Background story is in the sign-up topic. Now onto the matter at hand!
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Over the Everfree forest floated a Canterlotian blimp. It brought with it a team of selected adventurers who had been given the important duty of solving a mystery that threatened to ruin the peace the ponies in Ponyville treasured. The destination slowly came into sight. An eriee, dilapidated mansion whose gates were surrounded by the sinister mist. As they passed over the gates a strange tingling sensation would be felt by all of those on board. Perhaps it was just the feeling of great darkness the building gave off, or something even worse, none would be able to tell. A platform was lowered from the blimp since even though the front yard had more than enough room to land, it was too risky without knowing the full situation. The adventurers disembarked from the platform and the blimp flew away. They would come back before nightfall to pick them up.
The gates seemed to be sealed shut by some unknown force so the only place to go would be the mansion. And so begins our tale.
Rigor Mortis stood on the blimp, looking out as she saw the mansion come into view. Each moment the blimp brought them closer she could feel her coat over her spine start to stand on end. It seemed just like a neglected house but she couldn't shake the strange and creepy tingling over her spine. She stepped carefully out of the blimp and watched it fly away, her saddle bags felt strangely empty and she regretted only bringing one thing with her. Still, she hoped since she packed lightly it would be an advantage.
Moonlight saw the mansion come into view and wondered how this would go after seeing the other ponies that came. He kept his eyes on the strange structure and summoned his keyblade hoping that his defensive magic would be enough but wasn't to confident in his abilities. As the blimp landed he instantly jumped out before the blimp could touchdown and stretched out. Time to end this as quickly as it began he thought confidently.
Shard looked around the place. He snorted, trying to ignore the feeling of somepony watching him. [glow=navy,2,300]" This is all just nonsense,"[/glow] he muttered, trying to ignore the eerie feeling creeping up on him. He looked at the other passengers who had been on the blimp and were stuck in this mess. [glow=navy,2,300]( Well, isn't this going to be interesting.)[/glow]
(For the sake of momentum, I shall proceed)
From their present distance, they would be able to see a pony in the purest white robes walk up the steps and enter the building as the doors slowly opened on their own. Just before entering the pony turned towards the distant heroes and then continued into the shadows of the foyer where it was lost from view. The doors remained open as though waiting for the heroes to enter.
She blinked seeing the strange pony in white robes, watching as it seemed to vanish inside. She moved her hoof forward, not liking how much it seemed like a trap though her curiosity was getting the better of her as she started to slowly move towards the mansion. Her ears twitching and her eyes glancing at the ground and around, wondering if there was some sort of trap before she could reach the door.
Moonlight saw the pony in white robes and immediately ran after it with his keyblade ready just in case. Not knowing if there was a trap or not he darted past Rigor and charged through the front door head first ready to strike.
Shard watched. He stood there a moment, deciding what to do. A zebra hybrid galloped to the front door.[glow=navy,2,300]( Better stay with everypony else.)[/glow] Shard started walking to the door.
Rigor blinked as Moonlight ran ahead recklessly, she put a hoof to her forehead, "Stupid.." She stared at the other pony as he seemed to follow Moonlight. She sighed and followed the two of them, though trying to keep up with Moonlight so he wouldn't get himself killed.
Flame saw the white pony he summons his Keyblade and walks cautiously towards the door Ice does too she takes out the Venom sword and does the same
They would not come across any traps on their way into the mansion. As Moonlight pulled a Leroy Jenkins, countless candles around the foyer ignited all at once, on their own. The floor consisted of a single slab of pitch black granite. It was so clean, you could see your own reflection. In fact the whole foyer looked as though it had been kept in pristine condition contrary to the outward appearance.
Moonlight watched as all the candles lit and took a defensive stance as he noticed the inside was better looking than the outside then decided to calm down and waited for everyponty else still keep his guard up.
Shard walked up the stairs. When he reached the top, he peered into the mansion. [glow=navy,2,300]( Beautiful interior. Wonder why the exterior is in shambles...)[/glow] Shard looked back at the three behind him and waited for them.
The two looks at the candles as they ignite A trigger welcoming system Flame saysor is it a sprit Ice says
She walked in, looking around. Her eyes sparkled a bit at how clean and beautiful it looked, giving a low whistle, "What I would give to live here." She trotted up next too Moonlight and looked at him, "Moonlight..." She spoke sweetly before smacking him in the back of his head, "That was the stupidest thing I have ever seen."
"I have to agree," said a voice identical to Rigor's. Due to the nature of the room the voice's echo came from all directions. But of course, a spirit can't match somepony exactly. So who spoke? After all, those 5on were the only ones in the foyer.......right?
Moonlight rubbed the back of his head. Ow..I don't deserve that though. Why do you always have to be so rough with me? he said smiling then his smile turned to a frown as he heard the imposter's echo.
Her eyes widened as she looked around hearing a voice that wasn't hers speak. She looked at the other ponies with them as if they could have spoken in her voice, though she had that same feeling she felt on the blimp run up her spine. Swallowing a bit, "I.. don't suppose one of you said that?"
"No, silly filly, I said it!"said her voice that wasn't her. It sounded oddly cheerful and happy to the point of being almost Pinkie-ish. As they looked around, the voice sighed. "Me! Me, look down here!" It seemed to be speaking to itself as though it was a different pony.
Down where exactly? he asked the disembodied voice.
The two look around for the source of the voice
"'Down where?' I ask. AHAHAHAHA! Come on, me, think about it carefully." this voice matched Moonlight's voice though once again, extremely cheerful. Both the Rigor voice and the Moonlight voice laughed as though this was an obvious joke.
Haha..very funny he said looking at the floor.
As he was looking at the floor, he would see his reflection staring back at him. Then it tilted it's head, smiled, and waved at him. "Hi, me, took you long enough." its mouth moved along with the words.
Moonlight stared at his reflection talking to him. Are you serious?.. he asked looking down confused.
"Super duper serious. It should have been obvious since I was the only other us here....though I can see how that might confuse me."it had responded to the question as though it took it literally. It sat down and thought for a bit. "Yeah, I guess it is kinda weird me talking to me. I usually wouldn't talk to myself, but for some reason, I now have sentience. So by that logic it is obvious I would talk to myself."
That doesn't make any sense at all he said looking at his reflection with a concerned look.
well this is strange Agreed
"Its not that strange if you let go of some of your logic."said the twins reflections.
"Yeah, what they said. Don't think too hard about it. Very little will make sense here.
Oh dear MOTHY this is going to get annoying fast
It already doesn't make sense..we are talking to our reflections. he pointed out to these disturbingly peppy look-a-likes.
"I'm sorry, who is it that's in the haunted house? You.....well me too but it's different on our side......huh? Who's that? Moonlight's reflection was looking at something ahead of the heroes. Though there was nothing there on the normal side, the reflection of the white robed pony could be seen. Just the reflection. It's mouth moved but there was no voice. The reflections looked scared.
What's going on?..what's wrong? he asked his scared reflection.
the two look at the robed pony Flame summons his Keyblade and Ice takes out the Venom sword
"You have to find her. She is the only pony you can trust here. Find the white filly, or find the exit, but remember beware the shadow...beware the darkness." As it spoke these last words, the giant doors slammed shut behind our heroes, sealed by an unknown force. The candles remained lit but all of the reflection ponies vanished. Could they trust these mirror selves? Or were they being led into a trap? Those last 3 haunting words hung in the air. There was no turning back.
The foyer had two double doors in the back as well as two staircases that led to a balcony. There were three doors on the back wall of the balcony as well as a door on each end. Everything but the ponies had a reflection. Other than that, everything was normal.
A chill ran down Moonlight's spine upon hearing the doors slam shut. Beware the darkness?..white filly?..what does that mean? he asked aloud seeing that his reflection had disappeared entirely.
Flame seems to notice when the refection says Darkness great even more darkness
The sound of a large bell, much like a clocktower, strikes 1 time. Funny thing was, they got here at 2. Funnier still, it was bright and sunny out the windows. Suddenly a flood of beautiful colors spilled over the room. Sunlight poured through an ornate stained glass window. It depicted a lovely young mare laying under an apple tree. It looked like she was wearing a simple white dress. Besides her was another young mare with a similar dress only her's was a deep crimson. They looked like they might be related and they both seemed very happy.
Moonlight eyed the stained glass. Maybe that's the white filly our reflections meant but who is that one in red?
Rigor kept her mouth shut as she watched the reflections talk, her eyes wide. She figured if she didn't say anything it would keep from the reflections gaining power. She jumped seeing only the reflection of the pony that was hooded in white earlier and her ears rung with what the reflection of Moonlight said. She stood there thinking about the words as the doors shut. She looked up at the window, taking a step forward as she stared at it. The clock ringing incorrectly wasn't really too strange considering the house was old, it probably was set wrong. Though seeing sunlight when it was supposed to be dark did make her tilt her head.
She finally spoke to answer Moonlight, "Wouldn't the reflection have said "filly in white" if that supposed to be her? A white filly would have a white coat right?"
Well they weren't very specific when they said that you know..
As the two argued over minute details, the door on the left side of the balcony opened with a clank. Should anypony notice this and look, they would see a piece of something red disappear behind the door as what ever it was, went through it. Seven seconds later, the door slammed shut, with a sound like thunder.
"I suppose though then they would need to.." she blinked as she turned she thought she saw something red for a moment. Blinking and rubbing her eyes with her hoof, she must have been seeing things. Rigor jumped as the loud sound of a door slamming shut echoed. "What the.."
((Heyy heyy... I siiignneeed uuppp rhymeee... Acceeepttt iiitttt? ovO))
What?..what did you see? he asked turning around and seeing nothing.
Quote from: Tiger on 2012 Oct 21, 23:55:58
((Heyy heyy... I siiignneeed uuppp rhymeee... Acceeepttt iiitttt? ovO))
((You need to follow the form))
"I.. I thought I saw something red.. but didn't you hear that loud noise?" she asked him as her ears twitched now worried about hearing things as well.
I didn't see anything but I did hear that noise though
"I.. I think that door moved," she commented and pointed her hoof at the door in question, though she didn't mention that's where she saw the flash of red.
A gust of wind blew something over and it landed in the middle of the group. There were no open windows. If they looked at it, they would notice that it was a letter. What appeared to be tear stains covered the paper. It read:
"Our daughter has grown ill. I fear she might not last the night. Please take her sister so that she might not meet the same fate. That creature did this. It will pay. It caused her illness, of this I am certain. Somehow it can enter the mansion without anypony noticing and it leaves like a wisp of smoke carried off in the wind. I will find it, I will stomp out that evil myself if I must!"
The rest is illegible, but not from tears. The writing becomes furious scribbles and lines.
Moonlight saw the letter land and looked around and saw no windows were open then decided to go read it. After reading it he said creature?..what kind of creature causes illness?
Rigor stared at it, reading the note several times before picking it up. "I don't know, but what ever it is do you think that this pony was able to stop it?" she asked him, though she doubt it with all the strangeness going on. She put the letter in her saddlebag so they don't lose it, "Daughter going ill.." Her eyes went to the window, looking at the two mares, "The other being sent away.."
((I'm in!))
"Wait a minute, how did wind blow if the windows were all closed?" Tiger asked nopony in particular.
sprits demons dark forces cracks in the house that wind can get through
Maybe the one in red was sent away?
"...Right."
"So, it's unlikely one pony would be able to stop a monster like that. I reckon it's in this house right now," Tiger said.
"To be honest I stopped questioning small things like that when the reflections were talking to us," she thought about it, "Perhaps.. or the white one. Either way, we wont get much information standing here." Looking at all the ponies, "I'm going to take a look at it, who wants to come with me to check out the door that closed itself?"
I'll go with you.
Tiger was already at that door, opening it
We will go with you too Ice says Flame nods in agreement
Rigor sighed seeing Tiger already up the stairs, on the balcony, and opening the door. "Why is everypony trying to kill themselves," she muttered as she went to walk up the stairs unable to fly herself as Tiger must have done. "Alright, so I think we should proceed carefully. After the reflection trick and the other strangeness there is no telling what else is here."
"C'mon, no wasting time! We gotta find out the secret of this mansion!" Tiger said as she called out to those below.
Moonlight agreed with Tiger and flew past Tiger thru the door.
Flame rolls his eyes and the two walk up the stairs
"Some of us don't have wings you know.." she muttered walking towards the door and looking back at the two unicorns. At least they seemed to understood, though she didn't know anything about the very stoic two.
((*to understand. ovO))
"Yeah, I know, just get in!" Tiger said. Tiger went in after Rigor.
"Anything can happen, keep your guard up," Tiger stated as they were in the room.
Behind the door was a hallway, dimly lit with candles but nevertheless everything was easy to see. Family paintings lined the walls each looking bright and fresh almost new. The showed many different ponies and it appeared as though they were done in the yard. In the background of every painting was that same apple tree. But outside there had been no trace of any tree. Lining the hallway were doors behind them were guest rooms. Oddly, in each room the furnature was piled in the same corner in the same order though it was a rather messy order but no pony was in any of the rooms. There was one painting at the end of the hall, which ended in a wall, that wasn't lit very well and would only be visable from up close. It was the same as the stained glass, but slightly different. The tree looked dead and blackened and the fillies looked rather miserable.
((I am going to get some rest if it is ok the two will be following you))
Moonlight flew all the way to the end of the hallways and noticed the stained glass was like the other one but the filies were miserable instead of happy and the tree was dead. Why is this different from the other one? he asked hovering in front of it.
((Okay, seeya Flame!))
"These paintings look like they were just painted a few days ago..." Tiger said. "The tree must have been out there for a very long time and might have decomposed now, but the house just appeared yesterday so that's impossible..." Tiger was talking to herself aloud by now.
(( See ya! ))
Rigor walked carefully as she stared at each painting, she wasn't in any rush to reach the end of it. Looking in the rooms, all the furniture was stacked the same way. She frowned, this was strange though she joined Moonlight and stared at the window, "I don't know, perhaps it represents what the letter spoke about. One of the daughters being sick? A wilting tree could represent an illness." She thought about it, "The tree with the others.. the otherponies seem well and they have a well tree behind them."
Moonlight frowned not being able to understand this crazy place. Was anything in this place straightforward? he thought.
Tiger flew over to them and studied the stained window. "A well tree for well ponies, a wilted tree for wilted ponies. But there's no tree in the yard right now. Does this mean... They're all dead?" Tiger said.
"Oh now that wouldn't be any fun if it was straightforward would it?" she asked Moonlight with an amused smirk. She looked at Tiger and thought about it, "It makes sense to me. A dead tree for dead ponies. It sounds pretty poetic."
As she said that, all the candles were snuffed out. (time for some scary)
Oh barf.. Once the candles went out Moonlight took a defensive stance with his keyblade ready.
Rigor jumped and turned around, blinking her eyes and trying to get them to adjust to the dark. "Great..." she muttered as she stared into the blackness.
"But if they're dead, there'd be some bones around right? Or gravestones in the yard. But we haven't seen either." Tiger said as she studied the window some more. Then she realised the candles were snuffed out. "Dear go- Form a circle!" Tiger said, getting into an offensive stance beside Moonlight.
A strange shuffling sound could be heard in the inky blackness. The air became cold and very oppressive. It was like hope was snuffed out with the candles. The shuffling sound slowly got closer.
Moonlight hears the shuffling getting closer. Be on your guard.
Tiger reached out and grabbed the other three ponies, then pulled them to form the circle. "Everypony get ready, this thing can attack any side. If it attacks your side, fight!"
Rigor moved from Tiger's grasp and broke the circle so she could reach into her saddle bag and pull out her trocar. She held it in her mouth and stood forward, unable to really see in the inky darkness but her ears twitched as she focused more on her hearing.
"...Wow, why did I ever forget about taking out my flashlight?" Tiger reached into her saddle bag and turned on her flashlight.
The flashlight revealed nothing in the hall. Whatever it was had disappeared into thin air.
Rigor yelled out and covered her eyes with her hooves, putting her trocar away as her eyes tried to adjust to the light. "Really?" she asked as she looked out and trotted down the hall, "Great.. now it's gone."
"...It's just like what the note said about the monster! "Somehow it can enter the mansion without anypony noticing and it leaves like a wisp of smoke carried off in the wind." It looks like we're in big trouble, guys!" Tiger said.
Great.. Moonlight said sighing as if they really something new to make his confusion worse.
Rigor sighed as she tried to get her eyes to work after the sudden light after pitch black, "Yes.. and yelling is probably just going to make it know where we are." She walked on, "I think we should check the rooms."
"I suppose so. But it won't be safe alone. We should go as a group," Tiger said, turning to the other ponies for approval.
In the light of the flashlight, the hall looked very different. It appeared old and worn down much like the outside had been. The paintings had changed too. All the painting ponies looked depressed, like the small stained glass. The tree was gone and in its place was some sort of shadowy figure. It looked blurry as if it was only partially existing.
"...The paintings changed..." Tiger said as she looked at them from the end of the hallway, not noticing that the apple tree had been replaced.
Moonlight was slowly starting to hate this place as he saw the painting have changed.
"Um... Let's... Get out of this hallway and go to some other room?" Tiger said with a :s face.
"Wait what?" she said moving to look at the paintings, they did change. Pressing close to the paintings so she could try to make out the blurred form and finding it impossible. "Well.." she muttered and decided to look inside one of the rooms, walking carefully inside to see if they changed as well.
Surprise surprise, they did indeed change. The floor was gone! Well not the few boards she stood on. It seems like the floors had rotted away.
She kicked her hooves to stop herself from falling down, her chest heaving as she looked at the hole in the floor. "Oh.. buck...me..." she muttered looking at it.
Tiger hovered above the hole, carrying Flame, and Moonlight presumably carried Ice. "Whoa, what the hay.."
The door at the end opned a crack. The candles suddenly relit and the hallway and rooms became pretty again.....Like they had before it got dark. The door quickly shut.
((Has the floor reconstructed itself? I suppose not ovO))
Tiger put her flashlight back in her saddlebag (somehow) and flew over to the paintings, to see if they had changed back.
She looked at the relit hallway and seeing that the room became beautiful again. She tried to back away as quickly as possible, trying to think of any plausible reason in the realm of science that made any sense.
((ha science. Tiger the rooms are rotted not the hallway. And everything is solid))
Something had changed in the stained glass if anypony felt like looking. It now was a perfect replica of the one they had seen in the foyer.
Rigor looked at everything, how it all changed and out of the corner of her eye she glanced at the stained glass. Freezing for a moment as she forced herself to look away. Thinking to herself, I did not just seen it had changed, it didn't change. That is impossible.
((Ah...))
Putting Flame on the solid boards (And Moonlight presumably does the same), Tiger noticed Rigor in front of the stained glass, and Tiger went over to look at it. It, too, changed.
"I don't like this place. Let's go see some other hallway, huh?" Tiger said.
The clocktower rang 12 times. ((something special in the foyer! Just so we don't Leroy through important plot point))
"The clock is moving backwards instead of forwards," Rigor muttered. "Part of me thinks we should burn this place down, though I don't think that would save Ponyville." She stood there for a while, taking a deep breath before turning from the stain-glass window, "I'm going to check on that clock to see if I can either turn it off or fix it."
"Right... I'm going to try find a lighter." Tiger checked the drawers of the rooms.
Rigor sighed and walked down the hall towards the foyer, standing on the balcony as she looked around the foyer. Being careful as she moved, she tried to look at everything before heading down the stairs.
Tiger found nothing.
The moon shone through the stained glass in the foyer, casting an eerie light on the floor. The window showed what had been in the hallway only the tree had become a large black smudge. The candles were still lit.
"Oh great.. it's the moon instead of the strange sunshine. Well at least you decide to make sense today," she muttered to nopony at all as she walked towards the window. Looking at the strange smudge on it, "Mmm.. what is that?"
Tiger flew over and rubbed at the black smudge with a stick ovO
((tiger, when did you leave the hall?))As she stared, the smudge seemed to almost move. Then it became a tree again. But something fell from the window. Another letter.
"If you are reading this, then I have failed. I attachted this note to the creature in hopes that somepony might finally destroy it. It feeds on fear and darkness, growing stronger as it feeds. It grows weak without fear so I tried to imprison it in this house. I hoped it would starve without a living soul to fear it. There is another way to stop it"
The end of the paper is missing.
Rigor blinked and backed up as something fell, she stared at the tree before looking down at the letter. She sat down and picked it up with her hooves, reading it carefully. Turning it over as she sighed, "Of course it's never that easy." She tried to think how it could have been attached to the creature, she didn't want to think about it because it poked holes in her science theory. "So.. it feeds off fear and darkness. Considering it's night and everypony here is obviously frightened it must be having a buffet right now," she sighed and put the letter in her saddle bag along with the other one.
((Oh, um... When you weren't looking? ovO
...I'm just a dodo :c))
Tiger noticed Rigor put something in her bag, and trotted over. "Hey, what was that? Lemme see!"
"Didn't you read it?" she sighed, "Fine but be careful, I don't know how old these are and I'm trying to make sure they don't get destroyed." She pulled the letter back out so the pony could read it.
"Yeah, sure." Tiger read it, careful not to tear the weak paper apart. "So if this thing feeds on darkness, we just gotta light the whole place up, right? To get rid of half the things it eats," Tiger says as she gives the letter back to Rigor.
A pony shaped figure is seen in the distance
This mansion is huge... And so dark... And I thought I could see through the dark, this is really strange...
As Tiger read, Rigor would be able to see a filly dressed in red standing some distance behind Tiger. She silently giggled and then simply wasn't there.
(dark, you are already inside. Everypony is part of the exploration team.)
Rigor stared behind Tiger, looking where the little filly was. She was frozen and took the letter automatically, not even realizing it was in her hoof.
Quote from: Darkangel on 2012 Oct 22, 03:02:58
A pony shaped figure is seen in the distance
Tiger noticed the figure and shone her flashlight at it. "Who's there!"
(meh this topic needs a bit of a kick in the right direction. Too much ADHD and for once itbsnt me lol no offense.)
The double doors in the rear slammed open and a filly in a white dress stood in the door way. She looked kinda familiar if anypony thought about it a bit.
((Yeah, I know ovO))
Tiger turned and saw the filly. "Wait... Aren't all the fillies dead?"
Rigor jumped at the read doors slamming open, looking at them with wide eyes as she stared at the filly in the white dress. Barely having time to shove the letter in her saddle bag, she took a deep breath and slowly steeped towards the filly. "Hello?" she asked, obviously quite nervous, "Little filly? Are you.. alright?"
As the doors flew open Darkangel jumped WHA-? Darkangel stared at the filly Umm... Hello?
The filly smiled. Not a happy one, but a creepy one. She didnt leave the doorway. "You better run or Mr Shadow is gonna get you." It sounded more like teasing than a warning. Then one by one, the candles in the foyer went out. She giggled and was swallowed up byvthe darkness behind her. A few seconds later, it was lit, revealing a wide corridor that went into the main part of the house. If they looked down, they would see their reflections. Normal, non living ones.
"Mister... Shadow..." Rigor repeated when the candles went out. She stood there looking at the wide corridor. Taking a deep breath expecting when she looked down at the polished floor that she'll see her reflection mocking them again. She moved her hoof and made a few faces at it until she was satisfied they were normal again. A deep sigh escaped her in relief before she looked at the corridor and started to walk towards it, not wanting to stay in one room too long. Her hooves started to speed up a bit, not liking being in the dark too long where the supposed creature fed.
(they are going out. Not on. I'd probably hustle. I found the confusion. The corridor was lit th foyer is going out)
[color==orange]"C'mon, we gotta get into the light and out of the food of that monster!"[/color] Tiger said as she charged forward.
((So what did I miss))
((Its better if you read it. You might notice important stuff))
Flame and Ice follow the others
Moonlight followed behind while hovering over the group.
Rigor sighed as Tiger rushed forward, remembering various horror books from the library that always killed off the ponies that ran ahead.
Moonlight picked up Rigor. We pegasi are headstrong so don't think we're idiots just cause we charge ahead.
"Being headstrong is one thing, but running ahead when we already have seen this place can be dangerous is another," she muttered and tried to squirm from him. "Personally, I don't want to be carried around in case you fly into a trap. Somepony is going to have to get you out of trouble."
Fly into a trap?..wouldn't it make more sense to be in the air away from ground traps? and besides running into danger can be fun he said with a stupid grin.
[glow=navy,2,300]" Running into danger fun?!"[/glow] Shard echoed in disgust. [glow=navy,2,300]( He is going to get us killed...)[/glow]
Rigor squirmed again to get out of his grasp and all four hooves on the floor, "Let go of me." She sighed, "No, it wont be fun. Because we just saw two fillies that can some how vanish in air and it didn't look like they were using unicorn magic."
I would advise against squirming he said starting to lose his grip. It doesn't mean they can't be friendly right?
Shard follows along slowly, underneath Rigor and Moonlight.
"No, I'm not. Let... me... go..." she squirmed more and kicked her hooves, she wanted to walk herself and be able to control her own pace and not have to rely on Moonlight. "They could be, but they could also be deadly like the letter suggested about the creature."
Moonlight sighed and dropped her since he lost his grip. I told you..and I think I'm going to stick with them being friendly until proven otherwise.
Shard looked at Rigor.
[glow=navy,2,300]" Isn't he crazy? We are in a haunted mansion..."[/glow] he said quietly.
She groaned as she fell and winced a bit at her legs feeling sore from the impact. Shaking herself and walking again, "Yes.. he is a bit.. touched. It could be from all the times I hit him in the head." Giving a smirk as she looked up at Moonlight.
Shard smirked at her and then looked back to where they were going.
[glow=navy,2,300]( Mental note: If you ever do anything idiotic, she'll whack you.)[/glow]
Yeah..wait what?
[glow=navy,2,300]" Nuh-nothing."[/glow]
((Sorry everypony, had to work, still there but its calm so i have freetime now))
The corridor was lined with doors and hallways that branched off. Some doors had plaques next to them, telling where it went. They were the dining room, the ballroom, the game room, the music room, and the nanny's room. A stream of wind raced down both sides of the corridor. A clicking sound came from each door and when the winds reached the nanny's room, they swirled and several clicks came from the door till the wind suddenly vanished. It had not even effected the candles. None of the doors would budge an inch, except the nanny's door.
Moonlight felt the wind and a chill ran down his spine then he landed and got behind Rigor with his tail covering his face after hearing the doors click shut. Wh-What just happened?
[glow=navy,2,300]" I don't know but I don't believe it's good."[/glow]
A voice called out from the nanny's room. "Is somepony out there?"it asked. It sounded like an old mare.
Moonlight's ears flickered upon hearing an old mare's voice and cautiously approached the open door. Hello?
"'Hello' is not an answer young colt! When yer elder's are talkin' you show some eh respect! At least thats what the Missus told me when I was a young mare,"the voice said.
I'm sorry ma'am but what are you doing in this place all alone?
"'Would I like to sell some abalone?' Now why in Celestia's name would I be sellin' seafood in a house?"the voice asked.
((Cough mare is in the room you haven't entered yet cough))
Moonlight got closer to the slightly deaf mare and said it a little louder. Why are you here alone!?
"Foolish foal. Get in here and start makin' sense for I haf ta call Waiter over here to teach you eh lesson. And for the last time, I ain't sellin' you no abalone!"the voice said. It sounded frustrated.
Moonlight sighed not wanting to go further into the room but didn't have a choice so he hovered in case the floor had any traps and landed next to the old mare. WHY ARE YOU HERE ALONE? he yelled out of frustration.
"No no, over here!"It the voice called out. The candles lit and what had appeared to be a mare was a pile of toys. The voice was coming from a nightstand near the bed. Upon it lay a book with the words diary written on the cover. It looked very fancy and was leather bound and it had obviously seen much use.
[glow=navy,2,300]" This isn't a good idea.."[/glow] Shard muttered, but he followed a bit behind Moonlight anyways.
Flame and Ice follow "yeah agreed" they both say
Moonlight hovered over to the nightstand and picked up the book. Was-was that you calling out? he asked the fancy looking diary.
"Yes of course it was me! I've been like this since....wait. You're solid? You're alive? Everypony else here is either a ghost or stuck with that horrible creation,"it said.
So everypony in here is either a ghost or a captive? he asked it ignoring the first part it said.
"Well, captive isn't exactly the right word. More like....part of it. I've had so many years to think about it that I might have a theory. That, thing, isn't just what it seems to be. It's also a door way I think. Whenever it comes around, I can hear something....like waves on the ocean. But, I'm just a book now. And I haven't seen that poor Lilly anywhere. It's a shame what happened to her. Rose comes by to play every now and then. She still talks about her imaginary friend, I'm kinda glad she didn't leave. It's sad what happened but neither of us are alone. Oh! Sorry dears, I tend to ramble."
No it's quite alright but you mention two names..Lily and Rose. Do you mind telling us who they are?
"They were the sweetest little angels. Twin sisters, Rose just a few seconds older. They were the pride and joy of the Master and Missus. I got to take care of them since they could barely walk. I even made them matching white dresses. They wore them when the painting was made for the stain glass window. They shared everything, even an imaginary friend,"the book said. It's voice sounded like it had fond memories of those times.
Wait you just said matching white dresses but the stained glass window we passed had one in red and one in white.
"Yes, when I saw that when it was first finished, I wondered that too. I asked the girls and Lily started crying. She told me their imaginary friend got mad at her and messed up her dress. I'm sure she had spilled something all over it and she didn't want me to be mad. I wasn't and said that I'd make her a new one. The master thought it was cute that the mistake was in the stained glass so he didn't change it. Everypony had trouble remembering which girl was which so he figured it would tell them apart, but I knew who was who."
That makes sense. So can you tell us about the creature that's here? or anything at all about it?
"Sadly, I don't know too much. I know that shortly after the stained glass was put up, Lily had started showing signs that she was ill. It wasn't too bad at first, just the sniffles and she seemed fine after we gave her some medicine for what we thought was a cold. That's when the rumors started. The maids would complain that they thought someone would watch them as they slept and some of the family pets had passed away suddenly. The vet couldn't find a cause for it so he had called it natural cause. Then some of the servants went missing only to be seen, curled up in fear of something. At night they would keep 10 or 15 candles burning in their rooms. It was quite odd. After the 4th instance of this, both of the girls vanished. We searched all night for them, but they weren't on the grounds. The next morning Rose was at the front doors with a very sick Lily on her back. Lily was bedridden from then on, she even reminded me of her wilted namesake."
Moonlight's ears dropped from the sad and mildly disturbing story. That explains Lily but why didn't Rose end up the same way?
"Surprisingly, they weren't taken by the monster. Lily said that she wanted to stop what was hurting everypony and got Rose to go with her. She said they were safe because their imaginary friend scared all the monsters away. But when she woke up, she wasn't feeling well so Rose carried her back. I told her never to go into the woods without an adult. I said her imaginary friend didn't count as one either. It's sad really, they only wanted to help, but all they got in return was more pain."
I see..Is there anyway to stop the creature?
"Unfortunately, I am only a book so I only know what is on my pages. The only thing close to what you ask is that you find the girls and their imaginary friend. Lily, though might be dangerous. Her last days weren't peaceful. She kept yelling at everypony to get out or they'd be killed. She told me I would be the first to die after her. And she was right. All I know is what Rose had written on my pages. She wrote down all of our conversations. She might be the only one who can help you."
Do you know where Rose could possibly be?
"I don't. But if you can hear me, then you will probably see everypony else. You can try asking them, but some might have gone mad. Rose says they are usually doing what they normally did. The cook might be in the kitchen. Its attached to the dining room. His name is Cle'aver. He has a weird ((coughfrenchcough)) accent. I'm not sure where it's from. Just make sure that when you find the girls, you know who is who."
Hopefully they aren't wearing the same thing but i highly doubt that. Is it not possible for you to come with us?
"I can come but I can't see anything. All I know are words. Spoken or written. Odd...some of my pages are destroyed." Sure enough, if they flipped through the pages certain ones were scribbled to nothingness. As though who ever did it didn't or couldn't remove the pages and simply ruined them instead. "But I don't know what I forgot so worrying won't help at all, will it?"
I guess not but I think you deserve to get out of this room regardless so you're coming with us. he said smiling even though the book can't see it.
"Ok then. Oh! I know how I can see! You can draw things! Use the quill in the drawer of the night stand. It never runs out of ink." There is a quill in the drawer and nothing else.
Moonlight opens the drawer, reaches in and takes the quill. Well I'm not the best artist so maybe somepony else should do it.
Rigor listened to the story as she sat there, this was all strange. Though the history they learned was quite interesting and hopefully will be some use. At least they know the fillies' names, however she wasn't sure calling them by their names will do any good.
Can you draw Rigor? he asked holding up the quill and the book.
She blinked and colored a bit, "Well, yes, though I usually only draw dead ponies before, during, and after embalming."
Do you think you can sketch the room we're in for practice?
"If you can get me one of those candles and bring it here so I have enough light I can do that."
Moonlight puts the book and quill down then grabs one of the candles and brings it close.
She put the book down, shifted the candle as she looked down at the page. Taking the quill as she looked around the room and started to sketch.
Moonlight watched closely while giving her space to sketch.
Rigor's tail swished as she stuck her tongue out. Looking everywhere as she sketched everything to the last detail, where she failed in cooking she made up for in her drawing after years of having to sketch ponies without leaving one detail out or the paperwork would be ruined.
Moonlight watched completely impressed. Wow was all he could manage.
Tiger watched Rigor draw, not a word spoken.
She blushed a bit from being watched as she drew but she kept focusing on small details in the room and getting them down. When she was done she sat up, "Well.. what do you think?"
Well it looks great but it's not up to me. he while looking at the book.
"It looks like my room hasn't changed at all. Must not have been as long as Rose said."
Judging from what the place looks like outside that's actually hard to believe but I'm glad it's good enough. That means that Rigor will draw whatever goes on out here for you.
Rigor tilted her head looking at the book and then looking around the room. "Well... outside looks a lot worse than the inside," she blushed at drawing more, "Yeah, I can keep drawing for you Miss Book."
"Well my name is Candi. At least when I was alive,"the book said.
Well its nice to have you along Candi.
Rigor smiled at the book, "It's a pleasure, Candi."
Shard sighs. Suddenly, he starts ranting,[glow=navy,2,300]" ...We are attempting to solve riddles in a haunted house with a talking book. This all makes so much sense. And we still don't have a clue on the mist."[/glow] :l [glow=navy,2,300]" Oh, and we don't have a way out... Did I miss anything!? Besides the fact we also appear to be in danger?"[/glow] the unicorn says wryly.
Somepony needs to take a breather. We know where we are but freaking out about it will only make it worse. Somepony needs to look on the bright side of things. That's why I'm here. he said smiling and walking out of the room.
Shard snorted. [glow=navy,2,300]( Not that blindly walking ... Or flying into things will make anything better.)[/glow] But he kept his thoughts to himself and followed Moonlight out of the room. [glow=navy,2,300]( He's right, Shard. Calm down.)[/glow] Shard smiled weakly and said, [glow=navy,2,300]" Sorry. Now I don't think I know your name? Being stuck in this bucking mansion together on this expedition, we should probably know each other a bit more. I'm Glacial Shard, but you can call me Shard."[/glow] ^-^
Rigor picked up the book and put it in her saddlebag along with the quill, following the two of them.
Names Moonlight Gamer but everypony calls me Moonlight. All except my parents..but that's another story. he said as he kept walking.
[glow=navy,2,300]" Ah. Nice to meet you, although not in this way..."[/glow] Shard looks back at Rigor, [glow=navy,2,300]" And your name?"[/glow]
"Rigor Mortis," she spoke looking at the stallion, "Yours?"
[glow=navy,2,300]" Glacial Shard, but you can call me Shard."[/glow]
She inclined her head towards Glacial, "A pleasure Shard, I usually go by Rigor."
Only because Mortis would make her sound like a colt he started laughing.
Shard nods. [glow=navy,2,300]" Pleasure to meet you also, but, as I said to Moonlight, not under these circumstances."[/glow] Shard walked through the (hall?)
(( *fails at the architecture of this place*))
Shard looked at Moonlight :/ [glow=navy,2,300]" So I'm assuming you two know each other... well?"[/glow]
"He would still be following me around if I was a colt," she teased. "You can say that, he just seemed to pop out of nowhere and I haven't got rid of him since. It's like having a bad case of parasprites."
..but much cuter and zebra colored. he said smiling.
[glow=navy,2,300]" Yea, you know each other." lol " Definitely."[/glow]
The door to the dining room clicked. It would be unlocked. Behind it was a beautiful dining hall where it dinner party was taking place....only the guests could only be seen every now and then. What they were doing, however, could always be seen.
Moonlight walks into the dining hall. Wow this place looks nice. Moonlight sees the guests appearing and disappearing but what they were doing what a different story.
"Well he is my stalker," she said as she laughed along with Shard. As she followed the stallions and looked into the dinning hall she blinked and watched the guests vanish and reappear. Amused by what they were doing, as she trotted to walk in front of Shard and Moonlight.
Flame and Ice follow the other three
Down at the far end of the hall is a set of double doors. Behind them was a kitchen. It was a single square room with a sturdy wooden counter in the center. There was a pony in the center with his back to the door. Dozens of knives were floating and chopping up different foods and preparing various dishes all around him. He wore a chef's hat and jacket that obscured his face and body from the group should they walk in.
Rigor took a breath and slowly walked over towards the chef, tilting her head slightly. "Hello?" she asked him, keeping her eyes on the floating knives in case they were directed at her. "Mister..?"
"What? What? What? I told you, you zend ze food back, I zend you nothing!" He said when they opened the kitchen door. He didn't even notice Rigor. He kept slicing and chopping. When she spoke, he turned to face her. Now that they were face to face, she would notice that he didn't have much of a face left. He had probably been a unicorn at one time judging by the horn on his skull but he seemed to be made entirely out of bones. "Littel filley, I zuggest you get out of my kitchen. Tis no place for foals. One of the ghost waiters came in carrying a partially eaten dish. A knife buried itself in the wall next to the waiter's head and he promptly turned back and left with the dish.
Her eyes widened looking at his "face", her jaw opened as she just stared. This wasn't possible, the dead don't come back this had to be some sort of unicorn magic making figments to scare them. She flinched when the knife nestled itself in the wall and she coughed a bit trying to ease out some nerves. "I'm sorry, Mister.. um.." she didn't pause long, "You seem like a brilliant and smart chef, I was just wondering if I could ask you some questions. Though.. if you are too busy, I'm sure I can find somepony else that isn't as wise as you."
Moonlight followed Rigor into the kitchen just as carefully mildly cowering behind her and letting her do all the talking just in case.
"Yeah, what she said," Tiger said, facing the chef without showing any signs of fear. "But I reckon you're cooking for all those hungry guests, so we'll just take our leave now..." Tiger stated as she swiftly turned herself and Rigor, then headed towards the exit.
Several knives left the back wall and blocked Tigers exit. "You bothered to come 'ere, you might as well stay. I can't have guests coming back 'ere with the possibility of complaining. Ezpecially with how long it's been zince I served a feast like zis. Besides, the little mistress told me you would be coming to see me and she said you were very picky. So I must ask that you stay here till dinner ends. Too bad for you, it won't."
Um I don't want to be the one to protest but isn't that a bit unfair nice chef pony?
"You.. were told we were coming?" Rigor asked, a bit confused. Though the "little mistress" didn't sound too violent and they haven't seen any writings about the girls being dangerous, still it didn't hurt to keep her gaurd up. "Picky? Well, I'm sure we aren't as troublesome," she smiled before prodding at the biggest question on her mind, "What do you mean it wont end? All feasts end at some point, that way you can expect an even bigger and more brilliant one."
Shard just stood in the room, silent.
[glow=navy,2,300]( This is not going to end well... Something about the diners have gone mad...? Is that related to why this meal won't end?)[/glow]
"Zeh feast doesn't end because zey never stop being hungry. It happens when you've been dead for zo long and you were waiting to eat when you died. As a chef, it is my duty to feed ze guests and do whatever zeh household tells me to do,"he said with pride.
"Looks like one of the girls beat us here. I'm not sure why she would want to stall us but there has to be a way out. Hm...somepony grab his hat! He loves it and would never want to lose it!"Candi said.
"Iz zat you, Candi? My my, you seem to 'ave lost your body." Cle'aver laughed.
"Well it looks like you haven't much of your's. Guess you were right. You weren't fat, just big boned. Well you were but the bones added to it."Candi taunted the chef.
"How dare you! At least I wasn't always being dragged around by two snot nosed brats!" As the chef said this, the house shook. His defenses lowered for a moment.
Rigor winced at that, thinking of all the ponies she had removed from their homes when they seemed to have passed on while making a meal. Her ears twitched as Candi spoke from her saddle bag, listening to the two of them talk. Though she didn't like that Candi seemed to upset the chef, giving a sigh as she jumped and aimed to snatch the hat off his head with her teeth.
Candi wasn't that a little cold. Poking at his weight like that. he said forgetting about the 'snatch his hat' part.
"A little cold? I'm sorry, I thought you wanted to make it out in one piece,"Candi said.
Rigor managed to grab the hat. "Ok, now that we have your precious hat, we are going to leave. We will set it by the dining room door. If you try anything, this little filly here will eat it. You'll still get it back, it will just take longer."
The chef didn't move.
You gotta be kidding me..I'm not one to object to getting the buck away from here but he can't possibly be that pathetic can he? he said backing up to the door.
Rigor rolled her eyes, the hat tasted gross in her mouth and there was no way she was going to submit herself to eating the wretched thing that was covered in dirt and old sweat. She backed away towards the door, not able to move fast enough just so she could get it out of her mouth.
"He isn't but whoever has control over this place got rather upset at being called 'a snot nosed brat'. They could end him quite easily. But he isn't a threat to them. I'm still wondering why you aren't gone yet. If they wanted you dead, it'd have happened by now I think,"Candi said as they neared the exit.
Rigor spat out the hat when they neared the exit and gagged trying to get the taste out of her mouth. "I didn't call her that..."
Shard snickered. [glow=navy,2,300]"But the chef-y guy did. "[/glow] Speaking softer he said, [glow=navy,2,300]" A lucky upperhoof... twice."[/glow] Shard smiled indicating the book.
That's just pitiful. he said as he walked out the door.
[glow=navy,2,300]" What's pitiful?"[/glow]
How that chef isn't dead and gone yet. he said laughing.
[glow=navy,2,300]" He seems to have been here for a ... long time. But the thing is, where is 'here'? Where was this place before The Mist and why is it near Ponyville now?"[/glow]
(( I say in the fabric of time.))
Maybe it wants somepony to finally figure out what is going on here.
Shard sighs. [glow=navy,2,300]" Maybe..."[/glow]
"Here? I thought you knew. We are near the mountains that block the icy winds of the Frozen North. You can tell by the constellations. Where did you think we were? Ponyville?"Candi asked and laughed.
[glow=navy,2,300]" I... I haven't had a chance to look outside after we entered but... I'm pretty sure we were in the Everfree forest, a forest near Ponyville. I think that this house can teleport."[/glow]
Wow a teleporting house. This place just got so much cooler in my book.
:/ [glow=navy,2,300]" Yea, a teleporting house with undead roaming the halls."[/glow]
Details details.. he said waving a hoof at the small stuff.
"I hate to break this to you, but this house can't move. If you saw it in the Everfree Frorest, then there is something much more powerful at work than a bunch of spirits and a monster. But that does give more basis to my guess that the creature is a portal. Or at least is part of a portal."
We still have no clue what this is, does, or why it made Lily ill if it was the one that did it and we aren't getting any closer to answering any of those at this point either.
"Then why don't you ask her?"said a filly's voice. It was the same one that had spoken not to long ago. The filly dressed in white sat behind them, between the adventurers and the door to the foyer. "I'm Rose. I hear you've been looking for me?"
Moonlight's ear flickered then he turned around noticed the filly in white. So you're Rose?
"Yes, I'm Rose. I heard Candi's voice. I take it you found her? Poor thing, because she put her all into keeping that diary, she now lives in it. And she had such a large gap in her memory that I had to fill in the missing pieces."
[glow=navy,2,300]" Yes, we found her... So, little miss, would you mind telling us what happened to Lily?"[/glow]
Shard looked at the filly, waiting to hear her response.
"Mr. Shadow got her. She shouldn't have let him in the house, but she did and went crazy and died. I died last. What about you? Why are you here? Its a long way from Ponyville. Though I could understand Miss Rigor coming here. She does like dead things."
Rigor doesn't just like dead things..she's entranced by them given her job and talent. Now as for this Mr. Shadow why did Lily befriend him anyway?
"That, Mr. Moonlight, I do not know. She never told me. But, I'm sure that when you find her, things might start making sense."
I sure hope so Rose since things haven't made sense up til now. Before we go, do you have any idea where she may be?
"I'm afraid Moonlight is right, I don't like dead things. I love them," she grinned and stepped forward enjoying the conversation. After all, hasn't she always wished she could communicate with the dead? "Though usually when they are dead they don't speak. Rose," she started, "We learned how your sister Lilly died.. the filly in the red dress, how did you?"
((What did I miss))
((Just. Crazy stuff happening also you aren't anywhere near ponyville and rose showed up))
"Sadly, I don't know. All I know is that I died last. It must not have been traumatic since my appearance loos relatively normal. But that's it." Rose turned around. As for my sister, she is probably in the foyer. She always thought the stained glass was pretty."
Weren't we in the foyer earlier?
Flame and Ice listen to the conversation
"Rigor saw her. She was there just before the candles started to go out."
Rigor colored, "It was really quick, she seems to not want to be seen. I thought I imagined her for a moment."
Maybe she didn't come into the foyer cause she thought we were strangers or something?..even ghosts get scared too..I think.
"Indeed, that was Lilly. She never did get that white dress. Well, you should probably go before she disappears again. Her presence is still there."
Hi ho hi ho. It's off to the foyer we go. he said singing and taking the lead.
"Well it got stained didn't it?" she asked before turning to head to the foyer, "I suppose, I'll go. Do you want to come with us Rose?"
Rose looked away. "I'd uh....rather not. I don't really like the floor there. It does weird things." She said. "I'll watch from the door to this corridor."
Are you slowpokes coming or not? Moonlight called walking down the hall to the foyer.
"Alright, sweetie. You be careful," she said, even though she knew the poor girl was dead the idea that she was scared even as a ghost unnerved Rigor. She sighed and turned to follow Moonlight, "We are coming."
the twins follow the two
In the foyer, the candles were still out. The moon shone brightly through a stain glass window that showed the first image the had seen. The red from Lilly's dres along with the apples bathed the shining black floor in red light. In the middle of the circle of light that shone through the window sat a filly in a crimson dress. She was looking up at the stained glass window, seemingly mesmerized.
Rose sat in the doorway to the corridor, watching.
Moonlight saw Lily looking at the stained glass and approached her slowly so he wouldn't scare her away. Lily? he said softly so he wouldn't startle her.
Rigor walked carefully behind Moonlight, keeping silent. Deciding it would probably scare the filly more if more than one pony spoke.
"So, you've made your choice?"the filly asked. She didn't turn around.
"Our.. choice?" Rigor couldn't help but ask as she stepped towards the filly, "What choice is there?"
Uh..choice?
"About who you wish to trust. Your reflections told you I'm sure. This stone floor shows and tells the truth."
Rigor thought back to the reflections, it seemed a long time ago but it couldn't have been more than a few hours. "I'm not looking for the exit, I want to know what's going on here. For now I am going to trust the white filly, I'm going to trust your sister Rose," she said seeming more bold than she really was.
"Do you know why my dress is red? Our imaginary friend was mad at me. Do you know who made him?"
"No, I'm not exactly sure. Why don't you tell me with your own words?" she asked slowly stepping closer to the filly. Granted she could review the letters again, but she wanted to hear it first hand from one of the fillies.
"I was the younger twin, I knew that and I looked up to my older sister Rose. So when she invented an imaginary friend, I wanted to have one too. But I lacked the imagination to make one so I decided to adopt hers. She called him Blacky. She told me he was a scary thing that would make even the monsters under the bed and in the closet run away crying. Eventually I started to see Blacky, and he was very scary. All the light around him went away and he didn't like to share. So when we told him we were going to get a picture done of just us, and I said he shouldn't come because he might scare somepony, he ran off with my special dress, the next day, it was in the closet but it was red and smelled like old metal. Well we did the painting anyway and he wasn't there. That night we were talking to him and I said it wasn't nice that he messed up my dress. Rose defended him saying I was mean first. We argued all night. I hid the dress from Candi because I was afraid she would blame me. When she saw it in the pretty window, she asked me what happened and I told her the truth. She didn't believe me, but made me a new dress. Rose got jealous and then bad things started to happen. I got sick and people started getting hurt. And after I got stuck in bed, Blacky would stand over me and blame it all on me. He told me what he would do to me and everypony else because I had made Rose sad. I tried to tell them, but they didn't listen. I died and had to watch them suffer. After Rose was left, Rose told Blacky that she wanted to be with him forever and-"
"Oh will you shut up already? I'm tired of hearing this story. It's all just one big lie anyway."Rose interrupted Lilly's story.
"Then why don't you want to step on the floor. What does your reflection look like without the candles you lit?"
"It should be obvious, me in a white dress."
"Why does mine look the same as yours then?"
Sure enough, Lilly's reflection was a filly in a pure white dress. A white lilly was tucked behind her ear. Rose's reflection couldn't be seen as she was away from the black stone.
Rigor's eyes widened at the story and turned to look at Rose, she blinked several times as she thought about Lilly's story. Her eyes went to the white dressed filly in the floor to Rose, speaking softly to her in hopes it would make her step on the floor. After all, how can such a young filly be cruel? Surely it was a misunderstanding and it was the creature to blame for it all. "Rose?" she smiled softly and held her hoof out, "Come here, I promise I wont let anything hurt you. Just step on the floor for a few moments?"
Tiger stood silent, but seemed deep in thought. Okay, so... Lily tried to tell them but they didn't listen, Rose claims it's a big lie, Lily is in a white dress in the reflection, but she wore a red dress when Rigor saw her behind me, which is the one she's wearing now. But... Rose, supposedly in the white dress, had teased us that Mr. Shadow would get us after that.
Tiger glanced at Rose.
She's in the same doorway. She was never standing on the black stone floor. She might be hiding something about her reflection. Rose said Mr. Shadow got Lily, but Lily says Blacky got her. Am I overthinking this? I wonder what I'll have for lunch later on. Maybe a chocolate muffin, Falky would like that... wait, get back to thinking about this, Tiger! Stop fooling around! Tiger thought to herself.
Rose, might be hiding something about her reflection... What if SHE'S the scary monster they've been talking about? Hm, one way to know the truth... But what if something bad happens and she's the one we were supposed to trust, then the floor eats her up or something, this house is so unpredictable, AAARGH I DON'T KNOW HJFDHJDFASSD
Tiger collapsed on the floor from overthinking it.
"I don't like where this is going" he said worried as he went to go check on Tiger. "How does somepony collapse at a time like this" he muttered helping Tiger up.
Tiger got up with Moonlight's help. "T-thanks..." she said as she staggered to her feet.
"Anyway, Rose could be hiding something for not stepping on this floor. Why don't you come over here and show us that you're not?" Tiger said, facing Rose.
"I agree with them Rose. Please come here." he said while making sure Tiger can stand.
One of the candles behind Rose floated over her as she stepped onto the stone. Her reflection looked exactly like her. It was normal. "Are we happy now?"she asked.
"No,"Lilly replied. It sounded like there was something else she wanted to say, but couldn't. Or wouldn't.
What do you mean 'No' Lily? he asked still helping Tiger stand.
Rigor went to Rose and smiled, "I am, thank you." She felt bad forcing a poor filly to do something she obviously was nervous about, no matter how many years dead she was.
"She has a candle. It should be obvious," Lilly said.
Moonlight put Tiger down slowly then Moonlight took a stance then leaped at and grabbed the floating candle while rolling to one side of the room away form Liliy and Rose.
The candle went out and Rose's reflection changed. A dark shadow spread out from under her, where her reflection had been Lilly turned and held out a hoof. A light glow surrounded Moonlight, the twins, and Tiger. But for some reason, it couldn't surround the other three(Rigor, Glacial, Dark). The shadow reached them and swallowed them up. They vanished without a trace. The shadow kept away from the others. "No! They didn't trust me enough! HOW DARE YOU! They believed in you and you still swallowed them!"Lilly cried. The light coming from the window grew brighter. "Get backk everypony! Don't fear her! It makes her stronger. You all hold the power to shift the balance of this world. Give me the strength to win!"Lilly said. The lights grew brighter but the shadow began to wrap around the edge of them like ivy climbing a column.
((For those of you who were swallowed, your part in this chapter has come to an end. You did not die but have now been moved on to the next chapter. Let me know in the ooc topic for this chapter if you want to wait until this one finishes or start right away. (You'll be separated from the others anyway).))
Edit: ((i hate this phone. Stupid word guessing software. Bput glacier instead of glacial))
Lily what just happened?
((Glacial shard is gone. Check the ooc for an explaination))
"That shadow is Rose's imaginary friend. It became real somehow and started feeding off of the fear's of ponies. When it eats somepony, they end up in some scary place. Thats what happened to some of the servants. Those candles she made, show the past in their light. At least you realized who was the white filly. I couldn't tell your refllections outright but I figured my name would be enough. Lillies are commonly a white flower. Anyway, enough dilly dallying. If I don't stop her, she will crush us all and it'll be night night for good."
Moonlight cringed at that thought. Right..
"Darnit, I knew it! I should've done that sooner!" Tiger shouted to herself, enraged. "And now... Rigor, Shard and Dark... They're all GONE," she said, falling to the floor in agony.
Moonlight rushed over to Tiger. Easy there. I'm sure they're fine. Rigor is very level headed and she'll lead them to safety.
hphm pathetic Flame says his eyes changing to yellow oh great not this again. It's fine I believe they are fine they will most likely come back
"How do you know that's going to happen!? You're just denying fate. Denying the truth! We don't know what this monster will do to them! What're we gonna do!? We don't even know how to stop this thing! All the candles lit up can just easily be put out by the monster, so THAT'S not gonna work!" Tiger shouted.
"Forget it, we're DOOMED. Doomed I tell ya, DOOMED!"
Hold on I think I know how to help Ice walks over to Tiger kneels down and slaps her across the face CALM YOU FLANK DOWN!
"Calm down? CALM DOWN!? How can I calm down in a situation like this!? I bet you're wobbling in your legs yourself!" Tiger said, face to face with Ice.
Not really I've been through worst :l
Moonlight only sighed and decided to let them work it out.
"Well, I don't know about you guys but I'm out of here! The worst thing that can happen is us dying in this mansion because of that crazy monster, and I won't risk that!" Tiger said.
listen sometimes you have to take risk or else life would be boring I mean why else would we come
"How about you calm the flank down and believe I'll win. Fear and doubt will maker her stronger. Too much and the shadow will get you too! Come on! You are the only ones left who can help me!"Lilly said.
"Ahahahahaha! You think you are actually going to win? Why else did I let them find Candi. I rewrote her memory so that they would doubt you! I hid the facts from her and made her see things in a light that made me the innocent one! There is no hope for-"
"Pardon my language but shut the hay up! Where is it written that evil always wins? Huh? Nowhere. All thoughs bedtime stories had happy endings!"Lilly turned to the remaining heroes,"Get it together! You guys are the key to this thing! If you give up now, you might not find your friends. I do now they are alive but they are both nearby and very far away. I can't reach them right now though."
exactly
ANYWAYS!..Can we please figure out what to do next instead of arguing cause like it or not none of are leaving..literally. Moonlight proclaimed. Now then with that settled..Lily where should we head to first?
yeah agreed Flame says his eyes changing back to normal
Tiger glanced at Lily, then looked at the other three. Closing her eyes and reflecting on her life for q few minutes, she realised, she had never been as cowardly as this.
Determined, she stood up and faced Rose. "Fear and doubt as food, huh? Seems fitting in this situation, but there's no turning back now! WE are going to foil your plans, WE are going to win this, and WE are going to get back Rigor and the others!"
well it took you long enough to act like a stallion instead of a scared little filly
Tiger turned around. "I would've expected a commendment of some sort, but whatever," she said, folding her hooves (arms). "We're wasting time here. How do we find the others?"
Moonlight smiled. Now this is a team I can work with. Just say the word Lily.
Ugh... Where... Am I? Darkangel got up and looked around All I remember is getting swallowed by dark shadow...
((Wrong place dark. Post at Chapter 2: The sailing Giant... Or something along those lines))
Now that they were believing in her, the light around Lilly grew brighter. Her eyes shone with a white light and the shadows creeping up the columns were pierced with rays of light that shone through. The light burned up the shadow growing wider and wider till it got to Rose. She tried to stop it with a wall of shadows but the light shattered it like glass and engulfed her. An unholy scream ripped through the hall and then suddenly, it was day again. No more shadows, no more lights. The mansion looked entirely dilapidated. Grass was sprouting up through the stone through numerous cracks. The wall holding the stained glass was still intact along with the stained glass itself. A filly in a red dress and a filly in a white dress sat before the heroes. "Thank you for freeing our world from that curse. It seemed to have come from some outside source and corrupted the events meant to take place here. Candi was not a part of this place's story as well as the evil shadow that possessed Rose. They seem to be two sides of the corruption. One good, one bad. Your friends were taen to another world that is bound for corruption. It is far more dangerous than here. We wish you good luck on your journey,"the fillies said in perfect unison. The giant doors that led to the outside opened up but beyond them was a bright white light. "Your friends are somewhere in there. The place is the same but the appearence and rules are different. That's all we can tell you."
Tiger protected her eyes from the bright light and turned to the fillies. She grinned. "We're a determined team, don't expect us to go down easily!"
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"C'mon guys, let's go save those three!" Tiger said, turning to the others after they had all made their preparations.
Moonlight shielded his eyes. Well well well..Would ya look at that. he said with a smile. Time to go rescue our friends. Moonlight said taking the lead walking towards the light.
Tiger flew into the light before Moonlight did. "See you later, alligator!" Then she rather recklessly went in, like how she used to in the past.
Moonlight laughed. Oh no you don't. he said flying in after her.
Flame grabs Ice's hoof and they go into the light together