Elderflower

Pet fox named Chrome? That seems...wrong.

[colour=#ff6699]I'm making it a personal summer project to draw as much as I can - at the very least once a day. So I decided to turn the practice into something I can share by taking pony requests! Woo~[/colour] [colour=#ff0066]Things to Know[/colour] [colour=#FF6699]1. This thread will be handled in a first-come, first-served manner with four slots available.[/colour] [colour=#ff6699]2. Because I don't want to keep people waiting too long and because I don't handle buildups well: there will not be a waiting list. If you try making requests once I close slots I will ignore your post. I'll only take on/read requests when empty slots and the thread title all say "OPEN." If the thread is titled "Closed" or if the open slots say "N/A" then it quite literally means Not Available. I apologize if this is a little frustrating, but please bear with me![/colour] [colour=#ff6699]3. While I say I want to work on drawing every day, the reality is that I also have a full time job and posting obligations here on the site as well. I may be able to finish some drawings relatively quickly whereas others will take time - sorry if I make you wait too long![/colour] [colour=#ff6699]4. When you make a request, please include a link to your character's application and any visual references you might have for me.[/colour] [colour=#ff6699]5. I'll post the finished drawing in this thread and PM you a link to the post. You are welcome to put it in your gallery so long as you remember to credit me. c:[/colour] [colour=#ff0066]Slots[/colour] [colour=#ff6699]1. Davroth 2. Janejane 3. Philface 4. Dreamy[/colour] [colour=#ff0066]Completed[/colour] [colour=#FF6699]1. Swirlybeard[/colour] [colour=#FF6699]2. Tacobob[/colour] [colour=#FF6699]3. Bellybutton[/colour] [colour=#FF6699]4. Rosieposie[/colour] [colour=#FF6699]5. Diomedes[/colour] [colour=#ff0066]Examples[/colour]

Grats!!

Hi and welcome to Canterlot! I hope you have a blast and feel totally welcome! And don't forget to check out Rarity's Simply Fabulous Application Form - it's simply fabulous!

Since the Princess of the Night had been freed of darkness to find herself in a world far more advanced than the one she had left behind, she had been slowly building up the confidence that she was getting the hang of things. As she stood behind the wide, gilded double doors that lead to the foyer she reminded herself that she had grown quite accustom to cameras and that this would all be a breeze. Sure, the flash was a little uncomfortable, but it wouldn’t be too bad, would it? After all, Luna had lived through millennia where an image was captured on canvas or in stone – she was quite used to holding a pose! There was absolutely no reason to be nervous. Despite this, there were still butterflies fluttering their wings in her stomach. As she matched her stride with Colonel Ironwing’s, she found herself trying to match her attitude to his as well. He seemed mostly indifferent towards the prospect of stepping straight into the spotlight (and the heart of the celebration), if not a bit eager. [colour=#696969]“Come now, we’ll be late!”[/colour] The Princess couldn’t quite speak around her tension, or she would have mentioned that her stride was long and she could be quite quick, but she was trying to match paces with him! Nonetheless, they had taken the final turn and were approaching the foyer… Nothing could have prepared the Princess of the Night for the scene the Colonel had introduced with a grand sweep of his hoof. The setting itself was something she had seen countless times before in her past – balls of arcane energy floated and drifted about the room, casting just enough light to see by while still maintaining an intimacy akin to candlelight. The ethereal glow added a touch of magic to the room and to everypony gathered within it, bouncing off the medals of decorated members of the REA or causing a mare bedecked in jewels to glitter like the night sky; it was luxurious, indulgent, and absolutely enchanting. It would have been familiar enough to put Luna at ease, an event such as this, but one thing she could not have anticipated was the veritable ocean of obnoxious, flashing white lights. Between the snap of shutters and the pops of flashes going off, it sounded like an agitated insect swarm was alive within the foyer! For a moment, it was all Luna could do to keep her composure and stay perfectly still. Had she experienced being in front of a camera before this evening? Yes. In fact, she had stood before similar hordes of photographers at Shining Armour’s and Cadence’s wedding as well as Twilight Sparkle’s coronation. But in both of those events, she was not the sole focus of the shutterbugs’ attention, and at least at the coronation the daylight had spared the offence of the flash. This was something much more unsettling. But she was Princess Luna, Guardian of Dreams and the very quintessence of Night – she had battled evil before, and survived one thousand years in total solitude (but for the voices of darkness lingering and planting seeds of doubt in the back of her mind). If she allowed herself to be set back by unfamiliar modern technology, well…she would feel utterly ashamed. The Princess collected herself, and as though somepony had flipped a switch she went from stony to regal in the blink of an eye. She lifted her head proudly, her wings unfolding ever-so-slightly to assert her nobility, and she smiled. It was a generous smile, one she had practiced many times before in public addresses such as these. [colour=#6699ff]“Good evening, citizens of Equestria,”[/colour] Luna announced, her voice strong and clear as she projected it over the din of celebration (though not too much to be awkwardly authoritative or intimidating!), [colour=#6699ff]“I will refrain from further speeches or decorum that would keep you from celebrating our esteemed Royal Equestrian Army. Let me say, however, that I look forward to meeting you all – now let us commence the evening’s festivities!”[/colour] The Princess turned towards the Colonel to offer him a respectful nod as she began to make her way towards the photo booth. She finally spread her wings completely, putting off something of a show to stir the guests and mount their excitement for the night’s photos. The happier they were, the better each picture would turn out, and she wanted to make sure each memory here would be a happy one! And what a spectacle she was making! Though relatively simple in design, Luna’s ensemble was stunning while she was in motion. The gown was made of layers upon layers of sheer, silvery fabric. It appeared as though streams of moonlight were flowing around her body to spill over onto the floor by her back hooves. While she moved, the feather-light fabric trailed behind her like currents of light which flowed together with the celestial wave that is her tail. Once she had taken position in the photo booth, her gown fell still and immediately it was much more humble in appearance. Still beautiful, yes, but simple enough to allow most mares in attendance tonight to rival their Princess in dress. With that goal in mind, Luna had also chosen to accessorize with pearls instead of jewels; she wore strings of them around her neck and had shoes and a tiara made from mother of pearl. It was lovely, but not a blatant or obnoxious show of royal wealth. The Princess would appear more as an equal tonight, and again in the photos every mare and stallion took home. Perhaps it would even make some mares feel like princesses themselves! Besides, this night was a celebration of the Royal Equestrian Army – it was not a night for glitz and glamour or showing off one’s radiance! Though Luna could still feel a tightness in her chest (and something of a desire to stomp on every obnoxious flash popping and blinding her), the familiarity of these luxury events was soothing out her worries. It was much simpler to fall back into habit than she had anticipated, and she found herself looking forward to speaking intimately with so many of her subjects tonight, even if her nerves hadn’t gone away completely!​

Princess Luna reporting in! I need to try and learn how to be funny before my turn comes..!

[colour=#ffa07a]The Menu ​[/colour]Teas Green, chamomile, elderberry, hibiscus, lapsang souchong, shui hsien, ginger honey, black, pu’erh, oolong, earl grey. -Milk and sweeteners optional. Sweeteners include white sugar lumps, brown sugar lumps, honey, agave nectar, and elderflower cordial. Sweets Chocolate croissants, elderflower sugar croissants, elderflower cupcakes, sugar cookies, shortbreads, and macarons. Beverages Sparkling water, still water, lychee juice, milk, passionfruit juice, and elderflower cordial with sparkling or still water. Elderflower was draped across the dark, lacquered wood of her countertop, a long expression on her face as she stared outside. It was almost noon and she hadn’t seen a single customer – not much of a surprise, though, considering the weather. Thick, ominous stormclouds had rolled in over Canterlot during the night, carrying with them violent peals of thunder. A weather pony who had stopped into the teahouse the day before had told the wisp of a mare that despite how dark the sky was going to get, the storm wouldn’t start until it had passed over the city. Luckily, all that Canterlot would see of this would be rain switching on and off between gentle showers and downpours all day – nothing unwise to venture into if you were well-prepared, but still very unpleasant. She had hoped this meant there would be ponies still going about their routines, eventually leading them to the teahouse, but there had been no such luck yet.A few businesses on El’s street had closed down for the day, but she was determined to keep The Elder Tree Teahouse going until closing time. This was partly due to the fact that she wanted to keep her doors open just in case any unlucky pony wandering outside got caught up in one of the “downpour” phases of the rain and needed shelter, but mostly because she simply didn’t know what to do with her time if she wasn’t working. She had already covered the more delicate plants in her gardens with tarps during the free hours of the morning, and now she was almost wishing a customer would come break the bleak monotony of this rainy day. With a long sigh, she slid backwards off the counter and decided that the best way to occupy herself for now would be to make up some tea! For a rainy day, the mare preferred to dip into something a little heavier – something rich that would ooze deep into her bones and flood her with feelings of warmth and comfort. Though she loved everything she currently had on her menu, she knew that the perfect tea to chase away a damp chill was nothing other than a homemade masala chai! Just the thought of the spicy, luxurious flavour caused El’s mouth to water, and without the slightest bit of hesitation she trotted into her kitchen, balls of golden light shooting ahead of her to find all of the ingredients – and her special masala chai pot! Luckily, she always kept jars of a masala spice mix prepared for chilly days, so whipping up some tea would be the work of a few quick minutes. Just one thing to decide…how many servings? [colour=#ffa07a]“How much to make, Blue?”[/colour] she asked aloud. The little fairy wren was tucked away in her mane. He had been snoozing earlier, but she hoped speaking would wake him…unfortunately all she got was an indignant, groggy chirp followed by a very tense silence. What a drag! El was hoping he would solve a moral dilemma for her: should she make a huge pot of tea in case customers came in seeking respite from the weather? She was sorely tempted, since there was a huge possibility of nopony showing up (leaving copious amounts of delicious tea for her to drink). But on the other hoof, she could be responsible and think about her poor tum, making only two servings. Blue didn’t want to be helpful today, though, it seemed. So one big pot with servings enough for ten ponies it was! She had the tea made in no time, and the tantalizing perfume of the spices was soon wafting its way through the teahouse. If anypony got close enough to the front entrance to read the sign indicating the Elder Tree would be open despite the weather, there was no doubt that divine aroma would seep out through the cracks in the door! Smiling, Elderflower ladled herself a generous mug of the masala chai tea with her pale, golden magic and floated it in front of her as she returned to the counter, humming a little ditty that came to her as she bounced out of the kitchen. Rainy day or not, a good spiced tea was guaranteed to lift the spirits! ​

Oh! A hedgehog! Though she had never seen a hedgehog quite so large, or blue, or one that stood on two legs…well, she could see the resemblance at least. He had the quills! [colour=#ffa07a]“Well, Sonic, the feeling is mutual. It is very nice to meet you! And you as well, Bowie. And it is quite a lovely day, so please follow me to the garden.”[/colour] With a warm smile, El turned on her hooves and strolled over to the garden door, which began to glow with gentle golden light and slide open. Warm sunlight flooded into the teahouse through the garden doors and the mare’s smile only widened as she stepped into its warmth. Such a lovely day, indeed! Instinctively the wisp of a unicorn began to hum, stepping from the stairs onto the lush green grass as balmy winds rustled the branches of her elder tree overhead. She stopped near the tables that were sheltered by the shade of the tree this early in the morning and finally turned to face the customers, beaming. [colour=#ffa07a]“Sit wherever you would like – there is a menu on each table. Nopony else is here yet, so you may take your time to choose and I will stay out here until you do. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to ask. The menu is quite small as I prefer to cycle through different selections rather than offer them all year-round – it’s a little easier to manage.”[/colour] Blue darted out from inside the teahouse, then, reaching out with his legs to grab hold of the tip of her horn and perch there, peering at Sonic quite intently. No doubt he was curious about the stranger, too. And then something else occurred to Elderflower… [colour=#ffa07a]“Oh, excuse me Bowie, sir…did you say Granseal? Is that in Equestria?”[/colour] El asked, tilting her head inquisitively,[colour=#ffa07a] “I don’t believe I’ve heard of it.”[/colour]

[colour=#8b4513] “Not a problem, love, not a problem at all. Now, love, I don’t think I’ve seen ye ‘round these ‘ere parts much. ‘ow long ‘ave you been in Trottingham? I ‘ope you’ve ‘ad plenty of time to enjoy everything our fair city ‘as to offer you. If the coffee’ll be all, then that’s two bits.”[/colour][colour=#daa520]“Just a few days!”[/colour] Riff Run responded, beaming as she reached into her saddlebags and placed three bits down on the counter,[colour=#daa520] “Keep the change, hun. Anyways, it’s been a blast. Being so near the water reminds me o’ home even if it ain’t the ocean, and the jazz scene here is hot! It’s burnin’ up! Makes things fun for a driftin’ jazz singer, y’know? I was just on my way outta town when I sniffed your brew - it smelled so much like home I had t’come in!”[/colour] After saying her piece, Riff stepped to the side, tapping her hoof quietly (so as not to disturb the other patrons too much) and swaying her body to some tune she was running off in her head. It wasn’t hard to tell she didn’t like to be idle. When the dark, looming pegasus stepped towards the counter though, she stopped what she was doing and waved her hoof at him. [colour=#daa520]“Sorry again ‘bout that crash, kitten! But can ya smell that brew? It’s worth stampedin’ for, don’tcha think?”[/colour] Riff would have waited for the stranger to respond, but her brew was ready, so instead she stepped in front of him (just about bumping into him again) and picked the mug up in her teeth. She screwed up her expression, then, concentrating fiercely so as not to spill the brew. [colour=#800000]"Good afternoon, everypony! Are you lot just passing through here then? Can't say that I've seen any of you around before." [/colour] [colour=#daa520]“Hi!”[/colour] Riff called out, moving her mouth around the rim of the mug as she turned a little to face the pony the voice was coming from. It was somewhat impressive that her voice only sounded a little muffled. She lifted a foreleg slightly to wave her hoof at the grubby newcomer and nodded slightly to indicate she was indeed just passing through, then made to step away from the counter before the pretty blue thing two stallions had teamed up on began to speak. [colour=#0099ff]"I swear to Celestia, have you all followed me here?"[/colour] Riff Run grinned around her mug and turned back to the charming barista, wiggling her eyebrows devilishly,[colour=#daa520] “ ‘At one’s quite da babe, uh?”[/colour] she said in a hushed tone, this time her words were terribly muffled as grinning and holding a mug in your mouth made speaking a little difficult. She finally walked carefully to the table next to the mare and her suitors, then set down her mug and turned around to offer up the pretty blue gal a wink. [colour=#daa520]“I’m willing t’bet they all followed ya here, these two, Glasses, and Overalls included!”[/colour] the mare laughed, indicating with her hoof the other two stallions who hadn’t taken a seat yet, [colour=#daa520]“I wouldn’t be s’prised if all o’ Trottingham didn’t want trot right in right after you – seems like these boys were the only ones with th’guts t’do it though! The name’s Riff Run, by the way – but you can call me Birdy! Friends call me Birdy!”[/colour] Finally, Riff Run sipped the strong, hot brew – black as night, of course – and whistled. [colour=#daa520]“Ms. Vanilla Latté! What a dish, what a doll – your brew is divine!”[/colour] she called out before taking another sip. ​ This strange, energetic mare was absolutely baffling to the solemn, suited stallion. Luminous Charge found himself completely at a loss as he tried to imagine where all that energy came from. Admittedly, he was a little terrified by the prospect of her drinking coffee. That might just be dangerous.[colour=#8b4513]“Do they now? Well, I’m flattered, really – Three Lakes strives to be the best community centered café in Trottingham to be sure, and the food is of course most delicious if I may say so meself. My name’s Vanilla Latte, I own this ‘ere shop. It’s an absolute pleasure to meet you. Pumkin soup an’ a long black comin’ right up – seven bits is the total, love,”[/colour] [colour=#800000]“Indeed,”[/colour] Lume nodded, [colour=#800000]“In truth, they have brought the name up before any number of times. Unfortunately, though, I don’t get out much while I’m in town. I’m usually between my studio and the galleries around town. I suppose I do to get out a bit more. Ah, my name is Luminous Charge, by the way.”[/colour] The stallion placed down the 7 bits plus a few extra as tip, and found himself a little surprised. Normally, he wasn’t quite so chatty – perhaps the chatty made who had bumped into him had infectious energy or perhaps it was the atmosphere here, but for once Luminous Charge was speaking more than two words to strangers. He nodded at her second apology, not wanting to get pulled into a whirlwind conversation with her, then stepped out of the way to make room for the newcomer, just in time to avoid that same mare charge to the counter for his coffee. [colour=#800000]"Good afternoon, everypony! Are you lot just passing through here then? Can't say that I've seen any of you around before." [/colour] Lume nodded a greeting to the unkempt stallion, [colour=#800000]“I am from Trottingham, but while I am here I am typically swept up by work, so I don’t get out into the city much.”[/colour] [colour=#0099ff]"I swear to Celestia, have you all followed me here?"[/colour] Luminous Charge was at a total loss for words. Was she looking at him? Perhaps he was mistaken, and she was looking at the stallion in the overalls? Peacock though he is about maintaining an immaculate appearance, Lume is also terribly bashful in the right circumstance. This was one of those moments – though he didn't much appreciate being called "Glasses" it was lucky for him he was spared discomfort by the energetic jazz mare – Riff Run. Birdy. Whatever. The pegasus sagged slightly and let out a small sigh as he awaited he meal. ​

[colour=#4B0082] [/colour][colour=#4b0082]"No need to worry, Princess. I've encountered spiders much larger and more brutish than this. Those are the ones worth fearing, not these; on the contrary, as one of nature's seamstresses I feel something of a connection with our web-spinning friends. Besides, I can tell little Sophronia here is an absolute dear."​[/colour]It seemed as though Luna had sorely misjudged the pale mare. She felt a profound mixture of humility and respect while Rarity spoke; as one who was often saddened by those who misjudged creates such as her spiders, she should have known better than to assume that a pony who carried herself with daintiness and applied herself to fashion would be a stereotypical priss, for lack of a better word. As though a spell had been cast, the Princess felt much more at ease and followed Rarity into the centre of the little haven. [colour=#6699ff]“I am glad you feel that way,”[/colour] she said softly, a large, natural smile breaking the cool nobility she often strived to carry herself with. And how could she not smile? She had already been in such a fine mood, and to know the arachnids she held so dear and felt such pride for were being properly respected made her positively glow. Sophronia too, though she could not smile, appeared to be quite chuffed as she tapped her extended leg. [colour=#4b0082] "This little dear is Opalescence, my trusty assistant. As cats go, she's kind of an incorrigible little diva--all the more likely to tell me what to do than ever think to listen to me. She has uncanny fashion sense for a cat though and is, of course, quite the little cutie pie! I don't know what I'd do without her."​[/colour]Luna nodded, the last traces of her generous smile lingering as she looked towards the sassy white cat, [colour=#6699ff]“Well, Opalescence, it is nice to meet you,”[/colour] she said, formality sneaking back into her tone before addressing Rarity, [colour=#6699ff]“I will inform the mare assigned to look after the two of you that Opalescence is no mere house pet and to treat her with utmost respect. Now,”[/colour] The princess turned back towards the silks, eager to finally discuss them.[colour=#6699ff] “The reason I brought you here to Canterlot, and more specifically to my gardens, is because I am very fond of this fabric. Rather than merely commissioning you and dropped off the materials, I hoped coming here would spark inspiration for your creativity that reflects upon my personal taste in aesthetics. This is one of the places in Equestria where so many things that I find visually pleasing are gathered together: the webs, the moonlight, and the flowers…the only thing missing would be the aurora, though we would have to travel far beyond Canterlot to see them.”[/colour] The faintest traces of a grin flashed across Luna’s expression before she fell back into nobility once more, [colour=#6699ff]“At least that would be the case were I not Princess of the Night.”[/colour] And at that, Luna’s horn began to glow and rivers of coloured light burst forth to swirl around the walls of the dome – the northern lights come to life in a Canterlot garden. Effervescent streams of pinks, purples, and greens danced about the inner walls, lighting the spiders’ webs and the flowers and the silks in turn for a few brief moments before the princess released her arcane grip. She understood very well that this was more than a little showy, but she had done enough light research about Rarity to understand that she loved things that shone and sparkled. Luna was hoping something with a bit of pizzazz could really spark some enthusiasm for the mare, if it wasn’t already there. [colour=#6699ff]“Do you have any questions before I address access to materials and payment?”[/colour] she asked, eager to see if she had successfully tickled Rarity’s creativity.

Eee thanks guys.

You x Bellosh Oh, what, this has to be ponies? Fine. Prince Blue Blood x Pinkie Pie

Hi there and welcome to Canterlot! It's cool your into slam poetry - s'good stuff! :3c

Can't wait for this to take off! :3c

The sun was beginning to slip away, wearily seeking respite from a day of relentless shining. The rich hues of dusk stretched across the sky, casting gold and orange lights upon the room of the Princess of the Night. Luna yawned, her wings stretched as far as they would reach as she tried to shrug the sleepiness out of her body. She had decided that tonight she would dedicate herself solely to dream-wandering in order to perform her duty as their guardian and keeper. Most days, she would simply open a second set of eyelids or a third eye of a sort in order to monitor things while she went about the rest of her duties. This sort of multitasking was a skill she had built over countless centuries of practice and was something she prided herself on. She could be receiving reports from her personal guards and soothing the night terrors of a foal in Cloudsdale, or giving a formal address while willing songbirds and flowers to come to life in the sweet dreams of a new mother – all without the slightest bit of strain. It was a bit of a personal indulgence for her, then, to take an evening to throw herself fully into her duties, to personally reach out to her subjects and let them know she was the steadfast guardian of their precious dreams. She stepped out into the humid air, catching the eye of one of her guards and offering him a solemn nod before thrusting herself skyward in a fluid, elegant leap. Almost immediately she felt an unburdened sense of freedom. The thick summer air swept over her as she caught a thermal and rode it up, up into the sky! The golden touch of the sunset was slowly being overtaken by the inky darkness of night, with stars speckling the heavens as they came to life. The Princess of the Night effortlessly tilted her body with her wings and legs in order to ride each thermal and wind that would lift her higher, flapping occasionally for further thrust. How easy it was to fly high on such a hot evening! Eventually she reached a stray wisp of cloud with a burning red underside (thanks to the last light of day). Luna flew in circles around it, willing it to pull together more tightly and densely until it became the perfect perch. Satisfied, she touched down on the fluffy surface and immediately stepped out of her silver shoes. The faint blue touch of her magical aura then lifted her necklace and tiara away from her body to rest next to the shoes. For this evening, though she would still appear as the Princess adorned with her royal fineries in the astral world, she could at least perform her duties free of adornment in the physical world. Smiling peacefully, Luna folded her legs and wriggled until she was perfectly comfortable and closed her eyes, taking a few peaceful breaths. She opened the eyes within her and felt something in her heart and mind unlock. Almost immediately she was surrounded by streams and swirls of visions. Those early to bed were already dreaming, and those dreams were like rivers that left the dreamer and flowed straight into her. She could see them all at once and yet individually, an arcane ability that she alone had mastered. She began to hum a soft, lilting melody as she peered in on the dreams of every sleeping Equestrian. The lullaby was one she had written millennia ago which had resonance within the æther. It began to gently percolate through the minds of her dreamers, soothing them and bringing the Princess’s warmth to their thoughts. For the most part, only the youngest foals and the oldest mares and stallions were asleep at this early hour. The dreams were full of such contrasting emotions – eagerness to grow and to explore, a desire to make new friends, and pure youthful enthusiasm clashed with the slightly more melancholy twinges of nostalgia and loneliness often found in old age. Each of these dreams was precious to Luna, and she made sure they all met with the gentle touch of her astral hoof. Her lullaby wasn’t just a spell for soothing, though - the Guardian of Dreams also used it as a second set of eyes. It integrated itself into the dreams of her subjects, and when an accidental occurred out of order she knew that something was not right. After a few moments of steeping herself in the minds of her subjects, a dissonant note began to ring and her curiosity was piqued. A nightmare, but not the harmless sort that would simply pass – it was something a little more worrisome to the Guardian of Dreams. The tune of this accidental was familiar to her, one that she had certainly heard before. Without hesitation, her astral project dove headfirst into the mental current that was quaking with fear and immediately stumbled on a bright orange filly with a purple mane. It seemed as though Scootaloo was having yet another nightmare. [colour=#6699ff]“Hello again young Scootaloo,”[/colour] she said softly, so as not to spook the little one.

Roleplay Type World of Equestria Name Ryx Sex Female Age Young adult Species Griffon Eye Colour Antique gold. Though Ryx’s eyes are that of a raptor, the more subdued tone and the warmth easily seen within them takes away from the sharpness often associated with griffons. Locking eyes with her has a tendency to leave one reassured – a useful trait to have for a friendly bird! Coat Her fur and feathers are a uniform jet black which fades to charcoal around the extremities. Though black is often associated with shadows, her coat has a slight golden tint that has a subtle flash in direct light. This takes away any associations with fear or darkness and is instead reminiscent of warmth – the same warmth found in her eyes! On top of that, Ryx is blessed with a natural gloss and fluffiness to her coat, and though she puts little effort into its maintenance she constantly looks primped. Mane/Tail Though she is a griffon, Ryx certainly has a mane! Because of the fluffiness of her coat, the feathers around her neck are so thick that they almost give her something of a lion’s mane! Things are not much different near her bottom, where thick tufts of fur stick out horizontally to create the illusion of a second wide, stubby tail atop her actual tail. Physique Ryx is extremely handsome and has a thick, muscular figure that is a little larger than your typical griff. Add the natural thickness of her coat and she makes quite the tank! It’s no surprise, then, that she is often mistaken for a male. To compensate for her sheer girth, her wings are also larger than average and very muscular. It takes a lot to keep such a heavy creature aloft! Despite her size, however, Ryx is surprisingly agile. Her movements both on land and in the air have a natural fluidity that seems more than a little out of place considering her size. One would think upon looking at her that she’d be the type to deal with power and building heavy momentum for charging in a straight line. But appearances can be deceptive, and this griff is living proof! One of the few luxuries this big bird indulges in is gold jewelry. Her right ear is pierced with studs, rings, and a band while her left sports one elaborate cuff. In much the same style, the ridges of her wings are adorned with cuffs and bands. She wears a thick, gold-plated band on each of her avian forelegs as well, and though the amount of jewelry she wears is a little flashy she manages to make it all seem natural. Residence She lives with her family in one of the rare permanent fishing settlements in Clopton Shores. Because of her job, however, Ryx typically lives all over. Occupation Ryx has one official job and one unofficial. Because of her friendly, easygoing charisma she has a knack for making friends wherever she goes, despite being a very large and intimidating griffon. She uses this to the best of her abilities, flying to communities all over Equestria and settling in for extended visits. While there, she takes observational notes on the ponies and the places they come from in order to send reports back to Talonopolis. She is something of a freelance anthropologist and more often than not she collects this information for business-savvy griffons looking for ideal places to extend their trades. During her more relaxed periods, she compiles this information into volumes for further documentation to be kept in Aquellian libraries. That is Ryx’s official job – the one that brings in the bits. Her unofficial job (and the one she vastly prefers) is adventuring and exploration! Ryx loves nothing more than to fly into uncharted territories, discovering the wonders and dangers of the world. Sometimes there will be valuable and mysterious treasures, other times the treasure is simply the beauty of the natural world untouched by industry. Every adventure, without fail, brings her joy. She keeps record of these adventures the same way she does with her official job, compiling her notes into volumes and scribing copies for libraries. Though they aren’t as valuable to griffon society, she hopes that at least some of her feathered brethren appreciate her efforts and read her journals! Cutie Mark Not Applicable. History Ryx is an only child to two fishing griffons of Lower Aquellia. In the early stages of their relationship, both of her parents were miners living near Talonopolis. During one of their vacations they flew south to Clopton Shores in order to check out the ocean, and after a few short days they realized that was where they wanted to live. In a matter of weeks they had left their mine work and found a home in one of the few permanent fishing villages in Aquellia and they haven’t looked back since. Discovering their love of the ocean somewhat late in their lives helped invigorate a very forward and upfront passion for the sea, a trait that was instilled in their daughter. As a little grifflet, Ryx was always playing in the ocean and doing her best to help her parents fish. When she aged enough to learn how to fly, she found untold joy in soaring over the vast waters. Every day that she grew stronger she flew a little longer over the rolling waves, despite her parents’ worries and their pleas for her to fly safely and responsibly. They were terrified she’d become exhausted and fall right into the unforgiving ocean! Ryx, however, was much too enchanted to listen. It seemed inexplicably wonderful, the prospect of the world being so large that the horizons were just about empty. She would fly until all around her was just bright blue water – no landmark in sight. How big the world seemed! It inspired a hunger to see every inch of Equestria and beyond, and she promised herself that she would see as much of it as she could fit into a lifetime. Ryx spent all of her time up until she was old enough to be independent helping her parents fish, learning how to read and write, and adventuring as far around Aquellia as she was allowed. She stumbled upon many smaller griffon settlements during her youth, and her eagerness and friendly attitude helped her to make friends wherever she went. She always came home with interesting stories, which her parents encouraged her to write down. It eventually became a force of habit, and when she became an adult she made friends in Talonopolis who encouraged her to make a useful living from her charm! And that’s exactly what she did. She started work almost immediately, rushing off to say goodbye to her parents and pick up a few of her things. Since then, Ryx has lived on her own wherever she travels. She visits her parents occasionally, whenever she feels drawn to the ocean again, and that is when she takes the time to compile her volumes of notes and journals. So far, though, Ryx has only had a handful of adventures…something she desperately wants to change. Character Summary Ryx is an oozing puddle of kindness. She views everyone she meets as a potential friend and treats them as such. This makes her an unconventional griffon to some, being something of a large and fluffy plushie as opposed to a sharp and threatening raptorial beastie. That hardly bothers her, however; Ryx’s passions are family, flying, exploration, adventure, and the ocean! She's very much a product of community-driven ocean-side life - a stark contrast to the usual industrious and sharp-edged griffon culture. Unless something comes between her and those precious things of hers, she is guaranteed to be totally calm. Calm seems to be a perpetual state for the black gryphon, in truth. Despite being athletic and an adventurer, she loves to indulge in relaxation. The feline side of her seems to be very strong, especially on hot days. For Ryx, there’s nothing quite like finding a large, dark rock on a warm day and simply lounging on it for hours on end. Sunbathing, cat napping, writing – there are plenty of things for a sloth-infected griffon to do on a rock! The only way that situation could improve would be if it were a rock sitting on the ocean shore. There are a few small passions she has that she keeps to herself as well, many of which she has picked up in her travels. Some of these include: a love of making pretzels from a green pegasus stallion in Corralwood Corral, a somewhat natural talent for percussion from a yellow musician mare in Baltimare, and an absolute obsession for the game of hide and seek from a group of fillies in Trottingham, and an ability to “whittle” with her talons from a carpenter stallion in Appleloosa! Ryx is just an easygoing griff, all in all. She’s not hard to please, she’s friendly and encouraging, and she’s totally relaxed. She lacks a sense of competition, leaning more towards teamwork and cooperation rather than trying to play at “king on the mountain.” Or queen! One last, important thing: she loves sweets!

Welcome to Canterlot! Where everything's made up and the points don't matter! Or is that Whose Line is it Anyways? In any case, welcome! I hope you have lots of fun and make friends~ :3c

As soon as she saw Rarity approaching, Luna’s stance went from relaxed to stiff and authoritative, her head held high and back rigid as the pale unicorn drew near. There was a brief flicker of reservation, a tension that sprung at the thought of being one-on-one with somepony. She had yet to master speaking comfortably since she had returned to Equestria, and the expectations for maintaining casual conversation in such an intimate setting were much higher. The Princess of the Night was experiencing performance anxiety, or something of that ilk. With royal speeches or addresses, speaking came much more naturally to her. It was something she was trained in over the year as a Princess of Equestria. Official is easy; it has a certain repertoire to draw from that one must simply compile for the appropriate setting and then deliver like clockwork. This situation, though it was business, felt different. Rarity felt, in a way, like something of an equal to the Princess. Possessing the Element of Generosity garnered her much respect from Luna, something which elevated her from the status of “subject” to something the princess couldn’t quite place yet. Before she had the chance to figure out exactly how she wanted to approach this situation, however, Rarity was bowing and speaking. Her feline companion followed suit, a simple reaction with a big result! It was a little silly, a cat bowing to a princess. A small smile twitched in the corners of Luna’s mouth, and she spoke. [colour=#6699ff]“You may stand. Both of you,”[/colour] she said, her voice just a little stiff, [colour=#6699ff]“Good night to you Rarity, and to your feline friend - I welcome you both to my private gardens. Your luggage will be taken to a guest suite near my own quarters by castle staff, who should be present there when you retire for the night. I did not realize you would be bringing your cat with you – if you require anything specific for her meals, you may tell the mare who will be responsible for looking after you during your stay.”[/colour] Unable to restrain her smile from stretching just a breadth wider, Luna sidestepped in order to clear the entrance of her cereus dome in order to make way for Rarity, lifting one wing and stretching it out invitingly, to encourage the small mare’s entrance into her little haven. In the space she had made, the luxurious pile of pale spider silks brightly reflected the moonlight and shone. Hopefully, it would be striking inspiration for the fashionista! [colour=#6699ff]“[/colour][colour=#6699FF]Once we are inside, I will explain in full detail why I summoned you hear so late - I am sure it strikes you as bizarre. [/colour][colour=#6699FF]As a warning, there are many large spiders such as Sophronia here within the dome,”[/colour] Luna stated evenly, turning her body slightly to provide a clear view of the gold-banded arachnid resting docilely on her shoulder, [colour=#6699FF]“I assure you they are all very peaceful – a result of my magic. They are fed, and keep to themselves. If you are fearful, however, let me know and I shall erect a barrier around the inner walls so they may not approach you.”[/colour] The orb weaver, as though on cue, lifted one long, elegant leg into the air as if to say hello. Luna took a slow breath, already feeling some of her tension slipping away. She felt as though she had been well spoken, and though she was still quite formal, she managed to keep her voice in even tones. She was just starting to really relax when she felt a pit drop into her stomach, her eyes widening a little with realization. [colour=#6699ff]“Ah, it seems we – I – have introduced Sophronia and have not even asked for your friend’s name,”[/colour] she added on hastily, stumbling a little as she intuitively tried to fall back on the Royal We (her minor fumble automatically made her wish to fall back on authority to prove that she is capable), [colour=#6699ff]“Would you introduce us?”[/colour] Oh, drat. She had been so close to an excellent introduction!

[colour=#008000]<“I was thinking more for the sake of the young filly over there and the kindly older folks nearby. They’re probably seeing more of you than they could care to , but for the moment, I must think of our fine Lady Applejack.”>[/colour] Luminous Charge blinked at the unicorn. Seeing more of him..? That seemed to be more than a little foolish, considering they were standing in the midst of a business that was kept aloft by the hard labour of the dedicated ponies that ran the place. [colour=#800000]“They are agriculturists, sir.”[/colour] he stated simply, his brow arching even further than before as he spoke. There was no doubt in his mind that the earth ponies who worked in these orchards were totally unfazed by sweat and stretching. Either way, he wasn’t going to argue with the strange fellow, so instead he remained quiet. He had done enough stretching for now, and he could finish later, when the smitten stallion wasn’t around to pester him. Besides, Lume was sure that the stranger was just trying to be generous in his own peculiar way. When the magic washed over him, the pegasus felt a light tingling soaking into his skin all over his body. It was almost reminiscent of…mint? The arcane scrub was an instant refresher, and he could even feel his mane returning to its normal, striking shape and volume. With the sweat lifted from him and his mane free of tangles, it was clear he was quite a striking individual. Such a shame, though, that he wasn’t in his usual dapper threads: they completed his dashing peacock look! [colour=#800000]“Thank you.”[/colour] Lume said, the faintest trace of a smile lighting up his otherwise dark appearance. He pulled his grey glasses from a side pouch in his saddlebags and put them on, for the most part ignoring the unicorn’s smitten little ramble. He was quite sweet on the “Applejack” it seemed. [colour=#008000]<"You do know who the mare that is about to kiss you is, right?">[/colour] [colour=#800000]“All I know is that she works here and that you are apparently quite smitten with her,”[/colour] the sculptor replied, peering at the stranger from over his glasses. He reached out a hoof, then, realizing that he hadn’t introduced himself. How rude! [colour=#800000]“My name is Luminous Charge. I’m sorry, I should have introduced myself sooner.”[/colour]

Welcome to Canterlot! I hope I get to hear some of your mixes some day. c: Until then, enjoy the community and have a blast!

Big Mac's Day at the Spa. AKA: Big Mac's Secret Love of Spas.