TheInvisiblePony

Do you know the muffin man?

Put it out.

WITH THE SHEER POWER OF MY MIND (By which I mean smothering the flames with a blanket or something). Oh, and I'd probably read a little of it.

Fantasy, in her mirth, neglected to pay a terrible amount of attention towards Darkness, which would very quickly become something she regarded as a mistake. As she looked to her side, she felt a large downpour of solid water dumping on her head, altogether throughout soaking both her coat and her mane, even more so given that, besides the few splashes she received earlier, they weren't actually that wet. Despite this, she was not terribly shocked by the sudden pouring. Rather, as the water quickly slid down back into the pond, her mouth formed into a slightly crooked grin, giving a knowing look and implying a sly plan.

The truth was much less elegant.

Figuring that having water pretty much placed on her was the current extent of the splash war, her natural adventurer (as she would later justify it) desired to explore the boundaries. Essentially, she just figured escalation of water warfare was necessary. Regretfully, she lacked wings or unicorn magic, so the obvious revenge was out of the picture. With the grin still on her face, she allowed herself to slowly submerge beneath the water, not unlike an airship descending beneath the cloud line. Upon going completely underwater, she made a quick dart forward and made a quick grab for one of Darkness's hooves, and made another quick motion downwards, hoping to completely dunk him in the water for a brief. Nothing sinister, as she immediately let go after this, just a brief, one-second forced immersion would do.

No, you see, my neighbors were that couple I mentioned, and I doubt their current state of life. Or, you know, their too quite to spend it on anything fun. I'd really hate for such thing as a million dollars to go to waste...

[colour=#FFFFFF]I don't know how you feel about it, but you were male in your last earthly incarnation.You were born somewhere in the territory of modern Germany around the year 1575. Your profession was that of a jeweler or watch-maker.[/colour][colour=#FFFFFF]Your brief psychological profile in your past life:[/colour]

[colour=silver]Inquisitive, inventive, you liked to get to the very bottom of things and to rummage in books. Talent for drama, natural born actor.[/colour]

[colour=#FFFFFF]The lesson that your last past life brought to your present incarnation:[/colour]

[colour=#c0c0c0]There is an invisible connection between the material and the spiritual world. Your lesson is to search, find and use this magical bridge. Well. This is... surprisingly accurate. I've always fancied myself a watchmaker, I do have some German in me, and I'm currently in the production for a play right now. Oh, and the lesson is something I've given some thought in the past. As in, seriously tried to figure out. To the point where this program now scares me.[/colour]

[colour=#FFFFFF]Do you remember now?[/colour]

Well. This is... surprisingly accurate. I've always fancied myself a watchmaker, I do have some German in me, and I'm currently in the production for a play right now. Oh, and the lesson is something I've given some thought in the past. As in, seriously tried to figure out. To the point where this program now scares me.

Or maybe subconsciously I just want this to be true so I make up memories to have it happen. You know us humans and our tendencies to find non-existent patterns...

I can certainly see where your coming from. I seem to be in the midst of a slow descent of sequentially lack-luster whatever-the-plural-of-Christmas-is mayself. Or, who knows, maybe it is an on again off again thing. Too soon to say, really. All I know is that this year, the family and I more or less waited last minute on quite a few things to the point of decorating the tree at about 8:00 pm on Christmas eve. Hopefully, things get merrier before they get humbuggier. And yes, I'm making humbuggier a word now. Just to describe this extant event.

Enos gave a proud grin upon seeing Sapphire's reaction to his magic, after all, those moments were what he had planned on expecting when he started working on his magic. After all, he wanted to be known for his talent (who didn't?) and this meeting certainly looked to be promising. Besides, he certainly needed the practice, and actually preforming his spells was pretty much excellent for that.

Being the rather oblivious pony he was, he hardly noticed Sapphire's nervous shuffle in between his speeches, but he did sense that she was excited. At this point in the conversation, he hardly thought much of it, reasoning that she was just the type of pony to excited most of the time. Or at the very least passionate. Speaking of which, he happened to not get off on a mental tangent just long enough to listen to her reply.

[colour=#282828]“[/colour][colour=#000080]You should! Not that I’m biased, but singing is the best thing ever. [/colour][colour=#000080]If you like, I could give you a bit of a lesson! I haven’t taught before, but since you haven’t sung before, maybe it’ll work out.[/colour][colour=#282828]”[/colour]

Enos smiled at that one. He remembered working for a baker once in one of his multiple odd jobs over the years. He seemed to recall the fellow saying something very much along the same lines, except about baking (logically). He had tried it out, but he tried not to think about the day or two directly after words. Baking was not his forte. Although, he did wonder how well he'd be at singing. It wasn't that terribly different from what he did, and in fact in might very well help him out.

Raising his head, he answered [colour=#696969]"I may very well have to take that offer seriously, you know. Certainly something to consider."[/colour] Of course, in between his words, thoughts, and repressed thoughts, he hardly noticed he followed Sapphire straight to a baker's stall, of all things. Mentally taking note of the irony, he looked at her as she offered to treat him to some food. Nodding a brief thanks, Enos turned his gaze to the stall. He looked at the goods for a good few seconds before deciding on a loaf of bread and some butter. Simplicity in food was something he had come to enjoy in food from time to time, so he motioned to it. [colour=#696969]"Yes, if you'd be so kind, I'd very much like some of this." [/colour]

Smiling both politely and happily, he reasoned that letting Sapphire pay would be both more polite than offering to pay himself. He got the feeling she might be offended slightly otherwise.

Fantasy winced from surprise as she caught the brunt of Darkness' retaliation splash, chuckling as she wiped a little water from her eye. Quickly getting the nuances of what she had started, she blinked a few times and spoke in a light-hearted . [colour=#800080]"So its on, is it? Very well, I'd hate to disappoint!"[/colour] She continued chuckling as splashed back. After a quick-hoofed response, Fantasy looked around the circular pond in an attempt to make a quick movement, but she was unable to think of a next move.

Mainly because she was laughing a bit to hard too think tactically, really.

Fantasy watched intently as the pegasus stepped into the water. As he smiled, she gave an inwards sigh of relief that it was not apparently that cold. As she needed no convincing beyond that, it was a few seconds before she dipped into the water, although hers was less of a headstrong dive and more happy trot into the water. Perhaps not that terribly exciting to look at, but that was not her chief concern.

First thing she noticed - the water was actually surprisingly warm. Not that warm, more like a few degrees above an average temperature, but definitely warm compared to what she had expected. [colour=#800080]"And this place just keeps getting better and better, doesn't it?"[/colour] She said, half jokingly, half serious. Swimming over towards his area, she stopped upon getting close. It was at this point when she realized that they were currently in a body of water, and so with the resources at hand, she playfully splashed him.

Fantasy smiled as well, chuckling at his joke, before considering the offer to the pool. [colour=#800080]"Well, I'm certainly no stranger to water, what the hay?"[/colour] She instinctively went up too take off her hat, only to realize it had already fallen off, presumably a while ago. 'Well, at least it won't get wet' she privately mused, before walking towards the pool.

Although one could hardly call Tropes a cautious mare, she was a bit hesitant to try out the water, given the night. Although she loved the night skies and everything, one of the few cons was how cold bodies of water got. Figuring Darkness, as the resident expert, would know of something like water temperature, she called out [colour=#800080]"Well, you found the place, after you dear sir."[/colour] She took a sidestep as if mimicking holding open a door and held out a polite hoof

Why, I'd take a hair dryer and dry out the goop, then remove the now non-sticky nor wet goop from the paper. Or, if that's not an option, I'd claim my prize and immediately go buy some hand sanitizer.

Hmm... I'd say I'm loving this. *Strokes very gentlemanly stubble*

Yes, quite so.

If I might be so bold, I would wish to provide an alternative jazz theme - http://www.listenonrepeat.com/watch/?v=IJpeVvOerdQ

[colour=#800080]"Oh, well, let's see..."[/colour] Fantasy put a hoof to her chin in thought, before continuing.[colour=#800080] "I've had plenty of exciting adventures, but my most exciting? That, my dear Mr. Eclipsed, is a tough question."[/colour] She gave the question some deep thought, and mused all of the different ruins she's ventured into. [colour=#800080]"I guess you could this very much depends on the definition of exciting. If you mean adrenaline-filled, there's this wonderful little ancient pegasi training canyon that is a doozy navigating by hoof. If you mean awe-inspiring, I know of small tower on a hill with a wonderful view of the Everfree. But, the one place I've yet to find a match of would have to be... oh, let's see"[/colour]

She paused once more, letting the answer dance across the tip of the tongue, before it finally came to her. [colour=#800080]"Oh, I've got it! There's this wonderful little shrine, not far from here, actually. Not much to look at by itself, but its quite the maze. I believe somepony built it for a 'Mare on the Moon'; curious little place, really."[/colour] She flashed a sly little smile towards Darkness, figuring that it was the most exciting adventure she's been on, given that it has been different from every one in the past.

Silver raised an eyebrow at the shopkeeper's - presumable a Hope Locket - reply to her apparently unique eyebrow. She didn't comment on it, just as she just found it amusing she had stumbled upon the first of something. Taking the invitation to step inside, Silver nodded politely and did exactly that. From there, she made a quick look around some of the nearer stands and species of jewelry, and while she could tell they were well crafted, she had little to no expertise in the field of jewelry. That is too say, she didn't know what would look nice on her or not, but she figured some sort of idea would come to her eventually.

As she stared at another piece mentally she went off on a tangent, trying to imagine what it would be like making jewelry. Probably difficult, although it was fairly exempt from change once it was finished, unlike the clouds she sculpted with; those were liable to drift apart at a moments notice. Wistfully, she spoke up. [colour=#696969]"It certainly must be nice working with something that's so stable. I imagine this right here" [/colour]she gestured towards the particular adornment she was staring at [colour=#696969]"Must last quite a while if well looked after. Nothing at all like working with clouds." [/colour]She continued browsing, quickly moving past her day-dream like comment, not really explaining much beyond what she had already said.

[colour=#800080]"You saw this mare in the Everfree? Curious... I wonder who it could have been... Ah well, I'm sure it won't matter much."[/colour] She smiled, before dwelling back to Darkness' tales. At first thought, she wasn't sure to make of it, but the appeal to such a happy-go-lucky romp around the forest did grow on her the longer she dwelled on the idea.[colour=#800080] "I must say, I envy your adventures here just a little. I mean to say, simply lounging about the trees, and this clearing in particular, is quite an admirable endeavor."[/colour]

She pictured herself in those scenarios, but she couldn't imagine herself staying put long enough to enjoy anything for more than a few days. It just wasn't for her, but that didn't mean she couldn't understand why it would be for one. She related much more to the quests Darkness alluded to having in the Everfree, partly because she's had a few of her own there.

May I assume you mean besides the evil pudding mold?

If so, I believe this nice newlywed couple moved in a few days ago. Haven't seen them since the initial greeting, so I'm led to believe they were consumed. Or just really quiet.

[colour=#800080]"Oh, let's see... what have we not gone over already?"[/colour] She silently spoke aloud, more to herself to give her some ideas. [colour=#800080]"Well, you've been around this forest for a while. I don't suppose you have any exciting stories?" [/colour]As she spoke, a small twinkle popped up in her eye, and she spoke the last sentence with a measure of enthusiasm. Oh, she did love a good story. She grinned despite herself, and eagerly awaited a reply, while trying to maintain a more composed facade.

Silver looked towards the direction of the voice, only to see a Unicorn. She looked at her, and first of all noticed her toned down coat, and figured that those colours worked quite well for a mare running a jewelry store. Indeed, that worked better than most. She might have spent a while dwelling on the subject, had she not had a question to answer. Indeed, for a brief moment, she acted as though she hadn't heard it in the first place. Silver realized she must have still been a little tired, but regardless, she answered contentedly.

[colour=#696969]"Well, I'm not sure. That would depend very much on what help you're willing to perform. May I presume you own this establishment?"[/colour] She paused for an inquisitive moment, before carrying on [colour=#696969]"If so, I should probably tell you that your display window is quite eye-catching, but I digress. I can't say I know my way around jewelry, so if it wouldn't be too much of a bother, do you mind if I just browse for a little while?"[/colour]

Silver flashed a quick smile, and waited for a response. She figured it would be best not to make to much motion before any sort of reply.

Fantasy chuckled happily, and in response she spoke [colour=#800080]"Well, my stallionfriend, as much as I would like to suggest something different to do, at the moment I can think of nothing better to do than sit here and talk. Seeing as how that's what we've been doing, I should think we've been doing just what we should have been doing."[/colour] She answered quite joyfully, although she was still ever so slightly tired, so it was very much sincere if not one hundred percent enthusiastic. Feeling as though she should carry on talking, as though silence were taboo for the moment, she continued.

[colour=#800080]"But of course, if you have any suggestions, I'd hate to trample over them."[/colour]

funny story about that... you see, I use too live in 14-b, but then I decided there was this huge mishap involving several elder evils possessing year-old-moldy pudding in my fridge. The resulting battle rendered the place uninhabitable, so I moved.

To apartment 13-a.

14-c, actually. Oh wait nonononono... I shouldn't have said that.

Ignore that bit about dimension 14-c, nothing more than a flight of fancy. I am actually from here, as in Earth, and not any dimension 14-b, and especially not 14-c. Yup, good 'ol Earth. Nothing wrong with it at all.

Yes.

Fantasy grinned and stared back just as happily. Upon noticing his blush, she subconsciously matched it and blushed just as much. As she sat there, she began to feel once again a little tired, giving the hour of night, but she was still perfectly willing to stay awake. She didn't want to miss a moment of anything, so she ignored the creeping feeling.

Something that pops up with no other purpose than too save the day, or provide an answer to the given problem.

For something to classify as Deus Ex Machina, it has too:

1) Completely solve the problem, no half solving it before walking away or anything

2) It must appear as the solution to a priviously unsolvable problem or insurmountable obstacle

3) It must be a completely new element to the problem.

Example: Take the classic logic problem of you, your boat, your wolf, your rabbit, and your lettuce, only add a wolf on both sides of the river. Seems impossible to solve without having the rabbit getting eaten, or having the two wolves fight each other, doesn't it? Now imagine Huckleberry Finn happens to sail by the river in his raft, and he decides to help you out, so between the two of you the entire problem is narrowed down to one trip across the river with nothing left behind. Finn is the Deus Ex Machina in this case, because his entire purpose for this puzzle was for him to help you out.

Wow, that was far too serious. Hoped it helped you out though.

Started the thread here:

I figured it would be polite to have it closed unless you said otherwise, so if you would prefer an open thread, just say the word!

Silver Lining awoke to find herself on a cloud. Not that she had opened her eyes yet, she had just awoken to feel the familiar texture underneath her. Still a little sleepy, she stretched her legs before standing up and looking at the familiar Cloudsdale skies...

[colour=#696969]"This isn't Cloudsdale..."[/colour]

Silver looked around, and saw no cloud city nearby, so she looked down. Indeed, below her was the city of Trottingham. To no pony in particular, she muttered [colour=#696969]"Oh dear. Well, looks like I'm on vacation!"[/colour] With a happy little smile, she began to push the cloud as far down as she dared so as to avoid suspicion then she gently flew down to the ground. Nervously, she touched the earth and made a few unsteady pats at the dirt on the road. Not entirely certain of its solidity, but content enough as is, Silver happily shook her already messy mane, before setting down the road at a slow pace.

It wasn't that she wasn't concerned that she had drifted all the way to a different city, and the ground still made her nervous (still too earthy), but she was never one to waste an opportunity. Besides, she barely knew what was around Trottingham. Why not find out?

Looking at some of the various stores and what not, Silver trotted around until she came an interesting looking jewelry store. Everything certainly looked well made, and she found herself staring absent-mindedly into the display window. Figuring that was sign enough she should check it out, Silver contentedly opened the door (after puzzling briefly over a door not made of clouds) and stood by the door briefly.

[colour=#696969]"Hello?"[/colour]