes the greater good requires doing terrible things. "You look like you're in pain. Do you need to rest?"

Edited October 31, 2013 by SilverHeart

[Umbreon 569]

Zintiik

 

@,@,  

 

Zintiik stood in place, blinking in confusion.  He had been prepared for a potentially ridiculous request - he hadn't been prepared for her to say she actually preferred him looking like a changeling.  Strange...  

 

Realizing that she was still walking in the direction he had indicated, the changeling quickly starts to buzz his wings so that he can fly to catch up.  Landing next to Willow to walk with her, he starts to laugh.

 

"You're the first pony to give a flank about what you've called me once you saw what I am.  It's alright, I don't mind the term 'bug'.  There are worse things to be called."  Granted, only a very small number of ponies had actually seen Zintiik change before...  And off the top of his head, Orion and Willow were the only two he could remember revealing himself to on purpose.  But, that didn't make Willow's kindness any less appreciated.

 

If more ponies were more like this, I might start to feel bad for feeding on them...  He looks at her and smiles, still having difficulty making it look friendly with his fangs but slowly starting to get better at it.  "Your brother shouldn't be too far away...  I imagine we will be able to find him soon."  After all, what better way to find a glowing alicorn than to send a bug?  He snickers at his small joke to himself before turning his gaze back to the way ahead of them, not wanting to run into a tree.

[RAGESTAR 479]

Crimson shifted carefully through the Razor-sharp stones, trying his best not to get cut, but still managing some minor scrapes and slices into his skin, looking very uncomfortable around the pointed rocks. "Damn! When will this trip through pointy hell be over already?!" thought Crimson before stopping dead in his tracks as a very long, very point, and very sharp, stone, was mere inches from his face. Crimson's eyes widened and his pupils dilated as he began sweating. "Uh...h-Hey g-guys! l-Lets hurry up and get out of here!" said the usually stoic and calm pirate in a shaky voice, backing up slightly.

[EcstaticWind 572]

@,

Aegis thanked the Sisters for being born a Pegasus. He dove after the pony who just fell, pushing himself as hard as he could, and scratching himself on one of the outcropping. “Ggh! Just…a little…further…”

 

He kicked hard off one of the rocks, launching himself towards the pony but the pony had already hit the water and climbed out. Aegis breathed a sigh of relief that he was still alive. Now he just needed to get him back to the group and get his scratch patched up. “Hey. Need a lift?”

[Ihei 710]

@,

 

Aphrodite

 

"You better not tell anypony. It's pretty embarrassing," Aphrodite said, glaring at Blast. She then trotted up ahead into the forest.

 

@, @,

 

Willow Starsinger

 

"I'm surprised! It's just hard for me to hurt somepony's feelings," Willow said. "I'm actually pretty relieved that you found me. I would've been wandering for a while if it weren't for you," Willow smiled. Sometimes she really did wish that she could spend more time with Tactic Zintiik, but she figured he'd be busy and wouldn't care. She heard familiar voices up ahead and placed the drake on her head. "Is that Orion?"

[Mephisto 56]

@,

Aegis thanked the Sisters for being born a Pegasus. He dove after the pony who just fell, pushing himself as hard as he could, and scratching himself on one of the outcropping. “Ggh! Just…a little…further…”

 

He kicked hard off one of the rocks, launching himself towards the pony but the pony had already hit the water and climbed out. Aegis breathed a sigh of relief that he was still alive. Now he just needed to get him back to the group and get his scratch patched up. “Hey. Need a lift?”

Blake breathed heavily. "I saw my life flash before my eyes! It was fun." He snickered and stood up. His breathing was heavy, but regulated. He was sopping wet too. "Nah. You have energy to conserve, I can handle myself pretty well." He took a deep inhale as his breathing bottomed out. He looked up to the ledge. "I'll find my way around! Might get ahead too! ETA 1 hour or so!" He shook his mane. "You can go back up to them, or follow me. Doesn't bother me much."

[EcstaticWind 572]

@, 

“Alright. I’ll tell them. You be careful, ok?” Aegis said. He turned to fly back up, but paused for a moment and turned back to the other pony. “By the way, my name’s Aegis Dare. Pleasure to meet you, though I wish it were in a better location. Maybe a bar in Las Pegasus.”

 

His side was stinging like crazy. The cut was manageable, but it was painful and bleeding. ‘At least that’s all I got away with. Any closer, and it might have taken a leg or a wing off. That’s a scary thought…’

[Midnight Scribbler 1,704]

@, @@SilverHeart,

Scribbler glanced over to Mirror, nodding with agreement to his comments and query. He could see the fatigue and drowsiness creeping slowly into the alicorn's face.

"You do not look well, friend. Let's find a place for you to rest. We will help you, and while you rest, should Willow return, we can watch over her until you wake. I give you my word, and I believe I speak for us both when I say it is in our best interest to make you our ally. Gaining your trust is my only option, I don't even know where I am, to be honest."

Scribbler walked up to Orion, nervous, but less so than before. Extending his hoof to the alicorn, hoping for the best. "I am at your service, should you wish it."

Edited November 1, 2013 by Midnight Scribbler

[Geek0zoid 1,467]

@,@,

Blast smirked and kept walking. It seemed as if he caught the mare's attention. Though, she seemed a bit embarrassed when he told her that he was her friend. Maybe she just hasn't had a friend in so long that it feels weird to her. He simply shrugged and continued forward.

 

Eclipse looked back at Crimson.

"You doing okay back there??" He called back to him. "We should be getting through this within a matter of moments." He assured him. The spikes were cutting away at Eclipse's legs and sides. He tried to ignore the pain and continue pushing ahead.

[The Elusive Cinder 1,328]

Orion Starsinger.

 

@@SilverHeart,

@@Midnight Scribbler,

 

'One of them is still radiating magic of some sort...' His second consciousness told him: though how it could know that Orion had no idea. He watched the two unicorns for a moment longer. 'If you had not pushed yourself so, I would suggest switching so that you could recover... When exhausted is not the time to attempt it for the first time however...'

 

On reflection, he couldn't remember the last time he had slept: was it six... maybe seven days ago? He had assumed that the Litany would sustain him and indeed, he was correct. He had only read half of the book though.

 

"It's just a... a headache. I just need a minute to... to...."

 

Leaning against - and proceeding to slide down -the crumbling stone trunk of what was once a tree, he closed his eyes for a few seconds: hoping that he could somehow push the pain out of his head.

 

Of course, he couldn't.

 

"Just give me a minute, to recover." He said,

 

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

 

Kingfisher.

 

Feeling a familliar warm sting at her side, Kingfisher turned to see a long, rough-edged line stained red where she had been careless. Losing her balance as she neglected to watch where she was going, she almost finished with a matching pair.

 

A few of the group were missing already: alive, she assumed: anypony around this place in trouble would make an almighty sound: the sharp rocks were likely to cause some impressive pain should the worse come.

[Midnight Scribbler 1,704]

@, @@SilverHeart,

Midnight Scribbler began to worry for this Alicorn, he clearly suffered from extreme exhaustion, and did not look like he would last another duel with the other ponies, if they should come back. He looked down at Orion, who was now slumped against the petrified tree. Knowing all too well, the dangers of insomnia.

"Really, you seem to be suffering from insomnia. I have much experience with this, but no magic will help the damage you will do to yourself if you continue pushing to stay awake. When have you last had food or drink? I believe I have something here in my pack. I always keep things in case I find myself in these situations myself."

Scribbler pulled a water canteen out from his bag, and held it out to Orion.

"I can tell from your expression, you must have a terrible headache. This may help a bit. You must remember, even with great power, you are still mortal."

[Umbreon 569]

Zintiik

 

@, 

 

The changeling nodded, holding a hoof out to stop Willow from walking out just yet.  "Yes...  But I don't recognize the other two presences with him..."  

 

Zintiik had a decision to make.  Either take a disguise and try to learn what he could about the two unknowns, or to enter the clearing as a changeling with Willow...

 

Out of the two options, he decided that Orion seeing his sister with a potential stranger was the more dangerous of the two.  "Stay close to me...  Just in case the others aren't friends."

 

@,

 @@Midnight Scribbler,@@SilverHeart,

 

 

Zintiik flew out of the woods into the petrified clearing, assuming Willow was close behind him.  He was focused on the two ponies near Orion, trying to quickly figure out their intentions.  As he lands he makes his wings buzz loudly, loudly enough that they would surely draw the attention of the others.

 

"Lord Orion!  Are you hurt?"  He was concerned seeing Orion slumped over like that, trying to make his way over to the alicorn while keeping an eye on the two he didn't recognize.  "Who are you?  You're not part of that group...  Did you do this to him!?"

 

 

Pavisa

 

While removing her armor may have saved her kit, Pavisa's flank was making her regret the decision.  She was bleeding from a number of new cuts, and her old bandages had been ripped away to let the old ones re open.  "Dear Celestia, why in Equestria does a place like this even exist?"  I'd be getting less cuts by falling down a hill with a rusty pike...

[Midnight Scribbler 1,704]

@, @, @@SilverHeart,

 

Scribbler was startled by the buzz, then realizing it was just another who seemed to be concerned for the alicorn. Still holding the canteen, he spoke to the new arrival.

"My name is Midnight Scribbler, and no, I did not do this, nor did my accomplice here. He seems to be suffering from overuse of his powers, lack of sleep, or maybe worse. I assure you, I mean no harm nor hindrance to anypony here. My only intention right now is to aid Orion here, and perhaps get back to where I came from eventually."

His tone was sincere, having never met any of these ponies, he wished to give his best first impression. He covered for Mirror, feeling safe enough to bet she would not go against it.

[The Elusive Cinder 1,328]

Orion Starsinger.

 

@,
@@SilverHeart,
@@Midnight Scribbler,

"Zintiik, I'm fine, thank you. How many times do I need to tell you I'm not a 'lord'..." Orion smiled tiredly. 

'Technically we are. Several, in fact. And more.'

 

"... I was just closing my eyes for a moment: what happened?" He asked: the changeling had been most effective in following the brigands but his lack of a disguise led the Alicorn to believe that he may have broken the illusion. Not that a trusted companion to watch his and his sisters backs was something he was going to complain about - especially with these new strangers presence to concern himself with.

 

Perhaps a few moments to rest would do him some good, he thought. The Aspect would find Willow soon enough: Zintiic could help too, no doubt.

[Mephisto 56]

Blake trotted through the valley. He was cold, from his soaked clothing. He'd taken it off a little while ago. The valley was very dark, he could make out the sky through the crevice above him. As he walked, he could hear a distinctive puttering. He turned around, and could see some red globes. He drew his knives together to make sparks. He did this just to see but they caught something, wood. The darkness erupted as a Timber Wolf caught flame. He looked and saw many more. He was in a den. He put his knives away, and his hooves rose.

 

"Come and get me..."

[EcstaticWind 572]

@,

Aegis flew back to the group, clutching his side as he landed. ‘Damn. This cut is gonna ruin my day. Guess it was my own damn fault for trying to fly that fast. A bit slower and I could’ve avoided it.’

 

He walked up beside Kingfisher. “Captain, news about the other guy who fell off the cliff. He’s alive and unharmed, but he’s taken a detour. By the way, does anypony know that guy’s name? He ran off after I told him mine.” He showed them the scratch down his side, “And does anypony know first aid?”

Edited November 1, 2013 by Windbreaker