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[Everfree Forest] Wrong turn...


MudBug

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Champ had always made assured of himself, that in the near future he would need an escape route for whenever the 'time' would come and he was sure of himself that the 'time' was now. After writing out a note and such, or more just a string of loosely and emotionally words that he slapped onto the nearest piece of paper whilst he set about getting ready for his journey.

Saddle bags, check.

Blueberries, check.

Water bottle, check.

Half way through his mental checklist, he faltered, snorfling slightly at the slight memory of his friends and his father that was quickly washed out with a bright hot flash of anger.

Everything was ready...except for one thing.

Before he made his way out, bags and pouch all ready on his back and the stick he'd picked out especially for his rambling stick. He stopped at a chest of drawers by the door and looked over it, more over the picture sat atop it. A basic picture of him sat inbetween his parents...and soon that was taken aswell. Slid into the saddle bag as he made his way out.

Ponies were heading home, it was starting to get dark. Good. The night would cloak him well. Rubbing at his eyes, made red and puffy from earlier, he used the objects strewn around the evening Ponyville life. Crates. Bushes. Trees. Houses. Anything to help him get further out and to the road as the sky turned from crimson to fuschia and soon from fuschia to indigo.

And soon, Ponyville road turned to dirt and the path before him was lit by the moon and the stars. He was on the home stretch. He could already see Fillydelphia, the faces of his friends and everyone else on his street.

Granted he couldn't see...ANYTHING right now beyond a good few feet infront of his nose, his items clunking slightly as he walked before he met with a fork.

Now....which way had he and his dad came from?

Why did he INSIST on going to sleep during trips?

Grumbling he glanced one way and then the other, mind playing over itself.

A more cognitive and calm foal would've gone home, or just sat there till someone found him, like all foals...but Champ was neither of those things and went the way he saw fit. If he'd only known ahead of time, maybe he would've known that the path he trodded on was the worst possible one to take.

Soon enough and after some trawling through some despicable substances, the mud and grime caked little foal found himself trudging through the bramble spiked undergrowth of the forest. THE forest. The forest where the weather controlled itself and the animals were wild and needed no carers.

The wild forest. The forest of monsters and dark forces.

Suddenly the confidence in him was feeling much blazing than it was at the beggining in him, now it was only smouldering embers of what it once was...and sliding face first in the mud only spurred more of his anger and dampened the embers of his confidence.

With a growl, he pulled himself out of the puddle, murmuring, grumbling, muttering and soon hollering.

"Stupid puddles, stupid brambles, stupid trees, stupid forest! I HATE THIS PLACE!!!!"

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A blue unicorn with a copper mane sauntered through the forest, a wisp of green flame flickering by her, lighting her way. So far this trip into the forest had been a total letdown. She had heard of ancient ruins there, perhaps holding lost secrets and dark magics of the past. But the only thing she'd found this time was trees. Perhaps there was some kind of obfuscation magic at work here.

The aura around her horn glowed faintly as she maintained the spell that kept the flame hovering by her head. Her irritation cause the flame to flicker and sputter angrily as it fed off the negative emotions. She kept her eye and her ears peeled for danger, almost hoping for it after the long and boring trip. It wasn't often that she was able to make the journey out this far from Canterlot, and all for nothing.

A voice echoed through the woods, and she perked up in surprise. It sounded upset, and it surely wasn't a pony out in this dreaded forest after dark. A tingle of excitement shot through her and she took off towards the sound, bursting out from the bushes with a grin on her face. Her grin immediately vanished when she saw the source of the complaint.

"Ha! I... oh what the hell. It's just some dumb kid. What are you doing out here, foal." She snarled angrily. Children, the most obnoxious of all ponies.

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A thick fog descends on the forest, slowly. The cool veil twirling and shifting gently as nature guides it along. Even so, if appeared from nowhere, and descended so quickly. Here, in Everfree, an occurrence simple for pegasi to duplicate, seems ominous, even threatening. It doesn't help that it's at night. A soft rustling rings out on the edge of hearing, through the leaves, vines swaying. On the edge of vision, a shadow darts about, there for a moment, and gone. A soft whisper rolls out, incomprehensible, but it carries, projects. It rings out firmly and travels deep down the spine in the spooky atmosphere. A flash of movement to the south, a figure exposed for just a moment. Shreds of.. something, trail behind it as it glides effortlessly through the air with nary a sound. It seems vaguely pony shaped, but the moves, so unnatural. Each little limb, tendril, moving of its own accord like tattered cloth flowing in the wind. Just as quickly as it appears, it vanishes, only to show up somewhere else, closer, closer! A ghost in Everfree, a ghost of the forest! It moves in with obvious and insidious intent!

~EARLIER~

Tenderbloom hovers about in her home, tending the plants, continuing her efforts to cross T. cocao and C. anthonyi, only time would tell if this batch actually worked. The latest in a long line of attempts, she kept getting closer, and closer. A soft hiss swirls out as a teapot wobbles, the pegasus perks up and smiles, fluttering over to the pot and taking it in her hooves gently. It was just about time for Maxie's weekend visit, and she wanted to make sure everything was perfect for her arrival. Into the sitting room with the pot, to a large stump rooted into the room, she gently fills each cup with bittersweet iron toned fluid, the gently roasted flavors and textures forming a sweet symphony of the delicate and refined. On a plate between the cups, lay a perfect pyramid of septuple berry tarts, pressed firmly and sun roasted until airy and flaky. Kept warm beside the hot water pipe, they have gained the perfect balance of crisp and chewy from the moisture.

She settles in and waits, taking occasional sips of tea. Sunset was fast approaching, and she couldn't wait to share with her little friend all her fascinating exploits in the world of botany this week. Time passes. The tea has cooled. The tarts have gone cold. There is no sign of Maxie. Something is wrong. She quickly lifts herself off the ground and dives from a nearby window, her rear legs swaying beneath her as she begins a slow and steady descent to the ground... Maxie is never late for tea. Ever. She makes her way back around the tree, and peeks in to the small grove below the tree. Her cloak is gone, and there is no sign of anything being touched in some time. The fungi is beginning to grow back beyond the obvious bite marks. She has of course, secretly move anything HARMFUL to another area, can't let the poor dear poison herself or go into a fit! ... Maxie could have been gone for days! Oh this was not good, not good at all, the foolish little foal always insists on traveling alone.

She darts back up into the air, into the tree, through the rooms, stopping in the sitting room to don and pack saddlebags, and then into a wide space. Faint glints of receding sunlight wash across a wide patch of loamy soil, in the center is a mass of tendrils, and beneath them, some sort of bud. Tenderbloom drops down, planting her front hooves into the soil and lowering her head until her chin is level with the dirt. "Come Mr. Biggles, our friend might be in danger, we have work to do." The petals on the bud twirl outward slightly, revealing a strange, flat face. It's almost like a rose, or a tulip, or both at the same time. It gives a soft cry and the tendrils begin to mill it through the soft soil toward her. Each little strand of creepers hooks into her mane, and the odd creature quickly pulls itself up atop her head. The network of countless leafy tendrils works over her, wrapping about her body and trailing at her sides, a living cloak, firmly affixed. She winces weakly, she will never get used to that. It is heartwarming though, she almost feels at one with nature.

"The sun is going down, we must make haste. Tighten your grip." out the sunview, down to the ground, then back up again into the sky. She picks up speed, her friend aiding her in gathering moisture, she swirls it into a large, then cloud and slowly drags it down into the forest. The sun has set during the process, by the time she has finished it is dark, but it cannot be helped. The mist provided cover from many dangerous creatures that made their homes here. "Ohdear ohdear ohdear. She has to be around here somewhere. She only travels from here to town, and everyone is safe in Ponyville..." she comments quietly to herself as she descends below the canopy, her ears pinned back firmly in distress as she begins to flutter about in search. "Mr. Biggles, let me know if there are any ponies nearby, I know you can ask the forest." she quirks up as she feels a tug, and moves in that direction. Then back again, following the directions given to her, she can see faint figures, but as their identity has not been ascertained she does her best to keep her distance. But Mr. Biggles is insistent, so she moves closer. "Oh my, a little foal, and an adult, could one of them be Maxie? The older one sounds mean.. We may have to intervene, Mr. Biggles." she comments, before suddenly darting in closer.

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The green glow only caught his eyes at the very last moment, just as the figure stepped out and caught him by suprise, the dirt and grim sliding off his ears and hooves as he gawked at the figure bursting from the bushes and then saw that it wasn't anything but some stupid unicorn.

Shaking off his hooves, the foal grumbled before turning and sneering at the older female and that weird flickering flame next to her, stupid unicorns and their magic. They were so weird. Mud flinging everywhere as he shook his head he snorted.

"What's it to you, you old nag-" He was immediately cut off by a rather disturbing image.

Staring past the female, he saw an obscure figure, long tapered tendrils and an almost ethereal feel to it as it practically floated towards them...oh...crud. A ghost. It had to be. But...that was impossible right? Ghosts were make believe. Made up to scare stupid little foals...not...not ones like him.

His eyes widened and he ignored the old battleaxe as he found himself shaking ever so slightly, watching this weirdness..this...this natural abnormality. Blinking at the sight as he rested his hooves deeply in the mud, almost frozen as he watched the thing draw closer.

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Mal ignored the colt's insult, unphased. Name-calling didn't mean much to someone who had grown up in an orphanage with facial scars. Besides, she had started it. She did however note his glance behind her. She wheeled around and split her flame into several, sending them out into the growing fog to help light the vague shape in the forest that was moving towards them.

"Well, kid, at least I don't seem to the only thing out here that heard you. Maybe there'll be some action after all." She squinted into the fog. Between the low visibility and her one eye, it was going to be very hard to hit, but she wasn't generally a pony who asked questions. She focused her power and sent forth a cone of flame that blasted out into the forest, burning through the undergrowth wherever it touched and freezing the fog into frost in the area immediately around it. The cone of flame rushed toward the unknown figure and... stopped just short of it.

Well, at least she knew it was a bit further away than she had thought. The chill from her cold flames dropped the temperature of the entire area a few degrees, but it had at least burned off a bit of the fog and undergrowth so she could get a better look. "What the hell is that? Some kind of plant monster?" She wished she could identify it. How was she supposed to brag about killing it if she didn't know what it was? Well, it probably wanted to eat the kid, so the best way to force a conflict was to stand in front of him. She stepped into a defensive position and smiled.

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Tenderbloom floats in close, listening to the conversation, the unicorn was certainly mean! She perks up a bit at the topic, oh dear, something bad was about to happen. She squeaks, and then immediately pulls back away from the path of the gout of flame. So bright, her eyes! So cold! She twitches her ears as the flames lick at her body, it's unpleasantly cold! Oh dear, oh no. Mr. Biggles didn't react well to stress. "Mr. Biggles, don't, we'll find another way t..." she is cut off as the creature on her head lets out an inordinately loud wail, the warbling, baby like cry piercing and debilitating. She shudders violently, the sensation sending shivers down her body and making her flight pattern erratic, causing her to dance left and right aimlessly.

Those with proper hearing, would not be so lucky. Unpleasant would be an understatement. It works into the ears, and the brain, the spine. It confuses the body and even locks up the system in many cases. Few creatures, and even fewer ponies are immune to the cries. She tries to shush him, but he won't stop. It continues to rise, soft thuds ringing out in the forest as unseen creatures drop from branches nearby and hit the floor of the forest. She struggles to right herself properly, getting a grip on the delightful tingles it causes her. Her tender hearing was good for something, at least. "Honey, dear.. Mr. Biggles. Please stop.. One of them might be friendly. Don't cry, it'll be alright.. Erk."

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Staring at the figure, Champ's confidence and bravery was dwindling low very fast but it seemed to spike as the cone of cold fire shot from the unicorn at the unknown spectre, first it spiked very low, causing him to give out a shriek of fear before rising up in anger at the mare as he forced himself to his hooves.

"The heck is WRONG with y-----" At first he was unsure of what that noise was.

Only that it was very loud and coming from the floating figure now angrily and aimlessly flitting about, oh great NOW the unicorn had done it! Stupid old nag!

She'd made the ghost angry!

Cringing and wincing as the sound wormed its way into his head, there was a small and pathetic whimper that split too a yell as he tried to covered his ears with his hooves. So loud. So annoying. Why did it hurt so much to hear that...that THING screaming!?

Was it in pain? Had the unicorn got it? Or was it just really that angry that it deafened them with its fierce warcry before coming to destroy them?

Stupid forest!

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"Oh shut up, kid. AUGH!" Mal yelped as the sound started to affect her. This was no scream of pain, this was an aural assault. She could feel the sound locking up her body, and even with her damaged ear she got more than enough of it to freeze her in her tracks. This was not good.

Mal thought fast, adrenaline rushing into her system. She was in real danger! Nothing this fun had happened to her in years! She couldn't so much as move her eye to look around, but she noticed that the light from the small flames she had sent out was still illuminating the area. She may be physically paralyzed, but she could still focus her magic. Had she been able to move her mouth, she would have cackled. All she had to do was let the creature get close enough, and then let loose. She had to make sure she got it this time, though, there was no telling what a second scream might do to her.

She briefly considered the colt. On the one hand, she hated children, and there was no reason she shouldn't just nuke the entire area to make sure her opponent was dead. On the other hand, this kid had actually yelled at her, and seemed to have a fair bit of anger in him. He might actually have some fire of his own. She found herself surprisingly reluctant to incinerate him.

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Tenderbloom wobbles and tips headlong into a nearby tree. Hitting it with an unceremonious thud, Mr. Biggles is thankfully startled out of the dramatics, and goes quiet. The pegasus winces, fluttering gently back to the left, before giving a very concerted effort to hold a conversation at an acceptable level, while making two important observations. First, the unicorn is a big meanie, and, second, she finally met someone who doesn't topple over rigid for an extended period when her friend voices his displeasure. "Oh.. E-excuse me please, but that wasn't very nice, and I would much appreciate you not doing again. You see, Mr. Biggles doesn't respond well to stress. Little boy, it's not safe here." she raises a hoof, lifting the veil of creepers and exposing the face of a young filly, soft, gentle. Kept almost pristine with the use of balms and oils, and a largely stress free lifestyle. Small lines, almost imperceptible around the mouth relay a quiet nature, a voice often often used but never loud. Tiny imperfections dot her face, she is not perfect by far, but she is pretty, just enough, and not enough, to seem real even in the darkness of the forest.

She floats a bit closer. "Miss, you can come too, but you have to promise to keep the fire to yourself. It frightens everybody and it's not nice to fling it at people, especially when they already have problems of their own that they're trying to take care of." she comments quickly, and quietly. "As it stands, anything that wasn't stunned will probably be heading in this direction very shortly, so we should be moving now, or.. soon." she turns her gaze to the very bitter unicorn. "I have a balm that will soothe your muscles and make it easier for you to coordinate after that, but you can only have it if you're good." she strafes around the group, keeping a good distance away from Malediction. "I have tea and tarts at home, I was expecting company, but they never came. Please, do follow me." she calls as she begins to slowly drift back into the trees with her previous, almost haunting grace. As much as she worried about Maxie, it would have to wait. Maxie was a strong girl, and there were obvious matters right in front of her that required personal attention.

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When the screaming had stopped, Champ reluctantly pulled his hooves off his ears, what was that thing?

Lifting his head he peered at the-....pegasi? That was a pony? All this time it was some stupid pony covered in weird plants!? The foal felt his face going red and he could only snort to the mare's concern as he straightened up his saddlebag and rambling stick with a sneer.

Especially the little part as he jutted his jaw out in what he'd hope was intimidating.

"I aint little!" He snapped, watching her and the unicorn that shot fire with an apprahensive and mistrustful glare, trying, despite his size and youthful features, to look far more intimidating than he was.

And it wasn't -really- working despite how much he may have tried.

Being offered some tarts and tea, Champ still held his ground despite his mind ticking over things.

On one hoof, this chick was a STRANGER. And would probably take him back to that stupid town if he went with her...on the other...he had very little food and would probably need to stuff himself to make the food he had last till he got to Fillydelphia and got a sandwhich at either Chip or Dusky's house.

Chip's dad could make an awesome parsley pizza.

With a small, reluctant grumble he followed, peering at Malediction with narrowed 'back off' eyes as he trotted past her before following the floating pony. He wouldn't get burnt to a crisp 'cause of some stupid trigger happy unicorn.

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As the screaming stopped and Mal's paralysis ended, it was quickly revealed that this was no monster after all. It was just some ordinary old pegasus. Or perhaps not so ordinary, given the strange plants she was wrapped up in, and the fact that she'd been able to paralyze Mal without even trying.

"Ha... how?" Mal struggled with forming words for a moment as traces of the paralysis lingered. "How did you do that?" Her normally violent tendencies were forgotten in her curiosity. Learning new spells was her primary reason for coming out here, but non-spell-based tricks like that could prove useful as well, and maybe she could learn to defend against them in the future.

"Yeah, yeah, I won't burn you. Unless you threaten me, at least. Really though, what do you expect, sneaking up on ponies like that in the middle of the Everfree Forest." She began to follow the pegasus.

She glanced back at the little colt. "Come on, twerp, there's probably real monsters headed this way after that racket." She grinned at his preposterous attempt to intimidate her as he walked by. "Hahaha, I like this runt. What are you doing out here in the forest, anyway, kid? Looking for trouble?"

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Tenderbloom hums quietly to herself, ignoring the conversation for now. She turns back away from them once they both begin to follow, and flutters of gently, bobbing up and down on occasion. To the west, and then to the south, she leads them. Definitely NOT, out of the forest. In fact, she just keeps moving deeper and deeper in. The greenery gets thicker, and only her humming distinguishes her creeper clad body from the rest of the forest. She soon comes to a sheer wall with the most complete and explosive covering of Kudzu one can imagine, countless crisscrossed creepers cover the cliff side. She travels down the side of the wall, then drops to the ground for the first time, and vanishes seamlessly into the wall, only a faint rustling showing where she once was.

The humming continues, but begins to fade as the distance grows. She has vanished into a passage, long and winding, hidden by vertical hanging creepers, kept entirely free from tangling through either breeding or impossible gardening. Beyond it is a grove, vast and wide with a pristine stream circling most of the perimeter, bubbling out of the cliffs and vanishing into a pool. It runs in a counter clockwise direction. In the center, is a particularly massive tree, the trunk itself almost fifteen yards in diameter and nearly three times that in height. A ramp, a tree wrapped around this amalgam of trees, with a flattened top for travel, trails up its trunk. A carefully teased and pruned railing of branches travels it's length. A courtesy to visitors, as the family are all pegasi, and it is, indeed, a challenged to climb. At its top, are a large collection of branches forged into a living area of many rooms, with windows of hardened, clear sap, and some pane-less. This living areas is supported by a network of carefully placed, and equally tall trees, powerful, but also thin and slightly springy. It is a modest, but sizable centerpiece to the glade.

The real attraction here is the incredible myriad of plants, some that glow faintly in the moonlight, others that make almost musical sounds as they rustle in the faint breeze that swirls in from a raving in one portion of the cliff-face. From this angle, it is apparent that the cliff-face is constructed of many smaller stones, glued awkwardly, but efficiently together, and shows sign of repair, as recently as sixty years ago. Generations upon generations have gone into the construction of this place, the latest and final of the family's home designs. By the stream, in a shallow depression on the east, rustle flax, transparent and glinting in the darkness, as though organic crystals. Each unique plant represents a lifetime of breeding by a member of the family. And then, there are the berries. Tomatoes, strawberries, cherries, blueberries, blackberries! Elder, goose, raspberries! Grapes, bananas, cranberries! And even more! All on the most adorable, tiny trees... Even those that shouldn't grow on trees! All roughly the same size, anything larger than a tomato is the size of a tomato. The watermelons are especially obvious in this regard. The trees are grouped in sections, coordinated expertly beside the stream, and just beyond them an odd, sticky wheat.

A strange and mystical area, one wonders how pegasus would have created it, its natural beauty almost defies description. Tenderbloom hums softly, hovering once more, across a mossy tail that leads to the trunk, which she begins to ascend slowly, using the ramp, as a courtesy to her guests. Not the type to rush ahead unless strictly necessary. "I hope will enjoy your stay here!" she calls happily, while wincing at the volume. She smiles, not having bothered to make certain that they were still following her once she passed through the entrance to this enchanting space.

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Following the pegasi as best he could amongst all this stupid foliage and mist, the colt couldn't help but trip every now and then, but because of his good sense of balance found himself scuttling a little faster when he did end up doing so.

The unicorn was asking questions. It made him grunt in a faint response before he decided to answer, what did it matter to him? He wouldn't be seeing these strange and peculiar pair of ponies again once he'd gotten himself to his proper home. They were unimportant to him.

"No!" He snapped. "I'm runnin' away, that stupid pony town is full of idiots, so 'm going back to where I came from so I don't have to see their stupid faces again."

He steamed at the thought of them all, those happy, inane grins of theirs and trying to be all 'nice' and 'friendly'. What a load. What a total and utter load, they were strangers, just like this pair of weirdo's and he didn't want to associate with any stupid pony he didn't know for very long.

Managing to traverse somemore stupid trees and roots he finally entered the little glade, glancing at all the plants and such with a faint look of suspicion and confusion, how did this place look so different compared to everything else? Did this pegasus grow them all? Hrm...

Looking to said pegasus, there a small grumble that rumbled just under his breath before sitting himself down.

"Look lady, could I just get some grub? I've got a long trip ahead of me."

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Mal glared at the pegasus as they followed her. She did not like being ignored. She tromped irreverently through the garden, unimpressed. She'd lived in Canterlot, with its fantastical architecture, and that hadn't impressed her, either, so the beauty of the little garden was lost on her.

"Stay? I dunno, I don't really want to be staying here too long with some creepy plant-loving pegasus. No offense." Mal sneered. "I just want to know how you were able to paralyze me like that. And how I can avoid it in the future in case someone else pulls it on me and isn't so amiable afterwards, ya know?"

She turned her attention back to the kid. "All pony towns are full of idiots, kid. Get used to it. And most of them would probably ship you right back home if you showed up as a runaway. But either way, you definitely took a wrong turn somewhere to end up in here. These woods aren't exactly on the beaten path to get anywhere."

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Tenderbloom sighs at the way her guests are behaving. She invited them to her home and they're being quite rude. Still, they are guests, and she should do her best to entertain them. She winces at Maledictions comment about her proclivities, and almost turns to snap at her, but she stops. She was out in the middle of the night, covered in plant, in Everfree. She does talk to herself and the plant on her head which a pony could be quite easily excused for not knowing was capable of active thought and response. She is aware that her use of mist cover and her ensemble, combined with this habit and her hushed voice, creates something of an unpleasant illusion. She knows this because her missing friend made her very aware of it. She holds her tongue, and continues up the winding ramp.

She contemplates their requests, and decides to respond to them this time. "I would be happy to give you supplies, little one, but I think you're going the wrong way. I've heard there's a desert to the west of here, but I've never see it myself... Oh but I would love to go, just think of all the xerophyte specimens I could examine and collect... If only I had someone to take care of Mr. Biggles for me. They prefer marshland you see, he'd never survive in a desert. And, to you, miss.. Whoever you are. I did nothing. You attacked US, and Mr. Biggles simply responded in self defense. Say hello to the scary lady Mr. Biggles." she comments. The collection of plant matter on her body shifts slightly, and the bud on her head opens, just a fraction, and gives off a faint coo. "As for how to defend against it, one viable method would be to render yourself deaf. You're lucky Mr. Biggles is young, and alone. Stronger cries can even make breathing difficult."

She stops, suddenly. "As long as you're here, I would like you to remain for at least a short time, so I may speak with you about something. A friend of mine has gone missing you see. She did not show up for tea today and her home shows no signs of recent use." she requests, before continuing on again. Just a few more passes around and they would be at the entry point.

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Wrong way? What did she mean, wrong way? A slight look of frustration he followed up the ramp after the pegasus and glare at the pair of them as he scuffed his hoof against the ramp with a faint grumble that rumbled through his tiny chest, coming out a little more high pitched than he'd wanted it too. Stupid voice.

Snorting he moved between the two mares, making sure he atleast had two safety barriers whilst he curiously glanced over the home. And that weird thing on the pegasi's back.

That thing was a baby?

It screeched so loud. He pouted at the loud and ugly plant with a faintly subdued nicker whilst he found the entrance after Tenderbloom.

"Hrmph...great...I know my own way home thank you, I'll find it eventually."

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"Deafen yourself? Yeah great, that's about as useful as blinding yourself to avoid getting turned to stone by a cockatrice. how about just drowning out the noise? If I could create enough loud, background noise, would that be enough to stop it, or would it still affect me through it?"

She frowned at the mention of Tenderbloom's missing friend. "So what do you want us to do about it? I'm no tracker. If your friend went and got herself eaten in the woods, there's not much I could do to help, even if I wanted to. Although... hmm, I might be willing to help search for her if you could return the favor. I've been trying to find some ancient ruins, but I have no idea where to go. You live around here, do you know the way?"

Mal glanced back at Champ. "I can't fault your determination, pipsqueak, but you're a moron if you think you can handle this forest alone." She raised a hoof to her face and pushed her hair to the side, showing him her missing eye. "This is the least that can happen when you underestimate this forest, champ." She said, using his name without realizing it.

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Tenderbloom sighs as she works her way around to the entryway. Up into the sitting room, she rolls her eyes as she is addressed. "If that would work, I would have told you. Covering your ears helps a little, but not much." she continues, hovering past a collection of mossy cushions grouped around a wide stump. "I was wondering if either of you had seen her.. Not very big, energetic, fan of drama and monologuing. Wears a silly cloak... She's been so lonely since she lost her family. Poor thing. She hides it, but I can see it in her. I don't know why she acts this way, that girl's inner workings are an enigma..." she comments quietly, being uncharacteristically chatty, but this was an extreme situation. She was truly worried about her little friend.

"Feel free to enjoy yourselves in the sitting room while I make up some more tea." she motions idly to a tray resting on the stump. "I'm afraid the tarts are a bit cold by now, but they keep very well. Help yourselves... I'll find something to send with you in a moment, right now I have to put Mr. Biggles to bed. He gets a bit cranky at night, you see... I'll be right back, please enjoy yourselves while I'm away. Oh, uhmn.. And please don't leave this room, I have sensitive cross pollination efforts in progress beyond here. Months of work, you see." she finishes, before continuing on deeper into her abode. She quickly vanishes off to the right.

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A pony with a stupid cape and monologuing? Peering oddly at Tenderbloom for a moment he shared a brief look with Malediction that said 'Is she for real?' before moving to sit himself down in the corner somewhere whilst he sorted out his little rambling gear. Scarf in one satchel bag...cupcakes and such in the other one...and he could use the stick for warding off monsters. Easily.

Glancing down at all the items he had, he peered up at Malediction as she spoke again, ears flattened back further in his attempt to look uninterested and or tough but it briefly wavered at the sight of the missing eye. Jeez...that looked terrible. He had to stare for a very long time before shaking his head and going back to organising his stuff.

He wasn't a moron. They were moron's. Nor was he a pipsqueak and he snorted with a faint sneer as he held his head up high.

"Yeah! Well, they don't call me Champ for nothin'! This stupid forest'll practically step aside for me!" And that was that, with a soft snort he sat back down and sorted through his things.

As the pegasus went on about her friend, the losing the family part kind of made him snort under his breath, touching his rambling sack that was slightly squared off with the picture frame poking slightly at the insides of the fabric.

Yeah...well...losing family was tough. Y'had to get....get used to it...and...a-and be strong. Swallowing hard he looked to the tray on the stump and moved to take one off it. It was cold. What a jip. Oh well, it was food.

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"Naw, I haven't seen anypony in the forest all day. Well, until I suddenly ran into you two. Unless she's got some trick like your mandrake or my fire, I'd wager she's already in the stomach of some beast. Maybe that's why the forest was so quiet today, the hungry critters already had their meal." Mal commented brusquely, never one to give false hope... or even real hope if she could avoid it.

She rolled her eyes at the 'cross-pollination' thing. What a load of rubbish, sensitive experiments for a bunch of stupid plants. Still, she wasn't eager to get hit by that mandrake again, so she stayed put. She sniffed at the tarts briefly, but she wasn't hungry, and she didn't trust food from a probably insane pegasus living out in the Everfree.

As Tenderbloom wandered off, she turned her attention back to the Champ. "The forest will step aside for you, huh? Yeah, right. You ever even get into a real fight, tough guy? I'll tell to what, chump, if you can even land a blow on me, I'll take you wherever it is you're going. I got a map and everything." She sneered and dropped into a defensive posture.

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Tenderbloom floats back in gently, balancing a tray of tea on her hooves. She sees the conversation had not progressed particularly far in her absence, and she shrugs gently, and sets the tray on the stump, cups clinking gently. She notices that there is tension in the air, but she fails to recognize that a fight may be about to break out. She has very little experience with violence in her life, and she assumes that Malediction is simply stretching.

She picks up the kettle, gingerly, and begins to pour. Hot water swirls gently along the roasted leaves in the bottom of the cups, the scent of sweet tea rolling out into the open on wisps of steam. "I don't believe I have introduced myself. My name is Tenderbloom, and this is my family's home." she comments quietly. She looks extremely different without the plant sitting on her head. She is clean, well kept. Small flower, buttercups perhaps? Are braided into her mane and tail. An artful collection of loops and crosses with flowers littered in. She has a young face, slightly slender, showing the effects of a nearly ever present smile. Her body, similarly, is almost dainty, as though she has never done heavy lifting in her life. "Who are you two?" she continues, happily.

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Watching Malediction closely for a moment, Champ almost felt insulted by a challenge from a mare, especially one as strange as her and at first he dismissed the thought and placed his things down. Especially his precious bundle.

But his ego was such a great one even at this age and the name, chump, it just fed the fires in his belly and he peered at the unicorn. Patting his posessions gently, almost protectively, before he rounded himself and scraped his hoof against the floor like a bull about to charge. He was strong. He could PROVE he was strong enough.

Pawing at the floor he charged as best as his legs could take him at the unicorn, even as Tenderbloom entered the room and tried to leap at Malediction with a small growl.

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Mal responded to Tenderbloom without looking. "I am Mal. Short for Malediction. And I'm a malicious, malign, and malcontented malefactor who you don't want to make friends with." She sneered smugly. As Champ charged her, she made no attempt to evade the blow, instead shoving back into the charge with all her adult strength, making Champ pay for his recklessness. She had to admit, he wasn't that weak, at least for a kid.

"Not too bad. You just made one mistake. You forgot about this." She conjured a wisp of flame from her horn, waving it through the air close enough to Champ for him to feel its chill. "Never trust anypony not to retaliate with the full extent of their abilities. But you landed the blow, I'll keep my word. It wasn't even a wussy blow like I'd expect from a kid."

She finally turned to face Tenderbloom. "Woah, you sure you're the same pegasus we were just talking to? And what kind of family lives in this forsaken place? Not that the house itself is bad, I mean, it beats the dive I rent back in Canterlot, but the Everfree forest isn't exactly known for its nurturing atmosphere, you know?"

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