The Mirror of Escalation

[Derpy]

This thread will be used for several nights worth of RP relating to our Nightmare Night plot for 2015: The Mirror of Escalation.

[Derpy]

This first scene took place Friday in Ponyville Square after the All-MUCK meeting. It continues the story set in motion by the log "An artifact goes missing!"

PLAYERS:
Marble Memory
Water Mane
Derpy
Haunting Melody
Shadowed Song
Dusk
Nimble Hooves
Bardigan

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

Well, it's at least a sunny day... ... in wonderful Ponyville. That's most certain, of course of course. And what is he doing? Heading for the market? For Town Hall? No, he's standing on top of the fountain in the square. It doesn't seem to be operating, he's on the very tip top, looking in the hole for something.

It might even be official business since two palace guards are there with him. Well not WITH him, just standing by the fountain watching him curiously. "I think I might have it!" Marble declares and stuffs his hoof in the hole where water comes out and finds... Nothing! "Okay, no..." Marble then pokes an eye in the hole, just as some gurgling is heard and then the fountain turns on by itself, launching the bureaucrat in the air. "AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!"

WaterMane finds it is an unfortunate time to be landing in the square, as the bureacrat is sent upward. Already a clumsy enough flyer, Water Mane has one wing clip Marble, and she goes barrelling down into the square, rolling to a stop with an 'oof!'.

Derpy happens to be flying by. It's the day before Nightmare Night--well, the day before the night before the day before--and she's diligently conducting her mail run. She gets tickled, first, by water droplets, which makes her laugh and think about looking down. Then Marble himself follows, and Derpy is bounced into a wild tailspin, flapping her wings madly. "Whaaaaaaaa--!" she cries.

Haunting_Melody has arrived.

ShadowedSong is lounging in the square when she hears a scream. she looks up and sees three ponies falling out of the sky towards her.

Dusk is also out, but thankfully over by the MRC when he hears all the commotion, and thankfully not in the path of any of the ponies. But seeing Marble messing around atop of the fountain doesn't take any special talent to expect trouble. He's already heading that way when the ponies come tumbling down. He does what he can, extending his colorless magic to reduce the crashes to at least some degree.

Nimble_Hooves has arrived.

You whisper, "Derpy makes something up! When you investigated, it turned out the tracking spell ~was~ cast on the Mirror. The first thing it produced, after someone (maybe Nettie or Luna) had processed it somehow, was this message... "Light bends upon itself when light drinkers find every piece of the spectrum, and produce the best of themselves from it! Look in a place created to celebrate such ineffable, electric bounty."" to Marble_Memory.

Soon Marble can be found splashing tremendously in the fountain and, a moment later, emerging and flopping on the edge of the fountain like some soggy fish. He coughsputters and flops out on the ground, getting up, adjusting his monocle and dripping clothing. "... Well..."

WaterMane is, luckily, much better at falling than flying. She does foul a wing a little on a hoof after her tumble, but soon straightens herself to her hooves, if looking a bit more ruffled than usual. "Stars above, what was that all about?" she asks with a look over to Marble, still breathing heavily after flying. "It's lucky I didn't tumble straight into a building."

Derpy has to agree, to the extent she can comprehend! She manages to get under control before she's flown through too many consectutive hedges, And goes about diligently gathering up her spilled mail while Roseluck yells at her. She trots back to the fountain. "Is the fountain broken?" she asks. "It seems a little too strong."

ShadowedSong opens her eyes, surprised nopony landed on her, "Woah, that was close," she gasps

Dusk makes it over to the area, and glad to see no pony was seriously hurt. It indeed could have gone much worse. Now time to go and find out what's going on. He trots over to the fountain and looks at Marble, "Mr. Memory, what is the point of all this?" He does lend him a hoof out of the fountain as he founders a little.

Marble drips all over Dusk for his trouble, but at least he isn't dripping with malice. "Oh! Uh... um... y-you... haven't seen any mirrors have you? There's been a... uh... um... incident. At the palace. When I was gone?"

WaterMane tilts her head to one side. "A mirror?" she asks, moving just a little closer to look at the drenched pony. "I can't say I have, no, but I was just flying in." Her nose wrinkles a little. "What sort of incident?"

Derpy hears the exchange, herself exchanging glances with Shadowed Song. "Too close!" she agrees. "So close it actually hit me!" Under her breath she mutters, "I don't know if it even ~gets~ closer than that." She listens to Marble talking with Dusk. "Mirrors? For getting your costume picture perfect?" she speculates. Nightmare Night is tomorrow, after all, and Derpy is excited!

ShadowedSong creeps forwards, "Is there black vines on the back of the mirror?"

Haunting_Melody looks around curiously as she looks to see whats happening at the square as she hears the sounds of all the comotion of things, her ears perked as she hmmms, spotting Dusk anything up?" she asks.

Indeed, at least it is a sunny day to be getting wet. Dusk wonders as well, "There are plenty of mirror about town here, Mr. Memory." Though being Marble, and an incident at the palace, Dusk suspects something to do with the artifact vault. "This wouldn't be a.. special mirror, would it?" He looks over, seeing Haunting and give a nod, "Greetings. We're trying to figure that out actually."

Marble of course panics. The idea he might have done something that indicates he might suck at his job is most certainly scary to him. "AHHH! No!" Marble says, then he pauses. Wait, how is he going to get help if he acts like nothing is wrong. "Th-that is to say... y-yes! Um... an artifact was stolen. When I was gone and NOWHERE NEAR THE PALACE."

"An /incident?!/" a big, bellowing voice booms out from behind the crowd. "An /incident/ Derpy says?! In the PALACE?!" A big, burly pegasus with a beard the size of a large dog and about as fluffy pushes and jostles his way into view, wearing what appears to be some kind of strange mixture of Trottingham business casual and Shakespearean puffiness - but the feathered hat identifies him as Bardigan. "Are the Princesses in danger?! Are there polar bears to be punched?! I think a good drawing and quartering is in order for the bureaucrat involved!" He points directly at Marble. "'Twas the /only/ punishment in my day, even for minor infractions!"

ShadowedSong jumps and hids behind Derpy as Bard stomps out

WaterMane is about to ask Marble more about this artifact and what has happened, but then she stands still and stares a moment as Bardigan enters. She blinks, slowly, and finally looks to Marble. "Maybe I could do a sweep from the air and look for it." she suggests.

Derpy jumps in surprise and hides behind Shadowed Song! But then she spies the familiar feathered hat and steps out again. "Bardigan! What a nice costume! Are you Spearshaker? Wait, no! Francis Bake Oven! I'm an oven ~too!~" She looks between Marble and Watermane. "What mirror? Is it dangerous?" She gasps. "Is it like the Mirror Pool that made Pinkie Pie so... so many-ous??"

Haunting_Melody looks about curiously as she is confused by it all, "Whats happening?" she asks looking towards the others as she wonders, curious about this mirror thing now, "There is a Mirror?" she wonders.

Dusk smiles, seeing the various other ponies seeming to gathering more around at the activity at the fountain. Then Bardigan arrives quite heavy hoofedly. Though in fact Dusk almost doesn't recognize him at first, from the few times he had seen him before. "Oh, Mr. Bardigan! I think that sounds a little extreme, not even knowing what is up yet." He looks back to Marble, who's activity is rather suspicious in his own right. "And what sort of artifact mirror is this? Is this something hazardous? And what brings you here to Ponyville?"

"Well, I-I live here... in Ponyville." Marble then nervously blurts out. "I HAVE A WIFE." He flails when Bardigan makes his grand entrance, terrifying the stallion. "AAAAAAAAAAAHHHH!" He falls over and -splash- right back into the fountain. Sputtering, he clings to the edge like some surviving sailor from a naval battle. "I'm looking for a very large... magical mirror... the Mirror of Escalation!"

WaterMane sighs and moves over to offer Marble a helping hoof out of the fountain. "You're gonna catch a cold, soaking yourself to the skin like that." she says. "I would know, I am a nurse." she grins, before becoming more serious again. "So, you don't have any clue what might have happened to it? I'll certainly help you look for it, if you like."

<OOC> Nimble_Hooves grumbles at RL and will have to come back later.
Nimble_Hooves has disconnected.

Haunting_Melody moves over to hear whats happneing as a couple of her butterflies float around her and around the place as she speaks up to Marble, "Where did you lose this mirror? And what is it exactly?" she asks, the name sounds like it must be important.

"The MIRROR of ESCALATION?!" Bardigan bellows like billows. "That sounds like a problem that goes... ALL THE WAY TO THE TOP! GAH HA! HA HA HA!" he laughs, a deep one from his belly, and looks over at Derpy from behind his bushy brows. "My dear girl, /I/ am Blessed Bardigiano, greatest adventurer and polar bear wrestler of the Post-Classical Era! And it sounds like /somepony/ is in need of my services." He gives the beard a tug, exposing his real face for a moment before winking at Derpy. "I /have/, in fact, gone on many dangerous adventures."

<OOC> Marble_Memory weeps. What did polar bears ever do to Bardigan?

Derpy is blown a little back by the bard's breathy bellows, but bounces back like the beautiful bubble-being she's been since birth! "Polar bear!??" she marvels, gushing a little. She grins and winks back at Bardigan when Bardigiano takes a breather. "I've gone on adventures too! Adventures in courying! Sometimes adventures in lost mail," she adds forlornly, lowering her head for a moment. Then she lifts it again. "Maybe I can help too! Don't catch cold, Marble! Catch a mirror! Who took it and why and where and how?!" Derpy is a good reporter, only compressed.

<OOC> WaterMane says, "Uh-oh..."
<OOC> WaterMane says, "Bardigan has started a pun war"
<OOC> Derpy not pun! Derpy alliterate!

Dusk nods to Marble as he talks about living there, but before he can comment about it, Dusk is taken aback as Marble flips out and falls back into the fountain with another splash. Dusk takes a breath and shakes his head, looking around at the other ponies here. Well this is Marble. He goes to help him out once more, but Watermane is already helping nicely. "The Mirror of Escalation?" He tries recalling some details about it. "It effects pony talents, yes?" He knows there are some other details he's not recalling. "But I was asking why are you here, searching for it? Is there some reason it'd be in Ponyville and not Canterlot, where it was last seen?" And if he says the lighting is better here, he'll push him back in the fountain himself. He gives Bardigan another look, then realizes oh, it must be a Nightmare Night thing. That makes much more sense now!

<OOC> WaterMane says, "Pun waaaar"
<OOC> Derpy says, "What kind of pun? Liike Beardigan?"
<OOC> Scope says, "<.<"
<OOC> WaterMane says, "You'll see "
<OOC> WaterMane says, "You'll see "
<OOC> Dusk ducks and covers. :-)
<OOC> WaterMane looks around for turtles.
<OOC> Marble_Memory fears.
<OOC> Derpy says, "That said, Bardigan with a beard may be Beardigan. But if he got so drunk he went stiff and fell over, he'd be Boardigan! And if he lost a fight with a woodpecker, he'd be Boredigan."

ShadowedSong walks over to Marble and sniffs him, "Why do you need to get the mirror back?"

Marble nods and is grateful to WaterMane for helping him out. He shivers. It's almost Nightmare Night, so being soaked a lot isn't helping. Marble stares in horror at Bardigan as he belly laughs. What is he *wearing?* Is it a writer thing? He's never really done Nightmare Night. You'd think he'd notice when his foals dress up once a year. He looks at Dusk and Derpy, then nods. "Imagine if a pony becomes all-consumed and obsessed with their special talent. To the point they can't think or do anything else." Marble explains, "And... well... there's a riddle lock on the mirror, so I've been trying to find it... um... 'Light bends upon itself when light drinkers find every piece of the spectrum, and produce the best of themselves from it! Look in a place created to celebrate such ineffable, electric bounty.'"

After Bardigan has spoken, Water Mane mumbles very softly "I think it's better to reflect on the situation." But she half-hopes nobody heard. She's a bit busy helping Marble at the moment, anyway. She peers at him. "You really should get dry. I'm not sure my little breeze magic would be much help before you get all chilled. We can start looking for the mirror while you straighten yourself up."

Haunting_Melody tilts her head a bit thinking, "that could be quiet a few different places, though..sounds like a cafe...or a concert venue?" she wonders, her butterflies floating around a bit and moving near different ponies, "If you need help with the Mirror...I can help." she says.

Derpy gives her head a shake, and a little fountain water may just fly out. "That is a very wordy riddle," she observes. "But probably better than flying random wild over town!" She thinks somepony suggested that earlier. "It would be a mirrorcle if we find it that way! This riddle? Is silver lining." She may just wink to Watermane for half a second.

<OOC> WaterMane says, "I like Derpy, may I keep her?"
<OOC> Marble_Memory says, "Honey, we already have two dogs and a cat."
<OOC> WaterMane says, "...but I don't have any ponies."
<OOC> Marble_Memory says, "Ponies or fat babies. "
<OOC> WaterMane blames you.
<OOC> WaterMane says, "Also I do regret it, but my eyes refuse to stay open any longer. I must seek sleep."
<OOC> Marble_Memory hugs.
<OOC> Haunting_Melody will try to be out for rp more :>
<OOC> WaterMane sits on Marble. While I'm gone, I only ask that you all mislead Marble terribly for me.
<OOC> WaterMane says, "Nini!"
<OOC> WaterMane says, "<3"
WaterMane has disconnected.

Dusk raises a brow as Marble describes some of the details of the mirror. He thought some of those were just more myth than fact. But Marble is the official artifact keeper, so should have a pretty good idea if any pony does. "Hmmm that sounds like it could be very troublesome. And just before Nightmare Night too. Lots of young ones are going to be out and about, along with their families. And I see, so the riddle as taken you here to Ponyville to look for it." Though Dusk isn't quite certain that entirely fits the fountain. The water and mist can product rainbows, but bending the light. But seems to be more to it than just that. "Sounds like we need to solve this before it lands in the wrong hooves," he says with an agreeing nod to Derpy too. Dusk magics up a towel and passes it over to Marble. If Bardigan is such a big adventurer, he should know where his towel is! Dusk is glad to get to see Haunting around some more though, even if doesn't have much of chance to chat with her yet. She had been gone for a while there, after a bit of another artifact issue.

ShadowedSong scratchies at the group. "It might be talking about an art center, or maybe a glasses store."
ground

Marble listens to all the suggestions of where to look. "For all we know it has! This is why these artifacts are supposed to be in my vaults! Imagine if the Ring of Juvenile Delinquence or the Laughting Free Tuning Fork were to be held!" Marble frets. He wraps himself in the towel. "I should maybe change out of these clothes."

<OOC> ShadowedSong says, "i can sneeze a pretty dress on you, Marble, lel"
<OOC> Derpy laughs! That is the weirdest power, Shadowed
<OOC> Dusk says, "And a snow storm perhaps something he needs even less at the moment. :-)"
<OOC> ShadowedSong says, "I have so many wierd powers"

<OOC> ShadowedSong says, "including, but not limited to, being incredibly cute"


"Oh. Well. That DOES sound serious!" Bardigan huffs. "If that's the case, we will need much more than a simple questing party. We need /brains./" He gestures to Derpy and her expert riddle-solving abilities. "If we're talking about light spectrums then I THINK the best place to look would be a rainbow, eh? They are ALL lights wrapped into ONE GLORIOUS CHROMATIC GIFT PACKAGE FROM THE HEAVENS."

Derpy's eyes are already contracting, soon to come as close as such semi-constrained orbs can. Her ears too revolve in place. "Rainbow. Feeding? Effable! What is ineffable? What is electric?" She looks up at the clouds. "What is Free Tuning Spork?" And she spread her wings and folds them with a whoomp. "Does anypony have any ideas about the riddle?"

<OOC> Bardigan is afraid he must go.
Bardigan has disconnected.

Haunting_Melody hmmmms, "So where should we go first?" she asks as sounds like quiet a few good possible locations, it's just a matter of wich one is the best fits it, though she's not the best with riddles.
You whisper, "Though we could just say it means Cloudsdale and track the mirror there! Either way is fine. I just want people playing!" to Marble_Memory.

"Ahh.. AHHH!" Marble lets loose a heck of a sneeze, clinging to the towel tighter. "ACHOOO!" He sniffles. "Oh no..." It seems Marble has caught something. "No... I do'd wadda be sig." Marble begins to idly float for home. "I cad odly hobe i fide th'birror sood." For now, he plans to get cleaned up.

Dusk nods to Marble, "Yes it is good you keep them out of the general population, Mr. Memory. So we have a riddle of a clue to its location. Any idea how it left the vault, while you weren't there?" He chuckles at Derpy and smiles, "Yes, excellent questions as well, Lady Derpy." He agrees with both Bardigan and Shadowed Song, and seems Haunting is ready to start searching too. Perhaps we can get this wrapped up before there are any undo issues indeed.

Marble_Memory has disconnected.

Derpy starts to pace. "What is place created from bounty? What is rainbow produce?" She starts to trail a track into the soft wet earth around the recently splashed fountain. Her mail bounces in its bags. "What if the mirror catches us?" she suddenly asks, scared. "What will I do if too many headbubbles?"

ShadowedSong giggles, "Don't worry, we'll find the mirror. We should check the glasses store first?

Haunting_Melody hmmms, "I wonder what all this thing does." she says, "Make you focus on cutie marks more? WHat oes that all mean."

Dusk hmms and considers as well. He nods to Haunting, remembering some more about it now that Marble filled in some details. "Yes, it has affect on the viewer and their cutie mark. Strengthening it, now that I recall some more about it. Making it more powerful and focused. And Mr. Memory suggests it makes a pony more obsessed about their talent too. Though I imagine it will have varying effects on different ponies, as such devices tend to. Which brings up a point. If we do go looking, and we find it, do not look at your reflection in it. Cover it with a cloth or such as soon as you can, for yours and others protection."

Haunting_Melody nods, "Though do we have a good description of it, or a image? And yeah...I probably better not look into it, I have enough trouble with one over powered nasty artifact till I find Virga." she says with a small sigh, "Wouldn't want to add this on top of it."

ShadowedSong says, "Good thing I dont have a cutie mark." She wiggles her blank flank cutely.

Derpy looks at Shadow's blank flank. "That's true!" she says. "Maybe blank foals should look for it! Or maybe we should blindfold." She ties her postal vest over her face and walks around lumberingly. "Where should we look first?"

Dusk raises a brow to Haunting, "You still have not returned that item, Miss Melody? Indeed, that would probably be a bad combination." He ohs, looking to Shadowed and Derpy, "Hmm that is a good point! Perhaps all the foals out this weekend might be a good thing to help track it down, /if/ it doesn't effect them. And I have a rough image I recall of it being described, but I had hoped to get an accurate detail from Mr. Memory, but seems he had to leave a bit quickly."

Haunting_Melody nods, "But if we don't know what it looks like, how would we know if it's true?" she woners about that, "Well I haven't found Virga, I've been trying to return it to him...figure maybe it be safer then well other things...but maybe I should just return it, I don't need it any more." she says, "Oh I forget if I mentioned it, but the one problem resolved itself." she says to Dusk.

ShadowedSong sniffs at the ground, walking towards the edge of the square, "You'll know it when you see it. Where are we heading first?"

Derpy shrugs. "Maybe the schoolhouse? We can ask the uncutied cuties if they can help! But does anyone have any ideas from the riddle?"

Dusk nods to Haunting, "Well if some new mirror has shown up around here that matches the general description, then that can be a start, and we can secure it, until we sort out if it is the one. And oh? Which problem? I recall there being at least a couple, Miss Melody," he says with a bit of a grin." He nods to Derpy and Shadowed, "Good thinking. And indeed.. 'Light bends upon itself when light drinkers find every piece of the spectrum, and produce the best of themselves from it! Look in a place created to celebrate such ineffable, electric bounty.' Perhaps a bit cryptic."

Derpy's ears poink from under her vest on her head. "Good memory, Mr. Dusk! Maybe it's constructive crypticism!"

Haunting_Melody nods her head as she hmmms, "It's the original problem that I came to you about with it." she says, "they decided they like how it...worked out." she says with a shrug, "So where should I return it now if I'm going to just return it now?"

Dusk chuckles to Derpy and smiles, "Why thank you. And perhaps it is! And we need to cryptic critique it, now." He nods to Shadowed, "Well if we can't figure something more specific from the riddle, then checking out possible places is a good start." He also nods to Haunting, "Mr. Virga would still be a good choice. Or to one of the Princesses is another. Or perhaps back to Lady Zecora, if run across her too."

Derpy nods! "Ask Princesses! And... and Virga?" She shivers at the name. Derpy only knows of Virga by reputation, but he clearly chills her. "Maybe Zecora. And childs. We should split up." She pulls herself one way and another, and then bonks into the fountain, unable to see.

Haunting_Melody hmmmms, "I could try one o the princesses, well the interim princess Fluttershy." she says and shrugs, "I have it here with me...too worried to have it on me, and too worried to leave it." she says.

ShadowedSong says something relevent to the conversation

<OOC> Dusk says, "How meta. :-)"
<OOC> Derpy says, "Brillian, Shadowed! Are you sleepy?"
<OOC> Dusk says, "I'm starting to get a little bit there too. :-)"
<OOC> ShadowedSong says, "woops, i meant to say something relevent to the conversation"
<OOC> ShadowedSong says, "wow, i am slightly out of it"

ShadowedSong vollenteers to go with dusk
if we split up

Dusk ohs, "I suppose you didn't hear while you were away. Princess Celestia had return, relieving Lady Fluttershy of Princess duties. And worse case, perhaps I might help you with it as well, of course." He grins and shakes his head a little, stepping over to lift the covering Derpy had put over her eyes. "I don't believe that will be needed, as long as we're careful, Lady Derpy. But good thinking yes." He smiles, "Well thank you for offering, Miss Song!" He'll do his best not to lose this one.

<OOC> Dusk ;-)
<OOC> ShadowedSong says, "I just got home from work, its 2 am and i started work at 8 am, and i have work again at 8 am. BUT that wont stop me from doing this game until i pass out"

Haunting_Melody nods her head, "I will see about returning it." she says with a small shrug, "And after that I will see about helping with this artifact." she says.

Derpy nods and lets her wings shoot out. "Team Mirrorfind Deescalade... SPLIT UP!" She takes off, apparently flying to the schoolhouse.

ShadowedSong sniffs Dusk, "Lead the way, Boss."

Dusk waves as Derpy takes off in the direction of the schoolhouse. And nods to Haunting, "Then that sounds like a good plan as well." He then turns to Shadowed as she sniffs. Dusk smells pretty decent at least. Mirage makes sure he takes care of himself and doesn't get completely caught up in his work. "Then it looks like it's you and me, kiddo." He smiles and looks around for the first place to go.

Haunting_Melody looks around curiously as she hmmms, "I will catch you guys later." she says as she turns to figure out about the amulet.

Derpy hopes that folks do some awesome Nightmare Night RP tomorrow, and then we can continue our plotline of the Mirror of Escalation beyond that until it's finished! Good night! (Public-pose)

[Derpy]

This next scene, from Halloween night, furthers the mystery and begins to show us what this mysterious mirror is capable of...

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=


Ponyville Square
$===============$ PONYVILLE SQUARE $===============$

At the heart of Ponyville stands a proud and massive pavillion known as Town Hall. Around it lies the town square, a well-kept ring decorated with tall banners and the occasional picturesque bush. A fountain sits before the entrance to the hall with a joyous, reared-up earth pony statue as its ornament. Various municipal officials have pitched colorful, conical tents in the square from which they run their operations. The town square is lined along one side by a stream crossed by a broad stone bridge, while on its other sides it's surrounded by a combination of commercial establishments and some of the oldest houses in Ponyville. The mood here is generally cheerful but officious.
]
[ Players: Derpy, Dusk, Nimble_Hooves, Haunting_Melody, ShadowedSong ]
[ Sleepers: Fluttershy, Bardigan, Diamond_Dancer, Marble_Memory, Octavia, ]
[ Hollyhock, *Twig, Snapdragon, WaterMane, Jay ]
[ Vehicles: Wagon of Wonders ]
[ Contents: Giant Salt Lick, Ballot Box, Pile of purple granite rubble ]



Haunting_Melody smiles as she spots the voice from above and looks up towards it curiously, "That you there Nimble?" she asks, though she must admit it's a pretty dang good costume.

The ShadowBolt looks over his shoulder, his wide eyes appearing green beneath the yellow lenses of his flight goggles. He laughs again, but this time it is a lot more pony-like as he greets the faux-Sombra. "Th-Thank you Mr Dusk. I-I had an idea a-at the last minute... i-it worked really well.. I-I think." The voice behind him makes him jump. Just then another flash of lighning and a rumble of thunder echo across the sky. He looks to the griffon. "U-Um.. hello?"

Dusk maybe thinks it's more of a Skelebolt with those wings! "Yes, quite an impressive bit of work there, Mr. Hooves!" says Sombra-costumed stallion in agreement. "And looks like everypony is having fun today. We're still looking for that mirror Mr. Memory misplaced, but we didn't have any luck last night."

Berry_Punch, clad in the comically short-sleeved garb of a traditional Sorreian chestnut crusher-oversized buttons and all--is wandering lackadaisically from one Nightmare Night party to the next. She happens through the Square around now and looks up, noticing the especially noticeable Nimble Hooves. "Hah! Nimble! You look... more pumped than usual! I like the hair."

Haunting_Melody grins at that smiling, "that is just a perfect costume Nimble." she says as she speaks up "Just me Nimble using my illusions to help improve the costume." she says, "I knew you were working on something, but didn't realize it was so cool." she says.

ShadowedSong walks over to Nimble, then Berry, and sniffs them, grinning cutely.

Berry_Punch is a little disconcerted to get sniffed. "What're you doin'?" she asks, arching and taking a step back. "You checking to see if I really smell like chestnuts?" She looks up. "Oh, and hey, yeah! Great griffon! I wonder if griffons get offended when we dress up as them."

Nimble_Hooves blinks, looking at the griffon, "M-Miss Melody? Y-You really do l-look like a giffon... Nice costume." If others could see through the facemask of his ShadowBolt suit, they'd see a blush at the compliments. He smiles, but the costume just makes him look creepy when he does so. "Thank you... you all look wonderful too." He does peer for some moments at Berry, wondering what she is supposed to be, but then perks at Dusk's comment. "M-mirror? Wh-what mirror is that? I-I saw a-a mare with a mirror, not too long ago... I-I didn't think much of it. I-I had this idea f-for an awesome costume, s-so I ran home a-and made this." He blinks at the filly sniffing him. "U-umm... Hello?"

Dusk smiles at the new arrival, "Well hello as well! Welcome." He grins a little as she complements Hefty on the awesome work he certainly has done. "Was this the actual last minute idea, or something else that made you think of doing this, Mr. Hooves? And yes, Mr. Marble Memory seems to have lost an artifact called the Mirror of Escalation that causes cutie mark talent related issues." Dusk does wonder curiously about the combination Nimble has made, wondering if he might have been affected. "Do you recall anything about this mare and the mirror?"

"Doesn't look so last minute," remarks Berry, marveling at how well Nimble's made his wings fit the Shadowbolt concept. "Those wings look so decrepit, it doesn't look like you should be able to fly in 'em!" She looks to Dusk. "Huh? Mirror of Escalation? What's the ex-chancellor done now?"

Haunting_Melody hmmmms wondering if it's the one they are looking for, but then again it's a mare with a mirror, for all they know it was just rarity, but could also be the right one, "Thanks, I like how it looks." she says as she looks around and wonders herself, "I don't know, but they can't complain with one that looks real." she says, or so she hopes they can't, she catches the hint of the blush and can't help but grin, "You are really skilled at these things." she says.

ShadowedSong steps back from Berry, starting to panic, "I'm sorry miss. I though- you see-" She trips on a crack and falls over, startled.

Nimble_Hooves smiles to Melody, "Y-you really did a good job, and y-you seemto be very good at controlling the illusion now..." He blinks and looks to Dusk. "Th-The mare w-with the mirror? I-I was just getting treats from Sugarcube Corner w-when she nearly ran into me. Sh-she w-was blue... no, turquoise... and her mane had two different colours. I-I remember seeing a glimps of a mirror... really pretty. Then she ran off. I-I had no idea anypony was looking for something. Anyway, then I had such an awesome idea for the costume. I-I had been thinking about i-it all day, but then I-I realised I had all the materials f-for this in my workshop." He grins to Berry. "I-I just modified o-one of my old wing harnesses and put the costume together from rags... not much really.... and it flies too."

Dusk aws as Shadowed trips and falls over, and he moves to help her up. "What seems to be the problem, Miss?" he says, noting her concern for Berry. He nods to Nimble too... Yes, getting the idea right after looking at it does seem to fit for it. "Hmmm yes, I think we really need to track down this mare, and check out that mirror. Though ponies need to be careful about looking into it." He nods to Berry too, "Mr. Memory has lost track of a magic mirror that makes ponies talents much more powerful. Mr. Hooves's talent is his ability to make things."

Berry_Punch waves it off. "No problem," she tells Shadowed Song. "I get sniffed all the time. Tasted, even." She knobbily-bobbily dances over toward Nimble and Dusk. "...huh. Wow, okay. That... that sounds like a pretty master-class artifact. Why have we not heard about this already? Hay, why haven't we been using it! Seems like something like that could've helped out Twilight in her fight against Tirek. And... and it's lost? Like, some random lady has it?"

Haunting_Melody smiles to Nimble as she nods her head, "It's still tiring if I do too much, so I made a simple griffon costume, then used the magick to amplify it more real." she says. She hmmms, "Well it apaprently makes you obsess over your cutie mark so that can be a bad thing depending on how you do that."
ShadowedSong picks herself up, blushing, and joins the rest of the group.

Nimble_Hooves blinks at Dusk, "P-ponies need to be careful looking i-into it? B-But I-I feel just fine... A-as for my costume, I-I just had these bits around my workshop already. I-it isn't really anything new, a-and I-I'm not obsessing over my cutie mark, s-so I must be okay..." He looks about nervously, although nopony can really tell his expression under his costume. He quietly puts a small object into the pouch of his costume and then looks to Melody, somewhat concerned. "Y-You're not too tired now, a-are you?"

Dusk nods to Berry, "Well we don't know all the negative effects. These sort of things usually also create more problems than any good they provide. What if a pony's talent was creating fires, and when affected by the mirror they burn down the whole town? As a bad case scenario." He nods to Haunting, "Mr. Memory was suggesting that may be one side effect, yes." He turns to Hefty, "But we don't know that for sure, and I strongly suspect it will vary in effect per individual pony. So you may not be at any particular risk. But certainly keep it in mind if you feel any desires to do something more out of the usual. But I agree, so you seem to be okay to me, Mr. Hooves."

"That is one scary talent," Berry replies to Dusk. "I'd think twice about hanging out with a pony like that. Well, in the country I guess a big bonfire might be nice. But yeah, eeeugh!" She shudders. "Better watch who you look at too close. Turquoise mare, you said? Two-colored mane? I'll keep an eye out. You got any leads besides that?"

Haunting_Melody nods her head to Nimble, "i'm good, like I mentined with the costume it's alot less strain, and I'm going to be doing illusions anyway so not too bad." she says, and nods, "The cutie mark thing could be bad if some ponies get it...I mean pinkie pie, either it would have zero effect...or ...well imagine her if she became even MORE obsessed."

"Pinkie?" asks Berry. "What is Pinkie obsessed with? She seems pretty scatterbrained to me."

ShadowedSong says "so, are we going after this lady?"

Nimble_Hooves sighs in relief as Dusk mentions he looks okay. He didn't remember exactly where this inspiration for his costume came from, but everything seemed right about it... and bumping into the odd mare must have just been coincidence. He was relived the costume turned out so well. It had been a stroke of genuis to use actual spider silk for the web wings, not that regular ponies would know the difference. He nods to Berry, "I-I think that is what she looked like... I-I don't remember too well. I-I was too busy g-getting treats a-and thinking about m-my costume--" He blinks at Melody's comment and shudders slightly, "That would be bad."

Dusk nods to Berry, "Yes I think we all need to be looking for her, and not looking at that mirror. As for leads, the only other we had was a riddle about finding it's location." He checks a note he kept: "'Light bends upon itself when light drinkers find every piece of the spectrum, and produce the best of themselves from it! Look in a place created to celebrate such ineffable, electric bounty.' So yeah, whatever that might mean." He doesn't seem to have an actual answer for it so far. He grins and nods to Haunting, "Yes, the whole town might be one big non-stop party! Hmmm we did have that one time Lady Rarity got obsessed with making everything 'better' too. So yeah." He's glad to see some relief in Nimble's expression too. Some problems can just be from imagining or worrying about things that aren't really a problem. "Too bad Mr. Memory isn't here. We could ask him if that pony sounded familiar. If so, we might get a clue to where she is. Do you recall which way she was running off from the Sugar Cube Corner area?"

Berry_Punch looks at Shadowed Song. "Go after her? Sounds dangerous. Where would we even look? Did they get her name or anything?" She waves toward a warmly lit row of houses with jack-o-lanterns on spikes. "I've got another couple parties to go to, if you guys wanna tag along!" But then Dusk reveals his secret. "Oh! Huh. Well, I always say that parties are where we become the best of ourselves! Maybe it's at a party?"

Haunting_Melody hmmmms a bit, "She likes parties and things...so well she's already so obsessed it wouldn't change...or well she's so hyper I don't think equestira could survive pinkie pie being even more...well pinkie." she says, "Well if you see her again let us know, did you see where she was heading?" she asks wondering about that.

Berry_Punch points to the party down the way. "With all those lights they've got out? Light bending on itself and then some! And there's plenty of light drinkers in there." On cue, she belches. "Scuse me! And what better than a party to celebrate all that bounty?"

ShadowedSong replies to Berry, "Its not that dangerous." She turns to the group, "Don't worry, I'll protect all of you!" She Rawrs cutely, a puff of pink, heart shaped bubbles spreading in front of her.

ShadowedSong replies to Berry, "Its not that dangerous." She turns to the group, "Don't worry, I'll protect all of you!" She Rawrs cutely, a puff of pink, heart shaped bubbles spreading in front of her.
Nimble_Hooves thinks for some moments, "I-I don't recall where exactly she went... w-wait... maybe towards Everfree... or maybe not... I-I don't really remember." He sighs, but then grins to the little filly. "Th-That is awfully brave of you."

Dusk grins to Berry. It's interesting how each pony sees the answer from there own perspective. "It could be a party perhaps. We had some other guesses too. Though this mare is surely our best lead." He agrees with Shadowed about following as well. He nods to Nimble, "Well certainly thanks for what info you are able to provide at least. It's a big help!"

Haunting_Melody hmmmms, "Lets try the party it's cloer...and everfree if she truly is there in the morning." she says thinkingin the dark is bad idea, then add nightmare moon.

Berry_Punch shrugs. "Well, you guys can come if you want! I'm going to the party! See you later! Oh, and BOO!" She stomps in place as if crushing chestnuts, and then dances off.

ShadowedSong says "we should probobly stick together, right Dusk?"

Nimble_Hooves jumps slightly as Berry stomps. "Umm... I-I have n-never been much f-for parties." He looks to the other ponies about, wondering what to do.

Dusk looks around and nods. It does seem the number of treaters are slowing off. He puts away the last of the candy and extinguishes the spooky magic light over the MRC door. "What, you don't think heading out to the Everfree in the middle of the night on Nightmare Night is the best idea?" he asks, catching Haunting's expression at the idea. "I suppose we could go to the party for a while tonight, while we figure what our next step is. Maybe we can get ahold of Mr. Memory too, and find out more about this mare. Maybe she lives in the area."

Haunting_Melody hmmmms, "Well it be fun, but we could check the party first, worst comes to worst we least have fun." she says as she looks over towards Nimble, "It be fun to go."

ShadowedSong says "Yay! off to the party we go!!!"

Nimble_Hooves looks between Dusk and Melody. "I-I s-suppose I-I could go... i-if you are both going, that is..." He sighs and steps closer to Melody. At least behind this costume he doesn't have to worry about ponies looking at him.

[Derpy]

The following scene, also from Halloween night, took place at the party mentioned in the previous scene. It developed oddly from OOC comments, as such things sometimes deliciously do.

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

<OOC> Fluttershy tries to relax so she can play.

<OOC> Berry_Punch offers a Sorrein chestnut stomper's traditional back massage!

<OOC> Fluttershy has no idea what that means, so she accepts.

<OOC> Dusk hopes she didn't need that spine so much. :-)

<OOC> Berry_Punch walks slowly back and forth on Fluttershy's back with big broad hoofshoes made of balsa.

<OOC> Fluttershy is slowly flattened.

<OOC> Dusk parties like it was 1799.

Berry_Punch gets off, picks Fluttershy up like a throw rug, and waves her to floof her out. "Feel better?"
Dusk watches and smiles. An impressive looking job!

Fluttershy foomps back into shape. "thanks you"

"No prob!" says Berry. "So! Kinda surprised to see you out on Nightmare Night. And at a party, no less! What happen--you loosen up all of a sudden?"

Fluttershy, still a fountain. "Oh, um, w-well...you could say that." She lifts a forehoof and smiles delicately.
Haunting_Melody looks around as she hears Fluttershy and heads over, well to Flutershy a big griffon does, "Hey there Fluttershy." she says with a smile.

Dusk nods, "Yes, I really like the pink tailed fountain look. Very creative. Ah and hello, Miss Melody. A nice little party here. Thanks for showing us, Miss Punch." He enjoys a sip of a drink as well.

Some random stallion dressed as a basketball player bumps into Fluttershy and spills his drink a little. "Oops! Oh, sorry. He looks around at the group. "So, how 'bout that weather? Pretty top notch lately, huh?"

<OOC> Dusk says, "Hadn't considered it, but yeah.. Weather talk with ponies is probably a lot different than with people. With ponies it's more about the job the weather ponies are doing and the results of such. :-)"
<OOC> Haunting_Melody giggles, "Hehe yeah, Haunting was talking with a friend about having a party, and was like, "We should have a outdoor party weather ponies permitting, I' should go see about putting in a request, they are always booked weeks in advanced."
<OOC> Berry says, "The weather ponies must make for a nice superstition! I hope real meterologists start attributing weather to 'the weather ponies'. "

SPLoOSH. "Oh dear." Now Fluttershy's fountain is full of that guy's drink! "H-hello," she says, to the griffon. "Um...h-have we met?'

<OOC> Dusk says, "That would be cool, and funny. And more imagine the weather is scheduled for the area ahead of time. But I don't see why you might not be able to hire a couple for special occasions for a smaller area."

"The weather is lovely. It's been keeping my fountain perfect."

<OOC> Haunting_Melody nods, "Well I assume thereis a certain requirement for weather, amount of sun/rain, but you can change that, like if ponyville doesn't need rain you can request a sunny day for a picnic or such, but might come into conflict if the apples want rain so you need to schedule and probably need to request weeks before hand.

The current pose order is: {Haunting_Melody Dusk Berry_Punch Fluttershy}.

<OOC> Dusk nods, "That's something the show could really go into and do an episode on. We saw them getting ready for winter, but not more regular day to day stuff."
<OOC> Dusk says, "And we did have the one episode where they had the short-notice storm to make up for a shortage in rain."
<OOC> Haunting_Melody nods, "Like in a year maybe 100 sunny, 100 rainy, and the rest you can work out :> SInce too much rain isn't good, but too much sun isn'e either.
<OOC> Dusk says, "And your pose, Haunting. :-)"
<OOC> Berry_Punch just assumes Haunting is saying all this in character!
<OOC> Dusk says, "Could work yes. :-)"
<OOC> Dusk says, "We we're all having a big meta convo about the weather."

Haunting_Melody tgiggles a bit as she smiles, deciding not to remove the costumes head, as she doubts Fltutershy would survive that, even if she has improved, "It's me Fluttershy." she says.

Dusk nods in agreement, "Yes the weather team did a great job for Nightmare Night. Just perfect. Dry with just enough clouds to fit the mood. And a wonderful full Moon by Princess Luna. I think it even looks bigger than usual somehow."

Berry_Punch wanders back with a new red-pink drink in a glass whose shape would make exotic fountains look boring. It has holes and rotational localized symmetry and tiers and is possibly toplogically equivalent to a Klein bottle. "Are you guys still* talking about the weather? This is supposed to be a Nightmare Night party! Where's the thrills!? Where's the scares??" Someoe obligingly throws spiders on Berry and company. Rubber ones, but still. "Okay, that's better," she acknowledges.

Haunting_Melody giggles, "Show me the mirror and I'm sure you be getting lots of scares, I could try something, maybe a imptomtu concert?" she asks, "that would certainly give this pla ce a atmosphereic look."

Dusk blinks and then chuckles as rubber spiders are tossed. Hopefully Fluttershy won't get too scared, thinking real spiders may getting hurt. "Well, the subject did come up." He grins, taking another sip of his own drink. "Well we have had quite a number of creepy things on Nightmare Nights past. Maybe this one will be a bit more normal at least. But still fun is good!" He nods to Haunting, "Could do that, if it won't disrupt the rest of the party." Maybe a spooky song would have an interesting effect.

Haunting_Melody nods her head, "Well maybe all the spooky events on Nightmare moon were used up during Luna's nightmares a few moons back." she says with a smile and thinks, giving a small giggle and begins to sing, bad moon arising.

Fluttershy blinks. "It's...you?" She lens in a little closer, peering at the griffon. "Are you...Melody?" She shrugs off the rubber spiders.

Just at that moment, according to the dictates of sweet and sour fate, a flash glints at the window, and a split wave of cerulean and viridian accompanies a face that just might be smiling, or might be shocked. It's gone in a moment, and Haunting Melody was the only one who happened to see it.

"Of course it's Melody!" says Berry Punch. "What, you think we were chatting with a real griffon? Yeah, I recognized her voice. She's got a better voice than any griffon! Good at making illusions, though, if you know what I mean!"

Dusk smiles as Fluttershy catches on to who the griffon is, especially as said griffon illusioned pony starts to sing her song. He does look up as there's a flash of light, even if he doesn't catch the face at the window. He agrees, the voice is the easiest give-away for it.

Haunting_Melody smiles as as sings slowly nodding her head as she gets a little bit into it, cobwebs and spookyish things start to appear around them, nothing big, just decorations and such, giving the place a more haunted look, though she then catches sight of something in the window making her catch for half a second trying to squint but it's gone and her singing picks up as she begins to dance, and then everything goes dark, as if somone turned off the lights, except they are outside.

<OOC> Haunting_Melody giggles, "Basicly anything not light spell isn't appearing to give off light :> So using a spell will work, but any street lights or such won't be visible or anyone till someone tries.
<OOC> Dusk says, "Spooky. :-)"
<OOC> Haunting_Melody giggles, "Actually that wasn't Haunting, Luna forgot to pay her electric bill so they shut off the moon.
<OOC> Berry says, "Is that how that works?"
<OOC> Dusk says, "On Nightmare Night no less."
<OOC> Dusk says, "Or blew a fuse or something. :-)"
<OOC> Haunting_Melody hmmms, "Should it just effect the square, or all of Ponyville?
<OOC> Dusk says, "I would have thought just here in the party, that I'm assuming is indoors somewhere? But I don't know the extent of Haunting's powers. :-)"
<OOC> Berry says, "Depends how long it's likely to last? Up to you!"
<OOC> Haunting_Melody hmmms, "Didn't we decide they are a little bigger then the square to the middle of MRC?>
<OOC> Haunting_Melody grins, "Thats assuming this didn't boost her illusions too.
<OOC> Haunting_Melody grins, "I'm thinking this lasts till dawn :> They wanted a spookier atmosphere well she's giving them it :>
<OOC> Dusk says, "Oh yeah on how far she can make it reach, yes."
<OOC> Dusk says, "So yeah go for it. :-)"

"Who turned out the lights?!" calls Berry Punch. A fair number of other guests express similar sentiments. Ponies start to bump into things.

Dusk is also glad to see Fluttershy is doing fine at the party. It's nice to see her out on NN. But his attention is more drawn to Haunting now as she gets into her singing and the growing illusion, especially as the room, even the whole area seems to grow dark as if most all the lights had been turned off. An interesting effect!

For a few moments all you can sense is the singing as mist starts to come up from the ground that glows, giving everything a very dark shadowey existance, with things that you see just out of the corner of your eyes but you can't look at when you try to turn back towards, a low moaning soundcomes from around everyone as the singing grows quieter, more to the background.

Berry starts to drum on ... something. Giving the moaning a beat. At least you think it's Berry Punch. It somehow smells like something Berry Punch would do.

Dusk is getting into the music as well, and the growing effect of Haunting's illusions. She's gotten even better than the last time he's seen her perform and the area is changing to fit the mood of the song. Especially as more ponies start to get into and enjoy the show as well.

The mist grows more and more and almost looks like it's dancing in the air, hints of lightning flash through the sky with thunder, as more shapes appear in the shadows, a feelikng like things are watching them, her singing growing even more in strength but remaining in the background.

The party ponies run out the door to get a better look, or to escape, babbling in fear and wonder and, in some cases, in a beautiful memorable mixture. Berry Punch keeps the beat. "Ooohhh, laaa laa laaa, na na naaaa... NIGHT TERRORS!" she sings to a made-up tune.

Dusk definitely finds it much more of the NN spooky kind of feel rather than just outright scary. Even if he didn't know Haunting. But then some ponies are easy to startle of course. But seems most of them are indeed enjoying the singing and some are even getting into dancing with it too, even as the mist and special effects become more predominate. "Ooo very nice performance," he comments, but quiet enough not to interrupt at all.

All over Ponyville the singing of Haunting can be heard,nothing directly happens to anyone, no one is in danger other then maybe each other as objects that appear in the mist take the foorm of the various things that they might actuall bump into, the next song being this is Night Mare Moon, more and more things happen as it progresses, but never too scary, the singing while having a haunting tone to it, is almost comforting as if the singer is with them.

<OOC> Fluttershy was a ninja clone!
<OOC> Dusk says, "Yes, scary Fluttershys are appearing all over town now as part of the illusion. :-)"
<OOC> Berry says, "This could actually be our ending spot if we wanted."
<OOC> Berry says, "And I could announce that this is happening!"
<OOC> Dusk says, "I'm good whichever way folks want to go. But yes, heading on 4am here. :-)"
<OOC> Haunting_Melody giggles, "This is the kind of fun rp that could last a few days oocly or week :> At the least it be fun to rp other parts of town :>
<OOC> Fluttershy says, "So the cardboard Fluttershies are back. :I"
<OOC> Fluttershy will...do what you want!
<OOC> Fluttershy has held things up enough. u.u SOrry, there were cat emergencies.
<OOC> Dusk hopes the kitty is doing well!
<OOC> Berry says, "Cattyy wants carrots"
<OOC> Fluttershy says, "THere were THREE kitties, and they're fine now."
<OOC> Berry says, "All satisfied and tucked in?"
<OOC> Dusk is glad you found time to schedule them in!
<OOC> Berry_Punch hears that in Fluttervoice
<OOC> Berry_Punch grins.
<OOC> Dusk smiles.
<OOC> Fluttershy says, "ANd fed."
<OOC> Fluttershy brought them a midnight snack.

[Derpy]

And now a third scene, also from Halloween night, in which the second pony is affected and ghostly illusions and music begin to infest a darkened Ponyville...

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

Nimble_Hooves wanders back into the Town Square. He had slipped away from the party as another wave of inspiration hit him. He slipped the device back into the pocket of his costume. He didn't want Dusk to see it, not just yet. Dusk would just think that the mirror had affected him, but that wasn't the case at all. He felt good, never better in fact.... Then he looks about. Something is not quite right. Darker amd more mysterious than usual.

Haunting continues to sing night mare night like songs as everything has both a spooky, terrifying, but also fun and comforting feel to it, no none magickal lights visible and glowing mist everywhere.

Berry_Punch grooves along the street to something suspiciously like the Ghostbusters theme song. "Wooohooo! I LOVE NIGHTMARE NIGHT IN THIS TOWN!!" she shouts, and her words can be heard for blocks around.

Nimble_Hooves jumps slightly as he hears Berry Punch's shout. He looks about and waves a hoof as he makes out a familiar face in the odd mist. "H-Hello Miss Punch.... Y-you look like y-you're having fun."

The shadows continue to swirl around with the mist as she's having too much fun, lost in her illusions and singing, and wanting to turn this into a great amount of fun, after all the towns not scary right now, but she's mae it better!!.

Berry_Punch leaps in place! "Oh hi, Nimble! Yeah, this is cool. Ghosts and stuff everywhere! I just had a pretend conversation with the inventor of the wine press! How're you doing? A little hard to find our way without light, but the phantasms glow! Good thing I love following people!"

Nimble_Hooves blinks at Berry oddly. "I-Inventor of the wine press?" He quietly wonders if the mare had been imbibing a little too much product from one of those presses. Then an idea hits him. "W-what was he like? Y-you know, I-I could probably make some pretty good improvements to wine pressing." He then looks about again on the mention of Phantasms, but he doesn't seen anything. Yes, a little too much wine for that mare.

Nimble might feel the pressence of Haunting nearby while she sings her songs, and the atmosphere grows till it's surounded most of Ponyville thougyh it does start to weaken a bit the further you get from the center, as the shadows play tricks with the eyes taking on shapes like ghosts and ghouls and other things, the faux lightning and thunder adding to it all.

Berry_Punch shrugs. "Well, you know, this ghost fest is showing us what we want to hear, so I filled in the blanks myself. But I imagined him as a pretty savvy guy! You know, up on helping ponykind advance, wanting to put stuff together but still have a good time. Wore a cool scarf even though it's not that cold tonight. How about you?"

Nimble_Hooves looks about, "G-ghost fest?" A figure moves in the shadows nearby, but he quickly dismisses it as another pony in costume. There have been plenty of those on this night. "O-Oh... I-I am okay. I-I had to pop away b-before to fix something, b-but it is all o-okay." There is a flash of faux lighning and a rumble of thunder. "W-what w-was that? -I thought I-I fixed this thing." He pulls a small box from a pocket in his costume: a small metal box with a single button on it. He presses it. Suddenly a much more real flash of lightning happens overhead followed by a loud rumble of thunder. Nimble barely reacts. "Hmm... working perfectly... That's odd."

"Hey, don't worry!" says Berry. "They're not real ghosts! Just... you know, illusions. Most of them dance to the music anyway." She dances herself in her short pants and big round shoes. "Whoa!!" She looks up. "Did you do that? What'd you do?"

There is a slight shift in the singing at the actual thunder as she wasn't exactly expecting that, but she soon recovrs, and the singing returns to normal, as she sends out more illusions of spirits and such floating around and spooking ponies for fun.

Nimble_Hooves smiles to Berry, "O-oh? This?" He shows her the box. "J-just something I-I thought of w-while making my costume. I-inside this i-is half of a special crystal.... p-paired with another in a device up in those clouds. Wh-when I-I press this a small hammer strikes the crystal, this induces a magical charge which is mirrored in the other crystal. Th-the charge then sends a spark into the cloud which then causes the cloud to release its own charge, as lightning. S-simple really." He smiles simply, until he is distracted by another shape in the mist... This one glowing for some reason.

Berry_Punch's jaw drops. "That is amazing, Nimble. Wow." She looks up, and back to his crystal. "Uh... and... maybe a little dangerous? You know, uh... there's a reason weather ponies don't even deal with lightning directly." Berry hates being a pooper, but sometimes you just gotta poop on a situation. She looks up at the new glowing shape. And shivers. "You know... that Nightmare Night may be getting just a *little* actually spooky."

Haunting_Melody is enjoying herself far far too much, and as those involved get spooked or have fun things grow as some things take the glowing shapes of amorpheous ponies, no real defined shape, just something that is there, and then isn't, and then elsewhere and so on.

Nimble_Hooves nods to Berry Punch. "W-well, this is safer, b-becaue I don't need to deal with it directly. I-I was going to show Mr Dusk, b-but then he started talking about that mirror. I-I saw the mare, b-but I-I'm okay, really. I'm not obsessing over my cutie mark at all. I just had a good idea is all." He looks at the glowing figures in the mist and remarks towards them. "A-A little spooky, b-but th-they look familiar..."

Berry_Punch blinks. "I didn't say anything about your cutie mark! What is it even? A gear or something? Come on." She sidles over to the eaves of a big-eaved house. "This is a little scary. I'll tell you, I don't want it to rain right now. Your thing isn't gonna make it rain, is it?"

The illusions begin to take more substantial forms as she decides to bring it another level, the illusions being more personalized, the spirits and things taking on forms of someone that the ponies might expect, as the illusions tailor themselves to give each pony a night to remember in their own way.

Nimble_Hooves seems surprised when Berry mentions his cutie mark. "A-a gear? W-well kind of... there are two silver horseshoes s-surrounded b-by the outline of a gear. Th-the horseshoes aren't normal horseshoes, i-instead--" Suddenly he clamps his mouth shut. He's about to obsess over his cutie mark. Just then a familiar filly dances past followed by a couple of sheets of music drifting in a breeze. It was the same filly that had been in his dreams while Mare Crisium was about, except this one was here... and she was glowing.

Berry_Punch sees it too. "Eggplants," she murmurs under her breath. She runs from the music sheets, and the ghost, and then sees someone she knows from up on the Unicorn Range. "Oh. Oh Wow. Poindilly?" She backs away rapidly into a doorway. "You're a ghost now? Tell me you didn't die." A tank of eau du vie follows after in foamy gray, increasing Berry's horror.

The dancing Hatung continues to spin around, her form changing land looking almost like a mirage, but warm at the same time, the image that Berry sees dances around too in a rather odd way, not quiet looking right, like it's more a memory then a full actual pony, almost like seeing it in a warped funouse mirror.

Nimble_Hooves sees another figure in the mist. A large unicorn. But before its details become clear, Nimble quickly closes his eyes and shakes his head. "no, no, no..." He whispers. At this the unicorn abruptly vanishes. It really would have been a ghost for Nimble. He quickly steps to Berry and touches a hoof to her shoulder. "Th-that isn't a ghost, Miss Punch..."

Berry_Punch watches her friend from the range dancing, and her own dancer's spirit saps away. Her eyes widen and her haunches stiffen. "Then... what is it?" she asks Nimble softly.

The image that Nimble sees fights to form for a moment and then vanishes as if recoiling, and the song falters again, going silent, as the illusions and figures one by one disapear as mist, and the darkness, lifts slowly like a fog.

Nimble_Hooves blinks at the figures as they disappear one by one and the mist fades. He looks to Berry. "I-I think th-they are just a-an illusion..." He pauses for a moment. "A-an illusion from s-somepony I know. I-I just hope that she i-isn't in trouble." Beneath his costume, his face is now creased with worry.

Berry_Punch nods nervously. "Haunting Melody, right? The singer? Yeah, I was at a party with her. She's..." She looks oddly at Nimble. "I think something went hayjuice with her. I hope she's okay." She pauses. "I hope you're okay." Then, overwhelmed with panic, she runs off down the street.

Haunting_Melody appears after a while a weird look on her face as she looks towards Nimble as she looks a bit sick to her stomach and turns to head off, she ws having fun, but she's not sure what mwas getting into her there, she just kept singing and singing and the illusions grew, she was enjoying it, untill it was like biting into a rotten tomato in a salad, now she's not sure what happened.

"H-hayjuice? O-Oh... I-I hope not. Wait--" Nimble steps to chase after Berry, but she is too fast for him, and likely not much help anyway. "O-Oh no... I-I hope she's okay." He turns back toward the party, but can't see her amongst all the other ponies about. "M-Miss Melody? A-Are you there?"

Meanwhile, Berry turns a corner and finds herself staring into the dark purple eyes of a turquoise mare with a face marked by nerves recently let loose, and a smile scared to be itself. She shakes her head in surprise, and is about to say something when there's a flash of silver...

<OOC> Nimble_Hooves says, "Oh dear..."
<OOC> Haunting_Melody Blinks.
<OOC> Dusk says, "Uh oh."

Haunting_Melody is there on the other side of the square moving away slowly, least it seemed like most of the ponies had fun for the first little while, hearing the calls from Nimble as she perks her ears up and looks around in his direction for him.

[The scene may have continued, but this is where I finally went to bed.]

[Derpy]

From November 1st, All Hallows' Day, we have the following scene in which our heroes scramble for direction, still on an illusion-beset Nightmare Night. Introducing the shy little schoolfoal, Jay, and reintroducing the ever-delightful Memoire Musique.

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=


ShadowedSong shivers near a wall, trying her hardest not to look a scared as she feels

Were there two fountains here before? Fluttershy is doing a stellar job of blending in. "W-where did everypony go?" Her head pokes out from her costume, like a turtle.

All of the ponies are visible if someone walks around and sees them, but very short viewing distance as the singing continues one can ocasionally see a slightly brighter pony dancing around, a few things show up in the fog, just visible, shapes that appear like ponies, mayube something someone knows, but not quiet, even the ocasional animal, flashing of lightning in the sky with thunder.

Derpy shouts "Attention, ponies of Ponyville! It's a relatively warm Nightmare Night. Suddenly, the lights go off--including the stars and moon! The only lights you can see are (A) light produced by magical spells and (B) light from the spectral figures floating and freewheeling through the town! Ponies, ponylike figures and other shapes that may be relevant to your life are floating everywhere at different speeds, glowing white, and accompanied by haunting music with a lively underbeat! This effect is strongest near the center of town and weak around the periphery." (Public-shout)

Dinky wanders through the town's streets, alternately wincing and squinting and staring in disbelief. Now and then she pauses to shout and swear at the night in general. The hallucinations have her on edge. "What in the salty &$*# is going on??" she demands as she happens to wander past the fake fountain.

Memoire_Musique wanders into the town square, dressed in her most terrifying costume yet. Her coat has been dyed white, and her mane magically lengthened and tinged black, her eyes turned black as well. Blood (fake, one hopes) drips from her mouth down her chin and front. She's still smiling though, with a mouthful of razor sharp teeth. Archimedes, her filly-sized giant spider pet, skitters along beside her, wearing a tuxedo and a top hat. She doesn't seem to be even the least bit scared or frightened! It's nightmare night after all!

Derpy stops short, seeing someone spooky as fun homework but at least not translucent and white. "Oh. Hey. You're the Memory kid who calls me cousin, right? It is you under there, right? Dinky is wearing nothing but a necklace made of spiders and a pair of rad sunglasses on the top of her head. "Do you know what the #@& is going on?"

The music continues, this time doing another rendition of It's Nightmare Night, as the singing tries to be comforting, though it isn't always sucessful, as each pony ses things that it might have seen in the past that spooked them, or someone they once knew.

Memoire_Musique gives Dinky a look. "Is Nightmare Night, cousin!" she says, hugging a little. Archie holds up a sign that says 'I'm not dangerous. I'm just a spider in a tux.'

Fluttershy shouts "Fun fact: October 30th was the anniversary of Bohemian Rhapsody." (Public-shout)

Derpy lets herself get hugged, albeit ruefully. She glances with equal rue at the sign-wielding spider. "Right. I got that." She dinks the necklack of spiders around her neck. "But why's there all this weird music playing everywhere in town... and all the ghosts or visions or whatever?!" She points at an approaching spectral pool table.

Dinky lets herself get hugged, albeit ruefully. She glances with equal rue at the sign-wielding spider. "Right. I got that." She dinks the necklack of spiders around her neck. "But why's there all this weird music playing everywhere in town... and all the ghosts or visions or whatever?!" She points at an approaching spectral pool table.

Memmy giggles. "I dunno! Fun though!" she says, humming as she trots through the hallucinations, looking quite pleased and happy. "Let's go to the middle and find out!"

Dinky siiighs and trots along. "I guess maybe we'll find someone who knows something in the square," she agrees. After a while, she asks: "You a vampire?"

The lights and things continue their show as the singing goes only ans Memmy and Dinky might spot a glowing pony that almost looks like a griffon going by as the singing gets a little bit louder.

"I'm a scary ghost that crawls out of movie screens! And I got hungry on the way over so I had some fresh fish! It was yummy." she says, humming to herself again. "Hello miss Griffon!" she says, waving energetically with a wing.

Fluttershy is scooting along in the form of a fountain...which has a school of saponies doing a synchronized dance in its waters now!

Dinky does a double-take and looks at that fountain again. "Holy cheesebuckets. Fluttershy? Is that you?" She pokes at one of the seaponies. "That's pretty wicked, those seathings in there." She looks back to Memmy. "Okay, well... don't crawl on me or eating any fish around me, okay?" Sounds like she's not really believing the fish thing either. "Fluts, you know what's up with all this?"

ShadowedSong calls out, "Derpy? Is that you? Where are you?"

Memoire_Musique giggles and hugs them both! She's so happy to be here with her friends on nightmare night! She flutters up into the air to get a better view!

Dinky calls out to the dark pony, "Yeah, it's Dinky. Hey. Do -you- know what's going on?" She hears the sound of screaming from the next street, or maybe two over. They're approaching the Town Square. She ducks to let the pool table hover over her head. "What do you see?" she calls up to Memmy.

Memoire_Musique hums as she looks around. "I see a pony eating pizza! And a skeleton of a pirate who's drinking the silly juice that makes the big ponies fall down!"

The shadows continue their strange weaving and the mist moves about alnmost as if it has a mind of it's own, ocasionally you can see the dancing griffon pony with butterflies near it.

Dusk wanders into the Square.
Dusk has arrived.

The seapony wobbles back and forth realistically. "Oi! No touchin' while I'm on the show!" It spits Dinky with a criously lifelike little jet of water.

Dinky has to admit things are looking kind of entertaining, sure. "The silly juice? Oh. Wine or whatever. Sure, well, maybe the pizza pony can help us? Lead the way, Mems." There are still illusions floating everywhere to catchy music in the otherwise dark town; a quack doctor with a pile of pills is currently approaching the Dinkster.

ShadowedSong runs towards the group, phantom pizzas chasing after her, and jumps into the fake fountain.
splashing water everywhere

Memoire_Musique flutters to the ground and starts to rapidly waddle over towards Shadowed Song as they jump into the fountain. "Hi! Mister or Misses pony, can you help us figure out what's going on?"

At about that time, a disheveled flying oven skims the streets, soaring only a meter or two up, because she's confused by the ghostponies and blobshapes and random creatures in ghostly white everywhere, and also because she has a unicorn colt following her! She looks back to make sure he's still back there, and manages to crash into an awning and fly around the post securing it in a circle, until it slowly sags and deposits her 'into' the fountain that Fluttershy appears to be dressed up as. Oops!

Memoire_Musique hums to herself and takes off, getting another aerial view and hopefully seeing somepony she knows!

Jay bites his lip when glanced at by an oven. The little blue colt is eager to help and curious to explore, but so confused and frightened by his surroundings that he's a little dizzy! He pauses for a short while before he trots forward some more to investigate the crash, his pace only slightly hastened.

Meep! Fluttershy is squished back down under her fountain turtle shell. "...I'm okay." The seaponies sync up with Shadowed Song. Shoo be doo! Shoop spooky doo.

Dinky is startled by the big crash in tthe fountain and goes to scurry behind a salescart. She glances at the little blue colt with disdainful curiosity on her way, but doesn't stop to say hi.

Memoire_Musique flutters down atop her cousin. "Come on! We have to say hello to the other ponies on Nightmare night!" she says. Archie skitters over to Fluttershy and bows deeply.

Dinky flails in surprise at the bloody-mouthed pegasus. "Waaaa!" She ducks and shakes herself into shape. "Are you not getting that something scary is happening? Plus, I don't wanna go out right now. I think I saw my mom."

Memoire_Musique blinks owlishly. "Something scary is happening?"

Lightning flashes in the sky with thunder, and even rain starts to come down, though no wetness to it, just the sound and the look of it as the moon peaks through the clouds giving off some light, though it doesn't help as it creates a dark rainbow from the faux rain, and the clouds just acentuate the spookyness.

ShadowedSong sniffs at the sea ponies, then jumps out of the fountain, "We have to find the Mirror, before she-" the thestral pauses, "before something bad happens"

Derpy finds herself crushed up against Shadowed Song. She leaps up and flaps out of the fountain, brushing drops from her wings. "Oh no! Rain!" she exclaims. Somehow the thunder and lightning didn't clue her in. But then it's not real, and she looks confusedly at her wing. "Is my feeling broken?" she speculates pitifully.

<OOC> Maplewing is curious as to waht is going on?
<OOC> You say, "Well, it's a relatively warm Nightmare Night. Suddenly, the lights go off--including the stars and moon! The only lights you can see are (A) light produced by magical spells and (B) light from the spectral figures floating and freewheeling through the town! Ponies, ponylike figures and other shapes that may be relevant to your life are floating everywhere at different speeds, glowing white, and accompanied by haunting music with a lively underbeat! This effect is strongest near the center of town and weak around the periphery. And now there's thunder, lightning, and illusory rain."
<OOC> Fluttershy says, "Nightmare Night is gettin' extra spooky."
<OOC> ShadowedSong says, "dun dun da!"
<OOC> Maplewing says, "so in other words Maple camps out at his sugar bush fo awhile. X-D"

"DerpyMama!" squeels an excited Memmy, flying full tilt into snuggling range of the bubble-butt mailmare. "Is such a good nightmare night!"

Jay stops again, sitting down! He breathes heavily, nervously pulling at strands of his thick brown mane! He's confounded! How has everything changed so much in this one night? Ovens don't ordinarily talk and fountains don't frequently flutter. Through lots of pondering and figuring, he has so far concluded that something weird is going on.

Derpy is indeed wearing a dark gray stone oven costume, which, while soft, is made of a stiff enough foam to make hugging non-trivial. It doesn't stop her from trying to hug Memmy, though! "Little bopper!" she says happily, eyes closing for a moment. She removes a half-eaten toasted muffin from her oevn compartment and gives it to Memoire. "Is good? I am scared," she confesses. "We're looking for Mirror. Is riddle and tricky, and I went to the school to look for blank little ponies to help search!" Her tail whips the seven bubbles on her flank. "If you see Mirror of Escalade... you will go cutiecrazy!!" Her eyes whirl around to punctuate this fact.

Memoire_Musique has no idea what derpymama is talking about, so will instead snuggle up happily. Such a sweet, innocent little thing!

Dinky keeps hiding behind the nerby cart, watching and listening and trying to avoid looking at all the symbols of sickness and hunger floating about her.

Memoire_Musique babbles to Derpy about her family. She's got a head for details, and provides a wealth of information about the goingson of the Memory household!

Derpy shakes her head, cuddling the filly dearly. "Not now. This is not gossip time. This is danger time!" She points to the false rain and lightning and ghosts. "There is dangerous mirror. We need foals without cute marks." She points to the little brown-maned blue colt she's brought along. "This is Jay! He will help!" She then lurches in shock and turns Memoire physically over and over, looking for her cutie mark. "Memmy! Do YOU have cutie mark!?" Of course she doesn't--the filly is much too young! But Derpy has forgotten.

At long last, Fluttershy pokes her head back out from her turtlefountain shell. "Um, umm,. I'm sorry, but...w-what is this mirror?" She glances around. "W-where is it? Maybe we should all just close our eyes and pretend..."

The rain appears to glow slightly and gives everything it 'touches' a transluscent glow, that seems to reflect the moon in every drop.

Jay isn't seeming to understand that some ponies are wearing costumes; he laughs a little to himself at the talking objects again. He's not sure why he followed the oven, but it seems friendly enough! He nods his head once in thanks. His eyes dart around and stare at folks as he shyly swishes his tail, its black-and-white strands visible in the glow of the night.

"Oh no," says Fluttershy, and she withdraws into her costume, shuffling backwards. She must still have her eyes closed, because she bumps right into the OTHER fountain. The seaponies are still going.

Derpy looks backward at Fluttershy. "Fountains are raining sideways," she observes. And then she looks back at Shadowed and nods. "Do you remember riddle? Riddle said about every spectrum part and bounty from itself and place created to celebrate and also electricity." That's when a strok of lightning zaps the cobbles only inches from Derpy, sending her flailing and falling back into Fluttershy again. She climbs indignantly out and finds herself standing in the real fountain, which is when she snubnoses and walleyes.

Memoire_Musique totters around as she listens to Derpy. "When do fountains rain sideways in every color?" she asks, waving to Dinky and trying to get her to join up.

Jay brushes his mane and the sides of his head as he listens to them, trying to parse what they are saying and how he can help! He has to help the oven-and-friends! "Where did you hear the riddle to begin with?" he asks.

Derpy tries to remember, tilting her head sideways to let fountain spray and fake rain drip out into the fountain. "From Marble Memory?" she says. "He is artifact keeper and is missing artifact! But tracking."

The night seems to sparkle as the singing grows a bit more in cadence, as the rain seems to dance, and the sound of it are in time with the music as she sings, all souls night.

ShadowedSong says "I don't quote remember the riddle, but i think we should go to the glasses store"

Derpy tilts her head and steps out of the fountain. "Why glasses? For seeing through white blob ponies?" She seems amenable to doing that.

It looks like Dinky has given up on this group and decided to go her own way, since she doesn't respond to Memoire Musique's beckoning.

Blinkblink. You can just see Fluttershy's eyes inside the darkness of her costume. "S-s-so, um..." She trundles back forward, doing her best not to look directly where she's going. It's not as if she's going to be able to hide with an illusory seapony chorus, but when she darts her eyes a little too far to the right, a glint catches her eye...

Derpy, meanwhile, is gathering with the foals. "The eyeglass shop is on Runaway Road," she says. "Shall we hurry? Maybe see clearlymore when arrive." She hops in place, her shoes that look like oven dials clacking on the cobblestones.

Jay nods to the talking oven. "Yes, I think that's a great idea," he adds politely. "It seems to be the best way to see through this situation," he adds, not intending a pun!

ShadowedSong rears up cutely, then starts walking towards the glasses store, Hopefully with the rest of the group following

... "Great idea, Derpy!" says a squeaky voice, even squeakier than you're used to. "We need to split up and search for clues." Fluttershy sticks her head back out, only -- she's already got glasses. Big, square glasses. And a turtleneck?

Apparently Fluttershy's costume concept is multilayered. Derpy goggles, unable to comprehend this. Then she shrugs and runs off toward Runaway Cart Road. "I will split with all the foals this way! You split that way!" she calls.

The rain continues to fall, the rain with no texture, though it almost looks like you would feel it as the rain takes on the outlines of figures, like ponies, that aren't there.

[Derpy]

This scene takes place in an eyewear shop! ShadowedSong suggested that such a place might be the answer to the riddle, so she suggested we come here and look around. I don't have the very beginning.

---

Dusk nods to Shadowed. "I wonder if anypony has been here, of late at least." The colorful glints on the floor catch his eye, and he tries to see if he can make out what it is.

The Better You Eyewear Clinic is your average Eyewear store, with rows of frames on the wall and a back counter. There seems to be odd marking on the floor, glinting a whole spectrum off colours. The shop is oddly deserted, with no signs that anyone had been there in weeks. there isn't even a cashregister or price tags anywhere.

Haunting_Melody looks at the markings, "Any idea of just what they are?" she asks as she gets a idea and tries to send her illusions towards the markings and see if she can make them more clear to se what they are.

Derpy is confused as she paces in, her normally silent hooves clicking with the pedestrian precision of the oven dials her shoes are meant to represent. Which is to say, very little. "It's lonely in here," she observes. "Is this open?"

"Hey!" That's Fluttershy's voice! And the glint of her big square glasses. "That was a great split-up, you guys." She, uh, doesn't sound like Fluttershy at all, actually. It's weird when she isn't whispering. "Wanna do it again?"

ShadowedSong looks at the markings too, and freezes, eyes wide

Dusk is indeed looking around in particular at the markings on the floor. He ohs and smiles, glancing up as Derpy and Fluttershy must have come in right behind us, seeing us coming this way into the eye glass shop. He turns back to the floor, then to Haunting, "Miss Melody, what do you see there on the floor? What does it look like?" He has his suspicions that it's not entirely what he thinks he's seeing.

Haunting_Melody blinks as he looks at the fog and sees butterflies, "Whats going on..." she says looking towards the otherse wondering just what is happening there, "I see...mist swirling around with butterflies...like my own flying around them." she says as he ears perk up towards Fluttershy, "hey whats going on?"

"I thought we were splitting up. Zowies," says Fluttershy, scuffing her hoof. "Have you ponies even been looking for clues?" She peers at the markings, snapping several quick Ponyroid shots.

Derpy looks embarrassedly at Fluttershy, raising a dial-encrusted hoof across her chest. She sets it down again in confusion. "Split up? But fearsome! Have not split up enough?" She wonders where little Memmy got off to. She peers at the pool. "Is bubble water," she reports. "Maybe somepony spilled their soda?"

ShadowedSong shudders in fear as she takes in what she saw. "No, thats not possible."

Dusk nods to Haunting, "And I see my own cutie mark symbol in the form of a nebula with stars going around it. And you are seeing something familiar to yourself. And Lady Derpy as well it appears. So it depends on the viewer. Ah excellent investigation work, Lady Fluttersy!" He does wonder about the curious behavior, but the photos are a great idea. "Might I see those once they develop?" Perhaps an image on film might reveal something different, not dependent on the viewer. And he nods to Derpy, "Indeed the shop does seem.. under used." Well not counting the magic symbol. He also wonders about what Shadowed may be seeing, looking so wide-eyed upon it. "What's not, Miss Song?" He takes a look at the photos as well.

Haunting_Melody blinks, "What are you seeing?" she asks as she begins to move around the store trying to see if any signs of anything else, like who owned the place, why it was abadoned and so onh.

Fluttershy's camera spits out a stream of photos, all at once. "It's a Ponyroid! They develop faster than you can blink," she announces, as Dusk is pelted with spooky clues. A kitten rolls in through the far window. "Oh, good, Ghost Cat. You made it. I think we found a lead.' Whether this kitten is a ghost is up to interpretation, but its sweater is divine.

ShadowedSong shakes her head in disbelief, "All my hopes and dreams, falling away into the mirror. My very destiny, eaten by obsession. Blank flanked forever!"

ShadowedSong sobbs, "why'd i have to look in the mirror!"

Haunting_Melody hmmms as she looks at the wall and knocks on things, "Umm...guys this isn't...a store." she says as she points to the walls, "this stuff..looks more fake." she says as she looks at things, "this whole place is weird.." her ears perk towards Fluttershy and the ghost cat, okay...thats weird....even for Fluttershy. She blinks and looks over towards Shadow and moves to stand between her and the images, "Look away don't think about it's effecting you.." she says.

Derpy steps forward instinctively and pulls the pegasus filly away from the markings. She opens the door of her oven and pulls the filly's head inside, into a warm place, for comfort, and raises one foreleg to pat her. The interior of the costume flashes orange.

Dusk shakes his head. This may be daytime now, but things are seeming at least as strange as they have been. He's particularly worried about Shadowed, but is glad to see when Derpy steps in and consoles the young pony. So then he is checking around for magic and such as Haunting comments about the place. "I would have to agree with you. And here, if we look at the photos, the image seems to be that of the Everfree."

"H-hey!" The cat tangles in its sweater, which is also a cravat. Fluttershy darts in front of it. "Zonkies! I think Dusk might have just made a breakthrough." She whips her head back and forth, looking at nothing in particular. "I-is it time to split up?"

Dusk whispers, "Thanks, Derpy! And yeah, I feel each has its merits, so try to come up with a way to test it different ways and see what I liked, and this just kind of worked out as a natural way without putting in a bunch of odd options to it. :-)" to you.

Melody looks around curiously as he spots Derpy helping Shadow and hmmms, "So it's the everfree?" she hmmms worriedly, "Well we should try to find Zecora, and better have all the filies stay in if this is how they will react."

Derpy looks confused. "Ee-e-ev-everfree??" she asks, still cradling the filly in her costume.

Dusk blinks at the 'ghost' cat as well, hoping it's okay. But he nods to Fluttershy, and the others, "Seems we have another clue yes! But to verify it.." He asks Fluttershy to borrow the camera, and takes a couple of photos of the floor himself, to see if come up the same, or something different. "And it would fit in with the research I was mentioning earlier about the Everfree as a possible location, and what Mr. Hooves said." He checks the fast developing photo. Well they're not all that super. He shakes it with his hoof for a few as if that will speed it up.

ShadowedSong shakes hee head, and sniffs the oven

"Oh! Okay." Fluttershy bounces on her hooves. "Right. You ponies go check out the Everfree. I'll look around the old mill!" She sweeps Ghost Cat onto her back, and away she trots.

Haunting_Melody looks around the place a bit more, "Well should we go as we are, or prepare some?" she asks before looking at Fluttershy, "Wait old mill why?" she asks wondering if she missed something.

Derpy patpats the poor panicked filly. She watches FLuttershy go, a bit dismayed. "What could Everfree?" She touches her shoe to the liquid curtly. "Is this in Everfree pool?"

Dusk shakes his head to Derpy as the photo develops. "Each pony that looks at it sees something different. I don't see the pool and bubbles that you do, Lady Derpy. I see stars and a nebula that looks like my cutie mark. Miss Melody sees butterflies. The photo shows the Everfree, so presumably that's what the true image or meaning is." Presuming his photo shows the Everfree too, and not his cutie mark image, then that would confirm it.

"Is every spectrum," reflects Derpy in wonder, her eyes shimmying up and down in efficient alternation to the sound of a harp.

Haunting_Melody hmmms at this, "Let me try taking a photo? See if it's different for me." she says as she looks at it curiously.

Dusk actually thinks a super-powered up Fluttershy might be a good thing to have if exploring the Everfree. Or could be very bad. But being Fluttershy, he'd much more lean towards the very good. We may need to round her back up when we do go.

[Derpy]

Next, we have a scene in the little-used Varnishing Act store, where our daring heroes went to stock up on supplies before venturing into the Everfree. But it's starting to become difficult for them to focus...

---

Varnishing Act
As you enter Varnishing Act, the first thing you notice is the scent of freshly cut wood - cedar, oak, pine, and so forth. This floor is one big 'studio' with no dividing walls - tools, benches, partially completed projects, and finished products are scattered about, somewhat haphazardly. It serves as Autumn Luck's main workspace and showcase.

The place is kept moderately clean, but there are still a few tools out and piles of sawdust and woodscraps here and there. Along the walls are cabinets and tool racks - on which you can see every sort of carpentry tool - files, saws, rasps, brushes, and so forth. Looking up, you'll notice that all sorts of things are hung from the ceiling and rafters, such as nets holding up pieces of wood and other supplies, as well as ropes supporting more projects and products.

A locked hatch in one of the back corners leads down to the basement. In addition to the lock on the hatch is a nicely carved sign that reads, "No Entrance - Employee Only." A spiral staircase leads up to the top of the shop/house - but a chain hangs across the first step, from which hangs another sign "I don't barge into your bedroom! Please do not go upstairs."

[ Exits: Outside, Upstairs ]



This is the spot, all right! It's a building with supplies--wooden wares, nets, maybe traveling equipment. Good for stocking up for a trip into the wilderness.

ShadowedSong says "all the rp"
<OOC> ShadowedSong says, "woops"
<OOC> Dinky says, "Was that your pose, Shadowed? That's like your "ShadowedSong says something relevant to the conversation" but more so!"
<OOC> ShadowedSong says, "put the wrong prefix"

Haunting_Melody comes into the building as she thinks about what they might need at the Everfree, she's never gone there, just to the edge.

ShadowedSong walks into the room sniffing everything, "This is a neat place!"

Speaking of going to the edge. There's a whistling sound, accompanied by a merry clackity clack on the hard wood floor of this hardwood store. The scent of sweet strawberry with a tart olfactory apertif--perfect for someone like Shadowed Song! This song may mbe shadowed, but not for long: it breaks into words that seem inevitable and beautiful before long, with violin and mandolin filling the air as if they were really being played: "o/` Today, while the blossoms still cling to the vine... I'll taste your strawberries and drink your sweet wine! A million tomorrows will all fade away... ere I forget all the joy that is mine... today! o/`"

Haunting_Melody looks around curiously for the source of the singing as she can't help but sway a bit in response to it her butterflies floating around her.

ShadowedSong oooh and aahhs at the sound effects, then proceds to nom a strawberry smelling table leg

Who do you think? It's Berry Punch, who has been here the whole time. She smells like a different perfume every time she turns to present a new shoulder, flank or haunch. She's wearing saddlebags half full of paper bags and wicker baskets of various kinds of berries, and she's generating her own music through sheer charisma. "o/` I can't be contentd with yesterday's glories," she sings as she sways closer to Haunting Melody. "I can't like on promises winter to spring. o/`"

Haunting_Melody looks towards Berry curiously wondering just what she is doing, "Something up?" she asks as she looks around the place trying to find any good supplies here.

ShadowedSong legs go of the table leg and goes over to Berry, "Hey Berry!" she says as she sniffs her

Berry_Punch looks benignly offended at the very question! "Of course something's up! Something's always up!" She looks around for the proprietor, but finds them not present, so dares to whisper to the others: "Did you know that gooseberries have twenty times the Vitamin C as oranges? And they can fight aging, brain disease and cancer!" She shakes one thigh, rattling a bag of nifty translucent green gooseberries. "Wanna buy a bag?" The music continues around her.

Haunting_Melody looks at her and then towards Shadow and hmmmms, is this the real Berry, or is she under the mirrors effect, in this town it can be tough, just look at Pinkie, she shakes her head, "I'm good for the moment, we were just about to head into the everfree and looking for supplies."

ShadowedSong nods, "Supplies are very important," She pauses, and gazes off into the distance. "Especially rope, a cucumber, three bags of rice, a ball point hammer and hot tea." she finishes in a montone voice

Berry_Punch looks oddly at the shadowed one. "What about blueberries? Can't forget blueberries. They'll keep down your blood pressure, which is useful on a day like today! Nightmare Night is more than just one night this year, you know." She twitches and gobbles a hoofful of strawberries. (A hoofful is the amount you get when you curl your hoof in against your cannon to grasp them. The More You Know!) Did you know that a cucumber is technically a berry? It's epigynous. And really god for you! So many trace nutrients!" She shakes her head to clear it and mostly fails. "What're you going into the forest for, anyway?"

Haunting_Melody hmmms, "Were looking for a mirror that causes problems, have you seen one recently?" she asks as she starts to whistle a bit of a tune while looking around, "Why do we need a cucumber?" she asks.

ShadowedSong looks at you you like its the most obvious thing in the world, "For the bookstand."
ShadowedSong giggle and noms a chairleg.

"Yeah!" echoes Berry. "For the bookstand!" She jerks. "Wait, what bookstand? Why are you bringing books into the forest? You need fruits! So many fruits! Don't you know the dangers in there all stem from life?!" Pun probably subconsciously intended. "And what better to fight life than life/ And what's more full of life than *fruit?!*" She grabs Shadowed by the whaatever he's wearing--Berry is still wearing her costume from last night of a traditional Sorreian chestnut crusher--and reiterates: "Fruit Is Life!" But then Haunting's words catch up with her. "A mirror? That causes problems?" She blinks. "Yes! Yes, I did see that! A hawker was hawking it. Right here on Seed Street!"

Haunting_Melody nods her head and hmmms, "Hmmmm you might want to check in with the others...this mirror sems to effect your cutie mark, make...you obsessed." she says as her whistling betwen talking grows and around the store vines and things stat to come up through the floor boards, or least look that way as berries grow.

ShadowedSong noms on some of the strawberries, "so, what now?

Berry_Punch flinches when Shadowed takes some her strawberries without paying, but she takes a very quick deep breath and softens. "Now? I don't know? Are we gonna do something about this mare with the mirror? I had no idea! At least, I don't think I did." She then spies the illusory vines and berries growing all around, and her eyes widen tremendously. She pounces at one growth of blackberry bushes! And falls through! And shakes it off and pounces at an elderberry shrub!

Haunting_Melody blinks at this as she looks around frowning at the berries, why are there...wait illusionary, she nudges them as she tries to get control of her thoughts and keep the illusions down, but it doesn't work that way it just keeps growing.

Berry_Punch tries to grab the berries a few more times before she fights her instincts and gives up, twitching. "Why... why aren't they real?!" she demands of Melody. "They look so real!! They almost smell real!"

Haunting_Melody shrugs a bit as she hmmms, "I...don't know why...I can't control it." she says in confusion as she looks around trying to focus on the berries and ignore them, "Unless those aren't me...but whas the odds of that." she says.

ShadowedSong prances over to Melly and pats her forleg, "don't worry, miss melly, we'll get this all sorted out soon."

Berry_Punch tries to make sense of it all while resisting the urge to chase every vine or berry bush growing in sight. "Yours? Oh! Yeah, you've got that whole..." She whirls her foreleg around and around at the knee, offhanded trying to think of the word. "...musical phantasmagoria, haven't you? Why can't you control it? This mirror gal get you too?" She shakes and stuffs a hoofful of lingonberries down her throat, and calms down.

Haunting_Melody hmmms at this, "I'm not...sure could be that, never seen this before." she says as she looks around at the vine, "so you shoule be...careful not to think about berries TOO much."

ShadowedSong looks at the illusionary vines, then begins to nom one, "tasteblike green"

"How can I stop thinking about berries??" the agitated berry grower demands, rushing from one fake one to the next. "They're the sacred comestible! Why don't *you* stop making all these berry ghosts grow?! That would help!"

Haunting_Melody shakes her head, "I can't...your making me thin about them even more." she says. grumpily.

ShadowedSong frowns at the two other ponies, " We should be helping each other, not squabling like foals

"And you're making *me* think about them even more!!" retorts a panicky Berry. She stuffs black currants into her mouth. "Make her stop!" she demands of Shadowed Song. "I can't concentrate with all these things!"

Haunting_Melody growls s she closes her eyes and tries not to think about it, but just makes it worse as the entire place starts to turn into vines and berries.

ShadowedSong stomps her hoof on the ground, "Both of you look at, concentrate on me. Nothing other than me in this room is real, nothing else matters, just focus on me."

Berry_Punch shakes her head again, and the shake continues down through her neck, her withers, her barrel, her rump, her tail. She looks at Shadowed. "Just you. Yeah! Just you. 'Cause you're the topping on the sundae, grilfriend."

Haunting_Melody opens her eyes and focuses on Shadow strongly and it works...now it's just Shadow thats a berry rather then the rest of the area.

ShadowedSong stares at her new, berry shaped form, "Well, Its a step in the right direction," she giggles

Berry_Punch stares at that sumptious little filly. "Makin' me hungry," she murmurs. But she pulls her attention away and looks at a display of timbers instead. "So. I'm obsessed." She reflects. "I'm obsessed? With what--berries? But I've always been obsessed with berries... haven't I?" She slaps her rump her her tail. "They're my cutie mark!" She struggles not to shift her attention away from the boring thing. "And why are we going into the Everfree, anyway?" Looks like she's part of the mission now.

Haunting_Melody looks around curiously as she frowns, well it went better then she thought, at least Berry isn't trying to pluck her yet, "It...seems so Nimble...was a bit hyper focused yesterday." she says.

ShadowedSong says "we are going to the everfree because of photos Flutters took of weird marking in a weird store."

Berry_Punch trembles again. She fights off the urge to mention berries. "Photos and markings, huh? And... where we going in the forest?"

Haunting_Melody hmmms, "Not sure, yet, thats why were here, were looking for supplies things we might need." she says, "Hopefully the solution to our troubles is in there."

ShadowedSong gazes with that far off look, "It will be."

"Huh? How do you know?" asks Berry, still staring at the timbers. She slowly moves around the store and selects some items for purchase. A stock of hemp rope, a net, a shovel, a few extra bags in case she finds some wild-goronwg berries and wants to haul them back.

Haunting_Melody hmmms, "Well we don't...but that seems to be it." she says with a small shrug as she tries to think about what was around her to get stuff without making berries.

Berry_Punch shrugs. "All right, then! Good enough for me." She scoops up some tiny low hudge blueberries and stuffs them down her gullet. "Count me in!"

Haunting_Melody nods her head and htinks, "Meet at the square in a few hours and bring what you think you need." she says.

Berry_Punch nods. She makes her purchases and dashes off, not wanting to be seduced by the fake tendrils and shoots of berry vegetation that cruelly isn't real! Because that injustice is more than she can beary.