(Cloudsdale) How NOT to Catch a Cloud (Open, PM)

[TNH]

It was a quiet, peacful night as Night Comet soared through the sky on the outskirts of Cloudsdale. Peaceful and boring, thought the young colt. He wasn't a fan of work to begin with, so flying around just looking for any rouge clouds was even worse. He lazily glanced from side to side every now and then, not really trying to look, but not wanting to get in trouble if one little cloud slipped by. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary, of course.

That's when he noticed it. There was indeed a cloud out in the night sky, a big ol' plump storm cloud slowly chugging away towards the direction of Hoofington. It wasn't supposed to rain there for at least a couple of days, so it must be a run away. Couldn't have any clouds out there filled to the brim with rain and dropping it when they weren't supposed to, so Comet decided to fly off after it.

The colt easily caught up with the cloud, and flew in front of it before swinging around to push the cloud back towards the cloud city with his fore hooves. "Alright buddy, time to turn around and head back. Can't have you running around all on your lonesome, right?" Comet chuckled to himself as he gave the cloud a shove... and had to remark on how darn heavy the cloud was! Thing must have had a litteral ton of rain in it if it was this heavy. "Gnnh... well aren't you a chubby fellah?" Commented the pegasus as he began to shove harder. Little did he know that the cloud was carrying a special passenger.

[Gerrard]

Prior to Comet's arrival, a large griffon camped out on the cloud in question, taking some much needed rest in a place where no pony would be around to freak out at the discovery of his presence. The tired hybrid slowly began to stir as the young colt decided to move his resting spot, his golden eyes opening to see his cloud moving at an alarming speed. "Someone is stealing my cloud. A weather pony is trying to griffon nap me in my sleep, how dastardly," he thought in silence, trying to maintain his composure as he noted that the cloud was unusually dark and brimming with potential electricity. Upon mistakenly hearing the young flier call him fat, the griffon gritted his beak, wanting some measure of revenge on the weather pony.

"That's it, I'll show him who is boss," he thought in disgust, knowing deep down that one of them was about to get roughed up. Without any audible sign, the griffon reached out with a black talon and grabbed the colt tightly by his mane. "How dare you try to griffon nap me. I won't go down without a fight you lightning wielding monster!" he growled in anger, not even giving the young pony a thorough look over as he held onto him.

It was unclear to both what exactly was going on, but one thing was very clear, this griffon was very startled. His silver head plumage and large black wings would come into view for the young colt if he was brave enough to venture a look at the griffon. A sharp black beak was pointed down towards the colt as the worried hybrid tried his best to maintain his composure.

[TNH]

Comet was shocked at the sudden stirring of the cloud, and yelped in both suprise and shock when the taloned hand reached out and grabbed his scruffy multi toned mane. 'How dare you try to griffon nap me. I won't go down without a fight you lightning wielding monster!" he heard the thing that had been sleeping on the cloud growl. Comet squirmed around, wings flapping this way and that as he defiently tried to kick out at the griffon with his fore hooves.

"Lemmie go you oversized tweety bird!" Comet yelled as he continued to squirm around like his life depended on it. He wasn't trying to maintain any sort of composure, like his small frame could afford him anything against the larger creature. "Let me go or I'll... I'll," he thought "or I'll buck this cloud so hard you'll be fried chicken!"

[Gerrard]

"I can't believe you would dare disregard the treaty between our two countries you cruel criminal. Only a coward fights with lightning," he growled in anger as he leaped off the cloud and tried to grab one of the wings of the equally frightened pegasus. His grip on the colt's mane was iron, refusing to release his alleged attacker as he practically was riding the pegasus like a bucking bronco. The startled griffon was trying to pry the colt away from his dangerous weapon, knowing that a freak bolt of lightning could easily stun either of them or worse. "This is why I hate weather ponies, always trying to fry everyone with electricity," he growled, his powerful wings flapping powerfully to keep both in the air regardless of what happened beneath his own body.

"You gonna calm down and give up on your electrocution madness?" he growled, his heart still racing. The griffon looked the colt over and raised his brow in disbelief. "The criminals just k-keep getting younger here. You aren't even a stallion yet," he explained in a worried tone as he hovered as far away from the cloud as he could manage.

[TNH]

The scruffy little colt groaned as he was pulled away from his trump card, but still struggled and kicked all around trying to pry his way free from the monstrous hybrid animal. "What in the name of Celestia are you talking about? I'm not a criminal I'm a cloud wrangler!" Exclaimed the pegasus as he continued to struggle stubornly against Gerrard's grip. "I wasn't trying to kidnap you, I just wanted to get the cloud back to Cloudsdale, until you attacked me I might add!"

His free wing flapping frantically, and his trapped one straining to free itself from the talons of his captor, Comet sat there in the air, wiggling around like a worm held by a bird, and not being very quiet about it either, snorting and huffing as he lashed out with hoof, head, and even his tail. "Now let me go!"

[Gerrard]

Gerrard was starting to realize that the young pegasus was probably just a weather pony in training. "You threatened to electrocute me!" he growled, his breathing returning to normal as he released the young colt. The griffon crossed his talons in anger as he floated in front of the colt and his cloud. "I hope this was just the worst timed coincidence ever," he commented in a serious tone, his eyes making sure that the pegasus didn't make any swift movements.

"Just a tip, from a griffon to a pony, check clouds before you take them. Flying creatures sometimes sleep in them, or did you miss that lesson in flight school?" he added with a forced laugh, not sure of what to do next.

[TNH]

When he was released Comet quickly flew over to his reclaimed cloud, sitting upon it to rest, shaking out his mane with a few deep breaths to calm down. He finally took the opportunity to look over the griffon, noteing how much he looked like a hawk or maybe an eagle. "If you were pushing a cloud around and something big grabbed you, wouldn't you try and find a way to make it let go?" He returned at the griffon with a sly grin. "And thanks for the tip, but I'd also like to add that you shouldn't be so suprised," the pony motioned at the visible outskirts of Cloudsdale "we're right outisde Cloudsdale after all. Tons of pegasus flying around, even at this time of night."

He relaxed for a few moments, letting the wing Gerrard had grabbed fan out to stretch the already sore muscle. He'd be hurting in the morning for sure. "But now that you're not trying to eat me or anything, name's Night Comet."

[Gerrard]

"I would be completely perplexed. I would be wondering how I magically became a weather pony first of all. After I got over that, I would wonder how I was so blind that I couldn't see a big griffon sleeping on it. Then I would panic, maybe," he explained with a laugh, the griffon amused with his own explanation. He listened as the pegasus explained that he shouldn't be sleeping on clouds near Cloudsdale, the griffon reluctantly agreeing that it wasn't the best of ideas. "I just assumed that all ponies were afraid of the dark, I guess I was wrong about a few of you," he corrected his bad judgement with a sly smirk, trying to avoid any blame, even if it was partially his fault.

"Yeah, I only eat big ponies. You have nothing to fear from me," he commented with a sly smirk, the griffon playfully jabbing Comet in the side. "You can call me Gerrard, Gerrard Grayfeather," he replied with a smile, the griffon shaking one of Comet's hooves as he hoovered alongside the pony.

[StarStorm]

Star Storm had snuck out to a Vinyl Scratch concert, and had enjoyed herself thoroughly up until the moment that she realized how dark it was once she got out. Flying home as fast as her little wings could carry her, the young filly mumbled to herself. "Not the dark, NOT the dark, Oh sweet Celestia, NOT the DARK!!" Star started to tire, deciding to take a quick rest on a nearby cloud before continuing. She hesitantly perched herself onto it. She saw a griffon and layed low. He didn't look very happy, to say the least. After watching the scene play out with him and the pegasus, however, Star concluded that maybe he was in some trouble. She bit her lip, looking at the young colt, who probably wasn't much older than herself. I gotta help him.. She quickly grabbed some cloud and sculpted a helmet similar to those ponies would wear if they were in the royal guard, popping up from the cloud with a sense of authority, approaching the two slowly with her head held high. She spoke in the deepest voice that she could, which really wasn't very deep at all. "Everything ok over here?!" She tried not to use too many words, as it might ruin the illusion. She hoped that it'd be dark enough for the griffon not to see how small she was, nor that her hat was just made of cloud.

[TNH]

Comet was just about to return Gerrard's hand shake when the little "guard" made it's way over to the group. Looking over the little pony, especially how the rather fluffy looking helmet seemed to be bouncing off her head with each flap of its wings. The weather pony turned the cloud to face the smaller pegasus, calling out to the myterious mare, "Aren't you a little short to be a guard?" He couldn't help but snicker at his one time enemy.

[StarStorm]

Star straightened her falling cap of clouds which just fell back down, this time over her eyes. She softly whispered to the pony who was questioning her. "I'm trying to help you escape the griffon.." Star Storm had always been small, even compared to other fillies. She knew that guards were generally taller, bulkier ponies, however, and quickly thought up a way to try and play it off. She cleared her throat, returning to her fail of a male voice. "Yeah, I er.. I have strawpony..itus.." The filly bit her lip, thinking about what had just come out of her mouth. Strawponyitus?! That's not a thing!! Usually she was better in situations like this. "..Let's not talk about that right now, I'm pretty sensitive about it.. I think that we really just need to asses the situation at hand, here. Or, hoof, rather." She forced a laugh, her voice unfortunately cracking. Star went on, as if it never had happened. "....Is everything okay here?" She readjusted the cloud on her head, more asking the griffon than the pony.

[Gerrard]

It may have been dark, but Gerrard's eagle eyes could see through the flimsy excuse and disguise. That of course didn't mean that the young filly knew she had been had. "Yes sir. This callous pegasus tried to steal me, and my cloud. He threatened to electrocute me too! Arrest him on the spot, I demand it!" he growled angrily, pointing a jet black talon at Comet, his face appearing dead serious. He moved out of the way, revealing Comet to her as he hovered to the side.

"Wait a minute! Strawponyitus, I have heard about that. It is super contagious, we are both going to shrink forever Comet! Wait, griffons are immune to your pony diseases. Good luck pegasus man, karma comes to take thieves, sorry," he explained in a solemn matter as he patted the dark blue colt with a talon. He knew it was totally fake, but Gerrard wondered if Comet knew any better, the griffon hoping he could make one of them worried,

[TNH]

"How many times do I have to tell you griffon man, I wasn't trying to steal you!" protested the little pegasus pony before he was partially cut off my Gerrard's second exclamations. He rolled his eyes at the whole deal, not honestly buy either of their stories at all. "I'll take my chances, Gerrard."

Comet then turned back to the tiny "guard" pony. "But before we slap the cuffs on this dashing blue pony," he pointed a hoof at himself "I didn't know there was a griffon on the cloud; I'm just an apprentice cloud wrangler, ask any pony in Cloudsdale! I was just out here and decided to take a rouge cloud back home when I get jumped by a giant half bird half... kitty cat." Comet couldn't help but turn and grin a big dumb grin at Gerrard after that description. He then turned his head back to StarStorm, awaiting her judgement.

[StarStorm]

Star giggled when Comet had called Gerard a half kitty cat. "Ummm...." Star put a hoof to her chin, thinking carefully about what to say next. How to make this guard-y.. "Although.. Comet?" She had been listening carefully, trying to pick up the name's, but still wanted to make sure. "..Yeah, Comet.. Threatened to electrocute you, I think that he was just saying that.. and umm.." The griffon went along with my strawponyitus.. "Gerrard just seems nice, so.." She paused, rasing her head causing the cloud cap to fall. She didn't bother to pick it up, but instead just went on. "...By order of the princess, I think I'm gonna let you scamps go.." Along with the realization that she would soon be leaving the two, Star Storm also realized just how dark it had grown. Oh NO! I don't wanna fly all by myself all the way through town.. She didn't disguise her voice in the least anymore, realizing that the gig was up now that what once was her symbol of false authority now lay at her hooves in little white, scattered tufts. "..So where are you scamps going, anyways?" Funny how she seemingly always would refer to others as 'scamp,' no matter if they were older than her, taller, or even a griffon.

[Gerrard]

"Well I was trying to take a nap when the cloud chaser woke me up," Gerrard explained with a yawn, the griffon glancing back at both ponies. He frowned a bit when the colt didn't buy into his straw pony joke, but didn't let that put him down too much. "I'm all out of clouds, so I guess I gotta go camp out in Cloudsdale for tonight. I am headed back to town if you need an adult to supervise you. I think Comet has some renegade clouds to apprehend," he jokingly added, lightly prodding the weather pony in a slightly condescending manner.

"This half bird, half cat, is getting tired, so I need a complete night's sleep soon," he explained in a sleepy manner, his large black wings barely keeping his sleepy body aloft.

[TNH]

Comet nodded to the other two, "Now that I have this cloud all under control, I guess I'm heading back that way too!" He looked to the little filly and the much larger hybrid before continuing "If you two are going back to Cloudsdale, maybe we can all go together? I mean, it's not all that safe for a little foal to be out in a big place like Cloudsdale alone, and I don't want Gerrard to end up falling alseep on the way there." he snickered at the obviously drowzy griffon.

With that said, Comet coaxed his little cloud friend to turn back towards the city in the sky, and began riding the cloud back in that direction, looking back and waving a hoof to indicate to the other two to follow him.

[StarStorm]

(Umm.. Should we skip to morning soon, then..?)

Star was very thankful that Gerrard had offered to escort her back, and even more grateful when Comet had offered to come with. "Thanks, guys." Star followed Comet's signaling hoof, trying her best not to look too scared. It wasn't that bad of a trot, having two larger ponies alongside her. They started nearing her grandma's. "..So is this goodbye, scamps?"

[Gerrard]

The pair of males lead her back to her grandmother's house, the griffon gesturing for her to enter, the tired hybrid wanting to find a soft cloud to go pass out on. "Well, goodnight Star, I gotta go for the night," he yawned, the griffon glancing over to the yound colt. "Any parting words Comet, I'm gonna go take a nap until the morning," he commented slowly, the griffon taking flight as his weary eyes looked for a cloud to sleep on.

[TNH]

Comet nodded to his new pair of friends with a smile. "Well, actually I do! For you Gerrard, next time... ask before you grab the cloud wranglers, ok?" he couldn't help but snicker at his own joke. The dark blue colt turned towards the smaller filly, "and as for you Star? Well..." the pegasus dunked his head into the cloud he was still riding atop, emerging with a cloud helmet similar to the one she had used to try and trick them, also trying to impersonate a guard's deep baritone voice "By the order of the Princesses, we shall meet again!"

[StarStorm]

Star giggled, not at Comet's first joke, but definitely when Comet impersonated the guard. Gerrard and Comet were quite a silly couple, and she felt very good having them around, even if they were older than the ponies she usually hung out with. "See you tomorrow, Scamps!" She made her way inside, already thinking of a way to skip school in the morning. She rarely went, and really had no desire to. When she did go, it seemed like she'd always just get yelled at for NOT going! Ironic, really.

[Gerrard]

(anything in particular we want to do here? I'm not sure if there is much more we can do aside from going our seperate ways and end the RP)

[TNH]

(I honestly like it as this little meet and greet RP myself, if that works with everyone else.)

Comet put his cloud-hat-thing back into the cloud, flying down on his back and letting the cloud carry the both of them back towards Comet's place of work and home. He laid down on his back, but waved a hoof goodbye to the other pony and the sleepy griffon as he was carried off. "Later StarStorm, later Gerrard, see the both of you later!"

Night Comet thought to himself on his way back home; he liked those two, even though Gerrard seemed to be a bit... griffony. He definatly wouldn't mind running into the two next time, though hopefully he wouldn't get his poor wings wringed next time. As the dark blue pony with the midnight/neon mane laid down to go to sleep, only one last question was on his mind about the whole ordeal...

Was Strawponyitus real?