NeilWacaster

After introducing himself to the second pony who had appeared, he said "I don't know about you both, but my quest is set. I will be looking for the things that foul dragon Discord mentioned in his riddle. You are welcome to join me or find your own way." As he looked around, his heart surged with hope when he saw the paths. "Oh thank Celestia. It looks as if there's at least some sign of life here. What do you think, friends? Shall we see where one of these leads?"

[i'm going to hold off on posting until the guy who plays Discord gets back ... he said he'd be back online later tonight. He's quite the character, so you may want to add him as a friend to see when he's online to orchestrate his little puzzle. Until then, enjoy the chaos, my little ponies!]

As Discord vanished, Newsworthy began to repeat the riddle to himself to help him remember. As he recited, he thought carefully about each piece. A riddle wanted, a clue desired. I suppose that just refers to my asking for this confounded riddle. An artifact haunted, A compass required. An artifact. Hmm... In a lot of stories, haunted artifacts are found in caves or tombs, so I suppose I'll keep my eyes peeled for such a structure. As for a compass, that could be the artifact, and it could be a literal compass, or maybe it is symbolic of some other type of device to give me direction, like a stone pointing north, or some such. Adventure awaits you across the sea, Places to find leads to sights to see. Clearly that means the way out of this place is to sail away. I dearly hope I can find a boat or something else that floats, because it would be very difficult to make a boat out of these palms without any tools. Drat! If only I had my wings! But of all the sites only one is best, To find this place will surely test. Sounds like I could end up in any number of places once I get off of this island, but only one is where I must go, and be somehow tested. But of-course my little horse, once a path is chosen, you should... stay the course. So no going back once I've made a decision ... I'll need to carefully weigh each choice. Or forever you will be, frozen out here at sea. As he finished the poem, the last line gave him chills. Being stuck here, forever? Perhaps frozen in stone ... what a fate. He thought for a few minutes about what to do. First, he needed to get his bearings, so the compass was first priority. Finding the artifact should come next, followed by some mode of transport across the ocean. Now if I were a compass, where would I be? He wondered. Perhaps I can find some type of settlement and buy one from a merchant. Then again, I don't even know if there are ponies, or Celestia knows what else, on this forsaken rock. He decided that if anything, there would be a settlement on the shore. Just as he was about to set off, he suddenly realized that another pony had appeared beside him. "I know as little as you, my friend." The pony looked absolutely distraught. "The name's Newsworthy, and it's certainly good to see another pony here."

I think that is the scariest picture I have ever seen. Well, except for the one of your face, Discord.

YOU TURNED HER INTO A TOOTHBRUSH AND PASTE? *shouts to nopony in particular* BE CAREFUL! THAT TOOTHBRUSH IS A PONY! DON'T STEP ON IT!

I think that she dislikes YOU, you wicked dragon. For shame, scaring somepony new.

"Yeah! What she said!" Newsworthy squeaked, his voice cracking from fright. That was significantly less epic than it was supposed to be, he thought.

It was clear to Newsworthy that he was not going to sway Persnickety from her goal, so he decided to just play along, and try to keep her safe. If he was honest with himself, he really was not very good at acting, but tried his best to do a pirate accent. "Arrrrrrgh .... ye scalliwags! Avast the poop deck and swashbuckle the starboard plow!" That didn't exactly come out right, he thought. Waving the sword clumsily from side to side, he nearly hit a nearby patron. "Oh dear, I'm terribly sorry," he said. Sheepishly, he placed the weapon back in the drawer. The LAST thing he wanted to do was cause harm before Discord even arrived. "You are a brave lass, much braver than I will ever be," he said quietly to the brown mare, trailing behind her. "I won't let anything happen to you, I promise." He hoped against hope that he would be able to keep his vow.

Newsworthy watched these events from his barstool perch with growing dismay. He knew that it was his duty to protect everyone from harm... Oh, who was he kidding. All he cared about at this point was making sure Persnickety made it out of this alive. He stood unsteadily, unsure of whether his wing could take it. While the bulky sling made his movements a bit awkward, he was glad to find that the combination of wing immobility, ice, and that mysterious tea allowed him to walk with only minimal discomfort. He made his way over to where Persnickety stood, and spoke to her in a low, earnest voice. "This is far too dangerous," he said. "Please, let me take your place. I couldn't bear to see you hurt by that monster Discord." He picked up a large, diamond-encrusted wooden sword with his mouth.

He turned his head sharply to look at where his wings used to be, gasping with surprise. His back tingled from the magic spell, and he felt completely naked without the feathers he was used to (not that he usually wore any clothing other than his reporter's cap, but it's just an expression). Newsworthy had heard legends of Ring World and the few powerful mages from long ago who had discovered it. They had unearthed an even more ancient spell which transported them here, and ballads were still sung of the monsters they had battled. He seemed to recall that only one ever returned, and when he did, he was raving mad. That didn't bode well. "I know how much you love to riddle your victims, Discord. Are you going to give me some type of clue before I begin?" Newsworthy asked.

The barista grinned broadly. "Somethin' fer a sword? Do I ever ..." She waved a hoof at a large glass cabinet covering part of the back wall. Visible inside were a number of decorative blue china plates and cups. "Check the drawers, that's where ah keep my personal collection." She tossed Persnickety a key. "Always did like the ol' time thangs. Use whatever ya want, but if ya break any of 'em, it's yer neck."

His pupils shrank as he remembered his hastily spoken wish. He laughed, trying to make it sound as if it were nothing. "Oh that? Empty words spoken in the heat of the moment." Although outwardly he tried to keep his cool, his mind was racing. The opportunity to see what my life would have been without all those years of heartache? Oh sweet Celestia, what I wouldn't give to know that ... But, despite the tempting promise, he knew never to trust this monster. After thinking for a minute, Newsworthy decided to go along with Discord's game, telling himself that he was just doing it to get back home. Trembling only slightly, he raised his gaze to look directly at the draconequus. Those yellow eyes with the blood red pupils were mirthful, but at the same time, horrifying. "All right, Discord. I'll play along." His eyes narrowed. "Do your worst."

He knew that voice. He knew it all too well. It seemed the malevolent spirit had made it his singular purpose to ruin this one pony's life. "Discord?" he said through clenched teeth, "What do you want with me? Show yourself!" He pawed at the ground, angrily.

"Thar, ya see?" Ju smiled triumphantly. "There's two of us, an' only one a you. Now you stop gettin' in my way, or I'll beat your sorry face faster than lickety-split." She reached for the potion.

OCC: Discord and Newsworthy are RPing an unusual encounter in an alternate world. Anypony is welcome to join, as long as it fits with the story. Feel free to play as a character other than your standard. Forum rules apply, and no 18+ content please. RP starts below. With a puff of smoke, the stallion found himself somewhere he didn't recognize in the slightest. His head was spinning, and as the smoke cleared, he squinted at the harsh, relentless sun. It appeared that he was on an island, with no other land in sight. The ocean was a vibrant, deep blue all around. This was certainly a disorienting change from his quiet study back in Ponyville. Despite the beautiful scenery, he was very concerned to get back quickly, as the deadline for finishing this week's first edition of his newspaper was just hours away. He had been afflicted with a paralyzing case of writers block recently, and was still stumped as to what should run for the lead story. These concerns slipped from his mind as he started to panic. "Hello?" he called, apprehensively. "Is anypony there?"

Oh she was mad. Furious. Ju had never trusted magic, and the fact that it was used to thwart her heroism was just too much. "Now you listen to me, you one-eyed yellow-bellied son-of-a-biscuit, you couldn't lay a hoof on this Discord if he was tied to a spit and roasting over a fire. You either let somepony who knows what she's doin' handle this, or I may just have to buck your lights out."

Newsworthy was clearly offended by Bass' words. "You're surely not insinuating that I would make a deal with that dastardly spirit? How could you even think such a thing." The tea was beginning to take effect. He felt the caffeine buzz, as he expected, but what was that? His wing felt quite a bit better. He assumed the drink must have had some sort of painkiller in it. "I don't know why Discord chose to subject me to a nightmare starring himself, but one thing is for certain. He wants to frighten us into submission, and that we must avoid at all costs."

"Now just hold it right there for one cotton-pickin' minute," said Auntie Ju. "You mean to tell me that that pony who came in here was that varmint Discord?" She slammed her large, work-worn hooves together with a sharp crack. "Why if that little booger ever comes in here again, I'll give him the beatin' of his life." Snatching the potion from the mage's hoof, she ran out of the dining room, galloped to the door, and looked out into the rain. Off in the distance, she could make out a black form headed in her direction.

Newsworthy nodded. "I've heard all the stories. This is most definitely Discord's work." As the name crossed his lips, a shiver ran down his spine. As if in confirmation of his assertion, a rabbit with extraordinarily long legs went sprinting past the windows. "As far as I know, the only way to stop him is with the Elements of Harmony, and for that we will need to contact some of my friends back in Ponyville." He bit his lip, thinking hard. I can hardly think straight, I'm so terrified. Really need something to calm my nerves. Maybe this tea will help. He first sniffed at the strange brew. It smelled like garlic, and was that rosemary? He grimaced. Here goes nothing, he thought, downing the entire cup in a few large gulps.

"Well, now that ya'll mention it, there was one rather ... dis ... dis ..." What in blue blazes is that word? "Er... Discomfitin' stranger that came in about an hour ago. 'E was a sight, that one. Looked like one a them goth types, ya know what I mean? With tha leather jacket, an' black hat an' all? He ordered some o' my strongest vodka and sat by himself, just lookin' around at everythin' and orderin' more booze." She thought for a few seconds. "I was in such a tizzy, with orders left and right, dontcha know. But I recollect that he did put somethin' red in his drink."

Drat. Smooth move. He quickly hid the tickets once more. "I wish to Celestia I could remember what he said, but all that stands out to me was ... is ... a feeling of imminent peril." He looked around, as if he would see the wicked spirit smirking at him from a corner of the room. "Something is about to happen. I hoped the chocolate milk rain and pink clouds were just a coincidence, but for me at least, this just got real. We're in grave danger."

With her back turned to the newcomer, Auntie Ju didn't realize the importance of his arrival. "Cain't ya'll give me yer order the reg'lar way?" She was expertly kneading the large pile of dough for her next batch of dinner rolls. "I'm a little busy, as ya'll could see if ..." She glanced up, noticing his mage's cloak emblazoned with the royal sun symbol. "Beggin' yer pardon, sir," she began wiping her hooves on a rag, "I ain't had a royal come in here in a blue moon. We can talk in the dinin' room if ya'll need privacy." She led him through the door into the next room.

Giving Syd a look of gratitude, Newsworthy laughed nervously. "Ah, yes, I'm just fine, just fine. Just an unfortunate dream about a certain spirit of disharmony. Nothing to be concerned about, right?" He reached into his briefcase where he had stashed the tickets. Finding the two small slips, he turned back around. "Miss Persnickety?"

The teapot began to sing, and so Auntie Ju finished preparing the soothing drink. She set it before Newsworthy with a smile. "This oughta help ya'll feel better." She beamed with pride. "My own special recipe. I always have a cup when I bang up somethin'. Go ahead, drink up."