open Occult in the Swamps

[Umbreon 569]

((OOC Link:  http://mlpforums.com/topic/78217-occult-in-the-swamps/#entry2004067))

 

Flyers have been seeming to pop up in obscure places around Equestria of a new hotel opening deep within the unexplored marshes near Equestria's border.  It all seems harmless enough, and potentially a great opportunity to unwind and see sights that many ponies wouldn't otherwise see!  And to make things even more tempting, to spread word of the advertisements, for the first two weeks of the opening anyone can stay for FREE!

 

But, who knows what visitors may find once they arrive?  Perhaps these bogs are unexplored for a reason...  Nopony knows what lurks hidden within these swamps!

 

-----

 

Sabellah

 

The ferry to this hotel that had been generating so much buzz was a slow ride.  A little too slow for Sabellah's tastes, but it was alright.  The griffoness would find her own ways to pass the time.

 

She had to admit that the ferry was a decent sized boat - apparently it was difficult to get all the way to this place by hoof (or claw, in Sabel's case), so the ferry was designed to take guests back and forth from 'civilization' to the hotel.  It seemed as though it could hold a fairly decent number of passengers though.

 

At the moment Sabel was lounging on the railing along the side of the ferry, using a nail file on her talons while looking at the other passengers curiously.  She was drawing some glances herself, as expected.  She knew not many ponies were familiar with griffons, but it didn't bother her in the least.  Sabellah was far from shy, and she was just as curious about them as they probably were about her.  Her tail swished eagerly over the edge of the boat as she sat, curious to see which pony was going to be the first to actually try and introduce themselves.

 

The only ones who seemed at all disturbed by the griffon's presence, as far as she could tell, were the old ponies in charge of running the ferry.  She'd seemingly made a bad impression when she waited for the ferry to leave before flying out to catch it, effectively adding one more to its expected passenger load.  They could grumble all they wanted, as far as she cared.  This was a trip to someplace new, and she was ready to have fun.  At least, she would be if the ferry would ever make it to its destination.  Which was a topic she was beginning to wonder about...

[Rokkurin 214]

It has been four years since Guardian has been home. No sooner did her return that he saw a flier to a hotel that has been recently built. This seems like the perfect opportunity for some rest and relaxation and not to mention its FREE. he skips going back to his home and instead heads out to the location of the hotel.

 

He was lucky enough to catch the first ferry to the hotels location. He is currently at the back of the transportation standing on his front hooves, doing push-ups. He keeps getting strange looks from everpony on board. 'Its like they never seen somepony do these before' he thought to himself.

 

From the point of view of the onlookers, Guardian is doing push-ups with heavy objects balanced on his back hooves. Not once has he stumbled or have an object fall from its position. He has been doing this non-stop since he got on board the ferry.

 

((OOC I hope this does not sound too OP. After all, what else do you expect after four years of intense training.))

[The Elusive Cinder 1,328]

The map fluttered in place under her hooves as Wish plotted out a new route with a piece of charcoal: drawing a snaking trail across the page and crossing out each noteworthy location she crossed.

 

"Perfect!" She told herself, nodding at the map of Equestria before her: it was a route that went out far further than she had ever been before - far further from home - but no doubt that was exactly what she needed. Scribe wouldn't have been gone so long if he was close to their parents after all...

 

She stepped back to admire her work and was rewarded by watching as the wind took hold of the map and lifted it into the air. "Aha! No! Bad... Bad wind! Put that back!" She scolded hopelessly as her work landed in the water of the swamp.

 

With a sigh, Wish Scribe opened her saddlebag and reached for another map.

 

'Another one! Good job I thought ahead to buy these in bulk!' She thought smugly as she started to plot the route again. The incident might well have repeated itself as she turned her head to follow the feathered creature without realising it: but thankfully she had the foresight to keep her last copy pinned firmly beneath her hoof. Shrugging, she tore her eyes away from the adventurous looking creature and returned to planning her own journey.

[SilverHeart 741]

(OOC: Posting from phone.)

 

Mirror Image pulled her Father's cloak closer to her body, concealing the burns that defiled the right half of her body. The ferry ride had gone well so far. Few ponies had even looked at her and the few that did had just given a curious glance in her direction before going on their way. If she were honest to herself she would have admitted that every time a pony glanced at her she wanted them to come talk to her.

The hours of sitting on the wooden deck were beginning to hurt her haunches. Mirror stood up and walked towards the railing, she lowered the good of the cloak so that it covered the entire right side of her face. She peeked out from beneath it to find that she had made a mistake, there was a mare nearby drawing on a map.

Edited November 14, 2013 by SilverHeart

[The Elusive Cinder 1,328]

Try as she might, Wish was having difficulty in not getting distracted: first the feathered creature which she excitedly told herself was a griffon, and now a pony had taken up position just nearby wearing some kind of cloak... It wasn't just that these were unusual sights - it was mostly because they looked like the kind to travel, and to Wish, that was the type of experience she most wanted to know about!

 

Rolling up the map carefully, she made sure it was safely tucked away in the saddlebag - all three buckles securely fastened - before turning her attention back to the ferry: there was some kind of stallion trying to show off with what Wish could only guess was some kind of strange dance. The Griffon was still there too, but she didn't quite have the nerve to approach her.

 

@@SilverHeart,

 

Instead, the self-titled adventurer turned and leaned of the railing - ensuring that she stopped close enough to try and get a look at the secretive-looking pony in the cloak.

 

"Uh.. Hey!" She said brightly - wanting to try and make conversation but not really having anything to talk about. "I like your... uh... cloak?"

 

'Was that too cheerful? Should I try to be... I dunno... nopony is going to take a cheerful adventurer seriously! Ah well - too late now...'

[Hive King 2,001]

Skuldaf looked out at the water impassively as the boat chugged along. This new hotel was not of any interest to him but the wild-life around the area was said to be beautiful. Skuldaf noticed there was a Gryphon on board and stared blankly for a minute before looking away. He still had a grudge against Gryphons from the brain-washing he had undergone in the "program"

[Umbreon 569]

Sabellah

 

Seeing that none of the other passengers were going to make the first move, Sabellah smirks as she slips her nail file back into her bag.  Well, showtime!  Let's see what some of these others are like...

 

Sabellah flares her wings and uses them to lift herself onto the railing of the ferry gracefully.  With a stance that was somewhere between a perching falcon and a balancing cat, the griffoness starts to walk around the ferry in this manner.  She decides to start with the pony doing...  Something...  Towards the back of the boat.

 

@@Rokkurin, 

 

"Heh, alright then.  I know ponies are weird, but this is my first time seeing something like that.  Are you sick or something?"  Sabel smirks at the pony she addresses, her tail swishing back and forth playfully. 

[SilverHeart 741]

@,

 

Mirror flinched at the sound of Scribe's voice. "Oh...um thanks..." Mirror mumbled. 

 

Unsure of what to say she added, "I like it too..." It was at this point that she noticed the mare trying to take a look at her face. She briefly considered trying to use the magic she had been practicing, however she doubted that she could cast anything without drawing attention more attention. Please don't let her notice anything. Instead she opted  turn her head so that only the left half of her face was visible to the pony. In case the pony tried to look further she pointed to the ground where the cloak was nearly trailing on the ground. "It's a little big though...." She waited for the other mares response. Ready to run away if she tried looking again.

[The Elusive Cinder 1,328]

@@SilverHeart,

Wish cocked her head to the left in a curious fashion at how the mare shied away: her natural inquisitiveness piqued. Looking down towards the ground, she shrugged at the comment regarding the length of the article of clothing.

"You could probably get it shortened?" She said noted innocently before raising her gaze back to head hight and holding out a hoof. "I'm Wish - Wish Scribe." She added. "I'm an adventurer! Well... kind of..."

 

'Kind of'. That was probably the best way to describe the wandering that she did: and even then it only described her if the word 'adventurer' was interpreted very loosely. Still: wearing a hood like that, no doubt this mare was a kindred spirit - maybe Wish could even learn something from her!

[Rokkurin 214]

@,

Guardian stopped his work out to address the Griffon that is talking to him, "No, I'm not sick," he says gently putting the heavy objects down, "I have been gone for four years doing intense training and I don't want to fall behind on it." He looks towards her, judging by the sound of her voice, and has his ever present sunny smile on his face. "My names Guardian Angel. What's your name?" he asks offering his hoof. 

[Umbreon 569]

@@Rokkurin, 

 

Sabellah

 

Sabel leans over from her perch on the railing to take the stallion's hoof in one of her talons.  "I'm Sabel."  She grins at Guardian as she leans back and releases his hoof, taking a moment to look him over.  "So what, you'll fall behind if you don't keep doing...  Whatever that was?  Booo-riiiiing."  

 

Laughing under her breath, the griffoness stretches her wings and flaps them slowly.  "I thought ponies took trips like this to relax...  I knew ponies were weird."  Granted, that may have to do with the fact that most of Sabel's friends she'd made on her travels were a unique bunch, but they were all she really had to base her opinions off of.

 

 

-----

 

One of the old ponies in charge of the ferry takes this time to lean his head out of the cabin.  "We'll be arrivin' at the hotel in just a few shakes, folks.  It'll take us a bit to dock, but y'all kin watch from the top deck if'n ya like.  Hotel should be in view in 'bout 15-20 minutes, and it'll take us about 10 minutes ta get docked."  That said, the old pony disappeared back into the cabin.

[Rokkurin 214]

@,

Guardian chuckled "What I was doing was a form of strength exercise." He then stands up on his hind legs and falls back for his front hooves to catch him. He pushes his chest and stomach out to stretch his middle region. A few loud pops could be heard as he sighed. "Ah~ that felt so good." he said as he flipped over to stand up right.

 

"As for relaxing, that is what i'm going to be doing, but that doesn't mean I won't continue to work out. Just not to an extent." he said as he started stretching again.

[Hive King 2,001]

Skuldaf walked up to the top deck, watching small birds fly-by. His emotionless face briefly cracked as one landed on him, making the large pony smile. The bird flew off along with his smile as the bones on Guardian popped from his exercise. 

"You scared the bird away" Skuldaf said flatly at Guardian, giving him an admonishing look

[SilverHeart 741]

@,

 

Mirror's face visibly paled. Horrified by the mere mention of altering the purple and gold cloak. How could she ever purposefully harm anything that had belonged to her father? No, she could never bring herself to do that. If she changed it, she'd have nothing left of her dad. Then if the mask got damaged, she'd have nothing. They'd be entirely gone from her life. The mare in front of her began to blur together with the surroundings. No! Stop...stop crying. You swore you'd try to move on and a chance is in front of you...don't waste this.

 

Mirror Image took breath before speaking, rather shakily. "My name is Mirror Image. It's nice to meet you...." So I'm supposed to keep them talking...that's what Miss Breeze told me... "Um...are you here on an adventure?"

 

(OOC: I had a lot more depressing content planned for this but lack the writing ability to pull it off.)

[Contrast 292]

(sorry, fell asleep after I was accepted.)

 

Hack was standing on the far end of the ferry. Half of his body was hung over a railing, and he was enjoying the view of the clear water and how the suns reflection made it glow. Truly it was beautiful, until the sun had started to grow in size. "Reflection of light?" He thought, hoping to make sense of this odd picture he was seeing. 

 

The sun just kept growing brighter, and brighter. Then it had started to flicker almost like a light switch. This continued until he was completely blinded by the light, and for some reason his hooves kept waving over his face. Then he felt a falling sensation, and started to scream.

 

~reality

 

Hack started to fall of the side of the boat. He had fallen asleep after become sea sick. As his was slowly falling over the edge he could see a tiny firefly right between his eyes. He manage to slide it off his face and safely onto the deck before he lost balance. "Bad gir-Ahhhh~"

Edited November 14, 2013 by danzxc123

[Hive King 2,001]

(sorry, fell asleep after I was accepted.)

 

Hack was standing on the far end of the ferry. Half of his body was hung over a railing, and he was enjoying the view of the clear water and how the suns reflection made it glow. Truly it was beautiful, until the sun had started to grow in size. "Reflection of light?" He thought, hoping to make sense of this odd picture he was seeing. 

 

The sun just kept growing brighter, and brighter. Then it had started to flicker almost like a light switch. This continued until he was completely blinded by the light, and for some reason his hooves kept waving over his face. Then he felt a falling sensation, and started to scream.

 

~reality

 

Hack started to fall of the side of the boat. He had fallen asleep after become sea sick. As his was slowly falling over the edge he could see a tiny firefly right between his eyes. He manage to slide it off his face and safely onto the deck before he lost balance. "Bad gir-Ahhhh~"

Skuldaf looked at Insomni-hack as the pony pulled itself back on deck. Skuldaf decided that the small fire-fly was rather cute and clomped over to Inomni-hack to get a closer look. 

"The firefly, may I look at it?" Skuldaf droned, twisting his face into what his studies told him was a smile

[Contrast 292]

@,

 

Hack was breathing heavily as he climbed back onto the deck. Only to be greeted by a pony he didn't know.

 

"The firefly, may I look at it?"

Before he could answer with, "Not until I tell her about it about throwing pony's off boats." The firefly had already started to crawl onto the pony's hoof.

 

Hack slowly got up and shook himself free of water. He took a deep breath and said, "Well, it looks like I have little say in the matter. She likes you." It was hard for him to stay mad at her for too long, but he was worried about how she would randomly decide to go off with strangers.

[Hive King 2,001]

@,

 

Hack was breathing heavily as he climbed back onto the deck. Only to be greeted by a pony he didn't know.

 

Before he could answer with, "Not until I tell her about it about throwing pony's off boats." The firefly had already started to crawl onto the pony's hoof.

 

Hack slowly got up and shook himself free of water. He took a deep breath and said, "Well, it looks like I have little say in the matter. She likes you." It was hard for him to stay mad at her for too long, but he was worried about how she would randomly decide to go off with strangers.

Skuldaf looked at the small bug with interest as it crawled along his arm. It was a rare type of bug, hardly ever found on the main-land. He then looked at the pony who seemed slightly worried. 

"Are you alright?" Skuldaf questioned before sitting down, keeping the same blank expression

[Contrast 292]

@, 

 

Hack raised a hoof to his mouth and yawned before saying. "Yeah, she has this nasty habit of running off with other ponies during the day, but usually the're nice." He Rubbed his eye and said, "I still... can't... figure out why though? Oh yeah..." He looked at the pony, and realized he had forgotten to introduce himself. He squinted his eyes and extended his hoof, aiming for the pony's hoof, but accidentally hitting his shoulder. "The names insomni-hack, Hack for short."

Edited November 15, 2013 by danzxc123

[The Elusive Cinder 1,328]

@@SilverHeart,

"... Are you okay?"
 
She wasn't quite certain why, but the mares voice shook - she sounded upset. Was is her fault? Had she upset the mare somehow? She had no idea how but Wish felt like this was something she could have avoided.

'Do something, change the subject, anything!'

 

"Uhm... Yeah! Adventure! Ahem, uhm, I'm... looking for my brother!" She babbled.

'Calm down! You're changing the subject, not entering a stuttering competition!' 

Wish took a breath and tried again. "I mean, not right now: right now I guess I'm on another kind of adventure. Visiting some hotel place - but I am looking for my brother, just not right now." She said more slowly.

[Hive King 2,001]

@, 

 

Hack raised a hoof to his mouth and yawned before saying. "Yeah, she has this nasty habit of running off with other ponies during the day, but usually the're nice." He Rubbed his eye and said, "I still... can't... figure out why though? Oh yeah..." He looked at the pony, and realized he had forgotten to introduce himself. He squinted his eyes and extended his hoof, aiming for the pony's hoof, but accidentally hitting his shoulder. "The names insomni-hack, Hack for short."

Skuldaf hardly felt the missed punch and returned the gesture. 

"Skuldaf, unit 16" Skuldaf droned out in a clipped tone before quickly muttering "bye" and walking off. He had heard a bird call and was trying to follow it. Since he wasn't looking, he bumped into Wish by accident

[SilverHeart 741]

@,

 

 Mirror nodded slowly, "I-I'll be fine. Sorry." Mirror sniffed before bringing up a hoof to wipe a tear from her eye. This time it was Mirror Image's turn to look at the other mare in confusion.Why is she looking for her brother? Why wouldn't she know where he is? You can't lose track of family...maybe he's dead too.... Instead of asking further to avoid a potential catastrophe she decided to change subjects "You mentioned your staying at a hotel...are you going to the free vacation too?"

 

 @,

 

 Just as she finished asking her question a stallion bumped into her new acquaintance. She lowered her head until the cloak hid her face entirely from view of the stranger.

Edited November 15, 2013 by SilverHeart

[Contrast 292]

@,@,@@SilverHeart,

 

Hack was surprised at first, but glad the pony didn't notice his small mistake; or had he? Soon after he introduced himself the pony decided to leave. 

 

"Hm... Well he's a character I guess." He waved goodbye, and turned around to go about his business. "Back... to sleep..." He was already four minutes into his next dream when he realized. "Hey, wait! I still need Fi back." He quickly scanned the deck, and started search for Skuldaf in hopes of catching up with the pony and his pet.

Edited November 15, 2013 by danzxc123

[Hive King 2,001]

@,

 

 Mirror nodded slowly, "I-I'll be fine. Sorry." Mirror sniffed before bringing up a hoof to wipe a tear from her eye. This time it was Mirror Image's turn to look at the other mare in confusion.Why is she looking for her brother? Why wouldn't she know where he is? You can't lose track of family...maybe he's dead too.... Instead of asking further to avoid a potential catastrophe she decided to change subjects "You mentioned your staying at a hotel...are you going to the free vacation too?"

 

 @,

 

 Just as she finished asking her question a stallion bumped into her new acquaintance. She lowered her head until the cloak hid her face entirely from view of the stranger.

Skuldaf noticed that one pony had lowered her hood. It was probably lonely, perhaps elegible for befriending. 

"I am Skuldaf, unit 16" Skuldaf said while peeling the hood back. His research told him that it was polite to talk face to face with other ponies

[SilverHeart 741]

(OOC: Posting from phone.)

 

@Pretty much everyone on the boat.

 

Mirror kept her head low. Waiting for the stranger to walk away so she could keep talking to Wish. The mare stood still watching the shadow of the stallion. It looked like his foreleg was reaching out towards her head. For what reason she couldn't guess. No pony had see just reached out for her before. It sounded like he was saying something but she was too focused I the shadow to listen.

 

The cloak suddenly felt lighter, almost as if she were using her magic to lift it off. A horrible thought crossed her mind, This horrible stranger was trying to look at her face! Mirror instantly pulled back. Since her body was far smaller than her father it began to slip off, held firm by the stallion in front of her. Te mare shrieked loudly, easily drawing the attention of every pony on board the boat. In the moment of panic Mirror did all she could think of and cast the sleep she had been practicing for weeks. It hid the burns along te right side of her body and face. She knew she could only keep this spell going for one minute before she needed to rest.

 

The cloak no longer his her frail body. Gone was the shy and nervous mare that had reluctantly been talking to Wish. The mare stared at Skuldaf, with eyes full of malevolence. "THEIF! Give me back my cloak!"