Legends of Equestria - Forum

A mare stands in a field as she watched the smoke of a faraway train taint the sky. A small smile formed across her face as she watch the train chug on by. But, she couldn't be distracted by the beauty of the train; a whole new world must be thoroughly examined. She waved at the train, as if someone could possibly see her, before heading down the large meadow. Her horn glowed dingy gold as she levitated a small leather book. The mare's eyes would go from the book to a new plant then back to the book. As he picked up a tiny fern she softly said
Hmmm... This does not seem too different from the plant life from.... Well, it may not be different but the atmosphere does seem different!
The mare let out a happy sigh before setting down the fern before continuing her way down the meadow. During her little exploration she sang out loud a happy song. Usually she hums but, no one is around so why not loosen up a bit?

A small frowned formed across the mare's face as she watch the train move faster and faster. Her concerned for the well beings of who ever was on the train was hidden by her curtain like bangs. As she tapped her chin with her hoof she said out loud,
Who ever is on that train must be in a hurry....
. . . . . . .
The mare lowered her book back into her saddle bag as her gaze locked onto the train. As she brushed her hoof through her mane she continued,
If they are in that big of a hurry...
There must be something worth while over there!
Her frowned flipped to a smile as the idea started to seem sweeter. She continued her song as she slowly made her way toward the train. Along the way she would pick up random plants and herbs and stuff them into her saddle bag.

After a while, the mare made it to what looked like Canterlot. A large smile formed across as she slowly made it toward the bottom on the city.
. . . .
Strange how this city is still here...
If this place is actually Canterlot then my shop should still be here.
. . . .
After mulling it over for a bit she decided to head toward the fimilar part of town.
Though she wouldn't mind the company, she prefer to stay hidden from the train group; never can be too cautious! She smiled as headed off toward the central shopping area. The town was sort of like how she is used to, but she was always bad with directions. After a while of lurking in the shadows, the mare finally made it to her shop, Virulent's Valley. A large smile formed across her face as she looked up at her own name.

Virulent was standing in front of the back door. The door was always tricky and the key would rarely work, so she had to improvise. Virulent looked into the eye hole and smiled at what she saw. Most of the plants were overgrown and were spilling all over the floor. With a little magic, a vine started to makes its way toward the door to unlock it. After a bit of silence, a loud click could be heard from the other side of the door. A satisfied smiled formed across her face as she opened the door. Virulent clapped her hoofs together as she said,
[Color=goldenrod]This place looks beautiful! I am amazed the sprinkler system is still working! Who ever was the orignar shop owner did a wonderful job![/color]
The made couldn't help but let out a few giggles as she continued to examine her store.

The mare was silent in the back of the shop. She didn't like the tone of the stranger so she decided to wait it out. The mare's horn glowed as she forced the vines to over grow the back door. The gal hold her breath as she waited to see what would happen next.

[Color=goldenrod] . . . .
I . . . am not sure!
I am sorry but I am kind of worried of my well being. But if you tell me which herbs you need I will gladly tell you if I have them or not![/COLOR]
Virulent shouted as loud as she could, which wasn't very loud at all. The mare didn't know what to do; she was worried for her safety but she still had a business to run. Virulent hoped the stranger would understand but decided to prepare for the worse. The mare quietly walked over toward her rusty table to check what mixture has been recently made. A few looked promising but most of them were either for pony or plant health care. But one pile was a mace like mixture. The mare quietly scooped up the mixture into a near by cup and sat in silence; waiting for the stranger to make their decision.

The mare smiled at the stranger's request; those are very common herbs in her shop. Most of her tea leafs are in the front of the store which concerned her. She wasn't ready for the stranger to see her just yet so for her safety she would have to cover the windows.  The mare took out a small jar of grey dust. With a smile, she levitated the dust out of the jar toward the roses in the front window. As soon as the dust hit the roses' soil the flowers quickly climbed up the window wall; hiding the store and herself from the stranger.  As she emerged from the back she shouted,
I hope you can forgive me for this hostility! Well, this is not really hostile but it is more cautious on my part. You said tea leafs and medical herbs right? Oh, I have plenty of tea leafs! Also, I have tea leafs that have healing properties. So do you wish for those type of tea leafs or regular tea leafs?
Virulent smiled happily as she examined the herbs that were on displayed. She kept an eye on the rose wall, just in case the stranger gets any bright ideas.

Virulent could hear the urgency in the stranger's voice so she quickly scooped up two types of tea leafs: a green and yellow leafs spot that boost a pony's immune system, and a dark blue leaf that could heal any internal bleeding. The stranger didn't say what these leafs are for but didn't think there was enough time to ask. She quickly ran to the back of the store and place the tea leafs in separate bags. The mare took a deep breath before heading back toward the door. As she slid the bags under the door she said,
I was not sure what ills you so I picked a few of my "go-to" tea leafs. The dark blue tea leaf heals any internal bleeding! You can NOT drink the leaf as tea! This type of leaf must be chewed but not swallowed. Please be very careful with this type of leaf! The yellow spotted one can boost your immune system! You can drink the leaf as tea or chew it! Oh and I do not need your bits, I have plenty of these leafs... Also I have plenty of bits! Ah Ha Ha Ha Ha![/COLOR]
The mare softly chuckled at the last part as she shoved the bits back under the door. She grinned at her accomplishment; glad that even in this realm she still has business.

The mare just stared at the bits. She really didn't need the bits but she assumed this stranger wouldn't accept the bits. So she decided to leave the bits where they were. As she shuffled back to a pot of ferns she shouted,
Take care stranger! Please remember to be cautious with the leafs! I am also not liable to any internal harm that the leafs may cause!
Okay, back to her work! A few of the herbs and plant she picked along the way might serve a purpose down the road. She moved back to her "kitchen" to compare these plant life to the ones in her bag.

At the old stove Virulent started to work up a sweat while examining all the plant life. Most of the plants were similar to the ones back in her realm but something felt different to her. Her eyes would shift from her book, to the plants, to the new book she found and back to her original book. She did this process till the heat from the stove got to her. As she turned off the stove she said out loud to herself,
. . . .
Well, the plant life proves this realm is similar to Equestria.
. . . .
I wonder what happened to the shop keeper?
She ran her hoof through her mane as she tried to make sense of what is going on. This is her shop but she still feels like a stranger in this place. She let out a sigh as she walked out the back door. Maybe some fresh air will clear her mind?

As Virulent took a step outside she was greeted by a breeze. She took a deep breath of the air as she tilted her head back. An uneasy feeling flooded her thoughts as she stared at the sky. Even the sky seems like a stranger to her. As she continued to stare the sky she notice a small trail of smoke. At first she thought someone else had to been using  coal stove but then realized she just been using her coal stove for past few minutes. The mare turned toward her shop's chimney. A large frown formed across her fave, now for sure ponies will know she is here. [Color=goldenrod]
I guess it is time to move on from here. I have more research to do anyway![/color]
The mare returned back into her shop to pick up some basic herbs and mixtures. She also decided to bring this realms version of her spell book. Taking on last glance at the shop she then left again through the back.

With a bag full if herbs and dust, she was ready to get down to business. Before she could go anywhere, she would need enough food supplies to last her a few days. She recalled a small fruit shop not too far from her current location. Virulent decided to stay hidden so she took the back route to the fruit stand. As she slowly made her way through the back alley she could see the coal cloud of smoke disappearing. A part of her hopes no one notices the dark cloud; one pony already knows she is here but that is one too many.  She let out a frustrated sigh before continuing her way down the alley.

Virulent stood in silence by what she just witness. Shocked by the explosion and irritated that out of all the stores he could have gone through it had to be the one she needed. A part of her wanted to run and help the poor pony but the other part really didn't want to get mix with a crowd just yet. After mulling it over for a while she decided to do the right thing; help the stallion. As she was about to rush over to the store, a Pegasus another pony dashed into the store. The mare slowly lowered herself to the ground as she crept toward the store. She tried her best to stay hidden, hoping the Pegasus wouldn't notice her. After a bit of creeping, she made it toward the back of the store. She rested against the back door as she flipped through the pages of her spell book. As she flipped to the pages mumbled,
Virulent:. . . Okay, this spell might be of use. . .
Oh my, the wording in this realm are very different. . .
After a while of trying to pronounce the spell the mare gave up. Since she couldn't use any of her spells from her realm and the spells here are too difficult, Virulent decided to abound the mission. The mare slowly started to move away the current shop to one near by. Lucky for her, the store's back door was unlock. With a sigh of relief the mare let herself in as she examine what the store had to offer.

Virulent shortly left the shop with a satisfied look on her face. The shop turned out to be a pharmacy and it had plenty of empty pill bottles; perfect for storing mixtures and small herbs. As she made it toward the front of the store she heard a loud noise coming from the castle followed by the Pegasus soaring through the sky. Her gaze went from the Pegasus back to the store with the hurt stallion. Her conscious told her to go check the store for the stallion but her gut told her not to. After mulling it over for a while the overwhelming feeling of guilt consumed her. With a loud sigh, the mare decided to check on the stranger in the store.

Carefully, she opened the door of the shop. A few things she notice was the hole where the stranger crashed through and the stranger on the floor. Gracefully, she headed toward the hole in the building to see if it had any clues explaining how he got here. As soon as she looked through the hole she noticed a shop in ruined. The mare tilted her head as she loudly tried to think of what happened,
Virulent:Oh my, the shop across the street must have exploded. . .
I wonder why though? Maybe once this reckless stranger wakes up he can explain him self!
Yes, he must have been reckless! Only someone who throws caution to the wind would cause damage this big. But regardless how careless the stallion is, she must help him out. The mare walked over to the stallion as she levitated a book out. Virulent took a seat on some ruble as she read over her book; trying to find a spell or recipe to help the stranger. As she read through the book she decided to be silly for a bit and pretend she was a doctor and the stranger was a patient. Usually she isn't very vocal but she tends to talk out loud a lot; helps with the thinking process.
Virulent:Okay, shall we put my skills to the test? I think we shall! For starters I will check for a pulse. . . Which I will not do because you sir, might have a virus. Sorry, my well being before others! I think if you were awake you would agree! So let us assume you have a pulse sir. Next on my imaginary list of doctor steps. . . Internal Bleeding! Oh, this is very likely since you did crash through a building. I know it is unprofessional to speak out of turn, but that was very reckless of you! You should be more careful! But. . .
The mare levitated bag of the dark blue leafs from her saddle bag. As she crushed the leafs in her hoofs she continued,
Virulent:I shall not neglect a patient because of his personal choices! Okay, so once you decided to come to I will give you these pills to stop the internal bleeding. . . Till then, I will have to relearn all my spells! I must say, you are very lucky to freely use modern spells while I am stuck with ancient one. Any who, enjoy your slumber sir!
The mare levitated the leafs into a pill bottle and set it aside. She then turned the book to the front page and began to reteach herself the basic spells every unicorn should know.

Virulent was mumbling cryptic words as she practice the spells she was limited to this realm. As she was in the middle of a spell, the stallion's noise broke her concentration. The book started to shake violently in the air as it glowed bright blue. As the mare tried to reach for the book, water spewed out of the pages. The mare let out a yelp as she tried to reach for the book through the flash flood. Once she got a grip on the book, she slammed it close. The water turned her high bun into a low pony tail and pushed her bangs away from her face. Her large dark gold eyes were filled with irritation. As spit out some water she said,
Virulent:Oh... I am glad you are awake! I have prepared the first remedy for you.
She tossed the bottle of crushed leafs toward the stallion. She then took a hoof full of mane and wringed out the water. As she pulled her hair back into a bun she continued,
Virulent:These leafs will stop any internal bleeding, so I would chew on those quickly! Tell me once the taste of the leaf goes away so I can give you your next medicine.

Virulent:Oh my, it lost its flavour that fast? Remarkable! The herbs here must be stronger than I thought!
The mare smiled with delight as she pushed down her bangs. She then started to rummage through her bag for the next remedy. With a small smile she pulled out a jar of mysterious gunk. The gunk was dark grey and had many leafs and twigs sticking out of it. As she started to shake the jar she said,
Virulent:This will numb the soreness for a while. I do not have the proper ingredients to heal any broken bones but this will take a lot of the pain away.
Virulent smiled as she opened the jar. The smell that rushed out of the jar was a mixture between rotten cake and dragon breath. Regardless of the smell, the mare kept her smile but tears were running down her face. As she hoof the jar to the stallion she said,
Virulent:I will let you rub this wherever it hurts the most. All I ask is for you not to use it all. My resources are limited here and this type of mud is very hard to come by!
The mare then stood up and walked toward the hole the stranger caused. As she ran her hoof along the opening she said,
Virulent:You did a number on this building. . .
I am actually surprised you are not in a coma. Lucky you I guess . . .

Virulent:Well if you insist, I can not force anything upon you.
The mare swiftly put the lid back on the jar and set it back into her saddle bag. The Silver Ouroboros? Why does that sound familiar? And what is all this talk of versions? Is he in the same situation as Virulent? Well, it will be best for her to play dumb for now. Two ponies are aware of her presence so no need to act harsh. In her usually soft tone she said,
Virulent:Why would anyone set traps in Canterlot? This place is usually peaceful. Well, the part I am use to is peaceful. Still, I am sorry to hear about your shop. Or this world's version of you shop.
Her gaze was still locked on the stranger's shop. All of a sudden a lot of emotions flooded her mind. Who is this stallion? Is he from the train gang? Hopefully they are as passive as this stranger. In an uneasy tone she sheepishly said,
Virulent:I am Virulent. . . Virulent Valley. It is nice to make your acquaintance.

Virulent rarely cares about other's statues in the work place, but a captain would probably have more knowledge of survival than she would. The mare turned to the stallion and formed a small awkward smile; she doesn't often get any thanks so she wasn't sure how to respond to the captain. Hopefully the stallion would accept her smile and not think she is disrespectful. After the awkward expression faded away the mare stepped through the hole. As she examined the surrounding area she said,
Virulent:I never been to this part of Canterlot. My shop is toward the lower part of the town. . . This is the closest I ever been to the Castle!
. . . .
Well, I think I will be heading off! I still have a lot of items on my list to get before I can start my small expedition. If you feel light headed it is most likely you are dehydrated. So I suggest you find some water fast since you will most likely experience dizziness. I wish you all my luck with your travels Captain Boa!
Virulent flashed a small smile at the stallion before heading off toward the upper part of Canterlot. Though her conscious was clear, she lost a lot of time chit chatting! It was time for her to put some peep into her step and get the expedition on the road.

Virulent made her way toward the upper part of Canterlot. The shops were bigger and fancier than she could ever imagine. The mare's eyes filled with delight as they scanned each and every building. One building did catch her attention; a massive Boutique that looked as if it was made with gold. From time to time, Virulent would dress up but only if she had the motivation. After staring at large building, she found her self walking toward the front door. She forced the door open and was greeted by a lavender smell. It was hard to contain her excitement and she started to giggle as she entered the building. Even though she didn't really need an outfit for her trip, it would help keep her spirits high. Gently, she closed the door back as she began to wonder through the world of fashion.

After what felt like a hour of trying on outfits, the mare emerged from the building. She didn't get anything too fancy; just a dark violet stereotypical explores' outfit. She examined herself in the display window and smiled with approval. The shopping spree wasn't a total waste of time, she did find a map of Equestria and a first aid kit. Her horn glowed bright as she levitated the map in front of her. The map was massive and look similar to the Equestria she was used to. Virulent started to walk around the shopping area as she continued to read the map; there were a few small items she needed before she could start her expedition.

Virulent looted the last of her items from a near by convenient store. Her saddle bag was filled with random items that some would think were useless; but every thing has a purpose in the bigger picture. All that was left to do is to get a book from the royal library. She looked over at the massive castle; still amazed by the architecture. The longer she stared at the castle, the uneasy feeling of other ponies grew. She wasn't sure how many ponies were here and if they were hostile. Virulent is aware of three ponies: Captain Boa, stranger from her shop and the Pegasus. But regardless of their threat level, she needed that book. The mare let out an exhausted sigh, and decided to head back to her shop and get a few extra herbs; hopefully whoever might be in the castle will be gone by the time she makes her way there. Virulent adjusted the collar on her shirt before making her way downtown.

Along the way to her shop, she notice two mares. She couldn't make out who they were but could tell one of them have crashed into a shop. The recklessness of these ponies worried Virulent; to her these ponies were too dangerous to mess with. Giving she already did one good deed today, she didn't feel compelled to check on the mare. Instead, she entered a nearby alley and took the longer route toward her shop.

Virulent made it to her shop but could still see the two mares and new pony from her position. Well, she was right about one thing, a mare did crash into a shop. Lucky for her, the reckless mare missed her shop. As she tried to jerk the door open, she tried to over hear the conversation going on. After a few hard twist, the door gave in and opened. Quickly, she enter the building and closed it again; this time she locked the door behind her. The mare then headed toward the front door that is now covered in roses. She gently removed a rose to form a small peak hole. To her surprise there was an alicorn among the strangers. Alicorns are usually royalty so this Alicorn would know her way around the castle. Maybe once all the commotion is over she can make the Alicorn an ally. For now, she sat in silence as she watch the scene unfold behind the wall of roses.

The whole situation seemed surreal to Virulent. Was this the Alicorn's kingdom? If so, what happened to her subject? So many questions surrounding this mysterious mare. Virulent tilted her head as she watched the mare step back a bit. The situation must be getting heated so for her own safety it was time for her to leave the area. The mare scooped up a few more herbs into separate pill bottles. As she prepare to leave her shop she gave it one last glance. She let out a sigh; hoping this isn't her last visit here. She exit through the back door and jammed it back into place. As she was pulling the door back it slammed louder than expected. But she assumed the strangers would be too caught up into there conversation to mind the noise. With her saddle bag full of herbs and "junk", the mare started her journey toward the Castle. For extra safety she took the long route through the alleys; hoping no one would spot her.

That voice sounded familiar. . .
Oh yeah, it's the reckless stallion she helped out. Even though she tries to act proper around ponies, she was worn out by her mini marathon. She rolled over onto her face; hiding her shame. Out of breath she said,
[B]Virulent:[/b] Oh, Hello Captain Boa. Yes, I am fine just a little. . . out of breath. Oh but do not mind me! You can step around me to enter the castle. . .
. . .
If you do not mind me asking, but can you leave a crack in the door? The door is a lot heavier than I expected.
Virulent weakly laugh as she started to doze off. Within seconds she was out cold. Hopefully she will wake up soon. It is embarrassing to fall asleep in front if the royal castle. Some would guess she was raised in a barn by how she is behaving. Regardless of her behavior, Virulent will be out for a while. She usually doesn't get the healthy amount of sleep so her body is taking the advantage of this embarrassing moment.

The mare continued to sleep after being dropped off by Boa. She slept and slept and slept till she was out of REM sleep. But she didn't open her eyes, she kept them close. A part of her knew she should be up and moving but this is becoming overwhelming for the gal so some sleep would help calm the nerves. So she continued to rest her eyes as she tried to make sense of what is going on and why she was here.

After short chill session, the mare finally open her eyes. At first, she was confused to see a roof over her head but soon she was filled with fear. She quickly sat up as she examined the room. The mare covered herself with the blanket, attempting to hide from any threats. In an anxious tone she sheepishly said
[B]Virulent: [/b] Where am I? How did I get here? Did I get kidnapped? Well, this is not too bad of a holding cell. Wait. . . I was with Captain Boa. . .
. . . . .
Virulent jumped off the bed; still wearing the blanket as a cloak of protection the mare examined her surrounding area. While trying to figure out where she was, the mare notice a piece a paper on the desk. An uneasy feeling filled Virulent as she approached the paper. Once she picked it up, everything started to make sense. The mare chuckle at her paranoia as she set the paper down. This stallion seemed to be on the same boat as you; hopefully she can get him on board with her expedition. But she will worry about recruiting ponies after she got that book. She neatly folded the blanket and set it back on the bed before leaving the room. With a sigh, the mare started to wonder down the halls of the castle.

After wondering the halls for what felt like a year, Virulent entered the Royal Library. A large smile formed across her face as she gazed upon the million of books. She couldn't help but squeal with excitement as she walked through the aisle of books. Out of the sea of books, she only needed one. Virulent was aware that the princesses in her realm have an ancient book of the first magic council's rules and spells. The book would not only expand her ability to cast spells but give a general idea of how different this realm really is. Virulent walked up and down each aisle of books; she would stop every once and a while to pick up a book that caught her attention and glance over the pages.

Virulent started to lose track of time the longer she spent in the library. Along the wall she obtained a library cart and started to collect a few books she found interesting. One of the many books she picked was the special book she was looking for. But the idea that there were so many books she hasn't read made her stay a bit longer.

After a while of looting through the library, the mare pushed her cart of books through the hallways. The mare smiled as she looked down at all the books she obtained. But now it is time to meet back up with Captain Boa. He mentioned something about some room. She couldn't remember exactly which room, only that it was important. Assuming it would take her a while to locate Boa, Virulent cracked open a book about the plant life in Equestria and dived into the pages as she wondered through the castle.

Virulent wondered the halls as she enjoyed her newly looted book. After getting a few chapters within the book, she bumped into a large door. Startled, she gasped as she dropped her book. Her gaze fell onto the massive door in front of her. If any door looked like it was important, it was this door. Virulent assumed the stallion is behind this important door. She took a deep breath as she used all her strength to push open the door. Virulent barely pushed the door wide enough for her and her cart to squeeze through. She took a few seconds to catch her breath before facing Captain Boa. But before she could open her mouth, her jaw dropped at the sight of the glass window. The bright art that told a fairy tale story was too much for her to handle. She was memorize by the colours that she abandoned her cart to get a closer look. Virulent jogged next to the stallion as her gaze locked on the window. She stood in silence as she watch the bright colours tell a mythical tale.

[Color=goldenrod]
[B]Virulent: [/b] . . .
It is. . . Strange. I might be reading the Mural wrong but I think all the ponies here have been. . .[/color]
The mare said out loud to herself, trying to talk herself through her thoughts. To her, it seemed like this universe wanted to start clean and wiped out all the ponies here. But Virulent couldn't figure out the rest, except that Boa and herself was part if this mural. The mare looked over at Captain Boa; too focus on her own thoughts she missed what the stallion said. In a worried tone she softly said,
[B]Virulent :[/b] I do not understand. . . What is going on around here? Why are we part of this mural? Oh my, what happened here. . . This universe seems like it wanted to start clean. . . But why again?

[Color=goldenrod] Virulent: . . . .
If Princess Celestia did not know then it is mostly likely the forces of nature. You know. . .[/color]
Virulent said as she levitated an old leather book from her bag. As she flipped the pages she continued,
[B]Virulent:[/b] Long ago before Celestia ruled this realm, a Council of ponies took care of Equestria. It was only earth ponies at the time so witch craft was common back then. . . To make this story short, the universe did not like how dark the council was  and wiped the whole race clean. Thus, starting the Celestia and Luna Era. I could be dead wrong but that is my input on this whole ordeal.
. . .
I do agree with finding more ponies but. . . I was actually planning a expedition around Equestria! I am sure the different cities will shed even more light on this situation.
The mare smiled before heading back to her cart of books. She was starting to get excited about the expedition again but felt sick at the same time. She was also happy to hear that the stallion found a amulet; believing items had more magic properties than unicorns. She fumbled through books trying to find some information about the other cities; wanting to go to the smallest one first. The mare had a city in mind but decided if she wants to be a true member of a team she would discuss it with others. The mare closed the book and looked up at Boa. Her smile was small but was full of excitement; hoping the stallion would join her on her journey.

A big smile formed across her face when the stallion offered to join. She was about to say something when two more ponies and a sound joined the room. The Alicorn caught her attention. If Virulent was right about the new start then she would be the next princess. Virulent had so many questions for the Alicorn but couldn't decided on one to ask so she decided to ask a more simple question.
[B]Virulent: [/b] Um. . . Hello. . .
Virulent lost her cool when she approach the Alicorn. She was very pretty and intimidating. The mare lowered her head, even though her eyes couldn't be seen she still didn't want to make eye contact. So she stood there, awkwardly, as she waited for the Alicorn to respond

Virulent was broke out of her trance by Boa's voice. She shook her head to help bring her back to reality. A large smile formed as she said,
[B]Virulent: [/b] Yes, we are all acquaintances here! Oh this is perfect! More ponies for my expedition!
The mare smiled as she examined EVERY PONY in the room; hoping they all would join her.

The mare looked down at her cutie mark; not really convinced it could match hers. She didn't get a good look at the amulet but her cutie mark was a lily of the valley; so if it did look similar to hers it most likely is a good luck amulet. But, in due time they will learn more. Virulent's smile widen as she heard the Alicorn agreed to join her mini crew. But everyone seemed a bit on age so she decided to stay positive. In a cheerful tone she softly said,
Virulent:Okay, we have a few clues of what is going on but there is so much we can savage through here. I say we move on to the next town; town as in the Ever Free forest. That area was already strange to begin so it wouldn't hurt to check it out! But are next destination is free for discussion. So, any thoughts on where to go to next?

Virulent:. . . .
I believe we should go to the Crystal Empire first. The Princess might have left some clues behind. Even if she did not, the Crystal Empire will have more resources to. . . Borrow.
Any who, I think we should recruit a few more ponies. . . The mural has all three of us and a few more ponies so it would make sense for us to stick together.
The mare's tone was fill with excitement. She enjoyed planning with these two and it made all this situation seem less lonely.

Virulent:Well, I assume we will meet up with them eventually! I think we should leave soon. . . If all the ponies were cleared out then who knows what else will happen?
The idea of ponies suddenly disappearing made her a bit nauseas. What did these ponies do to deserve this fate? Also she doesn't like staying in one area for too long. Virulent dug out a few books from the cart and stuck them into her saddle bag.  She adjusted the collar on her outfit as she continued,
Virulent:So, we all agree with the Crystal Empire? Wonderful! Before we go we should stop by my shop; just to pick up some herbs you two might find useful.

Virulent couldn't help but smile at Boa's enthusiasm. This expedition will be less tedious with allies. But with more allies mean more mixtures that needed to be made. Which reminded her she would need a bigger saddle bag too. The mare looked at Boa then at CloudShine looking as if she had something to say; but her excitement made it difficult to form sentences. So she just awkwardly motion for them to follow her.

(( Last post till Spiral Feather gets on. :33 ))

Virulent was confused by Captain Boa's attire. His fashion choice wasn't usual to the Canterlot style or Ponyville. Mumbling she said,
[Color=goldenrod] Virulent: Captain Boa. . . Captaaain OH you are a Sea Captain! [/color]
Virulent's smile was from ear to ear; not only is an Alicorn part of her crew but a real Captain was. She read so many tales about the sea and could hardly believe her lucky. As she was about to flood Boa with questions about his duels with the sea,  her ear twitch at the sound of the strangers voice. She turned to face this stranger with a small frown. The question was vague so she wasn't sure if he was talking to her or the other two. So she just stood there in silence, hoping Boa would handle the situation.

Virulent glanced at Boa and CloudShine; concern by the pony that is  now addressing Boa. She wasn't sure what to do and felt awkward standing in silence. Virulent didn't know what to say so she started to slowly inch out the door. She knew this was silly of her to act like this but she didn't know what else do.

Virulent was halfway out the door. No time for small talk, there is a empire to investigate. As she slide out the door she said, [B]Virulent: [/b] Okay, it is time to go! We can not waste any more time!
The mare smiled at the crew before disappearing behind the door. She started to head down the hall; knowing it would be easy for them to catch up since she walked rather slow. Now the only thing she needed to worry about is how to get to the Crystal Empire. Walking would take days and she doubted Cloud Shine would be able to carry the group. The mare continued down the hall way as she tried to think of a solution.

From one of the windows, Virulent watched the stallion fly to the train. The mare formed a small smile; at least that answered her transportation question. Virulent notice Captain Boa was following behind and assumed CloudShine was still staring at the mural. The mare looked back to take one more glance at the mural. She still didn't know how to feel her being chosen for some heroic role so she quickly looked away; dismissing the idea till more information is dug up. The mare stepped aboard the train and took a seat neat a window. She didn't really want to seem unfriendly so struck up a conversation.
[B]Virulent: [/b]So Captain Boa . . .
Do you know the area well? Area as in the Crystal Empire. I never had the chance to open a shop in that district so this will be my first trip there!

The mare was supposed to hear he was no longer a captain. She made a mental note to ask him about his time on the sea later. A small frown formed as she heard he didn't know the area. Hopefully the others will know something about the area once we get there. The mare took a deep breath; trying her best to stay level headed. She needs to stay calm to think rationally. Virulent dug through her bag for a bit before pulling out some mint tea leafs. She smiled as she examined the leafs; some tea would help her nerves. But as she search for a water bottle, she realized she forgot it. The mare let out an irritated sigh as she closed her bag. She then turned and gazed out the window thinking today will be a very long day.

Virulent was day dreaming as she watched the scenery roll by outside. The mention of water brought her attention back. She wasn't a hundred percent sure who said it so she said she would like some appreciate some water and waited till somepony gave it to her.

Oh, it was the stranger from the castle. She was more relieved than skeptical of his gesture; considering she hasn't ate in a while. The mare shouted, "Thank You," to the stallion before walking up to the front seat. Virulent smiled once she saw the seat filled with water. She took one of the water potions and took a seat on the floor. Pulling out the leafs from before; she started to crush them in her hoofs. Once the leafs were in tiny pieces she dumped them into the water. The mare then started to fumble through this realm's spell book for a heating spell. Virulent levitated the bottle of watery leafs as she said, "Thermóti̱ta!" The water glowed bright red as it started to boil. Virulent sat in silence as she watched her tea being made with a smile.

Virulent: It is very interesting! This spell has a different purpose but I only use it to boil my tea.
As the water started to slowly stop boiling, the mare lowered it into her hoofs. As she took a sip she continued,
Virulent: Sometimes I wonder what they were thinking when they made these spells. Oh, where are my manners? Would anyone like a cup of tea? Do not let the colour scare you, it is perfectly safe!
Virulent flashed a quick smile before taking another sip of the tea. it was still pretty hot but she has a scheduled tea time that she wish not to miss.

The mare formed a small smile; she was happy to hear that the two wanted to try her tea. Virulent took a few more leafs and crushed them into another water bottle. As she cast the spell to boil the water she said,
Virulent: You are welcome Mister Boa. This is my special tea leafs. You see, I do not normally eat solid food so with a little magic and a long time breeding tea leafs, I was able to brew a tea that gives me all the nutrients I need to survive.
The mare lowered the bottle of water as the bright red tea slowly stopped boiling. She then dug through her bag for an extra cup to split the tea between the stranger and CloudShine. The mare pulled out a stone bowl that had her cutie mark engraved on the inside. As she poured half of the tea into the bowl, Virulent tilted her head back so she could get the last of the tea and the leafs at the bottom. As she levitated the bowl to CloudShine and the bottle to the stranger she happily said,
Virulent: You two must be careful with this brew; it might still be hot! If either of you do not like the taste, I can pass you a water bottle.

Virulent stare swished from Boa to the new reckless stallion. She soon realize she had nothing to offer in this situation so she scuttle toward Cloud Shine. She took the seat next to the Alicorn and awkwardly smiled at her.

Virulent let out a small gasp as she watch Boa shove the stranger. Her small gasp quickly turned into a loud scream as she was pressed against the seat. Out of fear, the mare grabbed Cloud Shine and closed her eyes. Her tone was full of year as she yelled,
Virulent: STOP THE TRAIN! STOP THE TRAIN! OH PLEASE, STOP THE TRAIN!

An irritated expression was across her face as she was teleported away. She shoved Boa off her as she took a few steps forward. Her gaze fell on the train and Cloud Shine; to the reckless stranger and Pegasus; then to Boa. She grabbed at her bangs and pulled them as she let out a frustrated sigh. Virulent couldn't take it anymore; first the neglect of personal health by the stranger, then the unnecessary force by Boa and now their transportation was unstable. Her eyes filled with rage as she started to stomp away; mumbling under her breath.

Virulent was already off; to far away from the group to hear what they had to say. She continued to stomp further away from the group. The group expedition was a bad idea, she can handle this by herself. The mare let out another frustraded sigh as she kicked at the ground.

Before the coat could touch Virulent she mumbled something cryptic and the coat burst into flames. There is no way she is accepting the coat; they might interpret that as her forgiving them. The mare couldn't focus on how cold she was; all she wanted to do is get to the empire and for this to all be over.

Virulent eye twitch at the sound of Cloud Shine's voice. She wasn't mad at her, Cloud Shine didn't do anything wrong, but the question hit a nerve. She stop walking and grabbed a hold of her bun and pulled at her mane angrily. Through her teeth she said,
What am I doing? What does it look like I am doing?! I am actually doing what we all AGREED TO DO! I CAN TELL YOU WHAT I AM NOT DOING! I AM NOT BEING RECKLESS! I AM ACTUALLY CARING ABOUT THE PONIES AROUND ME AND TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO GET HOME!
Virulent's built up anger was spewing out on this poor innocent mare. She let out a frustrated grunt as she kicked the snow. Continuing she said,
And that does NOT involve some lunatic driving a train when he is not in proper condition and some animal throwing the lunatic when he could have easily just told him to move! We could be dead because of them! This is not some kind of game, Miss Cloud Shine, this is real! And I do NOT want to be around ponies who can not keep it together! So yeah, that is what I am doing!
Virulent started her angry stomping again; she didn't want to talk anymore all it did was make her angry. She continued down toward the Crystal Empire but the blizzard was getting worse. The mare still pushed on through.

Virulent just glared at Cloud Shine with tears running down her face. But these weren't your average tears; these were tears of rage.
[Color=goldenrod]Oh really? You think you know me so well? You think I actually did all this to prove a point? Really? I wanting to get away from them is not self fish; if I do not want to be near someone I have a right to get away from them. What? Should I stay and just forgive them?! Of course I should have! Then we all can be friends and hug it out and just forget that our only transportation is broken and we are stuck in a blizzard! Yes, that sounds great! Thank you for coming here to make me feel like I am the reckless one and everything I just said is crazy. Really, thank you! I feel like running to those two and giving them each a warm friendly hug! Because obviously I am not being rational! Because I can not be angry or upset once in my life. I am suppose to be forgiving and soft spoken! Good old Virulent Valley, let us keep her passive and forget what she has to say because she is obviously too emotional right now! Well, this has been a great chat! I feel like a whole new mare! But I wasted enough time here and besides your belief I do know where I am going. [/color]
Virulent held her glare for a few seconds before walking around the mare. She knew she was going in the right direction, and she knew if she continued talking it will make things much worse. So she pushed through the hurricane; she knew the Empire was straight head and didn't need some Alicorn trying to get in her way.

The mare rolled her eyes at Cloud Shine's comment; the alicorn is being dramatic. But Virulent knew she would so she decided to stop for a bit to figure out a spell. The mare sat down and formed a shield from the snow with her mane. She then pulled out her book and started to flip through the pages. First, she needs to keep warm so she took a fern from her bag as she read the spell. As she read the spell the fern slowly started to turn bright red and curl into a small ball. Once she finished the spell, she popped the small ball into her mouth and started to suck on it. Slowly, she started to warm up and a small smile formed across her face. But, her happiness was replace with bitterness; Cloud Shine was still near by and most likely freezing. Virulent knew she was the wrong pony to blow up at but releasing some steam did help her feel better. So she whipped up another fern ball and hoped the mare would accept it. Virulent sat down on the snow; waiting for Cloud Shine to catch up and maybe to apologize when she gives her the gift.

The mare shrugged at the mare's lack of gratitude. Virulent continued through the blizzard; it wasn't too hard since she was warm. She wasn't sure how close the "duo" was to the castle. They have been walking for a while so she assumed they could be close.
[Color=goldenrod]Do you think you can shoot a light beam toward the Empire, please? If we are close then we might as well continued. If not, then I do not know about you but I am going to set up a small camp. . . [/color]

The beam shot out a few miles before bouncing back. Virulent and Cloud Shine were close to the Empire so she decided to continue walking. The blizzard was kicking up and it made it hard for Virulent to see in front of her. The beam of light help show where to follow, but not being able to see where she was going made her nervous. The mare started to take more cautious steps in hope she would not fall.

The blizzard had engulf what used to be the Empire from the two's view. Virulent tried to push on through but felt as if she was moving backwards than forwards. With all her strength, Virulent started to stomp harder onto the ground. Briefly, she could hear Cloud Shine's voice through the harsh winds. The mare squinted; trying to focus more on the light than the harsh snow clogging her vision.
Virulent: I think we are close! Maybe a few more mileeeeeeeeeeAAAAAAAAAAAAH!
She took too hard of a stomp and fell down a hill. The hill was very step and with each tumble the mare picked up more speed. Her screams were carried with the wind as she tumbled and tumbled to the bottom of the hill. Virulent rolled a few more feet before sliding face first through the snow. There she laid as she slowly started to sink in the snow. She was too dizzy to get up and feared something else might come up if she attempted to. Virulent decided to wait out her dizzy spell before attempting anything else. But as she laid in the blanket of snow; a small muffle of laughter could be heard.

Virulent rolled over onto her back and sat up. She still had a bad case of the giggles as she tried to figure out where she landed. The blizzard was still harsh and all she could see were snowflakes coming at her. But she did hear a familiar voice. She could only assume it was Cloud Shine; since what sane pony would come out in a blizzard? In attempt to regroup with the Alicorn, Virulent shouted her name a few times. But the wind was too strong to compete with it. Virulent decided the best thing to do is sit for a while; Cloud Shine couldn't have gone too far and it could be possible she would bump into her. But as she sat in the snow she could slowly start feeling her body temperature lower. The mare was still disorientated by her trip down the hill and paid no mind to it; she continued to giggle like a filly as she cold took over.

Virulent stopped giggling, for a moment she though she heard two voices. The closest one was obviously Cloud Shine but she could have sworn she heard another voice. She tried to walk toward Cloud Shine's voice but the wind carried her more to the left. Eventually, Virulent made it into the general area of the Alicorn. The blizzard was still thick so she could barely her own hoofs let alone Cloud Shine. She let out one last cry for Cloud Shine; hoping the Alicorn is still alive.

Virulent tried to keep up with Cloud Shine but lagged behind. This is the second time she had to run and her legs didn't like that. But, she could barely see the Empire through the blizzard. They were close but the wind was howling louder as it picked up speed. As she ran she could tell Cloud Shine's spell is wearing off so she quickly pulled out her book. She levitated the book as she flipped through the pages, desperately looking for a spell. She didn't want to use another warmth mixture in fear they would get magic poison. Virulent continued to skim through her book as she tried to keep a steady running pace.

As Virulent flipped to the page she was looking for her legs gave out. She collapse in the snow, out of breath and energy. Gasping for air, she could feel the harsh wind seeping through the force field. Virulent examined her situation: the wind was too hard for them to continued and the cold would be the end of them. She knew only one spell that would last for a while; but it would drain her of her magic. But, if it meant furthering their chance of survival then it was worth it. Virulent started to trace small, cryptic symbols around her. Before she read the spell she looked up at Cloud Shine. With fear in her voice she sheepishly said,
Virulent: I am so sorry I blew up at you! You did nothing to deserve it. I hope you can forgive me.
The mare took a deep breath of the cold wind as she read the spell:

[shadow=red,left][glow=black,20,300]dɹoʇǝɔʇıuƃ ɯǝ ʇɥɹonƃɥ ıʇ ɐןן.
qnʇ ʎon sʇɐʎǝp ɐʇ ɯʎ sıpǝ,
ʍǝɹǝ ɟɐɹ ɐup dןǝuʇʎ,
ʇɥǝ ʇʍısʇs ɐup ʇnɹus,
ʍonןp dɹoʌǝ ıʇsǝןɟ
ʎon ɐssnɹǝp ʇɥɐʇ ʇɥǝ ɹıƃɥʇ ouǝ
ʍɥǝu ı pıpu,ʇ ʞuoʍ ʍɥıɔɥ dɐʇɥ ʇo ʇɐʞǝ,
ıu ɯʎ ɐqʎss oɟ pɐɹʞuǝss.
ʎon ʍǝɹǝ ʇɥǝ ןıƃɥʇ
qnʇ ʎon ƃɐʌǝ ɯǝ ɥodǝ.
pɐɹʞuǝss snɹɹonupǝp ɯǝ,[/glow]
[/shadow]
The mare's eyes seeped black smoke as she read the cryptic spell. The smoke fell to the ground; filled the symbols with its magic. Through out the spell, the symbols would rise higher and higher till they passed Virulent's horn. As the mare allowed the spell to flow from her mouth, the symbols glowed an eerie black light. Once the last word was spoken, the symbols fell to the ground. For a few minutes there was silence; Virulent sat motionless as the magic continued to flow out of her. She then tilted her head back and raised her hoofs toward the sky. The symbols grew into tall, black crystal shards that surround the duo and the stranger following them. As the last crystal sealed there window to the real world; small black particles bounced from wall to wall. Virulent continued to raise her hoofs toward the sky. With each second of her hoofs being raised, her magic was being drained in order to keep the crystals standing tall.

The small black particles glowed as the group was sealed from the real world. Virulent sat motionless with her hoofs raised past her head. She didn't speak nor did she blink; she just sat there like a statue. The crystal walls will fall once the blizzard dies down or when Virulent is drained of her magic. But for now, the mare sat as she continued to look up toward the sky.

Captain Boa's voice muffled when it reached the inside of the crystal protection. Virulent couldn't respond; she was in a trance. She couldn't stop in the middle of her spell or it would cause great physical damage. She would have to allow her energy to be drain. Her fish eye stare stayed locked on the ceiling as she could slowly feel her magic weaken.

The lights glowed brighter; making the inside of the crystal visible. The ponies inside we surrounded by dark particles that danced around. Virulent was still in the middle; being sp00ky.

Virulent's head slowly turned toward Boa. The black magic still was seeping through her eyes as she locked her stare on him. The dark specs slowly started to turn bright red; sensing that Virulent was in danger. Virulent was still not conscious of what was going on, so she still sat in silence. The crystal stood tall as it started to darken again. The mare and the others were slowly disappearing in a dark red smog. Many whispers could be heard from the inside of the crystal; as if the massive thing was alive.

Virulent sat in silence; her hoofs still toward the sky. The energy blast hurled toward the crystal and hit it with a loud bang. A thousands screeches could be heard as snow flew everywhere. Once the snow settled down the crystal fell down on its side; revealing the bottom. The bottom of the crystal had thousands of ponies faces all cluster together into one big dark red clump. The ponies looked like crimson crystals and had black empty sockets for eye. As they continued to scream, each crimson pony grabbed at the ground and pulled the crystal back to its original stop. Once the crystal stood tall, a few deep cracks could be seen where the blast hit it. But even worse, Virulent was sitting behind the cracks. The cracks made her face look disoriented; her eyes now spewing out dark red smoke. Her hoofs were still in the air but one slowly lowered down. The hoof stopped once it reached eye level of Boa. In an eerie tone the mare whispered,
Virulent: I can see in the dark
as if it is the light. . .
Protect me from those
who wish to do me harm. . .
Suddenly, the screeches started up again as the crystal slowly started to sink into the snowy ground. Virulent kept her blank stare forward as she sank along with the crystal.

Virulent was trying to fix the crack Boa cause. She wasn't aware what was going on above her but she continue to focus the spell on the crack part. Her energy was half drained and she struggled to keep her concentration. The crystal stop sinking till the tip of the crystal was the only thing above the ground. Once the crack was sealed, the mare focus the spell on the roof of the crystal. This allowed her to use less energy as she continued to unconsciously cast the spell.

Slate Grey successfully chipped away the tip of the crystal; now the crystal was completely hidden under the ground. A few crimson hoofs poked above the ground and started to collect the chipped away pieces of the crystal.

You done goof up son; now they're angry! A few crimson hoofs grabbed at the shovel and tried to pull it away from Slate while the others started to piece the bits back onto the crystal. Deep below the snow Virulent was in great pain. When Slate was hacking at the crystal, it caused more damage toward her than the crystal. She still wasn't using too much magic, so she continued to focus most of her magic on the roof of the crystal.

Snow flew everywhere as the blast hit the crystal. Thousands of screams could be heard as the top of the crystal blast into a million pieces. While the snow and crystal bits fell; the roof of the crystal was opened. Virulent could be seen; she was clearly in pain as she was force to keep her hoofs toward the sky. The mare's eyes flickered as she tried to mend the hole in the roof. Her magic was almost completely drain but she wasn't allowed to give up. Slowly, the crimsons ponies crawled up the inside walls of the crystal.

Virulent's magic was already drained and she finally was set free. Slowly, she fell on her back as she fell asleep. The mare would be asleep for a while her magic recharged.

The mare was out cold as she continued to rest. Her body stiff and cold to the touch. The only thing that would keep others from assuming the worse is the fact she had a pulse.

((Lol, Poor CloudShine.))

Virulent was resting well but was still in a lot of pain. She laid stiff as a board on her back while she slowly breathed in and out. A small frown was across her face; she was not happy to be in this situation. Of course she wouldn't recall the whole event but this type of magic always left a funny taste in her mouth. But there is no time to worry about the past, this sleepy mare needs to recharge.

Half of Virulent's magic was restored but she still had a couple of hours till she would regain conscious. The mare was still stiff as a log but she was no longer cold. She continued her slumber as she mumbled every once in a while.

Virulent fell into a relax position as soon as the amulet was placed on her. She could feel a strong flow of energy being distributed through out her body. The mare was gaining consciousness but a unseen force quickly put her back into her coma. Virulent was in a special situation and this unseen force was taking advantage of the leech amulet. Her magic was more free will, but this was only possible by the knowledge of her spell book being written into her memory. Once the unseen force was done with their work, a small cracks appeared on the amulet. A closure look at the amulet would show a small smiley face where the cracks formed. Virulent's face rested into a smile as she continued to sleep away the pain.

Virulent's chest went up and down as she continued to sleep. Most of her magic was restored but she was still weak from casting it. The mare mumbled a few words as she shifted into a more comfortable position. The amulet followed her and now was lost in her mane. For a few seconds she opened her eyes, but her eye lids were still heavy and they slowly closed again. If she wanted to get up she could, but she wasn't ready for more adventures just yet. Virulent took this time to figure out who to put her trust in and to clear her thoughts.

Virulent let out a small yawn as she rolled on her back. Slowly, she opened her eyes as she exit the dream world. The mare rubbed the sleep out of her eyes as she tired to put together the broken pieces of her memory. She wasn't sure what happened after she casted the spell or where she was. Virulent assumed that Cloud Shine carried her somewhere safe once the blizzard died down. But she think into it too much; one of the side effects of that type of magic is a massive head ache. The mare let out a painful groan as she rubbed her head. She also made a mental note to not do any crazy spells for a while. But enough horsing around, she still had her expedition to continue. Carefully, Virulent sat up as she continued to rub her head. Her vision was a bit fuzzy but she could tell she was in a bedroom. She examined the room with her fuzzy vision in search of her saddle bag. Her gaze fell on the foot of the bed where her saddle bag was set down. She slid down the side of the bed and landed with a loud thud next to her saddle bag. The mare let out a small yelp; the bed was much taller than she expected. As she rubbed her tail bone she started to look through her bag. She then pulled out a bottle of water that she got from the train and started to take a few sips. After she finished the water her vision was restored. A small satisfied smile grew across her face as she could see clearly now. She also was glad to see that she was in a Crystal Empire room and not in some horror movie shack. Virulent put on her saddle bag and then stood up. She did a few stretches as she started to think of a game plan. First thing is first, she had to check on the others, and others she means Cloud Shine. Second, go check out the Crystal Castle and see if any clues were left. Third, accept the apologies from the dumb stallions that caused all this.... And maybe give out a few apologies.

The mare smiled at her mental list of things to do as she exited the room. She assumed that Cloud Shine would be resting in the rooms near by so she started to check the room next to her. Quietly, she cracked open the door and peaked her head in. A sigh of relief flew from her mouth as she saw Cloud Shine resting on a bed. Virulent made a quick mental note to make it up to Cloud Shine and hopefully get her back on her team. She gently closed the door to the mare's room; making sure not to wake her up. Virulent let out a sigh, she still felt bad about blowing up at Cloud Shine. But there was no need to dwell on the past; her future actions are important. The mare let out a small smile as she mentally crossed off the first thing to do on her list. Next, go check for clues. Virulent fixed the collar on her expedition shirt before heading down the halls of the Crystal Castle.

Virulent continued to Sing to herself as she took out the ingredients from her bag. The mare pulled back her bangs as she examined the ingredients; looks like she will be making No Bake Cookies. With grace and speed, Virulent search the kitchen for a bowl. After finding the biggest bowl she could find, she was ready to begin. The mare took a hoof full of flour and threw it on her face. She giggled at herself, it was a silly tradition in her family but she still does it whenever she bakes. With a face full of flour and mediocre singing skills, the mare was ready to bake.

Virulent made No Bake Cookies for her sisters and brother all the time so she didn't need a recipe. She placed peanut butter, oatmeal and powder chocolate into the bowl and started to stir them. Virulent put all her strength into stirring as she continued to sing. With a bowl this massive and this much peanut butter it might take a while.

Virulent placed globs of the cookies on wax sheets of paper. There were about a hundred cookies. She might of got carried away but someone will eat them. As she was about to place the last glob of dough an unfamiliar voice pierce through her concentration. Virulent let out a high pitch yelp as she dropped the bowl on the floor. As she clench her heart she slowly turned to face the stranger. Her bangs were slick back, revealing her big golden eyes, and her face was covered in flour. The mare was horrified; someone outside her family heard her awful singing and saw her like this. She quickly tried to rub the flour off with her apron. A few specks of white was around her eyes and along her mane line. She was a bit flustered and didn't catch everything the stranger said. Virulent awkwardly chuckled as she being over to pick up the bowl. In a soft tone she said,
[B]Virulent: [/b]Oh, hello! . . .
Um, I assumed you smelled the cookies and that is why you are here. Sadly you arrived a bit too early! The cookies have to dry for a bit. It should only take half a hour.
Ha ha ha ha. . .
Virulent laughed weakly as she placed the bowl in the sink. She held her head down as she started to wash the peanut butter and oatmeal bowl. Her face was red from embarrassment; she made a mental note to keep her singing and traditions behind tight locked doors.

Virulent was confused and feared for her safety. Her stare swished from stranger and new stranger. The mare had no idea who these stallions were or their agenda. She let out a weak laugh as she turned her attention back to the dishes. Virulent wasn't sure what to do in this situation. She thought about a few pages in her book that had spells she could use. Now she had to think of a good excuse to pull out a dusty old book. The mare hoped these two wouldn't turn out to be bad but its better to be safe than sorry.

Virulent:Take a few cookies when you two leave. I got a bit carried away with the baking.
Virulent said as she placed the bowl on the drying rack. Her face was no longer red but she avoided eye contact with the other ponies. She felt uneasy; as if she knew the two stallions. The mare took a deep breath to calm her nerves before she search for some cookie containers. She found a few large Christmas cookie tins and she started to store a few of the cookies.

Virulent looked up from her cookies; she thought she heard someone. She looked toward the door then at the strangers. The mare shrugged; the noise was probably those two. Virulent put the last cookie in the tin with a smile. It only took three Christmas tins and one small tin so at least it's not too big of a haul. Virulent packed up the small tin in her saddle bag and was ready to leave. he will come back later to make a real meal for herself. She wasn't hungry just yet and this gives her time to think of a good meal. Virulent took off her apron set it back into her saddle bag. On her way out she passed the two stallions. They don't seemed that bad so she decided to be nice. As she continued her way to the door she said,

[B]Virulent: [/b]I will make  a small meal later. You two are free to get a plate if you are hungry. I see no point in being distance in this situation. My name is Virulent Valley by the way. You two enjoy your eternal day.

The mare waved the two good bye as she started to open the door.

Virulent failed to notice anyone as she continued to open the door. She under estimated the weight of the door and used all her strength to push it. Sadly, it was not that heavy and she ended up slamming the door on Boa's face. At first, she wasn't sure what happened and assumed the door was just heavier than usually.

Virulent was surprised to hear a voice on the other side of the door. The mare let out a startled gasped as she pulled back the door. She couldn't tell who the scream came from so she peaked her head outside the door. To her surprised it was Boa. She stood there for a bit; staring down at him. From his angle he could see her large golden eyes from under her bangs. The mare didn't know what to think or say. To be honest, her memory was a bit fuzzy; all she remembered was she was angry and the train was no longer in use. Virulent wasn't really that angry anymore. She blew up at Cloud Shine, so most of her anger was gone by now. But this didn't mean Boa was off the hook. The stallion still was on her reckless list. So instead of blowing up at him, Virulent dug into her saddle bag and placed the small tin of cookies next to him. As she started to head down the hall she said,
Virulent: I will be preparing a meal in a bit. You are free to join the rest of us if you want.

Virulent wondered through the halls till she reached the library. The mare smiled as she entered the massive collection of books. Places like this makes Virulent glad there is an eternal day; all the time in the world to read. But she didn't come to read all day, there was a spell book she needed. The mare happily walked through each section of books. Her awful singing started up as she examined each book as she passed them. As she weaved through the library the mare thought it would be easier if she had a spell that would lead her to the book. Virulent laughed at the thought; she hasn't read all her spell book so she has no idea if that's possible. For now, the mare will have to look at each and every book. Good thing the mare didn't mind a little alone time.

After a while of searching the mare found her spell book; along with a few others. The mare levitated the spell book as she took a seat at one of the tables. A smile formed across her face; it was amazing how the spells in Canterlot and the Crystal Empire differ. She found a few formulas that she saved for later. Virulent smiled with glee, even though she would be able to use them she still enjoyed reading them. After reading a few more pages she closed the book and set it into her saddlebag. The mare then cracked opened one of the royal recipe books. She was more of a baker than a cook so she would need to find a meal that was big enough for the gang. The mare quietly hummed to herself as she tried to decided what to cook.

Virulent was no longer reading the recipe book, she had switch to the spell book after finding a rather simple meal to prepare. The mare had many unusual items scatter across the floor of the library. The items formed a messy circle around the mare as she laid on her back. To be honest, she wasn't sure if it would work since this isn't her spell book but that is why she had her spell book out. She had the crystal's spell book and her spell book levitated above her head; each book was turned to a page that had the formula. Virulent would look at the crystal's book then see what her spell book had instead. She would levitate the item that she needed onto her stomach. The mare did this process till she had all the items she needed. Virulent smiled with glee, glad she was able to use this formula after all. The mare took a piece of charcoal and drew a cryptic symbol on the floor of the library. From her pile of unusual items-frogs feet, shards of unicorn horns, snake eggs, swamp mud, a pile bone dust, and a jar of Cloudsdale's clouds- she lined up each ingredient in a neat row. Virulent smile widen, she was ready to begin!

Virulent nodded as she examined the frog legs. She was too focus on what she was currently doing to talk. The mare also didn't want to talk to Boa; she didn't really have anything to say to him. The mare levitated the unicorn horn shards to the middle of the chalk drawing before she placed the frog legs on top of them. As she looked over the formula, she sprinkled bone dust over the whole chalk drawing. Virulent then smeared the mud over the chalk; something she should have done earlier but forgot. The mare let out an exhausted sigh as she looked over the formula more carefully.

Virulent picked up the frog legs and unicorn horn shards; she didn't want to risk her safety because she neglected to read the formula right. She scooted over to a clear spot on the ground and redrew the cryptic symbol. The mare then traced the charcoal lines with the mud and then placed the frog legs, and unicorn horn shards in the middle. She sprinkled the bone dust over the mud, causing the mud to glow a light green. Virulent smiled at the soft glow as she reached for the spider eyes. The mare looked carefully over the formula before she continued.

Virulent looked up to see who just entered the library. To her surprise, she saw no one at the entrance. She squinted her eyes; something fishy is going on but Boa is here so he handle it. Virulent placed each spider eye on the outer circle of the drawing. She made sure the iris was facing the center. The mare smiled big, now its time for the fun part. She let out a quick giggle as she took the jar of clouds. As she opened the lid she quickly moved the jar around the outer circle. The ground glowed bright as the clouds circled around the the cryptic drawing. After a few turns, it picked up speed and formed tiny tornadoes. Each tornado picked up a spider head and followed the mud trail that lead toward the horn shards. When the tornado hit the middle, it picked up a horn shard and a frog leg. Once all the tornadoes made it to the middle, they formed one tornado. The ground around the tornado slowly sank into the ground. As it sank half a foot, the tornado slowly died down and the clouds disappear. What was left was a crystal horn. Virulent giggled loudly as she picked up the horn. The horn had an opening so someone could wear it. As she slid the crystal horn on, she started to turn into a crystal pony. The mare smiled as she examined her self; extremely pleased with the results.

The mare's twirling slowed down as she looked up toward the ceiling. Her gaze locked on the pony on the ceiling. The smile fell to a frown as she continued to stare at Venom. A lot of feelings flooded through her. One was rage; having the two in the same room reminded her of the accident. The other was confusion; how did he get up there? So she kept her stare on him, wondering what he will do.