A Nature Expedition (QueenChrysalis747 and TheInvisiblePony)

[TheInvisiblePony]

Fantasy Trope had hoped that her day would have gone a bit better than it had. That is to say, it wasn't bad, but she hadn't found anything worth finding, and she needed some more relics to sell rather soon. She was running out of bits and her personal collection (the things she liked too much to get rid of) was getting rather small as it was.

The real question was, given the situation, why had she thought the Whitetail Woods was a good place to go adventuring. Fantasy sighed, at the time she set out it just seemed closer than going anywhere else, and not to mention ponies tended to overlook things that Fantasy considered treasure. As she looked around the woods just south of Solstice Heights, she realized how silly the idea was. The woods were just to close to Canterlot to have anything of value left, and maybe a few ponies had overlooked things, but the next dozen that came on camping expeditions and nature walks certainly paid attention.

Fantasy muttered. "I suppose I only have myself to blame..." After coming to terms with this simple fact, she did have to admit the forest was very well taken care of. Certainly more than the Everfree, anyways. Through the singing of the birds, the sounds of a few groups of hikers could be heard, given that Fantasy wasn't that deep in the forest. She glanced towards the general direction of the noise, hoping she could avoid it. One or two ponies were fine, but a group made her nervous, even when she was exploring (if you could call this exploring).

Weighing her options, the black mare decided that she might as well stick around for a while. In almost every book she's ever read, even the most mapped out forest had one last secret worth seeing. Surely there was perhaps a cave back by the mountains, or an old hut in a clearing somewhere. It just made no sense that every secret had been found. Taking care to make sure she wasn't lost, Fantasy trotted deeper into the forest, with a few spoken words to motivate her.

"Who knows what I'll find?"

[QueenChrysalis747]

Darkness stared deep into the lake which was near the center of the Whitetail forest, it was crystal clear and he could admire all the creatures within this lake. He watched his reflection ripple as an occasional frog hopped in or a fish broke the surface with a little pond hop and then splash back in. He loved the forest and Nature and wildlife, they were the only things it seemed that didn't completely ignore him, it was still so strange living in Canterlot.

His old home was so small and cramped and of course everyone there hated him as he wasn't like them, but that was where he was raised, however harse it was to him. But now in Canterlot, everypony is so warm and caring, it's sometimes to much to handle, that's why he enjoys escaping to the forests and adventuring a bit.

Also he draws in his spare time, not avidly or very well but some decent drawings he can manage, it's mainly just for fun. He enjoys to sketch the scenery so he can later return, that and so he can decorate his friends home. She seems to enjoy his pictures and his maps, too bad Canterlot doesn't need a map maker of tour guide, that's his specialty. His special talent is to be able to navigate and orientate no matter what conditions are and where he is, it's especially powerful at night.

He then heard a voice, faint and carried by wind but definately there, and mare. Oh he wasn't good with mares, especially attractive ones, but he couldn't tell more then if was mare. So he did what he did best, fly to a dark soo and hide under something until she passes, this time it was a tree root he hid under.

[TheInvisiblePony]

Fantasy emerged from a grouping of trees after a little walking to find herself standing next to a lake. Looking out over the surface of the water, she noted how calm it looked. Aside from a few ripples here and there, it might as well have been a sheet of glass. Taking a moment to absorb it all, Fantasy decided that Whitetail Woods may have been a good idea after all. Perhaps other ponies went here all the time, but this was certainly a new area for Fantasy. It was a lot safer to just walk around too, you didn't have to worry about poison joke, or demon chickens turning you to stone, or what have you. Just some woods and some small wildlife.

It was almost a little boring.

Fantasy picked up a flat looking stone and gave it a skip across the pond and watched it bounce as she plotted out her next course of action. Although it was pretty, the lake was clear enough to show it wasn't much else besides that. Fantasy sighed, she did feel a little bad leaving it, it really was near perfect, but there was little there for her. She looked around at the trees. They were the same in every direction, giving little indication of which way would yield results. She murmured a little.

"This never gets easier, does it? Oh well, wouldn't have it any other way."

She sat down on the shore, reasoning if she was going to be indecisive, she should at least be sitting. If anything, she did feel a little guilty though, any hero from any book she's read would have made up their mind by now. She was hardly an adventurer her own eyes, let alone compared to some of the legends of fiction. Fantasy sighed, knowing she had impossible standards to live up to. Wrapped up in her own thoughts, she was rather oblivious to the stallion in the shadows, simply not knowing he was there.

[QueenChrysalis747]

Darkness was frozen, not quite fear, but more of pure shyness and insecurity, not sure what to do. He didn't dare speak, or move, or twitch, the most he did right now was a slow shallow breathing and stared. While he was staring it was more of a stare through her, not at her; no he never made eye contact if possible.

But here he was, inevitably about 5 hoof steps away from this mare, and that's when he actually looked at her, she was...was...attractive. He shook his head a bit and blinked, 'this is no time to think like that, she would kill you if she knew you thought she was attractive,' he thought and took a deep but almost silent breath and began to slowly step back and then.....

CRACK!!!

...the sound of the snapping twig echoed forever it seemed and he tossed his head back to see that he, indeed, did step on a fairly large twig. He knew in mere seconds she would turn toward him and he did the only logical thing he could think. In one swift bound he flew, quite literally, into a nearby leaf pile, but miss judging the size of the pile compared to him his entire rear stuck out and part of his muzzle as well.

[TheInvisiblePony]

When you're sitting by a lake in the middle of a forest, hearing a snapped twig can be a little unsettling. Hearing one not five hooves away is rather frightening, really. Fantasy Tropes heart skipped a beat, as she stood there in fright. She stood, with her back turned to the noise. Then she remembered that this wasn't a dangerous forest, and the worst thing around were probably just some bears. Hay, they weren't even that bad mannered even.

Turning around she was a touch surprised to see a somewhat large stallion. Well, part of a large stallion, attempting to hide in a pile of leaves. It was rather comical, really, but Fantasy was still a bit worried. How in Equestria did she not notice him sooner? Quietly, and nervously, she spoke to the stallion.

"How... How long have you been there?"

Fantasy kicked her hoof awkwardly, thanking Celestia that his face was still mostly buried amidst the leaves. It did make talking a little more bearable, and given the situation, she doubted she could have done any better then stare had he been visible.

[QueenChrysalis747]

He shivered and slowly got up, he stood about a hoof taller then her (not big but not too small) and just stood there. He looks at the ground and shuffles a hoof nervously, "a...a...while," he says in a quite whisper and takes a step back and blinks and sits. He seems quite nervous as his wings are retracted and appear as of they are stuck to his body as he closes his eyes.

His black fur is sleek and smooth, seemingly like it is well cares for. Same goes for his mane and tail except they are spiked, though if it is natural or gel cannot be seen. He is a fairly slender build for a Stallion, but you can still tell he is a bit muscular and well defined. If not for his quite timid behavior one might mistake him for a lunar guard.

(hope this isnt making it seem like I am pushing romance or something, just like to describe him well)

[TheInvisiblePony]

Fantasy winced as the stallion stood up. There might not have been a large size difference, but it was there. Oddly enough, he seemed more more than she did, though he did try to dive into a pile of leaves not moments ago. That should have been an indicator by itself. Concluding that they wouldn't be getting anywhere if they just stood nervously and exchanged a brief stutter, Fantasy gathered up what courage she had and stood up straight. Despite having little to no idea what to say, she spoke up, but her voice was still rather quiet.

"You know, you're awfully good at being sneaky. Assuming you come out here often, I must say I envy that a little."

She brushed a little dirt off her hoof, and risked extending a hoofshake. The stallion may have essentially jumped out of the shadows and given herself quite the fright, but manners were manners. Fantasy did hate to be rude, after all. In fact, the more she thought about, the more it seemed that she startled the stallion more than the vice versa. It was somewhat of a unique situation, Fantasy regretted. The upside to having read dozens of books were prepared reactions. The downside happened to be when the prepared reactions didn't fit the moment at hand, which left her with the magic of improv.

All things considered, Fantasy reasoned it could prove interesting.

(No problems here, a description is a description, after all)

[QueenChrysalis747]

He flinched away slightly and closed his eyes as she extended her hoof, even if she did it slowly. He wasn't sure what to expect, also had she complimented him, or was she afraid. Oh so much to figure out, but first this hoof gesture, it baffled him what this ment. He closed his eyes and thought back to what he sees around town and links it too the said, hoove shake.

Was that want she wanted, if so then he could do that, right? Wasn't too hard, just extend your hoof, and boom there we go! Well that's what he thought but then he looked at his hoof, it was dirty, so he rubbed if on his other hoof. This made a smal brown smudge on his sleek smooth black pelt but that didn't bother him, yet. He then slowly and shakingly reached out his hoof to touch hers, she had a small petite little hoof compared to him. He slowly shook up then down and quickly pulled I back.

[TheInvisiblePony]

A smile flashed across the mare's face when the stallion accepted her handshake. Progress was always a wonderful thing, no matter which shape it came in. He still looked hesitant, and to be honest, she felt just as nervous still. But now was not the time for fear, so Fantasy risked a question.

"I don't suppose you have a name, do you? Most ponies tend to have those."

After asking, she realized standing that standing as straight as she was could be a little tiring, so she hopped from her left hooves to her right ones once or twice in a somewhat fidgety fashion. What else could be done that would be productive? Fantasy could think of several things, but none of them were currently applicable even now. Pondering for a minute, she glanced around the area. It was pretty much just the lake and the trees, so nothing had changed. Perhaps now would be a good time to wait for a response. Although, she did wonder where she left her hat, after taking it off earlier in the forest.

[QueenChrysalis747]

"well.." he said softly, "I'm...." the last part was more or less a murmmer, granted he was very quite originally but this was ever quieter. He shuffled a hoof and looked down, 'why is she asking so many questions?' he wondered, 'no pony is ever this interested in me, what's with this made?' he pondered this long and got no conclusion so he sighed and stared at the sky

[TheInvisiblePony]

Fantasy blinked. To be honest, the stallions reaction wasn't completely unanticipated, but that didn't make anything any less difficult. Sooo, what was her next move going to be, she wondered. She tapped her hoof to her chin while the pegasus glanced upwards, then she shrugged. She still had work to do, and if she stayed in any one area too long it would become too late to check any other locations. Which inevitably brought her back to the question she had walking into the clearing; which way should she set off in?

Out of politeness, she waited a few seconds to see if the stallion would add anything else besides a mumble. Deciding it was apparent he would not, she broke the silence.

"Very well then, I'm no stranger to shyness either. If you wouldn't like me to pry, then I won't. However, I must ask: perhaps you, as a visitor to this forest I assume, would know of any place that is relatively unexplored. Maybe even a cave or some such related terrain. If so, might you point me in the right direction?"

As she waited for an answer, she walked behind the stallion and reached behind one of the trees. In no great rush, she pulled her hat and cloak off the branches she had hung there. It was very unlike her to go many places without them, after all, the cloak was where she stowed all of her things and it would just look silly without the hat. She adjusted so it sat straight on her head in all its brimmed pointy glory (looking very much like a witch's hat, but well kept). It complimented her own black fur quite nicely, as well as contrast her mane, which was decidedly silver. With her apparel on, she turned back towards the stallion.

[QueenChrysalis747]

He took a deep breath and watched her very nervously as his brain ran at SonicRainboom speed as he tried to figure out what to say. Oh yes he knew plenty o unexplored places but they seemed so scarf and dangerous. He pondered it a bit and sighed and nodded slightly to her and took to the sky, he hovered and looked around and nodded as he knew where to go and waves her to follow as he flies gently off, silently of course

[TheInvisiblePony]

Fantasy watched with interest as the pony took to the skies. This was going to be rather intriguing, she mused. It would seem she had a guide for the moment. Without much hesitation, she began to follow the pegasus (from the ground of course). For a minute she wondered if she would have any trouble following him seeing him through the foliage, but the trees seemed spaced apart just enough to allow vision.

"It should go without saying, but lead on!" She chuckled a little, if not just to break the silence for a few seconds. Perhaps what seemed like an coincidental meeting could turn out promising. Things finally seemed to be lining up like one of her stories after all.

[QueenChrysalis747]

He slowly defended, not because of how close they were but so she didn't loose him because he would need to make a few sharp turns ahead to avoid a ravine. He landed and ducked left quick then stopped to check that she was safe and catch his breath, he wasn't much of an athletic Pegasus.

[TheInvisiblePony]

Fantasy was going at a fairly nice trot when the stallion decided to make a quick land. She didn't really argue with that decision, after that she was rather short of breath at this point. Closing the last few hooves that she had made when falling behind a little, she gave a few brief pants. Adventurer or no, once a bookworm always a bookworm. A shame she had to have the physique of one. In between a few short breaths, she spoke to the pegasus again.

"So... If you're going... too lead... the way... I'm going to need... to call you... something."

Regaining her composure, she continued on with her speech, free from the initial breaks. "Although, I suppose I understand why you haven't told me it yet. I'm starting to think I may have been more of a surprise visitor to you than vice versa. Perhaps I should answer a few of your questions, if you have any."

The key to any conversation, as she learned when she was young, was to maintain a sense of politeness. It did seem to make day to day chit-chat seem nicer, anyways. She never had enough social interaction to actually test that out as a filly, so even now a conversation was a learning experience. Quite frankly, she didn't think she was doing terribly well with it, either.

[QueenChrysalis747]

He caught his breath and she began talking again, he foze and slowly turned to her, "Um....I'm, um," was all he could stutter out and looked down, "Dark...Dakness," he muttered, "Darkness Eclipsed," he said slowly looking up at her.

[TheInvisiblePony]

Fantasy nodded as the stallion gave a name. That was good, it was certainly nice to know a name. "Well then, Mr. Eclipsed, my name's Fantasy Trope."

She glanced around, looking around them. Unlike a nice lake in a clearing, the trees were closer together and began to simulate their own darkness on the ground. In this kind of area, Fantasy felt her bravado diminish slowly. It couldn't be helped, and even knowing the forest was safe didn't help much. She glanced nervously over her shoulder. Somewhere, one of her thoughts was chiding her; she should be used to this by now, but adventuring was always just a little unsettling in between the ruins. It can't always be treasure, after all.

She glanced back to Darkness "Thank you, by the way, for playing the escort." She tried to sound like she had before, but rather quickly she had lost some confidence, and her tone conveyed that.

[QueenChrysalis747]

"b..but no..not there;" he stuttered, "U...up head," he said and trotted off slowly, seemingly unfased by the forest as he just walk casually. He never looked back but she would be able to just tell he knew how close she was. He would quicken up if ah got closer and relax a bit if she fell back a little.

Soon they reached a large opening, but in the middle stood a large circle of rocks and a deep well in it. There were spiral stairs that lead down to the bottom where a battered old wood door was crooked on its hinges. He walked up to the edge and pointed, "Une...unexplored there," he stuttered and dipped his head as he began to head off, "Be...best of Lu...luck"

[TheInvisiblePony]

Fantasy couldn't help but smile. As she looked down the stairs at the door, she got that same sense of euphoria she always did when she was about to delve into the unknown. Parties? She tried to avoid them. Forests? A little out of her element. Old ruins? Few things were better, and few things inspired quite the same air of mystery. As she stood at the edge of the stairs, she heard Darkness wish her luck. She didn't turn to face him, the old wooden door had caught her eye rather firmly, but she still spoke aloud to the pegasus. "You're leaving? Already? Surely you must have a sense of adventure, after all you were in the forest, were you not?"

She chuckled privately. She knew from experience there was no greater inhibitor than shyness, but two heads were always better than one, regardless of experience. Tearing her gaze away from the cave, she looked at the now leaving Darkness. "Besides, it could be fun. You never know!"

[QueenChrysalis747]

"w..why?" he asked softly as he say where he stood and stated at the ground, "Wh..why do you want to be near me? I'm some outcasted freak," he finally said a full sentence and anyone with a half a brain could hearths deep rooted sorrow. But then came that moment choice, leave him alone and possibly further hurt him, or listen to a story about a past you may not care about or that may agrivate you. He shuffled a hoof in the dirt as the awkward silence dragged on a bit and awaited a response

[TheInvisiblePony]

Fantasy stood there as Darkness spoke. Not quite knowing what to say, she paused in thought a good long time before speaking. She reasoned it would be best to tread carefully as the pegasus was now visible upset. Although, she noted the outcast as just part of a story she had yet to hear. Chances are, she would be hearing this story somewhat soon, and as a lover of literature, this wasn't necessarily a bad thing at all. Fantasy also realized that Darkness's sentence pretty much explained his entire behavior up to this point, and Fantasy did regret her actions. She felt as thought she forced this whole scenario on him.

Finally, she spoke. "You know, I wouldn't call myself an outcast. But I'm not that far from it, really. So, I suppose this is just one whole 'birds of a feather' event, if you'll pardon the cliche. But if you want to know why? I don't know myself. Not yet, anyways. But I like to give the benefit of the doubt, because everypony has a story. Outcasts, as you put it, just don't get to tell theirs as often. Shame really, but such is life, and it continues not noticing the little things. Well, until someone picks up a little thing-" Fantasy gestured towards the old wooden door "-and says, 'You know, I bet this has a story behind it'"

She reflected on her statement. It was quite a bit of a ramble more than anything else, but she stood by it.

[QueenChrysalis747]

Darkness listened, absorbed and finally slowly processed that sentence, though he wasn't sure what to make of it. At one point he was pretty sure she wanted to hang out with him, another she wanted to hear his story, and finally she wanted to explore behind the door. He made a few quick glances around to be sure it was just him and her and sighed, "well i really dunno what ta make of that sentence," he explained, clearly calmer and more open with her as he saw she was more interested and warm with him then "others" were, "But what i can gather is that ya wanna explore behind that there door," he blushed lightly, "but not alone, ya wanna go wit me and as we travel ya wanna hear about my past," he looked at her and walked up next to her.

As they stood there in silence for a few moments, he was facing her and she was him he sighed, "Alright, lets go," he said and began walking down the stairs, "Just hope ya got a light, as for me, well i never get lost," he looked at his mark, "Kind of my specialty"

[TheInvisiblePony]

Fantasy smiled. [colour=#800080]"You certainly catch on fast." [/colour]She was pleased to see that Darkness was at least not as shy as he was earlier. Although she did pause for a moment when he mentioned light. That was important was't it? She checked a few self stitched pockets in her cape, hoping there was something, but somehow a lack of foresight had prevailed. No matter, she reasoned, it would probably be a few minutes till her eyes adjusted to the dark, then she'd be fine. She followed the pegasus down the stairs.

[colour=#800080]"So, you never get lost? That must certainly come in handy. I can't get anywhere correctly without maps or experience."[/colour]

As they descended, Fantasy realized she might have misjudged the dark. It was going to take more than a few minutes to get used to the lack of light there were walking into. Perhaps asking Darkness to tag along was a better idea than she had thought. Not to mention, a good conversation would keep things interesting. [colour=#800080]"If I do recall correctly, you mentioned being an outcast? That does seem a bit harsh..." [/colour]

[QueenChrysalis747]

"Oh yes it was harsh, and worse it was my own parents who outcasted me," he sighed and looked around and closed his eyes and smiled, "come on there is a torch behind this door," he said and slowly opened the door. As he did light slowly filtered into the cavern and he ducked inside, it appeared to be a small room with a table in the middle and a few old cushions around. He smiled, "ah well this is a lovely little place," he said and looked at the torch, "ah good its an enchanted torch, it will never go out," he went and sat down and waited her to join.

[TheInvisiblePony]

Fantasy raised her eyebrow at the mention of Darkness' parents. That certainly seemed harsh indeed. She didn't get to reflect much on this, when the pegasus mentioned a torch. [colour=#800080]"Wait, how can you tell if there's a torch behind the-" [/colour]She stared as he opened the door, and there was indeed a torch. [colour=#800080]"Okay, that was impressive. I've been spelunking for quite a while, and I can't even make calls like that."[/colour]

Fantasy was just as impressed when Darkness mentioned it was a magic torch. She glanced at it, and indeed it was. He certainly knew his magic. Inside the room, once she looked away from the torch, she noticed it was well furnished. Dusty, but it had tables and cushions. Perhaps a dining room, but that could be figured out later. Walking to the other side of the table so as to face him, she politely sat down. Once a Canterlot pony, always a Canterlot pony, in both mannerisms and poise. [colour=#800080]"So, how shall this play out? Would you care to tell your story first, or perhaps we could make a small game out of this. Question for a question type of thing. Your call, I believe."[/colour]