Hurricane

Eloquence marvelled at the place with wide eyed enrapturement. There were so many ponies, even a griffon or two, and she believed she had spotted a dragon at one point, all conversing, drinking, and listening to the poetry as and when it came. It seemed the mix was quite... eclectic, sometimes, dark, depressing poetry, sometimes upbeat, happy folk music. It would have been a fair shock to her system, had her system not been dulled to the point of numbness by her three or four shots of Unyabsinthe. "The dragonfly must occasionally stop to drink," she replied to Ghostwriter with a silly grin upon her face, before seeking out Spotlight. She found her near the stage, having been removed from it by a surly looking stallion wearing a black cap and a microphone. "Forgive the cackling hyena. She has been sniffing at carcasses all day," she said, with a giggle. She pulled the mare back to the bar, where she began talking. And talking. And talking. "If you believe that she has been abandoned like the baby cuckoo, why not pick her up and take her back to your nest?" she asked. Once she had noticed the stallion talking to Writer, and, forgetting that it was her charge to keep Spotlight from injury, began to pace over to the table. She had almost gotten to them when she heard the telltale sound of a prima donna falling over, and she let out a sigh, turning back to where she had left the mare, her tail flicking against Writer's flank to let her know that they were around if needed. "You foolish Hyena," she said with a smirk upon her face, gently raising the mare onto her back, grunting a little at the weight. "As accident prone as the dodo bird..." she muttered as she walked back to the cap wearing stallion, to ask him if he knew of anywhere that had first aid capabilities.

It happened almost instantly. At the mention of the word Neferset, Neame lunged forwards, grasping the pony in her claws. "WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT NEFERSET!?" she barked, before taking a deep breath, setting the pony back down. "I'm sorry," she said, hanging her head, "but I have to know. Please. Tell me eveything you know about Neferset. She's the name of the griffon I see in my dreams... I just..." she began, halting as she felt a stab of pain in her temple. "Nngh..." she managed, before falling to one side, curling up slightly to try and abate the pain. "Every night... it's the same thing... I can't take it any more... I just want sleep," she said with a grunt, pushing herself back upright as best she could, claws shaking as she stood. "Cutlass, could you please get me a tea, Earl Neigh, with milk and sugar, " she said, pointing to her bits bag. "I think I might need to sleep soon," she said softly. "Miss Rainbow Dash, unless any of my companions have anything else to say, I believe we would be indebted to you if you could lead us to the student, this... Twilight," she said, adding, "and if you could let me know all you do about Neferset," as a reminder.

Truging through the snow, Eloquence shivered delicately. She was certainly used to warmer climes than this, and while watching her own breath as it escaped her muzzle entertained her for a little while, it had now lost it's charm, and she was shivering. "I feel that I perhaps should have dressed up for the weather," she confessed her body shaking as she tried to warm herself up by trotting in place. She was, of course, nonplussed by the store that had freaked Spotlight out so much; back home shaman and herbalists had done far stranger things in the name of the hunt for knowledge. She had known one mare who had been all but killed by a rampaging Tickbalang, and saved thanks to the timely replacement of several of her organs. "These potions do not look suitable for consumption," she commented idly, tapping at a curious blue mixture in a long, thin vial. She did, however, take one of them, paying for it with a trio of coins. "Perhaps it will make a good joke, however," she said with a chuckle. The cafe was an interesting place, no doubt, and the glowing sign made her laugh. "It glows like the firefly's bottom!" she said with a girlish giggle, dashing ahead and pointing up at it. "See how it shines!" she said, letting her excitement get the better of her for a few moments. She tried to maintain an aura of calm knowledge abot her at all times, but moments like that, the thrill of discovery, could send her into almost childish levels of exuberance. She entered last of the three, watching the neon sign, listening to it's buzz, before the cold got too muc for her, forcing her inside. She all but ignored the poetry for now, which was lucky for her, since it was a rather famous, and very depressing, little edict, about the madness a solitary death can bring about. "They have Unyabsinthe too!" she exclaimed, ordering a glass of the aniseed drink, sniffing it and shuddering as she did so. "It has been so long since I last enjoyed this drink," she said, gripping the glass in her teeth, knocking back the liquid in a single gulp.

It was little surprise to Cherry that Applejack had trouble with numbers. After all, Apples were large fruit, and usually dealt with by the bushel, or the half barrel. Cherries were much smaller, and, sold by the punnet. She also knew that the Apples weren't quite as business savvy as she was, and certainly not as advanced with their methods, her sorting machine alone was evidence of that. She smiled faintly, and leaned in a little closer. "Shure thing applepie," she said, using the embarassing nickname she had toyed with using back in dodge, but never gotten round to actually doing so. Her voice fell a little, so that she would not allow anyone close to hear. "What y'all hafta do with them big ole' numbers, is look at the front. If ah want 100 bushels, at five bits each, then insteada makin' it a huge numba multipled, make it a tiny number multipled. Jus' times the five with the one, an keep them zeroes where they are. It's five hundred bits, Applejack," she said, her voice kept level. She was not patronising the mare, notin the slightest, she saw a lot of potential in her, and oddly, felt a pang of selflessness run through her whenever she saw her in action. It was why she had offered her the job way back when in the first place. "Would y'all like me ta try speakin' wid' Applebloom again? ah cain't help but feel responsible, an' ah would hate to think ah've caused a dispute," she said calmly, as she paced around the little stand to where Applejack was waiting. In one swift movement, she lunged forwards, and swept the mare's hat from her head, holding it in front of their faces as she leaned in, her lips pressed firmly to Applejacks. She could taste the lingering acidic taste of apple juice even through her lips, her eyes sliding shut, prompting the farmer to do the same with a slight movement of her head. After a few lingering seconds of holding the kiss, she pulled back, but not before allowing herself a teasing lick of the apple pony's lips. "Mah mah!" she said, leaning back with the hat still on her hoof. "Y'all keep kissin' like that, ah might just get it inta mah head that Apples an Cherries should work togetha more often," she said with a giggle, placing the hat delicately back onto the mare's head. She unhooked her saddlebags, and let them fall to the ground with a heavy clink. "Ma Smith, Herr Strudel, there should be enough there t'cover a hundred bushels and delivery ta dodge," she said, addressing the two ponies with a bow. Of course she recognised them, what orchard folk in their right mind wouldn't.

Cherry smiled briefly as she watched Applebloom bound off again. She certainly didn't want to rock the boat any more than she already had seemingly done so, so she let the cute little filly go off about her business. The line seemed to be moving a little faster now, and she was soon at the front of it. She observed the colt who had been bidding with her settle his order with her, before pacing up to the little stand, in full swagger mode, so much so that she could have put Rarity to shame with her posing, were the ivory mare still around. "Well hai there Applejack! Y'all seem t'be doin' quite well fer yerself t'day! Maybe sellin' sweet kisses with yer fruit's th' right way ta go," she said with a smirk, gazing across at the mare. Tall, strong, orchard folk and willing to do anything, within reason, to save her farm, the orange coated mare certainly ticked all the right boxes. But she had left a few subtle hints to the mare during her stay at Cherry Orchards, and it had been either a decisive no, or an utter faiing to notice, neither of which bade well for her. "A hundred bushels of yer finest crop, mah dear, an don't y'all think yer gettin' outa kissin' this ole mare," she said with a smirk, knowing full well that she was likely drawing almost as much attention as the stunning stallion who had recently departed. "Of course... if y'all would like ta persn'ally deliver them ta Dodge, then, ah s'pose ah could be a little lenient on th' kiss. 's long as ah got mah return back there, and then some," she said with a sly wink. It was a shameless flirt, she knew, and probably wasted effort on her part. As she waited for the response, something dawned on her. "Oh, while ah rememba, ah may have said somethin' a lil' too much ta yer lil filly," she said, nodding towards Applebloom. "Do y'all remember tellin' me bout th' rodeo in Hoofbreaker Heights, an' about enjoyin' mango jam? Well, Ah told her, an' she seemed awful distressed. Ah think it may be time soon ta talk ta her 'bout the Fruits of the Fields," she said, referring to the talk most orchard folk have to listen to, about friendly rivalry being a natural part of farm life, but not to take it too far. "Ah don't need t'remind y'all 'bout what happened b'tween th' Bananas an' th' Blackberries," she added conspiratively.

The mare giggled at the filly's response, watching her charge about like a headless chicken as she contemplated her sister's supposed 'betrayal' of her apply nature. When the filly came bounding back, she placed a hoof upon her head, and smiled. "Now now, shugah star, y'all just ovareacted. Y'all gunna learn in time that apples ain't the only fruit. There's oranges, an mangos, and even cherries," she said, sitting down so that she were closer to the filly's eye level. Cherry waited for the exciteable little filly to talk about herself, nodding every once in a while, suppling the odd 'Really?' and 'Oh my!' when appropriate. She was surprised to hear that she was friends with a Zebra, they were somewhat rare outside of Unyasi. Perhaps she should visit the equine some time, she knew that the tales of their potion making skills had at least some basis to them, and, judging by her story about her brother and her teacher, this zebra might just be a herbalist. "Y'all just gotta take yer time an have fun, sweetie! Cutie Marks ain't earned, or hunted fer, or, well, found. They come at th' right moment, fer ev'ry pony. Ah ain't saying stop yer crusadin, ah'm just saying, stop expectin' yer mark. Like Ah was gunna say, apples don't hafta just like apples. Ah' orchard folk just like y'all, but ah grow melons an bananas alongside mah cherries, got special glass houses for em!" she said with a smile, leaning down to whisper in her ear. "Ah've even got a few apricots," she said conspiratively. "Mah point is, yer sister's still yer sister, even if she does like th' tastea some mangos! Heck, ah remember them mangos mahself, they were darn tootin tasty!" she said with a flourish of her hooves.

The griffon didn't want to admit it, but the words of Cutlass and Muffin had indeed cheered her up immensely. She was glad to have companions who believed in her, ponies who for once actually thought that the city actually existed, and wasn't just the delusions of some weird griffon who couldn't even fly properly. She let out a sigh, and wrapped her bandaged wings around the two, hugging them gently. "Thank you, both of you. I'm just not used to being this far out of my comfort zone... I miss my nest," she said with a faint smirk upon her face. Neame's ears and wings perked up at the mention of Daring Do. She had been shown comics and stories by Picture's aides, of an adventurous pegasus who had been all over the world, collecting treasures and exploring ancient ruins. If what Cutlass said was true, then she might have finally found a reliable lead. Of course, it was then that Muffin revealed the truth. The Griffon let out a sigh, and her perked wings flopped down against the floor with a clatter of metal. But then something hit her. This pegasus was apparently quite well known in this town. She was involved with it's Wrap Up, and she seemed to like adventure, especially is she cosplayed as Daring Do as a hobby. "Cutlass, Muffin... I think we should ask Miss Dash if she knows where we can find this student of Celestia. She might be able to help us in our hunt for the missing city," she said with a smile.

The zebra bard's smile did not waiver as the actress mocked her little speech, she knew that it was all in good fun, especially since it was she who had started the pseudo insult war to begin with. "Dear Spotlight, you are like the tickbalang, laughing at it's own shadow for being able to climb walls," she said, not knowing that this little parable would likely sail over the heads of both the ponies, for they were unlikely to know of the legendary Tickbalang and it's antics. Swiping the hat from the mare, she rolled her eyes, before placing it atop her own head, the headpiece resting nicely upon her dreadlocks. She shook to better settle it, before turning to Ghost Writer. "Writer, it is of course up to you, but I believe Spotlight and myself are both now prepared to spend our evening enjoying the finest roasted beans and depressing poetry that Trottingham has to offer. We three are the dragonfly, skimming along the surface of a magnificent lake, at dawn's break, ready to enjoy the rising sun," she said with a nod.

Neame reared back, and up, standing on her hind legs as she glared down at the now tan coloured pony, her blood boiling as Cutlass attempted to soothe her burned and dripping wing. She was all ready to bellow at this pony, when, all of a sudden, she let out a deflated sigh, and fell back down onto her claws, her head hanging low. She slowly folded her wings up, being careful not to knock over anything else. "I'm sorry. Everyone, I'm sorry," she said, addressing the shop in general, before turning to the pegasus. "And I am especially sorry to you, miss. It was rude of me to get annoyed when I was the one at fault. Please, let me buy you another coffee to replace yours, it is the least I can do," she said, before turning to Muffin Top and Cutlass. "I have to apologise to you two the strongest. I have been a pain to travel with," she said, sitting down next to the table the formerly rainbow maned pony had been at. "Perhaps we should abandon this quest... We have only come from Canterlot to Ponyville, and we've probably got a long, long way to go before we even begin to find hints of these ruins, if they even exist at all..." she said, her head hanging low. She took a deep breath, and let out another sigh. "We should find this student of Celestia's, though... she might be able to tell me something about this dream, even if it doesn't help us with the hunt," she said with a weak smile upon her beak.

Upon seeing the troupe's prolific writer, Eloquence's grin grew even wider than it had been. She approached the mare, and touched her hoof to the mare's forehead, as a sign of respect. She fell into step between the two ponies, her dreadlocks bobbing about as she walked. "There is much planned, as the Dune bug has told. I shall tell you more, if I might be so bold," she said, before coughing a little. She had been trying to avoid rhythmic patterns in her speech, but every so often, they cropped in, a remnant from her time in Unyasi. "Forgive me. I was getting into old habits. There is much planned for the evening," she said, blushing lightly at her folly. "After the fabulous dinner, I had hoped we might take in a late night performance of poetry and fable. There is a small cafe not too far from here that stays open until late for just such a purpose. I thought perhaps it would be a nice rest from all the noise and bustle of the show," she said, knowing full well that Spotlight, the vibrant, energetic, and above all, extravagant pony, would not be so fond of the idea. "Of course, we could always find a club. Full of ponies, noisy like the cicada in the summer heat, chirruping away as they jostle and bump into one another, and make themselves rowdy and ruckus all the night long, with pumping music and these mysterious wubs I have been told of," she said, a devilish twinkle in her eye. What better way to persuade the notoriously reclusive pony to her activity than to remind her of what might befall her should she choose otherwise.

Cherry let out a hearty laugh as the little filly came bounding over to her, asking what the secrets were all about. The mare smiled to herself, ruffling the filly's mane with a hoof. "Hmmm.. well now, ah dun care ta mention special someponies, but she shure made quite the impression on mah workforce. Yer Applejack is quite the pretty pony," she said, remembering how her first day working in Dodge, she turned almost every stallion's head to her. She let out a loud giggle. "An ah remember, when she first turned up at mah orchard, she tried ta buck onea mah trees, kicked it clear o' the ground, an near twenty yards forwards," she said, remembering the apologetic way Applejack had gotten after doing so. The mare gasped at the terrible scent surrounding them, and pulled out a small but servicable hoofkerchief, holding it to her nose to block out some of the awful smell. "An as fer likin' orange, ah wouldn't know, but she did tell me that one time, at a rodeo, she was tryin' all these otha fruits, an she said that th' mango she tried tasted better than a lota apples she'd tried," she said, attempting to fan more of the scent away with one hoof, while still staying upright. She was enjoying herself immensely now, the little filly seemed to be hanging on her every word. "Shucks, she even had ta sleep wid a nightlight down at th' orchard, ta keep away spooks or some such," she said, before blinking, and coughing slightly. She had felt herself go into gossip mode, and felt she had probably stepped up to the line with that last piece of information. She cleared her throat, and leaned down to the filly. "But despite all that, Applejack's onea the best workers ah've ever met, she's humble, an she loves her family. She ain't no silly pony," she said with a wide smile on her face. "Now, enough about all this! Ah'd like ta know y'all, Applebloom! Applejack didn't tell me too much about ya, ain't that a shame. Y'all're just about the cutest filly ah ever laid mah eyes on," she said with a motherly giggle.

The crowds roars felt hollow in Eloquence's ears. She cared not for the whoops and cheers, the stomping of hooves in applause, it was not the reason she performed. She bowed graciously, though, and even had a huge smile upon her face as she followed on behind Spotlight, the real star of the show, nodding and smiling as fans jostled them. She followed her to the make-up room, where she removed the props from her own visage, and shook her knotted hair free, before tying it back into her trademark dreadlocks. She sighed faintly as she sat down there, watching Spotlight remove her makeup. "The story is over for another night," she said, wistfully, looking back out at the stage. She sighed again. That was the reason she did this, night after night. To spread the joy, the wonder of a story to as many people as she could, that was why she lived, and to get to tell one of the greatest, most well written stories, by one of the best writers in Equestrian history, was an honour granted to her by the leader of their little troupe, Ghost Writer. Once Spotlight had finished her nightly routine, she followed her costar out into the crisp evening air, taking a breath of the chilly evening. She glanced to the pegasus as she proclaimed to the skies above, and chuckled merrily. "Indeed, like the dune bug that works tirelessly all throughout the day, our work is done," she said with a happy nod, pacing on a little before turning back to her. "Perhaps we should seek out Writer. I do not think that she would have gone too far. Seek, noble dune bug!" she said with a bit of a flair.

The salacious and salubrious Cherry Jubilee sighed to herself as she waited in line. Was it that she simply had an appearance of an unapproachable pony, or was it that these Ponyville types were simply not ones to talk to relative strangers. Either way, she was feeling rather left out of the events that were occuring around her. Considering their past, she was a little surprised that Applejack had not paid her more attention, however, she understood that she was very busy with the promotion, and unlikely to enguage her until she was at the front of the line. She glanced to the small filly that Applejack had addressed as Applebloom, and smiled faintly. Little sister or Daughter, she was not exactly certain, but she was jealous of Applejack all the same. She had never had one so close to care for, even her parents had seemed rather aloof and distant when she was younger. "Why, Ah say there! Applebloom! Applebloooooom!" she called out, waving a delicately hooficured appendage to the youngster, with a smile upon her face. "Would y'all like t'learn some secrets about Applejack?" she said with a giggle. Wether sibling or offspring, she knew the filly would likely be unable to resist the promise. Of course, she was not one to create any drama, far from it. But she suspected that certain amusing facts about the Apple-loving pony would no doubt raise the spirits of the fiery maned filly, and it would definitely entertain her while she waited for her opportunity to purchase her bushels. That was, of course, if the filly was prepared to come over and listen.

Neame crashed through the door to the coffee house, her face still like thunder as she stormed up to the barista. "Klatchian Dark Roast. Black. Large. And a slice of apple sponge cake. DO NOT bring me pastry," she snapped, before pushing past a rainbow coloured pegasus to slump down in front of a table, groaning loudly. She stretched her wings out wide, shuddering. "Uuugh... This is ridiculous," she mumbled to herself, watching as her two companions ordered their food and drinks. "What am I doing, a treasure hunt? This is ridiculous, I shouldn't be here, I should be back in Canterlot, in my nice warm studio, painting. AAGH!" she cried out, not realising that she was speaking a whole lot louder than she intended to, her wings sweeping around as she gripped the edge of the table with her claws. Unbeknownst to her, she had been brushing her wings against the patrons of the cafe. In her last, angry outburst, she knocked the coffee from the winged pegasus hooves, scalding her own wing. "AAAHHH! OWOWOWOWOW!" she cried out, flinching at the hot liquid on her feathers. She hopped about, waving her wing to try and cool it down.

Removed for personal reasons

"Oh my! It's mighty good of y'all to say that, Miss Rarity, and ah certainly won't turn down an offer like that, ta have a dress crafter fer my by Ponyville's own seamstress, why, ah hear tell that you even made a buzz in canterlot wi' yer line up," she said, clapping her front hooves to the ground in excitement. She composed herself moments later, though, and adjusted her mane slightly, before coughing softly. "Ah must admit, ah'm a lil' bit excited about this. Applejack spoke so much about her orchards, ah can see she puts a lotta love inta her fruits. Gun be delicious, ah can tell," she said with a smile. Turning her attention to the rest of the line, she addressed the long eared equine who had recognised her, and bowed down graciously. "Well howdy there! Ah'm glad y'all like 'em, that recipe came ta me a short while ago. Actually, it was Applejack herself, an' her friends, that gave me th'inspiration. Ah just couldn't seem ta get th'idea outa mah head," she said, one ear twitching a little at the memory. Pinkie Pie, one of Applejack and Rarity's closest friends, had been rather... adamant on the cooking experiment, and that persistence had left a mark on the cherry baron. "Ah guess sometimes, y'all just gotta think outside th' box," she said with another genteel giggle.

"Comfy?" Neame snapped, her rage barely contained as she clenched her claws tightly. She had now sat up on her haunches, and her wings were spread wide, shining in the high morning sun. Her tail was now no longer twitching about, but was pointed directly behind her, at an angle, and her beak seemed to be extended a little, like her whole body had gotten a little bit more streamlined, like she was poised, ready to strike out at something. A predatory pose from the predatory creature. "Let me tell you about comfy! Seven days ago, I woke up at midday. I was woken up by an intern, who was so intent on giving my snacks that she went back out after finding out that I don't like pastries, and fetched me sponge cake. I awoke in a nest of canvas, which I love the feel of. I slid out of my nest at one, and painted until eight, when I went back to sleep. IN THAT... THAT.... THING, I WAS NOT COMFORTABLE!" she all but roared at them, pointing her claw at the hay wagon with a snarl. "It was demeaning! Not only was I trapped next to a Diamond Dog who would not stop pestering me for my jewels, but I had you, YOU, as my "handler", prattling on inanely about this trip and that adventure, while all I wanted to do, all I ever desired, was to sleep, silently, and without interruption. I detest vehicles, especially trains, and I had to endure EVERY. SINGLE. SECOND of it," she continued, pacing about angrily as her tirade continued. Eventually, she paused, her wings twitching as she sniffed. "I SMELL KLATCHIAN DARK ROAST," she spoke, her voice gutteral, hewn with desire.

Cherry let out a soft giggle at the colt's comments. "Well, ah shure ain't from Appleoosa, but Dodge Cherries're famous all ova this fine land of Equestria! Ah ain't made Cherry Apple Pies fer donkies years, though. Ah dun fancy yer had anythin' as good as these, shugah," she said with a smile and a wink, her trademark drawl seeming even thicker than usual. She had discovered a potential new soruce of income, and was doing her best to exploit it to the best of everyone's desires. She turned to the ice-white pony once again, and let out another giggle. "Shucks, ah reckon there ain't a filly among ya that'd turn down an offer like this! T'ain't evry day ya get ta take home a bushel of the finest apples around AND steal a kiss from that fabulous mare's lips," she said, having noticed all the murmurings around her about the offer of the kiss. "Though, Ah will admit y'all got a dainty charm to yerself too," she said, flittering her eyelids at the unicorn. Ponies were coming and going by the handful as the mare watched, taking in the rather hyperactive young filly and her grandmother, wondering if this was the Applebloom and Granny Smith that Applejack had mentionned in passing. Tapping her hoof to her chin, she mused upon this a little while longer, before returning to her ponywatching.

(Continued from http://www.canterlot.com/topic/8131-canterlot-the-neferset-installation-semi-open-pm-for-entry/page__pid__197658__st__20#entry197658) As the train pulled in to Ponyville, Neame emerged from the wagon she had spent most of the journey in, a scowl on her face and a crick in both her wings. She stalked over to the conductor, and snarled at him, before waiting for the two ponies to emerge from the carriages. It had not been a pleasant trip. The Canterlot train service had informed them that since there had been som many incidents lately of griffins running amok in the confined carriages, they had introduced a policy that all animals larger than ponies were to ride in the hay wagons. The wagons, filled mostly with their namesake, allowed for a soft if uncomfortable ride, but the other inhabitant of the carriage had been a Diamond Dog by the name of Rufus, who had spoken ENDLESSLY about the finer points of Lapis Lazuli, and who had tried to take off her golden ringlets several times during the journey. Now, she wanted to just get on with her journey. But first, she needed something else. "Coffee," she hissed as she glared at the two ponies, her feathers ruffled and her wings spread wide. With the glint of her gold and the position of her coif gave her the look almost of a fury, a taloned, winged beast so dangerous that there was rumours that Celestia herself had wiped them out centuries ago. Seething, her tail twitching like a cobra, she huffed a breath out or her beak, and reiterated her point. "Coffe. Now." she said.

Cherry nodded at the amusing little colt that seemed so determined to outbuy her. "Why, ah sure did cutie, y'all heard me right!," she said coyly, turning back to the line and the chaos that was so besetting the sweet apple acres. "Be sure ta keep an eye on the confectioners, cos Sweet Apples an Dodge Cherries are gunna be togetha soon!" She said with a flourish. Taking Applejack's words in, she smiled. "Looks ike we both get our apples," she said with a smile. "Applejack! Ah'm still serious about mah offer. Ah still owe ya fer tha work y'all put in fer me. Ah take ah'll just hafta take mah place at th' back o this lil line," she said. The elegant pony brushed her mane aside as she turned, and trotted back along the line, pausing at the white and purple unicorn, arching an eyebrow at her presence. "Why, if it ain't Miss Rarity! It is good ta know y'all ain't above linin' up an waitin' like ev'ry otha pony," she said with a chuckle. From what she had seen of the well groomed pony, she seemed a little too highly strung. But then, she had also entirely not seemed like a pony who would queue up for a kiss from a mare. "Although... it is also good ta know y'all got an open mind," she said, smiling graciously, flittering her eyelids at her before pacing on to the back of the queue. She glanced back down along it, not recognising any other pony in the lineup. "Seems a shame that none other of Applejack's lil' friends are here, ah'd like ta see them again, thank them fer their help in mah orchards. An fer cleanin' it afterwards," she said to herself with a chuckle.

The day had been a long one for Cherry Jubilee. She sorely detested the trains, stuffy, noisy things, but it was a necessary evil if she wanted to settle her mind. The past few months, she had been in a personal moral quandry. Applejack, the amazing rodeo pony that she had hired to push through the busy picking season had done the work of three strong stallions, and then blown out of town without even being paid. Now, however, she had been able to get the time off to track her down. Ponyville was a very different town to Dodge Junction, and she had at first been a little overwhelemed at the oddly jumbled layout of the place. Now, however, she had found her way to the Sweet Apple Acres ranch, where there was quite a rucus going on. She couldn't quite make out everything that was going on as she approached, but to her mind, something highly chaotic. As she trotted along, past the queue of ponies, she noticed Applejack looking rather flustered. She heard mention of a hundred bushels being bought, and a quick, professional's eye count of the stock told her that if that was the case, she would not get to sample the deliciousness that had been offered. And then it struck her. As proud as the pony was, she knew Applejack would never just take her bits. So she could pay her back another way. "Applejack!" She cried out, her voice carrying all around the orchard. "Ah'll buy yer hundred bushels fer double tha price! Ah've got Apple Cherry Pies that need a bakin, an ah need tha sweetest apples in Equestria!" she said, walking alongside the queue, letting her well-groomed tail waft gently from side to side, teasing it against each pony as she walked past. "An as a goodwill gestcha ta all these fine ponies, in addition ta what yer offerin, ah'll give each an evry onea them a delicious Apple Cherry Pie!" she continued, a contented smile on her face. Advertising for herself, AND the Apple family, as well as paying back her debt. This would settle her unease for sure.

MCM EXPOOOOOOOOOOOOO! Going straight after work tomorrow, will be back on Sunday evening, so will hopefully be more active then. Until then, however, do try not to fall apart without me

Neame shook her head. "He will never let me go..." she said, before looking up from her claws. It had finally dawned on her. Even though she was treated well, given almost everything that she could be in want for, she wasn't an artist. She was a pet. An expensive, money earning pet that Picture Frame trotted out on occasion to show his friends. Her studio was a cage, her art a leash, and most importantly of all, her world, a lie. She listened to the major's words, unsurprised to see him, and shook her head, gripping her claws into the expensively carpetted floor. "Thank you for your concessions, Major, but I need to solve this dilemma rather instantaneously," she said, before glancing to the mare in the hood, and to Muffin. "Muffin Top, you know the way to my studio, correct? I will require you and Ms... Hooded... to create a distraction, and then to flee back there once you have escaped. Mr Stronghoof. I will need your I hope considerable strength to do something unfortunate," she said, taking a deep breath. If this was going to work, she needed to rely on these three. "Miss Hood, in my studio, there is a collection of carry tubes, they contain personal sketches that will be useful. Muffin, escort her to the studio and help her find them. I also need you to find a large red bag, it will be very heavy. Major... lift the square statue over there, and smash this window," she said, trepidatious as to wether he would do such a thing. "Picture will never let me go. I need to run. I will meet you all at the train station in one hour. We need to head away from Canterlot," she said, looking over at the three ponies. Somehow, she had a feeling things were about to get very, very interesting.

Neame took a deep breath, and steadied herself. She could not believe that she had come that close to losing her composure, and in the presence of people too. She had asked Muffin along since she seemed to recall that he had travelled a lot, and, as a little voice in the back of her mind said, he would work cheaply if she required people to lift and carry things. She noted that the one other pony who had spoken favourably in her mind was also present, which was a fortunate boon. "I have money. Lots of money. I can pay," she said, knowing that there were thousands of bits back in her studio, and even more in her bank. The only things she needed to buy were food and art supplies, and with the gallery providing the latter, and usually the former too, she had no need to spend any of the money she made on her paintings. "But it's pointless... Picture Frame will never let me go out, he makes sure I never get it into my head to chase after the ruins... but... just once... I'd like to be able to say I'd been there..." she said, closing her eyes. She could see it as it was just as plain as day whenever she closed them. Her dream had long since burned itself into her mind, every colum, every brick was there, all she needed to do was focus and remember. The river running alongside the town, meeting another stream a little way down, the huge triangular building, everything was there. "Just once... I want it to have been more than just a fantasy," she muttered half to herself.

Neame blinked as she noticed Muffin in the background. The male pony had assisted him several nights ago, and she had not expected to see him again. Another question came from the same rough-around-the-edges mare that had asked before, and the griffon opened her mouth to answer, when the gallery owner pushed her aside. "Please, no more questions, Miss Neferset is growing tired, and I'm sure none of us would like to see her art suffer," Picture Frame said, before gesturing at some tables, where some canapes and drinks were being served. The griffon sighed, and trotted to the edge of the stage, her eyes locked on the mare. As the crowd pushed towards what it seemed they were there for all along, she headed for the asker. Grasping at the cloak with one of her claws, she hissed "Follow me," before heading to the next room over. She shot Muffin a glance to invite him along too, before emerging into the gallery's next room over, which was full of strange sculpted rocks. "I don't know if I'm descended from them," she said in low tones, hoping that none of the staff had followed her. "But as for it being real... it's... it's real. it HAS to be real. They can't just not exist," she said, a tinge of desperation in her voice. "I have to see them. For some reason, Picture Frame has stopped me from pursuing the ruins, maybe he wants me to focus on pictures, but... if I could only see them in person... I could make my images so much more vivid. I could... aagh... I need to see them," she finished, looking down at her claws.