Otsdarva

Happy Thanksgiving, Everypony. May you feast and frolic without a care!

"Man with head up own ass, Sees s--t clearly." - A Wise guy.

Douglas finally put in an order for tea and began to nibble on a cookie. He listened quietly to Ginger Mint's words as well as Bramble's counter point. It seemed they were quite enjoying the little discussion, even Douglas found himself interested. The most chatter he got on the plains was akin to the Joker being wild or not in cards. While he himself wasn't too used to the cultured discussion, he could enjoy the talk when he did pick it up and even had a little something to contribute himself. Just then Bramble said something that had caused Douglas to look over him, eying him quizzically. "Then, Bramble...who do you want to be?" He started, using Bramble's first name for effect. "When ponies see you, what do you want them to assume about you? Why should you let those faceless noponies who hardly care to know the pony behind the cutie mark direct who you are? Or for that matter, those who only see you as the child of your parents' and not as your own Stallion? I can understand being coddled or raised a certain way as a foal, but if you come of age and realize that it's not what you want then you should have full say to refuse to be that pony!" "I never aimed high, but what I found I wouldn't give up. Yes, It's manual labor! I'll probably break mah back day in and day out till ah can't work no more. Still, I feel richer than most despite the amount of bits to my name. The life I live is one I'm proud of, I can look back and say 'Yeah, I did that!' The things I see, I feel have enriched my life in ways most ponies only dream. Think about this, when I pass there will be only those in my family and those of my friends who will care or mourn. That is fine with me." Douglas could feel himself getting a little off tangent, but once he started he wasn't likely to stop till he got out what he wanted to say. The waiter, having delivered his tea watched as Douglas knocked back the whole cup without a care before sending the slightly ruffled waiter back for a refill. "How many ponies would take one look at me and assume they're above me? That I'm brawn with no brain. Why should I let that effect who I am? Shouldn't I strive to be who I want to be, darn anypony who don't agree? Pardon my break in manners." Douglas cleared his throat, the tea surely wet his whistle but his non-stop talking was tuckering the usually quiet pony out. The waiter returning with another cup of tea was rather eased to see Douglas calmly sip the tea instead of chugging it and left after Douglas offered his thanks. Feeling the gist of what he wanted to say, Douglas leaned back into his seat and let out a short breath. "Oh, the Vagabonds!" He spoke, remembering Ginger's question. "Hardly, I've met many nice ones. In fact, while I have a place in Hoofington it's very rare that I stay for more than a day or so. You could say I'm a Vagabond since I'm always running something around Equestria and I'm quite comfortable on the road."

My wasn't that a dandy little event? Can't wait for the next one coming down the pipe. Hm, 7th again. At least my top tens are consistent. lol

Should be quite the interesting finish. I didn't want to say anything about the Snips and Snails mess, considering they've been Poison Joked three times now! But since someone else has gone and caused the jinx it's safe to talk about now. lol

Douglas decided to return to the Haunted house where it all began! His Nightmare Night extravaganza started in this ridiculously scary and overly detailed place crafted by what could be the most cheerful, peppiest pony he ever met! Oh how it made him shudder to think what went on under that happy exterior. Still, there was no going back now. The Faux Detective adjusted his overcoat one final time, taking out his gentlecolt's pipe to blow a few bubbles. The fedora on his head sat firmly to his head as he began to approach the entrance. Of course he would wind up back here, every criminal returns to the scene of the crime! Now it was simply finding him...Or so Douglas playfully mused in his head as he entered the Haunted House. Douglas stepped into the Haunted house and looked about. He saw somepony shyly standing around, as if waiting on something. Her bumblebee costume stood out, it had been the one Pegasus he came across earlier. It seemed that her Poison Joke had worn off finally, but he wondered if she was feeling better than she was before. He slowly started to trot over and see how she was when suddenly someone shouted something very loudly from behind him. The jump in his heart caused him to grab his hat and barrel roll across the floor till he hit the wall. Coming out his terror roll, he wasn't sure if he should expect a fight or not. He could feel the hairs of his coat stand on end and his eyes tried to relax. That was surely not a trick the last time he was there. Feeling himself calm down, he saw another pony standing there beside the shy Pegasus. Regaining his thoughts, Douglas burst into laughter. "A Decoy scare?! I haven't been caught like that in years!" He exclaimed, walking back to the two mares. "That was a great one, biggest jump I've had all night!" he spoke to the Unicorn mare who scared him before turning his gaze to the shy Pegasus. "So then, I guess that means you're feeling better?" Douglas could feel his heart finally falling back into a regular rhythm as he sat on his haunches. He looked over the two mares as he blew another stream of bubbles from his pipe. "How has your Nightmare Night been?" he asked, trying to make a little idle conversation before moving on. "So ladies, shall we go through as a group?"

lol You noticed that too? She has such uncanny luck in these event Rps.

Douglas' heart pounded inside his chest as he recovered from the scare. This was the second time Princess Luna had scared him silly! He wasn't sure how many more times he could afford to let himself be scared like this, it was going to start causing heart complications if he kept being frightened in such a way! Still, feeling a little better that she was willing to reward him and the other ponies with two pieces of candy he felt that it softened the scare. "Wow, did she git us good or what?!" Douglas exclaimed, with his eyes fully open and his chest gasping for air. "Alright, everypony! The final hour is upon us!" Feeling a surge of courage coming on, Douglas reared up on his hind legs and thrust one of his forelegs into the air as the gleaming light from the luminaries painted a bright yellow background behind him. "Get all the Candy!"

Douglas looked down at the foal sized pony clamoring for someponies attention. He slowly bent down to meet the pony face to face. "Oh my, I must say that's definitely one bad case of Poison Joke and I thought I had it bad." Douglas said, watching the little pony move about the ground. "Listen, it'll wear off over time. Ah suppose you should try to find someone whose aware of their footing." Having finished addressing the shrunken pony, Douglas moved over to the Pegasus mare and watched her just solemnly stroll. "Are you...alright? Come on, the Poison Joke will go away. If'n you can't wait I'm sure you can find someone who might know a cure." Douglas watched the mare a little longer before looking to the other ponies trying to help with a gentle shrug. He slowly let out a little sigh as he just walked along the path as well. "Come on, everypony. I'm sure at the end of the path we'll get some kind of candy! That'll cheer everypony up!"

Douglas had decided to return to the Discord Adventure path. After his little Poison Joke incident had worn off he felt his embarrassment over the situation fade away. It was a good thing too. Just ahead with a group of ponies was somepony he knew, Ginger Mint. "Thank Celestia it wore off before I got here." He thought, making sure to brush up his costume. The faux Detective was back on the case! Giving a slight adjustment to his beige Fedora and overcoat he began his approach. Stepping closer to greet his friend he inspected the situation ahead of him and it seemed like she was trying to help some other ponies who probably found themselves on the bad side of a Poison Joke prank. He suddenly wasn't feeling so chipper about his own worries now. Finally bringing himself close enough to the group he spoke up. "Did they get Poison Joked as well?" He asked Ginger as he looked over the group. Noticing the two sulking ponies, he decided to admit to his incident. "Come on now, the Poison Joke wears off. Look at me, a mere hour ago I looked like I got in a fight with an open paint can. Nightmare Night is about having fun."

"Oof" Douglas let out, feeling something bump into him. Glancing up slightly it was as he feared, he came across another pony. "Well, this night is officially complete..." he thought, watching the pony back up. The pony soon spoke up and apologized for bumping into him. Douglas was about to tell him it was alright, until the pony pointed out his coloration. He stammered slightly, wondering what he should say. "Could I tell him it's part of my costume?....No, what the hay kind of sense does that make?" Douglas fought over what he should say before finally giving up. "Yeah, Ah'm alright. I was uh...pushed into some Poison Joke...it turned my coat this color...Err, colors." Douglas admitted, feeling foolish for letting himself be pushed into the Poison Joke in the first place. He could feel an awkward silence fall upon them. "So...how's Nightmare Night treating you?" Douglas decided he might as face whatever comes of it. "You heading to the statue as well?"

Douglas trotted around the Everfree, again returning to the statue of Nightmare Moon. He was far from content with himself. In a effort to get out of the Mirror house with the other ponies he had been knocked into a batch of Poison joke...and boy had it done it's job. Douglas kept his fedora tilted over his face in some small attempt to hide who he was. The last thing he wanted was a friend to see him. "I really dislike the mob mentality..." he thought to himself, glancing at his hooves. His left foreleg beamed fluorescent blue while his right glowed orange. He groaned, his entire coat had changed into a slew of different colors, with his head being a snot green. The faux Detective adjusted his coat and fedora, making sure his costume at least looked partway decent. He could only hope that he didn't run into any more trouble at the Nightmare moon statue, his last visit turned out to be quite fruitful. "...If somepony sees me like this I'm likely to uproot a tree with my bare hooves..." He sulked as he moved toward the statue.

"This event will run from October 29th until November 4th!" - from the OP. This has been quite the fun event, I can't wait to see how these last three nights wrap up.

Douglas stopped outside the entrance to the House of Mirrors. "Alright, The last place I haven't hit yet! This should be good! Gin-gin got quite a scare here. Onward!" He called, trotting into the door. Stopping just inside, he caught himself in the mirror. By golly was he having quite the night! He'd already met both Princesses! And while the younger of the too played the biggest scare, it was her elder that played on his fears with the faint noises and sounds of the Everfree. He couldn't wait to see what the Mirror house had for him! Douglas put his attention on the reflection in the first mirror. Eying his costume's condition he hummed, his Detective costume had sure seen real wear and tear throughout the night. A ketchup like blood stain on his coat from the haunted house, dirt and grime clung to his coat tails and shirt cuffs from walking around the Everfree. Yet through it all, the beige basked Detective looked quite dapper as he fixed his fedora and took out his genltecolt's pipe. Giving a pose in the mirror and blowing a few bubbles from the pipe, Douglas let out a chuckle and moved into the Mirror maze. As Douglas moved through the halls he began to think to himself. "This has been quite a night, I can't wait to see what I get from here...hopefully it'll be someth-" His train of thought cut off as he rounded himself right into a mirror with an audible 'Oof!' Taking a few steps back from the mirror he noticed how dangerous it could be to have a pipe in his mouth if he bumped face first into a mirror. Letting out an embarrassed chortle he put his pipe away before moving down a new hall. Which had lead him to see a mare before a dead end. As he was about to speak Douglas heard her say something about getting lost. "Why Hello! What were you saying about being lost?" he asked approaching the mare until he could see she was a Unicorn. "Nice to get lost with you, the name's Douglas." he said, holding out a hoof.

Douglas had continued further down the path, it was seeming to go on for almost ever! Did it ever actually end? Douglas couldn't be sure, but he could see a glow growing from behind him. It seemed odd when suddenly he heard somepony call out to him. He turned to see a pony coming up the trail behind him. "Why, hello! How's your Nightmare Night been? Any nice scares or good hauls?" Douglas asked, slowing his pace for the other pony to catch up. "I had some nice frights by the some pink pony at Sugarcube Corner. Got me good with some zomponies. Then I got scared by Princess Luna at the Nightmare Moon statue. It's only got me three pieces of candy though." He shared his experiences, as he waited for the pony to come up beside him. "It sure seems like this path goes on forever, I can hardly tell if it turns or not. Sure makes the night look nice though. Real creepy." Douglas slowly blew a few more bubbles with his pipe before putting it back in his coat.

Douglas' eyes shifted to the side, humoring the voice while his head never left the direction of the bush. The jostling of the bush suddenly walking off on it's own had garnered a deadpan expression as his eyes returned to watch it walking off. His head stayed locked on where the bush had been, a slight tapping of his hoof as he soon turned his head. "You didn't need to harm the plant, y'know?" Douglas flatly said, thinking if he should keep pushing whoever was in the bush or just continue on with his trick or treating. Giving a slight facehoof, he started. "Well then..." slowly Douglas trotted a little ways after the bush to make sure it was still in earshot. "Happy Nightmare Night." And with that, and the scare of the lifetime from Princess Luna, Douglas decided to hit his next location of the night.

Wow, what a night! He actually met Princess Luna, even tricked by her too! Although, he should have expected her to be at Nightmare Moon's monument. Still that was two tricks and three pieces of candy in one night and it was still far from over! Douglas was feeling pretty upbeat as he moved into the Everfree forest, wanting to explore the Discord's Everfree Adventure. The path he stuck to gave off a sickly green glow to the air around him. The luminary bags even gave his Detective overcoat a rather unreal glow to it. Again, it felt like the trees along the path were trying to reach out for him, for the path, to cover any and all signs of life. Stopping for a second to adjust his tie and take out his gentlecolt's pipe, Douglas noticed the path darkened behind him, which only fueled his thoughts of the forest trying to take back the route. After closing up his coat, Douglas put the pipe into his mouth and gently blew a few bubbles from it as he started his trot further down the path. "No use going back now, it's obvious they don't want me too." He mused, letting his eyes focus further down the path for any other ponies. Douglas could not wait to see who he was going to meet next in this night, surely there was no event more entertaining that Nightmare Night and Ponyville seemed to take the tradition a step above the rest! Just then, a faint echo was heard, nearly incomprehensible, but always constant as if something up ahead continually making some sort of noise. Douglas knew he'd have to get closer to find out just what it could be and decided to pick up his pace.

Douglas listened to words the bush spewed, soon finding his believability being washed away. Was it...quivering? Douglas decided that it couldn't possibly be a real thing. His eyes narrowed to slits as his face showed disbelief. "Oh, I get it now...you're just some prankster trying to trick ponies aren't you? Raving about killer poniacs hurting ponies who pass by...I bet you were gonna try to scare me, huh?" Douglas eluded, a hint of disappointment in his voice. He blew a stream of bubbles from his pipe to vent his emotions, to think somepony would try to throw dirt and sound like a talking bush. The nerve of it all. "Well, the jig is up. You coming up or are ya gonna have to be dug out?" It was just then that he saw something at the base of the bush move, it's color just a little off from the leaves. He couldn't make out what it was, but thought he could bluff whatever it was. "I see ya, come on out already, the joke is over!"

Douglas took his hooves from the bush, tilting his head slightly to the side as he eyed up the wild shrubbery. "Well...it is the Everfree..." he thought. "Wait...a killing, crazy, talking bush of death....why warn me? Wouldn't it have been better to just eat me?" He blurted out, feeling a little stupid talking to a bush. "I'm really talking to a bush? Wow, I just need some stone slabs and ponies to lead and I'm all set..." Douglas sat back on his haunches for a moment and thought about just calling it as the Everfree being the Everfree. He took out his pipe and blew a few more bubbles as he just sat and watched the bush. "Will Mr. Bush if that's how you feel." He said slowly getting to his hooves and moving away. It was just as another bunch of bubbles rose out of his pipe that he stopped. "Wait a second...whose Orange and why are ponies looking for him?" Douglas asked, turning back to the bush with a suspicious look.

As Douglas waited for Miss Mint to reply he noticed a few clods of dirt being chucked into the air. Looking around, he spotted them coming from a bush that was for lack of a better word, trembling. Slowly Douglas walked over to the bush, inspecting it carefully and trying his best not to get hit with any flying dirt clods. Clearing his throat, Douglas addressed the shaking bush. "Excuse me...is somepony in there? Um...I really don't think you're going to find treasure if that's what you're doing." He joked lightly, still wondering what could be in the bush. Taking a deep breath he began to approach. He could feel his heart pick up in pace. What if a beast leapt out from the bush? What would happen to him? Gently Douglas reached out with his hoof, giving his lips a lick as he grabbed on to the bush. "Now or never, Trotter..." he thought, spreading the bush apart.

Douglas had decided to take a gander at the statue of Nightmare Moon, of which this tradition was loosely based on. He gave his head a slight shake as he made his way through the Everfree. "Yeah...they would put it out here, wouldn't they?" he thought to himself. His Nightmare Night had a rather jumpy start. That prank from the pink Earth pony, Pinkie Pie, was definitely something that left his heart in a rush. Although she did give everypony a piece of candy for being good sports with her Trick. Slowly opening the beige overcoat that wrapped over his body he pulled out the gentlcolt's pipe and placed it in his mouth. Closing his overcoat over his striped shirt and tie, Douglas gave his matching fedora a little tilt and gnawed lightly on the pipe. It was then that he saw a tint of red on his overcoat. Apparently some of that Earth pony's trick had got on him. "Ah well, guess I'm a Detective caught in the line of fire then." Douglas smirked at the thought, taking his attention off his costume to stay on path. The trees gave an ominous feeling, it seemed as if they were leaning in over the path, almost trying to reach out and cover it up! Then there was the occasional snap of twigs or animal sounds deep in the wood. It was surely enough to frighten anyone, but Douglas had already been frightened once so he wasn't too phased by some sounds. Still, Douglas was more than willing to find a few more scares before the night ended. Soon enough the statue could be seen as he moved around the turn of the path and came from behind some bushes. Now with the whole statue in sight he could even see a few ponies already gathered here for whatever reason. Amongst them was a mare in a familiar Sheriff costume. He let out a slight chuckle as she tossed a candy at a little filly. The faux Detective took a breath and blew into the pipe, causing a mess of bubbles to raise from the tip. "Good evening, Miss Mint. How has your Nightmare Night been?" He asked, blowing a few more bubbles before putting the pipe back in his coat pocket. Stopping just a bit away from her, Douglas sat back on his Haunches as he eyed the statue. "What a statue, somepony sure got a laugh sculpting that. Was it meant to look that scary?" he thought aloud. Clearing his throat he looked back at Ginger Mint. "I just came from Sugarcube Corner where the uh, Earth pony, Pinkie Pie tricked us good there. Never knew somepony so cheery could be so... detailed with zomponies.." Douglas stated, giving a little shudder. Letting out a gentle breath, Douglas brought his composer back. "So then, how many houses have you hit so far?"

What better place to start one's Nightmare Night activities than in a spook house! Douglas nodded to himself confidently as he strode up into line with the other Ponies that had gathered and waited for their entrance. It should be a real good scream, it's rare that Douglas just gets to let himself get scared on purpose and act like a child. Besides, looking at the line, he isn't the only one. As he waited he tugged at his costume briefly. The outfit was a little too covering from what he was used too. A beige fedora sat upon his head and a matching overcoat draped over his body, a stripped undershirt and tie rounded out his Detective costume. Fetching a gentlecolt's smoking pipe from his coat pocket, he placed it in his mouth and gently blew into it. A heavy stream of bubbles overflowed from it's tip, floating out over the other ponies. Taking the pipe from his mouth and returning it to his coat, he noticed the group head in before he could go with them. Stepping up himself to the door he decided he'd have to say the famous greeting as well. Eager to play the part, Douglas put on his best detective impersonation, which sounded more like a two-bit Manehattan gangster. "Nightmare Night, what a fright, See? Give us something Schweet to bite, or you're gonna get it, See?" Douglas said, waiting for the door to open before him. Slowly it creaked open, allowing Douglas to move into the Haunted house with the rest of the group before they could get too far ahead. "Hope ya don't mind me tagging along. Scares are always more fun with a group." Taking place at the back of the group, Douglas calmly awaited for them to start moving through the spook house and find out what scares and treats await them deep within!

Douglas laughed about Ginger talking about holding up on her packages. "Please don't, it puts food on our tables. And I have to agree, having been in a thunderstorm both inside and out...inside is nicer." Douglas joked, taking a breath before continuing. "Beside, they aren't all that common, they're just... untimely? I guess that's the right word fer it. We don't get caught in storms often, or at least I don't, but when it happens we're usually durin' a big order. Luck as it were. That's not to say it's all bad, sometimes we get a little spring shower. It's a nice little change of pace and as long as the roads hold up we're usually fine." Finished, Douglas grabbed another cookie to snack on, giving it a hardly chomp. Soon enough he was listening to Bramble's talk about upbringing, it was something he's heard only a few times in his travels. It was an interesting subject and soon enough Bramble struck a cord, "What so many ponies seem to miss is that it can be both..." That was something Douglas had to agree with. The few times it's been brought up it was always one side or the other, it was nice to hear there were other ponies who could see it from both sides and he listened intently until Bramble finished with a soft blush. Douglas gave a quick tap on the table with his hoof. "It's nothing to be ashamed of! Tah speak so feverishly of something you feel strongly fer is 'bout normal a thing fer most ponies. And I'd have to say that I agree with you. It can easily be both, you could say that t'ere two sides of the same bit. Ya jus' can't have one without the other, it'll always leave something lacking." Douglas voiced, leaning forward a little bit. "Shoot, I've met enough ponies to know that fer sure. I've met the nicest of the humbled, the lowest of the spoiled and in reverse! Met vagabonds that see themselves on par with the Princesses and rich folk with a heart of gold."

The wagon slowly started to move, the pullers giving a mild strain as they began to move the wagon onward. After a few steps the momentum allowed them to ease up and just keep the wagon moving with a steady pace. Letting out a sigh, Douglas looked back to noticed Ginger was talking with the pony who had been woken up by the 'rock they ran over' and gave a little smile of his own to the pony. He waited until Ginger spoke before taking his turn. "So, Mr. Apis, I hope you're enjoying your first Nightmare night. It must be a little overwhelming for everyone to be out n' about at such an hour, but it passes soon enough and all goes back tah normal. I'm Douglas Trotter by the way, I'm sure you'll fit in just fine 'round here." he spoke, letting silence fall as he waited on Mr. Apis' reply. Just then the other puller called his attention again, it was time for another little maneuver to keep the young ones from getting bored. And so, with their eyes set on some nice open land the two ponies took up their speed and made a few hard turns, pulling the wagon for a quick shift from side to side as fillies and colts clung to their parents. A few giggles came from the younger riders, but it wasn't near as many from the first time. They'd need a little something extra for the next stop. With the little shakes over they got back on the main route and proceeded for the Haunted House. Able to let his pulling partner direct their heading, Douglas looked back towards Ginger and Mr. Apis, catching her question about what had brought him to Equestria. Douglas had to hold back a chuckle as she tried to keep a western accent for her costume. It fit finely, he just wasn't used to hearing her speak that way. Stifling himself long enough to wait for Mr. Apis' answer he decided he'd ask the traveler something as well. "So, I hope ya don't mind me prying, but where didc'ha come from? I ask 'cause I'm a fan of traveling and while I haven't left Equestria I have seen some it's bordahs." Douglas said, letting himself smile as he waited for Mr. Apis' answer.