Doc Hoof MD

That was quite the history lesson. Now, everyone needs to study up for the test on Friday. Reports are due the following Monday.

The scene at the bridge was chaotic. Ember Heart did his best to follow the griffon and the mare as they made their way over the bridge. The crossing griffon knocked one of the other runners off to the side as she recklessly made her way across the bridge. The mare managed to pull ahead of the griffon and they continued to make their way. Ember Heart slid to a stop just as he took his first steps on the bridge and raced over to the wooden supports along the side. He looked over the side, searching for the fallen unicorn only to see the scrawny purple stallion struggling in the waters below. At first, it appeared as if no one was going to help the stallion. Bystanders stood by. Was it really going to fall to him to aid the pony? [colour=mediumblue]"WEATHER PATROL! PONY IN THE WATER!"[/colour] Ember Heart turned just in time to see another stallion that didn’t seem much younger than him rise to call. The bay colored pegasus raced over and grabbed one of the support ropes attached to the bridge and flew out over the water with the rope held firmly in his mouth. Ember Heart fidgeted anxiously as he watched the entire situation unfold. [colour=blue]"Grb Ohn! Hrry!" [/colour]commanded the stallion as he brought the rope over to the struggling stallion in the water. Ember Heart noticed a slight movement off to the side and looked over at the wooden stake holding the rope in place. His eyes widened horror as he saw the stake slowly slipping out of the mud from all the tension the pegasus was putting on it. It was a situation he had seen time and time again and unless he kept the support in place, the task of saving the pony would become far more difficult. One pony might not be enough to counter the strength of the powerful rushing water. [colour=#4B0082]“I have your back! Get the rope around him!”[/colour] He hoped that the stallion had heard him. Ember Heart leaped over into the mud on the side of the bridge just in time to catch the stake as it slid out of the ground. His horn glowed ever so slightly as he pulled a large rock from the bank and slammed it down onto the rope. Mud splattered all over as the rock drove the rope and the stake back into the ground. He quickly stood back up and took a reinforcing hold on the rope with his magic, hoping to keep it steady enough so that the pegasus could deliver it to the pony in need. He braced himself and prepared to heave. [colour=#4B0082]"You are going to run out of rope real soon here! Bring him in!"[/colour]

((OOC: Ember Heart is taking the bridge)) The rows of apples trees started to disappear as Ember Heart left the Sweet Apple Acres section of the track. The wooden fence along the right also came to a sudden halt as well marking the transition into Whitetail. He had managed to pull his way back into the fray and it might have been due to the sudden worsening of the weather. What had once been a slight, cool drizzle was now a heavy downpour that rivaled that of the storms from the Manebrush River delta down by Fillydelphia. The temperature had also dropped slightly which caused a slight, periodic chill to race down his back. It wasn't anything that he wasn't use to and thanks to the apples and cider from earlier, he now had the energy to maintain his spot in the race. Ember Heart slowed down to a trot as a familiar roaring sound came from further down the trail. It sounded a lot like the seasonal rushing water he had to deal with back home. [colour=#4B0082]‘That’s can’t be good; not good at all.’[/colour] As he continued down the trail, the sound grew louder and louder. He could hear the roaring water battering the banks of whatever stream, brook, or river the trail led to. [colour=#996699]"Out of the way losers! I'm pushing through. Step aside or you'll regret it!" [/colour] Ember Heart’s ears twitched at the sound of the commotion. [colour=#4B0082]‘Pushing through what exactly?’ [/colour]he wondered. He returned to a gallop and raced down the path. He started to make out a bridge with a line of ponies bunching up eager to cross. The fleeting shape of a griffon was charging through the crowd towards the bridge. The flood waters were racing below it and even battered it on occasion. Who would dare to cross such a thing? A race coordinator stood near a fork in the trail, shouting out information. He was able to make out something about there being a safer path further down the bank. [colour=#800080]“Stand aside, y’all!”[/colour] hollered a light-purple mare. [colour=purple]“AH’M ALSO COMIN’ THROUGH!”[/colour] Ember Heart’s jaw dropped as he saw the mare follow the griffon in suit. [colour=#4B0082]“What in Equestria are they doing?”[/colour] he asked himself. He trotted over to the race coordinator who was just as dumbfounded as he was. [colour=#4B0082]“Excuse me ma’am, what is going on here? Is that bridge even safe to cross?” [/colour] The mare chuckled half in disbelief over what she had witnessed. [colour=#000000]“I sure wouldn’t recommend it to you. These ponies sure seem determined to cross and thanks to that griffon, I can’t really do much to keep anypony from crossing it!”[/colour] The stressed coordinator said.[colour=#000000] “Look, you seem like a sensible one. I am going to tell you this right now; there is a safer method of crossing further down the bank. Please take it.”[/colour] Ember Heart stood for a moment, unsure of what to do. [colour=#4B0082]"I... I don't know."[/colour] He took another look at the bridge only to see a crest of water smash against the bottom of it. The mud sloshed beneath his hooves as he took a few tentative steps back. Everything he was every taught about these situations called for him to take the safer route. [colour=#000000]"Better safe than sorry."[/colour] is what his father always told him. But, this was something different altogether. [colour=#4B0082]'One solid run and I could be on the other side of that bridge in no time, far ahead of the others.[/colour]' He sat back and touched his left right hoof to his chin. [colour=#4B0082]'If the bridge floods, I could be swept a good distance away. Could I afford such a setback?'[/colour] His eyes looked back and forth frantically down at the ground as he tried to decide. Ember Heart closed his eyes and exhaled deeply before standing back up. It was a chance to get far ahead in the lead along with the other two. He just hoped that it was worth the risk. His eyes zeroed in on the small gap the light-purple mare had made. [colour=#4B0082]"Here goes nothing!"[/colour] He jumped into a full gallop sending bits of mud all over as he made his way towards the bridge. Without so much as a word, he managed to slip through the ponies waiting on the bridge. He cringed as another crest splashed up against the bridges sending a cold mist over him and the crowd. With another deep breath, he braced himself for whatever lay ahead.

I wasn't really a fan of the pilot until I watched it again. The ticket master was a great episode but I wasn't quite sold yet. I believe it was either "Applebuck Season" or "Griffon the Brush-Off" where I sat there and realized that I liked the show.

Shady.......... and I am not just talking about the trees. Congrats on the lead River! This next part sounds interesting.

((OOC: Sorry for another last minute post)) It certainly wasn’t the start he was hoping for, last place. Still, it wasn’t anything to worry about yet. He had time to catch up so long as he didn’t make any more mistakes. The first leg of the race was rather forgiving for the charcoal pelted stallion in last place and he was able to make it this far easily with the nice steady pace of his canter. As a Fillydelphia native, it was Ember Heart’s first time in the race. He was called out to ponyville only a few days prior to run alongside his foalhood friend, Silvermist. He was in dire need of a vacation and something like this sounded like the perfect way to blow off some steam. Unfortunately, he was now running alone with a bunch of strangers. He was disappointed to hear, upon his arrival, that Silvermist had injured her wing in one of her elaborate stunts. Her brother must have been out of town. Otherwise, he would have nagged her back down to the ground and Ember Heart would still have his running mate. It wasn’t all bad though, this race gave him a chance to make new friends and if that didn’t happen, it gave him a chance to truly take in the scenery of Whitetail Wood. Of course, he still wanted to win. Something squished beneath his hooves has he slowed his gait. He quickly identified the sticky brownish-white substance as a crushed apple, and it wasn’t alone on the ground. Apples of different colors were strewn about along the trail and he would tell that he wasn’t the only one that had the unfortunate luck of stepping on one. Along the side of the trail were apple trees with apples hanging ripe from the stem. [colour=#800080]“This must be part of the Sweet Apple Acres that I have heard so much about.”[/colour] He said quietly to himself. He was impressed. Word has it that all of these apples were harvested by just two ponies! He couldn’t help but admire the work that they must put into it. The sweet aroma of the crushed apples around him only gave the barking dog that was his gnawing hunger a reason to start up again. He was now starting to regret the fact that he had skipped out on breakfast due to his tardiness. To make matters worse, the constant drizzle was mixing with the apples to create a truly lovely fragrance. He was enjoying it so much that he hadn’t even realized that he had almost come to a complete stop. There wasn’t even a runner still in sight. He tried to return to his former speed only to have his hunger return in protest. The ruby-red delights hanging from the trees certainly were tempting. Would it be a crime to take such apples? He chuckled to himself at the silly thought. He slowly came to a stop in front of a particularly fruitful apple tree just off the trail. The apples were calling to him and he knew that he wasn’t going to go far without something sweet to eat. He looked through the lower branches, searching for an apple of quality. His maroon eyes spied a truly shiny beauty hanging from one of the lower branches. With a glow of his horn, he took hold of the apple and was ready to pluck it from its stem before the magic around his horn fizzled away. Was he allowed to use magic? He remembered the strict rules the Ponyvillians followed during their Winter-Wrap-Up celebrations. Did this follow the same rules? He wasn’t going to risk being caught, that’s for sure. He took position near the apple tree and kicked the trunk with all his might. The trunk made a small thud but the tree failed to yield one of its apples. Ember Heart was glad that nopony was around to see his embarrassing effort. Silvermist would have had quite the laugh if she saw his attempt. He geared up for another attempt and kicked once more, this time putting his front legs into it. The ground below slipped as he made contact causing him to flop right into the slightly muddy soil with a plop. [colour=#800080]“Really?”[/colour] Two apples fell from the tree and one stuck to the tip of his horn. The other landed not far from him. He grinned as he looked up at the treat and quickly pulled it off his horn, scooped up the other apple, and sat back. It was just what he needed. He didn’t even mind the drizzle that had picked up during his silly efforts. He finished off the second apple and continued on along the trail, now running at a faster pace than before. His stomach was no longer empty and he spirits were lifted once again. After a while, he started to hear the voices of some of the other ponies that were conversing with each other not far ahead. An open smile formed on his face as he galloped along. Soon after, one of the other runners came into view. A stand also came into view. Cups of cider were laid out on it with a few ponies removing the empty ones. It might relieve them when he tells them that he might be the last runner to pass their stand. He quickly galloped up and pulled one the cups off of the stand, thanking the ponies tending to it.[colour=#800080] “Thanks a bunch!”[/colour] The cider was nice and cool although that could have been due to the nippy weather and the drizzle. He could only hope that it didn’t develop into rain. He quickly finished off the cider and deposited the empty cup back on the stand before continuing on his way. Another cider stand came up and as much as it tempted him to stop for another glass, he had already wasted too much time. Plus, surely, it was only going to get more difficult from here. He only stopped to wave at the ponies at the stand before continuing at a faster pace. The trail was actually quite beautiful and aside from dodging the sticky, mushy mines along the ground, it was an easy run and the cool drizzle did wonders to keep him from feeling too fatigued. The other participants were in view and he was hitting his stride. Things were starting to look up for him now. He could only wonder what was in store for him and the other runners.

((OOC: sry for the short post. Totally forgot about this)) Late, how could he be late for something like this? He heard the start of the race and the galloping of hooves. The first runners came into view along with the many spectators on the sidelines. They weren't far ahead. It had been an awful series of events already. He overslept and was late to leaving the Ponyville hotel. Then, he had to turn around halfway to the tracks and go back for his registration. Oh, what an awful day. He hadn't even eaten anything for breakfast. Sure there had to be something along the way. He was bound to find out at some point. As he passed, he saw a familiar face in the crowd. His friend Silvermist jumped up at the sight of him as he crossed over the starting line. He no longer saw the other runners as they had already rounded the first corner. Thankfully, he knew he wasn't too far behind the runners. First place however might be a long distance out of his reach. Only time will tell. The Running if the Leaves had begun.

In that case, I would like to make a request for my OC Ember Heart. Perhaps a baking mishap? Thanks!

Oh, hey, this thread is open again. It would seem that the current tier is full. Curses, my tardiness has foiled me once again. Must LURK Ahahahahahaha! Hmm, yes, quite.

I was late to the party last year. Glad I noticed this event before the first section ended. I will be signing Ember Heart up for it this year.

I just finished watching it. I liked it but that might be just because it is a new mlp episode. It didn't feel as rushed as the other 2 season premiers. I wish we would have been told a little more about the shadowy fella.

343 Industries has done it right. Halo 4 lives up to the hype with a well balanced multiplayer that is easy to pick up for the casual and competitive for the hardcore. It's gripping storyline adds life to the two most famous characters in the Halo series. I am looking forward to seeing what 343 Industries does going forward.

Ember Heart entered the clearing where the famous Nightmare Moon Monument sat. Moonlight from the faceless moon cast a shadow in front of the statue which seemed to consume everything in it's path. It certainly was an eerie sight to behold. He was able to take comfort in the fact that he was not alone. Other ponies had come to see the statue as well. It wasn't the most enjoyable thing on his list of Nightmare Night fun to do but he felt it was better to get it out of the way now rather than later. He enjoyed the effect the moonlight had on the paint he used for the skeleton markings on his charcoal coat. It made it glow and stood out. It was far better than his last costume which involved a large muffin and a baker's cap. Tentatively, he trotted up to the statue, allowing the shadow it cast consume him. He flinched as he felt a cold breeze blow by as he entered the shadow. The breeze picked up as he drew closer. Finally, he stood in front of the statue. With a glow of his horn, he pulled a small object out of his saddlepack, the lack of bulk showed his lack of luck with his trick or treating. It was a small wrapped piece of taffy he had bought earlier. He gently set it before the statue before backing away from his offering. It was such a silly tradition but it wasn't something he was going to miss out on. He turned to leave before taking one last look at the statue. [colour=#800080]"Creepy."[/colour] he muttered quietly into the wind.

I might have that one lying around here somewhere as well. I used to play it a lot. I recall torpedoing off the edge of the ring as Cervantes every other round.

Rain Leaf noticed that the group's progress had come to a halt, if not just for a brief moment to recuperate. The short rest was well received even if it was right in the middle of such a powerful storm. Wind and rain assaulted the group of ponies sapping precious energy and strength every minute they stood idle. Strangely, he didn’t mind the mighty downpour and felt oddly at home in the middle of it all. His drenched mane hung along the side of his head and acted as a small passage for the rain as it trickled down his head all the way down to his hooves which were slowly sinking in the runny mud. It was a wonderful feeling, refreshing, yet brisk. He looked up at the storm clouds far above, allowing the rain drops to splatter on his weather goggles. A small smile formed on his face. He was enjoying the trip, something he couldn’t say about the others in his group. His eyes widened at the thought of the others. Nothing about the group flowed together. Each of them seemed to be shrouded in mystery, only brought together by Pathfinder’s promise of adventure. He pondered how the ponies all met the adventurous pegasus. Surely, they must have all been suckered into some absurd goose chase that sent them all into a hazardous ruin of some kind. That was what they were here for, a promise of something grand hidden deep within this forsaken castle. Why on this of all days, though? Surely this had to be some sick joke that Pathfinder was playing on them. Unfortunately for her, this weather was his favorite. It was all unbelievable, really. Several months ago, he was nothing more than a simple botanist that ran errands for others that were far too busy or important to bother with the tasks themselves. It was simple work, running from one point to another, gathering random samples for a modest amount of bits. It was a job that he could respect. Then, the mentally unbalanced mare entered his life shortly after he made the rare mistake of poisoning himself. She spoke of adventure and fortune during their stay at the hospital and saved him from a sticky situation months later. It was his real first taste of adventure, something he now craved. It was all so insane. It was a hopeless change that forced him to shirk his duties. The list in his pack was only getting longer and surely Maple must be getting tired of his excuses. Even his own sister was questioning his decisions. That right there was a warning flag enough. He knew what it was and knew what danger lay ahead. It wasn’t where he belonged, and yet, here he was with a group of ponies he barely knew. He couldn’t even comprehend what he was needed for. His knowledge of the Iris of Immortality wasn't anything substantial and this concept of the Orb of Overwatch was completely lost on him. Regardless, he was prepared to assist them in any way with whatever knowledge he had, both in his head and in his trusty travel pack.

I hope no one minds the dust. This is my little corner of the world.

I give my condolences to DB's friends and family. It is very tragic when a light in the world goes out. R.I.P. DuskBreeze

I have been playing it at a friend's house. The story is loud and hard to follow(then again I really don't remember anything about 4 and I didn't pay attention to 5). Pros: -The controls are nice an easy to use. -The graphics are nice -It offers you more means of escape if you are being surrounded.(Some of the rooms are death traps where there isn't a way out if you are cornered) -The new skill thing adds a neat character building experience. Cons: -Using the physical attacks can be really annoying because it will lock on to the target but you won't hit it, causing you to go through the animation while the enemy takes a free shot at you. -It isn't scary...... -I feel like my bullets don't do anything. I have killed more enemies with melee attacks and a combat knife. -It is really easy to become trapped in a corner by some of the enemies where they knock you back repeatedly until you are dead. -The story is confusing -The dialogue sounds fake at times. (I have had a few good laughs throughout the first campaign that we did.) -Some of the cut-scenes are cheesier than the dairy section of an Albertsons So far, I would give it a 6.5/10. Wait until it is on sale. I haven't beaten it yet and I will update this when I do. I think I am going to play RE4 again. I obviously missed something somewhere along the line.

I used to only play on the 360. Steam ruined that for me. I now play everything except for CoD and Halo on the PC. I don't know why but I just like using a controller more than a mouse and keyboard setup when it comes to competitive shooters. I will finally join the DS owners next week when I buy my friend's DSi. I am only 6 years late to the party. It's k.

I thought it was a pretty good episode all the way through. This looks like it is going to be a great season. Everyone has gotten much better since the start of season 2. Can't wait till next week! @honey- I have noticed some of the holes in story but it really isn't enough to lower the entertainment value of the show. Sorry if the show isn't working out for you.

A pang of exhaustion rushed through Rain Leaf’s body as he flew high over the vast Painted Pinto Desert. The arid desert was hot, but tolerable. Warm seasonal winds from Aquillia were kicking up dust high up into the air as they crossed the desert. He had gotten used to it over his many visits. Were it not for his flight goggles, the dust would irritate his eyes and make flight impossible. It certainly wasn’t a mistake that he wanted to make again. Far below, Rain Leaf was able to make out a small hare darting from rock to rock trying to find sanctuary from the coming sandstorm. It was but a small speck of life in an otherwise barren landscape. Occasionally, Rain Leaf would drop down and visit one of the several buffalo herds that migrated through the desert. They were usually always more than willing to trade some of their goods with him. Sadly, not a single one was in sight. Not even the vultures were out, eerily circling the skies for their next meal. No, he was alone in the sky. A sudden blast of wind nearly tore away the small rag protecting his face from the dust. He quickly rearranged it before climbing higher up into the sky. He was going to have to make this a quick trip. At this rate he only had about an hour before the storm hit. He never understood why the weather-ponies crafted such things. He took in a quick breath through his face guard.[colour=#ff0000] ‘I wonder what Silvermist is up to.’[/colour] Aside from his usual summer visit to Cloudsdale, his last few months had been very strange and it all started with his odd encounter with the most peculiar of pegasi, Pathfinder. He had met the mare after an accidental ingestion of a poisonous plant that left him down and out for eight days. In the four days they shared a room they had shared all of their travel logs as well as details from their many ventures, quickly establishing common ground. The Daring Doo obsessed mare described herself as an adventuring fortune seeker; something Rain Leaf had discredited as a whimsical outlook on life at first. It wasn’t until the final day of her stay that she had described her prospects for her next adventure as well as her plans to escape from the hospital they were “trapped” in. She tossed the option for him to escape along with her into the open but he declined. Later that night, the mare silently made good her escape leaving Rain Leaf to contemplate his decision to stay. He hadn’t encountered the mare since and he wasn’t sure if he ever would again. She was probably deep in some ruin unraveling an ancient secret…. or in the looney bin. Rain Leaf chuckled at the thought of the seemingly unbalance mare. Still, he had felt a slight change in his outlook on life and he wasn’t sure if it was all in his mind or not, but Maple’s tasks had been becoming more and more difficult ever since he had gotten out of the hospital. Between his encounter with a feral timberwolf and picking mushrooms in the lair of a sleeping dragon, he had put his own flank on the line multiple times. It felt nice and unsettling at the same time knowing that his current task was as simple as gathering bramble from a location south of Dodge. It was a peculiar spot to send him but he didn’t think much of it. Maple was known to select new foraging spots from time to time. He couldn’t help but to wonder about the timing of it all. A sandstorm was coming. Did she know and send him anyways or was it just by an unfortunate chance. It didn’t matter. The job had to be done and he knew it. He passed by a low desert peak that he had recognized from previous visits. Usually, one could see Dodge far off in the distance, but now he could barely see anything past a half-mile. He dropped in altitude as he approached his destination. Something below caught his eye. A small figure seemed to be pointing at him, alerting something else to his presence. He was quickly able to identify the shape of the figure as that of a diamond dog but was unable to see whom it was alerting. It wasn’t strange to see diamond dogs running through the desert hills. After all, Gaberott wasn’t that far away. He readjusted his goggles and looked back down at the diamond dog only to see that it was gone. Maybe it was just trying to warn him about the coming storm. Maybe he was just trying to say hello. It didn’t matter. Rain Leaf set down a good distance away from where he had seen the dog. The dust was much thicker on the ground greatly reducing visibility. He opened up his violet travel pack and pulled out a small map. It paper rustled loudly as he unraveled it. He took a second to look around but there wasn’t a single bramble in sight. It was just barren ground with the exception of a few cacti sticking out of the ground. He was where he needed to be but there wasn’t any bramble. Had Maple given him the wrong marker? It certainly wasn’t something she was known for. She always had an uncanny ability to decipher maps and charts. He wasn’t sure where she had obtained this talent but then again, he never asked. [colour=#ff0000]“Well, nothing to do but to look around I guess.”[/colour] he said to himself as he looked around. He wondered where the diamond dog had wandered off to. It wouldn’t have hurt to ask for information. He took a few steps forward before noticing something odd off in the distance. A faint blue glow pierced through the thick sand cloud. He rubbed his goggles with his hooves, trying to clear off any sand. It looked like a spell cast by some unicorn. What in Equestria would somepony being doing all the way out here? [colour=#ff0000]“Hey!”[/colour] he shouted as he trotted over towards the glow. [colour=#ff0000]“What are you doing all the way out here? This storm is going to hit soon. You really shouldn’t be out here. It isn’t safe.”[/colour] The glow didn’t seem to move and Rain Leaf now realized that it was closer to the ground as he approached it.[colour=#ff0000] “Huh?”[/colour] The terrain around him had also changed significantly. What was once rough sand stone was now softer and much smoother. A pattern similar to brickwork now checkered the floor as he approached. Rain Leaf took a quick step back in surprise as he drew closer. It was a gem! It was unlike any he had ever seen before. The gem gave off a bright blue glow that he couldn’t discern whether it was reflected sunlight or if it came from the gem itself. It was a beautiful and yet odd thing to see in this region. Perhaps this is why he saw the diamond dog earlier. There wasn’t anything on his map. It was just a blank location with a marker set by Maple. He leaned over and inspected the gem further. A small flower was etched into the cracked gem. The socket looked weathered and ancient. He took a step back and looked around again. Such a pattern couldn’t have come naturally. Who put this gem here? Was the Diamond Dog trying to steal it? Dodge wasn’t that far away. Surely somepony there would know something about the thing. Maybe a he could get a pretty little bit for it! Rain Leaf giggled ecstatically, his eyes beaming with elation at the thought of what the gem might be worth. He once again approached it and tapped it a few times with his front hooves. It was loose! He quickly tossed his violet pack open and removed his trusty old trowel. He thrust the blade into the edge of the socket multiple times with his hooves until it stuck an inch into it. A bright grin formed underneath his cloth face-guard. He pushed on the trowel with both of his front hooves trying to force it out of the socket to no avail. The trowel slipped from the socket causing him to fall flat on his face. He picked up the trowel and after a short effort, got it back into the socket again. He needed more leverage and the only solution he could think of would be if he were to get it in deeper. He reared up and brought his hooves down repeatedly to minimal success. The trowel went deeper but he still needed more for to get it in as far as he wanted. With a powerful leap he shot a few yards into the air and came down onto the trowel. The trowel slipped further popping the gem up. [colour=#ff0000]“Yes!”[/colour] he cried. Immediately, the ground quickly started to fall from beneath him as the bricklike pattern split open like a cellar door. Rain Leaf’s wings shot open and desperately flapped trying to gain any sort of lift. It was too late. He slipped into the hole and fell a few feet onto a steep shaft; his momentum still sending him tumbling into the darkness. The last thing he saw before everything went dark was the trap door closing far above him. Rain Leaf tumbled for what felt like an eternity. His muscles flared with pain every time he bounced against a rock on his decent. The shaft soon started to even out, slowing his tumble to a slide. He readjusted himself into a sitting position as he slid in the darkness as the shaft evened out to a flat plane. The surface changed to rough cobblestone. The friction cause him to go tumbling forward a short way out through a rectangular opening and into a dark room. He lay there moaning for a few seconds only to be interrupted by his pack which came flying down the shaft after him. It bounced to halt right next to him, the contents came clattering out. He heard the splash of liquid as a few of the contents fell into a channel running along the wall near him. He raised his front hooves as he struggled to get up into a sitting position. His eyes squinted as he tried to make out his surroundings. A dim blue glow illuminated the area around him on the right and a red glow did the same to his left. After a few second he realized that the blue glow was coming from blue gems similar to the one that lured him in in the first place. He was in a vast hallway. Torches met the gems in the middle of the hall and were placed in empty sockets where gems once were. The lit torches were a sign of life. Somepony or something else was there. He heard an unwanted shrill voice not far off followed by a deeper, almost feral response.[colour=#ff0000] “Not Diamond Dogs!”[/colour] Rain Leaf whispered to himself as he struggled to stand. His body was still aching from his tumble. He flinched as he heard steps approaching. Three figures seem to materialize from the shadows a short distance down the left side of the hallway. One of the dogs was truly massive in stature. He looked more like a wolf with his long muzzle than a diamond dog and had the size of nearly five diamond dogs. His whitish-grey coat was covered in dirt and mud. The middle one was slightly taller than most diamond dogs yet was dwarfed by the hulking brute beside him. This one was oddly well dress by diamond dog standards. His brownish grey fur was clean and unkempt, his paws trimmed yet powerful looking. He walked with a powerful, confident gait. The third was a smaller shorter dog with orange fur sticking through full desert garb. His outfit seemed to be formed from many different pieces of cloth, almost all of which had a cream tint, matching the desert terrain far above. This one shared the same hunched over walk as the large one. [colour=#a52a2a]“It’s a pony, boss!”[/colour] exclaimed the larger hound. [colour=#2f4f4f]“What’s he doing here?”[/colour] asked the middle one. [colour=#2f4f4f]“Is he here with the other one?”[/colour] “[colour=#ff8c00]No! He’s gray. He is the one I told you about. I saw him flying over.[/colour][colour=#daa520]”[/colour] The shorter one on the right said in a raspy voice. “[colour=#2f4f4f]How did he get in here? Someone was supposed to be watching the entrance! What do I pay you buffoons for?”[/colour] yelled the middle one in anger. Rain Leaf managed to stand up, letting a small grunt of pain escape. The largest of the three stepped forward, his left paw revealing a large net. Rain Leaf took a step back and his eyes widened. “[colour=#ff0000]Who are you guys?”[/colour] he managed to get out. The middle one chuckled at the inquiry. [colour=#2f4f4f]“Ah, good, he is moving. I would have to have a potential worker spoiled.”[/colour] He took a few steps towards Rain Leaf. The other two followed in suit with the largest one taking his place in front, both paws on the net now. [colour=#2f4f4f]“I’m sorry. How rude of us. I am Rumble Ironpaw!”[/colour] He said, bowing elegantly. [colour=#2f4f4f]“But you shall call me the Gem Prince!”[/colour] the diamond dog finished, raising his paws into the air. He turned his attention towards the large one and touched him on the shoulder. [colour=#2f4f4f]“This is massive beast is Bruticus.”[/colour] He tilted his head back towards the smallest one. [colour=#2f4f4f]“He is Baron.”[/colour] The diamond dog took another step forward folding his paws behind his back. [colour=#2f4f4f]“We are the Ruby Raiders! We collect gems that have been left behind.”[/colour] Rain Leaf’s eyes narrowed as Rumble introduced the trio.[colour=#2f4f4f] [/colour][colour=#ff0000]“I know what diamond dogs like you do. You’re thieves! You’re defiling these ruins for gems that don’t belong to any of you!”[/colour] yelled Rain Leaf, stamping one of his front hooves into the ground prompting Bruticus to take another step forward. [colour=#2f4f4f]“Thieves?”[/colour] The middle one started to laugh. [colour=#2f4f4f]“No, we are simply recycling what has been left behind. No one has any need for these gems anymore! Don’t get too worked up, pony. You will be helping us![/colour][colour=#2f4f4f]”[/colour] [colour=#ff0000]“What?”[/colour] Rain Leaf asked in confusion. He stumbled over his purple pack trying to back up but was quickly able to regain his balance. Bruticus laughed. His low feral growl echoed through blue stone halls. [colour=#ff0000]“Yea, that’s not happening.”[/colour] Rumble chuckled at the pony’s rebellion. [colour=#2f4f4f]“He thinks he has a choice! Bruticus, grab him!”[/colour] Bruticus raised the net above his head and lunged at Rain Leaf. Rain Leaf barely managed to roll out of the hound’s way. The hulking brute slid into the wall behind him. [colour=#2f4f4f]“Ahh! Baron, clip his wings!”[/colour] commanded Rumble in a shrill voice. Baron let out a raspy laugh of pleasure as he pulled out a set of shears. He lowered to all fours and ran at Rain Leaf. The grey Pegasus turned and darted down the sapphire lit hallway, galloping as fast as he could. His muscles screamed with pain as he ran. He rounded a corner. The floor beneath him was now tiled and the tattered remnants of a once regal rug covered the floor. [colour=#ff8c00]“You’re mine pony!”[/colour] Baron declared from behind. The diamond dog had caught up to him. Rain Leaf turned his head to look back just in time to see the hound jump at him. Baron connected and the two rolled a short distance stopping right next to the edge of one of the canals that ran along the hall with Baron on top.[colour=#ff8c00] “Stop struggling, I’ll make this quick!”[/colour] he laughed as he grabbed one of Rain Leaf’s wings and spread it out. The old shears screeched loudly as they opened. Rain Leaf breathed heavily as he panicked. With all his might he pushed himself up. The surprised diamond dog slipped off of his back and into the liquid of the canal. Rain Leaf saw the other two rounding the corner and started galloping away once again. Rain Leaf rounded another corner but this time came into a large chamber filled with mold covered statues of soldier ponies. It wasn’t any kind of armor design he had ever seen! It reminded him of pictures in the old history books about the old pegasus kingdom. In the middle canals from every entrance came together, forming the shape of flower; an iris. Sunlight came through a tiny hole far above. The liquid he now identified as water sparkled as the sunlight reflected off of it creating a beautiful display. Sounds of the approaching dogs behind snapped Rain Leaf out of his trance. He looked around hoping the find any place to hide. The massive statues along the side of the wall appeared to offer a small area for him to slip into. He took a gliding leap over the statue of a mare and slipped into the gap between it and the wall. The three diamond dogs ran into the room, stopping in the center. [colour=#2f4f4f]“Where did he go!”[/colour] Rumble barked. Rain Leaf poked his head out just enough to get a peek. The shadows covered him well. Baron raised his nose into the air and sniffed for Rain Leaf’s scent. [colour=#ff8c00]“He came this way. I know it!”[/colour] [colour=#800000]“Maybe he flew away, boss.”[/colour] Said Bruticus. [colour=#2f4f4f]“Where do you think he would fly to, you bumbling buffoon!”[/colour] Rumble snapped. He brought his paw to his face and shook his head. [colour=#2f4f4f]“Bruticus, have the others set the nets up at the entrance. They will both have to come out sooner or later.”[/colour] The hound nodded and ran back the way they came from. [colour=#ff8c00]“Shall I assist him?”[/colour] asked Baron. [colour=#2f4f4f]“No, go tell Merlot about our new guest. He isn’t going to like this.”[/colour] Rumble said with a sigh. He took a few steps forward and looked at the symbol on the ground.[colour=#2f4f4f] “Let’s just get the lens and get out of here. I have waited long enough for my prize.”[/colour] [colour=#ff8c00]“What about Merlot?”[/colour] “[colour=#2f4f4f]Bah! Find him a shiny token or a statue. That should be good enough for him. Now, go!”[/colour] Rumble commanded. Baron saluted Rumble in a way that Rain Leaf had seen before. It was a griffon salute. The diamond dog walked off leaving Rumble alone in the chamber. He chuckled again as he looked around the room. [colour=#2f4f4f]“Oh pony. I know you are here somewhere. Come out, come out wherever you are!”[/colour] the diamond dog said playfully. [colour=#2f4f4f]“You can’t stay in here forever. I will find you and your friend, don't you worry!” [/colour]With that he turned and left the room. Rain Leaf waited for a few moments to make sure they were truly gone. He cautiously crawled out of his hiding spot while keeping close to the wall. Where was he? He noticed the four other entrances to the room which all seemed to lead off in some random direction. Something on the opposite side of the room caught his eye. Two massive golden doors stood closed. A marble manticore stood watch. The statue seemed to be expertly crafted. It’s lifeless eyes watched over the room. [colour=#ff0000]“Oh, what to do?” [/colour]Rain Leaf said quietly. He thought back to the other pony they mentioned. He couldn’t get out of here alone. He needed help but he didn’t even know where to begin his search. With a long, heavy sigh, he set out on his search down one of the other hallways, unsure what these ruins had in store for him.

[colour=darkgreen]"Yeppers peppers! Walk out, slide down railing, walk out. And you don't need to be all conspiritorial about it, silly filly- well, you're not a filly I, I think, but that's just the phrase- because it isn't like they're gonna toss you out on your flank!" [/colour]Pathfinder said with a giggle. Rain Leaf rolled his eyes at the mare’s response. [colour=#ff0000]“Right.” [/colour]he said with a huff. He felt so left out although he knew that it was by his own lame choice. His own sister would have leaped at the opportunity to do something like this. Even cousin Torrent would have taken the chance, although he probably wouldn’t have gotten very far. Sometimes, he even wondered how he grew up to be this timid and cautious. He was far more like his uncle than his own father. Honestly, what was the point of all his caution if he was just going to end up in a hospital anyways? [colour=darkgreen]"Ciao!" [/colour]Pathfinder said before vanishing through the door. She popped her head back in a split second later giving Rain Leaf a small feeling of hope. [colour=darkgreen]"That's how they say bye in Roam! I picked that up at a restaurant called The Itailian Stallion. I think I'll go there next! Maybe spend a few days there; a friend could help me out." [/colour]With that, the mare was gone, leaving Rain Leaf alone in a dark room. The grey stallion lowered his head with a sigh. The feeling of disappointment had made his heart heavy. The sound of a small commotion came from below. Rain Leaf chuckled and shook his head. It was all over. Pathfinder was off to continue her life of excitement while he was here to continue his normal boring routine. He closed the door and walked back over to his bed. The empty cot across the room caught his attention. It felt like he had been in this room for a month. He had memorized every detail of it even down the chip in the tile to the left of his bed. It seemed empty without the mare. It was empty without the mare. Rain Leaf jumped onto his bed and fidgeted until he was on his side facing the window. He stared through the crack in the curtains at the rising moon. There was no longer a face there to look back to him; no longer another entity to talk to. No, he was alone with nothing more than his own thoughts. Still exhausted from the lack of solid food in his current diet, he nestled his head into his pillow and let out another deep sigh. Within a few minutes, he was able to slip away into a slumber filled with dreams of freedom and adventure. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ It had been four days since the mare had escaped from the hospital. Most of the staff could hardly believe it even happened. There was a small investigation and her roommate was questioned lightly, but other than that, no action was taken. Such a bizarre occurrence but it wasn’t long until the hospital returned to normal. The only crime Pathfinder could truly be charged with was leaving Rain Leaf with such a bore of a roommate. It wasn’t the stallion’s fault; Rain Leaf just found art to be an incredible bore. He didn’t mind talking about the art itself, no, this stallion insisted upon going deep into every detail in the art book he brought. Every moment he spent talking was a moment Rain Leaf regretted the fact that he stayed. Was this how he sounded to Pathfinder? It wasn’t all bad, though. Rain Leaf felt his health improving and his muscle pain was completely gone! They were even giving him solid food now. It tasted awful but he didn’t care. Anything was an improvement over six days of carrot soup and water. He envied the fact that his second roommate was released the previous day, but still, the good news that left a smile on his face was the fact that today was his last day in this white cell. He could return to work; against the nurse’s advice of course. He just hoped that his dear Yarrow hadn’t caused too much trouble while he was away. And with that, the final day slowly rolled on in boring fashion. [colour=#0000ff]“There’s my big brother! Glad to see that the loony mare didn’t take you with her!”[/colour] Silvermist said as she entered the room. Rain Leaf shot into a sitting position at the sight of his little sister. He was happy to see her. He let out a little chuckle before greeting her. [colour=#ff0000]“Hey, sis, I take it one of the nurses told you what happened?”[/colour] [colour=#0000ff]“Yea, I heard the whole thing. Is it true that she looked just like Daring Doo?”[/colour] [colour=#ff0000]“Yes, she did. It certainly was an interesting experience. I’ll tell you all about it once we get out of here.”[/colour] He said as tossed his covers off and jumped out of bed. A feigned look of horror formed on Silvermist’s face.[colour=#0000ff] “Oh my! You're all scrawny and feeble looking now! Good to see that you are back to your old self.” [/colour]She said with a smile. [colour=#ff0000]“Oh you’re making jokes already, eh?”[/colour] She ran up and gave him a big hug. [colour=#0000ff]“Only for you, big bro. Also, look who decided to drop on by!”[/colour] Rain Leaf looked past his sister to see a light brown mare standing in the door way. She looked oddly out of place with her rather large sun hat on. [colour=#8b4513]“I’m glad to see you on your hooves again, Rain Leaf. Work’s been piling up while you have been on vacation.”[/colour] [colour=#ff0000]“What can I say? I needed to see the sights, catch a breath, and recover from a dangerous poison. I’ll hop right on the cactus flowers in a few days, don’t worry, Maple.”[/colour] Rain Leaf said, trying to pry his sister off of him. [colour=#8b4513]“It isn’t just that. I have had a lot of requests coming in during the last few days. One of them came from Dr. Evergreen himself!”[/colour] Maple turned her attention to Silvermist. [colour=#8b4513]“Hey, Silver, how would you like to make some easy bits? Your brother is going to need somepony to help him out next week.”[/colour] Rain Leaf’s eyes brightened with glee at the mention of his idol. [colour=#ff0000]“What did he want?”[/colour] he asked, trying to drown out his sister’s groans of protest. [colour=#8b4513]“Something big. I'll tell you about it later. Now, come on, I already paid for your stay. Let’s get some lunch. My treat. I have Torrent holding a table for us at The Spark of Flavor.”[/colour] Silvermist jumped at the mention of the restaurant. “[colour=#0000ff]You got a table there? What in Equestria are we still doing here then?!”[/colour] she exclaimed. She grabbed Rain Leaf’s box of books and giddily skipped out of the room. Rain Leaf giggled at his sister’s antics.[colour=#ff0000] “How did you manage to pull this one off?”[/colour] he asked as he walked over towards the door. [colour=#8b4513]“Let’s just say I know a colt.”[/colour] Maple responded with a sly wink.[colour=#8b4513] “Now, come on, I want you to tell us all about this crazy mare I have been hearing about.”[/colour] [colour=#ff0000]“It’s a bit of a story, but a good one.”[/colour] He said. With that the two walked out of the room. Rain Leaf stopped for a second and looked back into the empty room. It was just two empty cots now. All the excitement from a few nights ago was gone. Pathfinder was surely long gone by now, off on some crazy adventure. Still, he couldn’t shake the feeling of disappointment from that night. What would he be doing right now if he said yes? [colour=#8b4513]“Coming, Rain Leaf?”[/colour] inquired Maple from the end of the hallway where she and Silvermist were eagerly waiting. [colour=#ff0000]“Uh, yeah.”[/colour] Rain Leaf looked into the room one last time and let out a deep sigh before joining his friend and his sister. With that, the three pegasi were on their way, a day full of merriment and leisure ahead of them. ((END OF THREAD))

I play CoD:MW3 a lot. I will also be playing Halo 4 and BlOps2 when they come out. Shoot me a message if any of you are up for some CoD. DL6 Cervantes