MudBug

...Braeburn? Blinking at the pony she went a notable shade of vibrant pink in the cheek, oh goodness had she landed on him? She must have! Fidgeting she let out a nervous chuckle before her attention was brought to the o-SAKESALIVE! A loud bray of shock escaped her as she looked to Willow all a'glow and with the most terrifying looking set of eyes, was that part of her unicorn magic? Goodness it gave her such a fright, raising a hoof to her chest she let out a soft, losing lap to her hyperventilation as it settled and smiled thankfully to see the other filly. "Gracious, Willow, y'all but scared the fur offa me, but Ahm fine all the same." Came a soft titter as she used the outstretched hoof to steady herself. Straightening her scarf quietly as she tried to make herself look as unclumsy as possible after that...little crash fiasco. Oh heavens, Braeburn! Reeling in realisation she turned back to the colt and her ears drooped guiltily. "Oh Braeburn, Ahm sorry for landin' on y'like that...are y'alright? Wouldn' wan' our ghost tour guide all busted up 'cause of mah clumsiness."

Offering a small embarassed smile to Twist, the little foal shuffled his way in with a small smile whilst everything was going on outside, but atleast everything was starting to calm down inside. He may have missed a little of the geography lesson, but he was catching up a lot and trotted in with the creme candy giving filly. Noticing the sunny yellow one that'd come in too... Once sat at his desk after a further bit of scrambling, the foal watched the others converse and such, especially the cutie mark crusaders as they talked about possible ideas for their cutie mark adventures. And as they spoke, he couldn't help but think of the adventures he could go on, soaring over mountains, swooping under trees. Like a true pegasi. Then that sunny golden filly spoke up and a faint frown came to his tiny brow, mimes? That wasn't very nice! Puffing out his cheeks, he stood himself up on his chair and glared as fiercely as he could -which wasn't really that fierc- at Sunny. "Hey!" He bleated. "That isn't very nice!"

The green glow only caught his eyes at the very last moment, just as the figure stepped out and caught him by suprise, the dirt and grim sliding off his ears and hooves as he gawked at the figure bursting from the bushes and then saw that it wasn't anything but some stupid unicorn. Shaking off his hooves, the foal grumbled before turning and sneering at the older female and that weird flickering flame next to her, stupid unicorns and their magic. They were so weird. Mud flinging everywhere as he shook his head he snorted. "What's it to you, you old nag-" He was immediately cut off by a rather disturbing image. Staring past the female, he saw an obscure figure, long tapered tendrils and an almost ethereal feel to it as it practically floated towards them...oh...crud. A ghost. It had to be. But...that was impossible right? Ghosts were make believe. Made up to scare stupid little foals...not...not ones like him. His eyes widened and he ignored the old battleaxe as he found himself shaking ever so slightly, watching this weirdness..this...this natural abnormality. Blinking at the sight as he rested his hooves deeply in the mud, almost frozen as he watched the thing draw closer.

Champ had always made assured of himself, that in the near future he would need an escape route for whenever the 'time' would come and he was sure of himself that the 'time' was now. After writing out a note and such, or more just a string of loosely and emotionally words that he slapped onto the nearest piece of paper whilst he set about getting ready for his journey. Saddle bags, check. Blueberries, check. Water bottle, check. Half way through his mental checklist, he faltered, snorfling slightly at the slight memory of his friends and his father that was quickly washed out with a bright hot flash of anger. Everything was ready...except for one thing. Before he made his way out, bags and pouch all ready on his back and the stick he'd picked out especially for his rambling stick. He stopped at a chest of drawers by the door and looked over it, more over the picture sat atop it. A basic picture of him sat inbetween his parents...and soon that was taken aswell. Slid into the saddle bag as he made his way out. Ponies were heading home, it was starting to get dark. Good. The night would cloak him well. Rubbing at his eyes, made red and puffy from earlier, he used the objects strewn around the evening Ponyville life. Crates. Bushes. Trees. Houses. Anything to help him get further out and to the road as the sky turned from crimson to fuschia and soon from fuschia to indigo. And soon, Ponyville road turned to dirt and the path before him was lit by the moon and the stars. He was on the home stretch. He could already see Fillydelphia, the faces of his friends and everyone else on his street. Granted he couldn't see...ANYTHING right now beyond a good few feet infront of his nose, his items clunking slightly as he walked before he met with a fork. Now....which way had he and his dad came from? Why did he INSIST on going to sleep during trips? Grumbling he glanced one way and then the other, mind playing over itself. A more cognitive and calm foal would've gone home, or just sat there till someone found him, like all foals...but Champ was neither of those things and went the way he saw fit. If he'd only known ahead of time, maybe he would've known that the path he trodded on was the worst possible one to take. Soon enough and after some trawling through some despicable substances, the mud and grime caked little foal found himself trudging through the bramble spiked undergrowth of the forest. THE forest. The forest where the weather controlled itself and the animals were wild and needed no carers. The wild forest. The forest of monsters and dark forces. Suddenly the confidence in him was feeling much blazing than it was at the beggining in him, now it was only smouldering embers of what it once was...and sliding face first in the mud only spurred more of his anger and dampened the embers of his confidence. With a growl, he pulled himself out of the puddle, murmuring, grumbling, muttering and soon hollering. "Stupid puddles, stupid brambles, stupid trees, stupid forest! I HATE THIS PLACE!!!!"

There was a small jingle as the doors swayed open with a soft clunk of wood and a swish of air, some ponies looked up from their licks and their frothy drinks of strong apple cider and bourbon salt and the others simply continued their merry little delights. Especially the old dry mouth in the corner that had seen one too many and was singing a rather low toned version of 'Darling Clementine' to himself whilst licking the salt off his muzzle, lackadaisily. The majority of those that did look up, did notably move from their tables or in some cases head out of the saloon, forsaking their beverages and licks. The new pony was clad in a black leather, notably a waistcoat and two bands on her back hooves that had attached to them, two spurrs, the source of the jingling no doubt as with every step she took, they twirled and rang like a tiny bell as she came to the bar. One last piece of leather was a heart shaped patch that covered her left eye....and the other, a bright, almost venomous yellow under the heavy blue eyeshadow. Once she reached the bar, she slammed a few bits down that made the pony on the other side jump in faint recognition. Sinking down just a little as he asked the crimson and aqua haired mare what her taste was. Pushing the bits over, she muttered in a faintly impatient tone - "Usual." Waiting to be served didn't take too long as the pony disapeared and then reappeared with a mug of something frothy that the mare began to glug at heartily, brushing back her mane and revealing a notable horn. Mid glug, her yellow eye shifted to the red pony and she arched a brow. He was new. Eyeing his flank, her eye narrowed. An Apple family? Probably an out of towner...that dang Apple family was big as all get out...it was possible.

Ohdear. Ohdearohdearohdear. She was late. She KNEW she'd be late. She was so busy arranging her seeds that mentally her head went ticking on and on and forgot one little detail of tonight. The arrangement. The meeting. The 'ghost hunting'. Oh hayfeathers and other such unladylike expletives! She KNEW she'd be a disapointment! What if they were waiting and thought she'd lied? What if they wouldn't like her anymore??? Already out of breath, Bluebelle found hyperventilating probably wasn't the best of options at the current time, but she just couldn't help herself and her body knew this and used it to toy with her CRUELLY! It knew how flightly she was and how panicky she was in making sure people liked her or making sure people were happy with her. It was an instinct she'd grown with for a very, very long time. So running down the mooncast streets of Appleloosa with a scarf with her gangly legs was sure to add some sort of pressure to her. Soon she skidded to find the corner into the train station. And her eyes fell on the two figures, well, one figure there. One just approaching. Huzzah! She wasn't late! She was just in time! Now she just had to come to a graceful stop....stop...? Please stop? Please legs... ... Oh dear. Gulping and eyes wide she called out slightly as she dug her hooves into the ground and skidded past the unicorn. "SORRYIFF'NAHBUMPEDY'ALLAHCAN'STOP!!!" CRASH. She met with the wall, or more, some crates. Shaking her head as she hobbled out, scarf slightly disheveled, along with her mane and once she found her legs steadied again she offered her best cheery....if slightly embarassed...smile to the pair of them. "Ahehe...uhm...tha' was uhm...a little embarassin' o' me..."

There was a smile that split the muddy earth pony's lips as she looked over the glorious entrance to the museum, polished marble podiums, clean looking insides....made her feel just the tiniest bit on edge as she self conciously rolled her eyes down to look at her hooves. But all the same, as long as her new comrades didn't mind, she was happy. Recieving a ticket, she smiled faintly towards Astron and couldn't help but find a faint blush briefly flitting over her cheeks that was fleeting and hushed as the other unicorn began to act out worriedly. The heck? Blinking at the other, she glanced to the two before moving towards Klank and trying to offer a small smile and a nudge to the colt. "Hey it's okay, you'll be with us, trust me, it'll be just fine, Astron wouldn't lie and tell you it was if it wasn't." Even just meeting the prince, something she was still reeling from ever-so-slightly, she had a sure feeling of trust in the white unicorn and offered a small smile over her shoulder. Tail flicking absently before she looked back to Klank to see if his panic attack had subsided.

This could work. This could really, really help his son. He found himself a ltitle excited at the prospect. Finding a smile in him, he watched the teacher and found himself brightening as he thought of his son breaking out into a smile again...it was about time he did. So many months, it wasn't healthy for a young foal not to smile. He understood WHY he didn't smile...but...it was so long now. It was time for his son to move on. It was time to have some fun for once and watching Cheerilee he found himself nodding along to the teacher's words. "Sounds like a great idea, I've never been to Sugarcube Corner yet since we moved her." Glancing out the door, he noticed the sky slowly growing an inkier shade of blue and he almost felt inclined into the next question. "Well, it seems to be getting late, would you like an escort home?" It WAS only polite that he ask, she'd gone to the trouble of asking him to come and this had been such an emotional session.

Oh Pinkie, you so crazy.

Listening to Fluttershy, he blinked his large eyes gently as those equally large ears of his swivelled and swished slightly with every word, every now and then he would shift where he would sit to make himself more comfortable and that soft sound of fur landing gently against stone floor let out the faintest of sounds as he sat himself down in a new place. It wasn't because he was bored, not at all. He just liked to position himself so he could hear his new friend better. And he did consider Fluttershy a friend, she was very nice, not too loud or overbearing and that made him feel very at ease. The thought of a Wonderbolt as small as he'd been made him...feel much better...being this small was a weighty disadvantage for him. It made it harder for him to get up places and such...and stairs were a nightmare of Equestria sized proportions at times. "A book?" He chirped curiously, ears twitching beneath his helm before he tilted his head in thought. A book! Now why hadn't HE thought of that? A small embarassed look came to his face as a soft blush tinted his white cheeks. "That's a good idea, miss Fluttershy."

Seeing the filly began to buzz her wings like an eager little bumble bee and it made the mare smile as she trotted beside the other and let the wind catch her own wings as she lifted off and looped the loop briefly about a good six feet in the air before her hooves landed running on the ground next to the orange filly once again. One day, she was assured she'd be able to do the same and couldn't help but beam with deffinate pride as the other hovered her back end a good foot off the ground whilst she ran alongside her. This kid would go far. She was so dang sure of it. "Way to go kid!" She cheered on supportively.

Closer to one parent than the other...yes...that sounded right... His mind rolled on the images of his wife The happy memories that resided in his head, of younger times, of better times. Making baked goods together, that sweet smell that wafted throughout the house every time they did and how happy everybody seemed because of it... Hearing the last words mentioned by the teacher, he had to spurr himself from his lonely thoughts and blink at Cheerilee curiously as she spoke of Sugarcube Corner...that...could work. Actually. Yes. THAT could work a LOT. Rubbing his chin with a hoof, there was a small, thoughtful sound that went through his chest before he looked back to the teacher with a hopeful expression lighting up his face as he thought over the idea. "That could work...he and his mother used to make sweets and bake all the time..."

Watching everyone head inside, Starlight moved to follow, if a little held up by the newest of the students here going off around the side of the school to follow that other weird little unicorn. And as much as he would've liked to followed, that little nagging thought in his head came apparent as he moved instead to drag himself up the stairs and into the school house. Stairs. Devilish stairs. Looking up the length abd bredth of them, he moved to try and waddle himself up them one by one and as he reached the top, he had to try and pat himself on the back for his achievement. The stairs were a big hur- A blur of turquoise ran past him and sent him tumbling down to the first step with a wide eye'd blink, what...just happened? Blinking from where he lay, he stared up and tried to wiggle himself back onto his hooves. Peering at the unicorn curiously talking worriedly to miss Cheerilee before he scrambled up the steps once more. Another scrabble of limbs, a little wiggle of tooshy and he made his way back inside...just as miss Cheerilee made her way out. Where was she going? Blinking, there was a peculiar look of curiousity on his face as he sat on the top step and watched...the teacher going.

There it was. Her cottage. Her little slice of Appleloosan heaven. The mule had to stare slightly in awe as she looked over her new home and her bags were settled down inside. It was just how it was in the deed. A nice spacious garden, sure it was just dirt at the moment. But soon enough it would be blooming so brightly and vividly! A smile broke out over her as she inspected her new home like an exciteable little foal, she felt like it was her birthday and she was finally getting a gift! It was so lovely, sure maybe a little dusty in places, maybe a little old looking, but old wasn't bad, it just meant the house had weathered most if not all that had come its way! And that made her affection for the old building grow more! Glancing at the others from over her corner, there was a slightly embarassed expression that flushed over her face, causing her to blush as she akwardly stepped back with them and smiled. Trying to rub the the blush from her cheeks. Hearing Braeburn's question, there was a bright an eager smile that fluttered over her lips. "Ahm gonn' be openin' up mah own little flower shop! It's gonn' be the prettiest lil' thin y'ever saw! An' Ahm gonna sell rose hip jam an' all them nice things with ever bouquet Ah sell! Once Ah get the place painted up an' dusted tha' is." Smiling to herself as she looked over her new home before she noticed the other saying he'd have to go. Blinking her eyes, she felt slightly disapointed to see the other go, he'd been so helpful...but she supposed that he was a busy farm pony in the long run, still, he'd been such a gentlecolt. Moving over to the stallion she dipped to another gentle curtsey while that big smile was aimed to her, same towards Willow Wisp. Feeling so ontop of the world. "Well y'all are welcome to come visit me any time, Ah'll be sure to be ready for tonight though!"

Seeing the sincerity in the others face, he couldn't help but smile just a bit despite the turmoil his head was going through at the current, different thoughts rolling against the other like waves crashing against the shore as he tried to consider possible ideas for what to do with his son...and...so far his head and heart just came up with nothing. Like neither were very into it at the moment. However the gentle reassurance from his son's teacher did help incredibly, eyebrows raised at the set of questions and possibilities. He did want his son to have friends, certainly. He'd had some in Filly like he'd had and at times it seemed like the colt just couldn't be any happier than when he was with those two colts. Always playing hoofball or playing tag...or their favourite games really, anything that consituted as good healthy fun for them at their age, they seemed to do. Pulling out of his head, he blinked and let out a slightly unintelligent 'uhhh' before he cleared his throat and answered properly, with words this time. "Well...he never lets me in his room but he does love sports, it's how he got his cutie mark...other than that, I think he just enjoys things with sports..." A faint sigh escaped him. "We uh...we never were as close as he was with his mom..."

The hoof on his helped more than words could at the moment, looking over the bitten pencil and then up to Cheerilee as she appologised after telling him he didn't have to...but...for so long he felt he'd had too...he was his son. Watching the tear rolling down the other pony's cheek, there was a soft pang of guilt and worry as he rummaged in a small saddlebag he'd taken along just incase and took out a tissue. Offering it to the other with a small smile. Once it was relieved of his mouth, the stallion let out the faintest of sighs past his muzzle. "Miss Cheerilee, don't think you're the cause of this...Champ...Champ embitters himself further and further since...since the day in question." Swallowing that dry lump in his throat he looked over the pencil once more and gently rolled the two bits towards him with a creased brow, to break something...? It wasn't the first time...but still...infront of a teacher. What must he treat students like? A soft sigh ran through the old pony as he rubbed his cheek lazily, mind racing over his son and ideas at some way...something to help him...somehow... Glancing up to the teacher, there was a weakened threshhold there. He'd done everything to support his son and at times it seemed like a fruitless effort on his behalf...but...what else could you do? "He will be coming back to school, I'll make sure of it...he can't afford to pass up his education..." Another forlorn sound rumbled through him. "I'm just not sure what to do anymore..."

...The heck was this guy on about? Still holding out her hoof, she was about to pull it back before it was shaken with a rather big burst of energy, something she had to admire if it weren't for the fact she was mildly terrified of her arm being taken off. Jeez, this guy had a shake to rival AJ's. When he let go, she found her arm still shaking and stopped her limb before it decided to take off on its own. That would be the last thing she needed today and she watched both Bolt and Carrot in a moment of wariness. Show him to the post office? She got that part...so wait was she suddenly the tour guide now? Arching a brow she was about to protest before Bolt spoke up and those magenta eyes plinked at the pink pegasi every now and then. Dashie? Ugh. Grimacing in a faintly good natured manner, she turned her eyes back towards the earth pony and smirked. "Get ready for one hay of a tour, buddy." The chromatic filly said with a playful and blatant wink as she made her way leisurely in the direction of the town. "...It'd also help us keep an eye on Derps." Came the muttering afterwards.

Blinking up from underneath his helm, he gently pushed it up to watch the mare curiously as she spoke as he seemed to do often. He was much better at listening than talking in the long run, his voice was too small and he was too shy...and such a small guy too. Raising a hoof to gently rub away any sniffling he may have in his nose, he felt a small smile tugging at the corners of his lips. You could still fall? Even from up there? Even if you could stand on clouds...? Glancing up at the ceiling and then briefly out of the garage up at the sky as Fluttershy spoke and his mind wandered over his parents. What they told him. What they must've done to start flying...and what they must've had to do to get up there. The hoof on his head made him smile a tad brighter as he looked back to the nice yellow mare, eyes glancing up at her as they sat there and he placed a hoof gently on his scooter. Looking over the motif as his ears flattened against his skull. Thoughts ticking away. "You think any of the Wonderbolts were as small as me...?" Came a soft, unsure murmur as he looked up to the other curiously.

((Don't mind Kalpira)) Smirking a little at how lively the foals were, the older filly couldn't help but chuckle good naturedly to herself before her attention was brought back to Carrot and she arched a brow slightly. He really had an out of town accent, but it didn't bother her, just meant it took longer for her to analyse what in the hay he was saying. Eventually though it all started to ring together nicely and she understood it all, ears flicked forward at the farmer bit as she smirked to herself. Yeah, she supposed she was. She often helped out now and then with the acre's soil, soft, loamy, but firm under a few levels so the tree's didn't go uprooted. Glancing briefly to Inkwell, she let out a soft 'pfft' and waved a hoof gently in his direction. "That's about the only mud those prissy filly's like to get their hooves stuck into, but yeah, they ask for special mineral mud." Her attention was returned to Carrot for a moment before she smiled, a bushel of carrots for payment? Hmm. Raising a hoof at her chin in thought and dusting it with the cake of her mud. "Well I'd love too! Always good to get your hooves in new soil!" Starlight watched all of them, a little overwhelmed by all these new ponies and Carrot's comment made the tiny white foal blush ever so slightly. He'd be fast maybe...but he just wanted to fly. Being fast didn't really matter to him.

A little foal? All alone!? How dreadful, the worry was apparent on her face as she looked over Willow Wisp before her eyes turned to the train as she thought of the little colt in questrion before she offered a soft, reassuring smile towards the unicorn. "Ahm sure the little trooper'll be fine." The molly said softly as she followed the pair of them through the town, this place was busy as a beehive! It made her all the more excited to be apart of it and she still had to contain her skippings. If she fell flat on her flank out here it'd be SO embarassing. As she watched the pair, she maybe got a little concerned...the stories...WERE just stories weren't they? Just every day stories? No ghosts....right? Looking over Braeburn's expression and that playful wink, it sort of mellowed out the fears she had of such a place. "Well is miss Wisp don' mind none...Ah'd love to come'n see."

W.o.E Unicorns Spearmint - %5BX%5D Active Roleplays; Finished Roleplays; %5BShop%5D Smiling while you work! Currently searching for old ones. Wormsicle - [X] Active Roleplays; Finished Roleplays; Later This Week Whisper - %5BX%5D Active Roleplays; Finished Roleplays; The Princess of Friendship

Even the stallion had to wince at the mention of his wife, his brow creased sadly and a soft sound of realisation passing his muzzle as those softened emerald eyes wandered from the teacher to the bitten pencil forlornly. How long did his son want to embitter himself with these memories? Raising a hoof to rub against his cheek with a small sigh, he met Cheerilee's eyes with his own through the small half-moon's of metal rimmed glass and found himself searching for an answer. Could he just lie? No...no that wouldn't have been fair to the mare. And she deserved to know why his own upstart son was acting like this...especially from the reaction he'd heard was given that, quite frankly, made the old stallion disapointed. And it pained him to be disapointed... Especially in these instances... "I should've told you from the start, miss Cheerilee," Boyd started, that same appologetic tone ringing in his voice as he sat there. It'd been a LONG time since he'd sat at a teacher's desk to make a confession, that's for sure... Raising his head he cleared his throat softly and looked the other pony in the eye. Placing one hoof gently over the broken pencil as his mind ticked delicately over his words. "My wife...passed on a month prior to our moving here...she uh...she was in a poor state of health..." Taking a deep breath he continued, assured his voice wouldn't break. "Champ is a hellion, miss Cheerilee...but...at the same time he's probably the most emotionally sensitive foal I've ever seen and...his mother knew that more than anyone...but when she started getting sick...it broke him...he thinks HE caused it somehow because he was always around her..." Staring at his hooves for a second he took another small breath. "But...ever since then he's just been so introverted...and...discipline hasn't helped a lot, I've tried reasoning and I've tried having him work in the ship and in different place...but..." After a moment, he paused and looked to Cheerilee with a blink before his shoulders sank. "I'm sorry I'm rambling..."

Added just a little bit more but that should be that.

I'm not sure they have video games or even electricity in their universe, sorry.

Oh good, she was in. Eyeing over her a moment, the stallion could almost tell instantly that the mare'd had a long day...a really long day indeed and the guilt welled up in his chest. What'd Champ done? What had he DONE? Lines creased his brow in great concern as he moved himself inside and offered a polite smile to the mare as the deep cerulean stallion sat himself down at the bench she offered for him. Straightening the small half moon glasses on his muzzle, a nervous smile lit up his teeth. "Yes, I'm sorry...he uhm...he's still in a mood, I'm afraid." Came a soft mutter. The appology made him choke a little, ears splayed against the top of his head as a hoof raised to nervously rub at the back of his neck and rolled his eyes down to look at the broken pencil. Oh Champ...Champ what did you do. A soft sigh escaped him as he looked to Cheerilee with a forlorn and deeply appologetic expression. "Miss Cheerilee-" He said, trying to cut off her last sentance short. "-It's I that have to appologise for my son's attitude...he's been misbehaving ever since we got here, I'd have thought he'd settle by now..." Scars... Glancing at Cherrilee, worry was strewn across his face as a hoof gently clopped against the desk in thought and a small sigh escaped him. Removing his glasses briefly as he looked to the teacher through his fringe. "Miss Cheerilee, I don't know what was said to him today but...it doesn't excuse him running out of school like that...but...just so I have a better idea, what exactly did you tell him...?"