Journey of Two [Private]

[Viridian]

It was all but an ordinary day, at least after Origami Heart would go out to have a little meeting with a few of her friends. It was designated to be right out front of the theater, and once nearby she could see the pale pink framed walls and the two masks above the lightly crowded entrance, one with a smile and one with a frown. She longed for her friends to arrive after sitting herself down on a white wooden bench, her tail embracing one of her legs for a bit of warmth. Had she known it would become a little chilly out after leaving her cottage, she would've brought a scarf or jacket with her. The two brown saddle bags she wore were barely enough. Where were her friends anyway? Late perhaps? Ori patted down a few stray hairs from her white yellow-streaked mane, occupying herself with effortless pampering until she grew tired, What was only twenty minutes felt like a painfully long two hours. Curse her impatience, for the mare had already begun to leave, heading off towards the cafe for a drink to refresh her brain a little. But that was only until she felt a sudden weight fall onto her side, and she only barely caught herself before she stumbled over.

"I apologize, miss. I wasn't looking where I was going." Said a pony that appeared to be the one who'd bumped into her, a stallion she could guess from their deep, almost husky voice. But she couldn't guarantee it was, for they wore a dark fabric coat, the hood cloaking their face with a shadow. Ori rubbed a hoof on her head, puzzled but relieved that it wasn't Princess Celestia or something else absurd.

"Uh, no problem-" Before she could finish her sentence, the cloaked pony swiftly took a turn and fled, and she swore she saw a glimpse of light, something shiny held in their mouth. The unicorn dug her nuzzle into her saddle bag. Gone. The bits not there. Her crystal blue eyes gleamed with a mix of anger and surprise. Ori jumped after the thief, her hooves thumping across the ground with a boost of adrenaline. They were quick, and seeing how she was managing to keep up with their pace steered into the forbidden territory. The Everfree Forest.

The mare kept her focus solely on her target who was fortunately for her not the best at maneuvering through the dense forest. With slips over rocks and protruding overgrown tree roots, Ori caught up and ferociously tackled down the cloaked pony. They rolled and tumbled until the thieving stranger kicked her in the stomach with a hind hoof, causing her to repel and allowing him to go ahead. It was hard to believe what she saw, as in front of her very eyes the pony's cloak seemed to radiate light from beneath it on their head, and an oval-shaped swirl of light tore open in a tree.

"What..is...?" The unicorn was caught at a lost for words, watching mouth agape when the stranger disappeared by stepping right into the swirl of colors, the portal to wherever they were headed, but she dared follow after, although hesitant. With one step of her hoof after the other, Ori went through the still open portal. The form of transportation that she had yet to know would pull her into a wicked long adventure. But what's an adventure without someone to experience it with, right?

**I didn't think of any good ideas to start with since I'm terrible at introductions and I'm being distracted by this terribly catchy music...

Anyway, I'll cue for Thunder or whoever you're playing as to go ahead and appear, diving into the portal or some other sort of portal. Then they'll end up both in the same place in the other world and blah, blah, blah, epic world saving and cuddles =^-^=

[Shadowbolt0]

Today had been a long day for Thunder. The white coated pegasus had spent majority of his day working on setting up the clouds nicely so that Celestia's sunlight came through unhindered. The bulky Pegasus wasn't as nimble as his fellow workers, then again, when it was rain time and they needed to make it rain, Thunder was the pony for the job. He was strong for a Pegasus, strong hind legs that give him a lot of power, and he'd often joke about about he was a Earth Pony born in the body of a Pegasus. He was simply wearing his working kit, which today consisted of a scalf, as he sat lazily on one of the clouds watching the town below him. He looked up, seeing a few strands of his silverish hair blowing in his face, before moving it out the way.

"Yo, Thunder!" Came a call, and Thunder turned to see another Pegasus, a male, flying up to his cloud. It was one of the workmates, Storm, his partner in many regards. He made it rain, and Thunder made the lightning come out.

"Stormy" He replied, smiling as Storm landed on the cloud, and the pair looked down at the town below. It was something that calmed Thunder, being able to see so much with relative safety of his wings and the clouds to keep him up. It was a great feeling, at least, in his opinion.

"Great work with the clouds up here mate, I'm really impressed" Storm said, and Thunder smiled and chuckled, his chuckle would have continued, but somehing caught his eye and it slowly died in his chest. It looked like ponies running, one chasing after another. He was too far away too see clearly, but one thing was obvious even to him, that wasn't a friendly chase. One of them had done something wrong, and he couldn't just sit back. Standing up, he turned to his friend. "Storm, get the authorities. There is a chase down there, and it isn't friendly" His friend nodded his head.

Thunder flared his wings out, before taking to the skies. He tried to follow them from the air, meaning he wouldn't have to burn as much energy keeping track of them. But they were headed in a strange direction, wasn't this.? Looking up, he confirmed his fears that the everfree forest was this way. What madness would drive a pony to seek refuge in this place? Shaking his head, he came down much closer to the ground, hovering above it as he tried to follow them from the treeline, and was managing to keep up. During it, he managed to get a good look at the chaser. A mare, with a darkish coat and a yellowish mane? The tree's made it hard to be certain at what he saw, but she was chasing somepony who was fully cloaked, never a good sign in his eyes. He noticed an opening they were close to, and detoured over there to land and make his way on foot. Galloping as fast as his bulky frame would let him, he was making his way there when he spotted a bright light in the tree's from that direction! Magic more than likely he suspected, but what form of magic is out here? He doubted it was safe to use in this place. Picking up the pace, he ran into where he saw the light, and froze. The cloaked pony was gone, and the other mare was entering a tree? A bright light had come from a tree, in the everfree forest, and she was entering it. He raised his hoof, planning to call out, but she had already gone through before anything escaped his throat.

Thunder paused, thinking it over. If he went through, After a mare he didn't know, he could end up anywhere, in mortal danger, and no one would know. Or he could leave the mare to her fate, go back, get the guards and return. Leaving the mare was what a pony who placed logic over their heart would say. Issue for Thunder, was his heart controlled him. Knowing this wasn't the best idea, he actually charged fowards towards and into the portal, hoping, just hoping, that he might be able to help that mare who'd entered before him.

[Viridian]

What just happened, the portal, the thief, the play she'd planned to watch earlier, all had completely left Origami's mind. Only confusion and the desire to have a moment of rest was there when she found herself laying on her back in some dark place, blades of grass tickling the end of her muzzle. Her vision proceeded to focus as it adjusted to the dim ray of light that peered in through the canopy of leaves and branches above her. Woods. It was a woodland, but not the Everfree Forest. The trees were different in common shapes and shade of brown, the grass more rich with colorful plants not seen before, and the scent of the air was like damp wood. Pleasant but still confusing. Ori knew no other forest other than Everfree nearby Ponyville. The thought of the place being in a completely different world never crossed her mind.

The mare drew in a sharp breath of the different air, lifting her upper body up with her hooves to the ground. She fluttered her eyes in disbelief, thinking maybe she was dreaming or something, that some exotic plant thorn must have poked her leg when she was running and intoxicated her with crazy hallucinations. No such luck there.

Ori steadily got up on all fours, her legs and neck sore. A small headache was present, as if her head wasn't hurting with confusion enough. Her aqua gaze scanned around her for any sign of...something. She just noticed that her saddle bags were nowhere to be found, as well as the cloaked figure and any sight of Ponyville. This was startling, and scary, but she tried to maintain a leveled head until she could find out what exactly happened. If there was any chance of that. There was an unsettling feeling that there was someone else with her, nearby. Very close. Ori kept perfectly quiet and listened intently, a chill running down her back, but nothing was to be heard beside the leaves rustling and singing of birds hiding in them. She gulped, her eyes narrowing.

Ori called out hopefully for response. "Hello?" Her voice was raspy and quiet, as if even it couldn't handle the large change of environment. Just the thought of being lost in a probably huge forest with no sign of life was enough to bring panic.

[Shadowbolt0]

Thunder had no idea what to expect when he charged head first into a random portal in the middle of nowhere, but he certainly didn't expect to be upside down looking up at a tree. He blinked several times, before shaking his head and rolling onto his legs. Slowly, the stallion stood up and took a proper look around the forest he was now in.

The tree's, the grass, it wasn't the Everfree forest for certain, he'd seen it enough times to know it from sight. But this forest looked far too kind, too welcoming. Thunder didn't like it, the only forest near Ponyville was the Everfree Forest, meaning he wasn't there, and despite his wings, he never really had interest in Equestirian geography. He was now lost, but thankfully, not alone. That mare he'd been following, well, had been chasing the cloaked pony, she'd entered her. He'd seen her, that's the whole reason he'd followed. Looking around, he didn't spot her. That was never a good sign, it meant either she wasn't here and he'd doomed himself. Or maybe it was a trap, and he'd fallen for it like the fool that he was. He frowned, angry at himself and what could have been seen as blindness to charge to a mare's protection. He couldn't help himself, as a giant stallion, he always felt the need to protect others, mares especially.

Thunder was about to give up in a way, to just lie down and take a nap, find out everything last when he heard a single word. Hello. His head shot up, it was a mare's voice, perhaps the mare he'd been following? Probably, what harm was there in finding out? He looked around, taking a deep breath to keep himself calm. He could fight anything he found, hopefully, or delay long enough to let the mare run. But he needed to find her first, and he couldn't see her nor locate her based on her voice. "Where are you?" He called out loudly, he had to be strong, for himself and for this mare, because in Thunder's opinion, that voice screamed that she was scared.

[Viridian]

A strong voice responded to her call after moments, a stallion's likely, restoring a bit of hope in her being sent into the middle of a forest. There was someone here, but she couldn't see them. Only hear. Ori stood in place in fear of getting herself even more lost for moving from the spot she woke up in. The Evergreen Forest was mysterious enough, but now she didn't even know the name of the place if it had any. What if the air was naturally poisonous and she was already doomed?

"Over here!" She shouted twice to see if the stallion could navigate his way to her. Or if not, the other way around. To try helping more, even if it wasn't all that loud, the mare got up on her hind hooves and clunked the others on a tree. The more sound the better, she thought. She had to be a little bit smart here. Starving alone and helplessly didn't sound like the greatest of plans.

**Been busy, sorry again for such a terribly long wait and a tiny post

[Shadowbolt0]

Thunder's ears peaked as he heard a reply multiply times, realizing this mare was a smart one. She was making quite a bit of noise so that he could actually track her down. That meant he should be able to track her down, before realizing something that ran a small shiver over his body. If he could track her, then the pony she'd been chasing might find her too! He had to get there first, as he took off. Trotting around the jungle towards where he thought he had heard her voice, but pausing as he realises that he'd lost her. He was about to curse when he heard something that sounded like a pony kicking a tree. He couldn't stop but smirk, whoever this mare was, she was a smart one. She knew he needed something to find her, and she was giving him everything he needed to find her.

Turning around a tree, he finally spotted her. The white pegasus looked at the mare, a small smile on his face as he looked at her features properly. Her coat was grey, with a mane he actually quite liked the look of, it's colouring was nice and obvious that she put a lot of effort into making it look nice. But what caught him most of all, was her eyes. Those blue eyes, those beautiful eyes made him freeze, before he felt the gush of blood to his cheeks. He ran his hoof through his silver mane, and his green eyes looking down at the ground, before back at her, unsure what to say. "Ummmm, hi?"

[Viridian]

Origami stopped kicking all over the poor tree at last, turning to face the stallion right nearby. Relief washed over knowing she wasn't the only one stranded in the forest, or maybe this stallion was one of it's native ponies. He was shockingly handsome, whoever he was, to the point where it left her nearly speechless. He had a silvery mane over sharp features that formed his attractive face, with a pure coat of white and wings. A pegasus. They made eye contact after they were both staring at each other, completely awestruck. She was practically paralyzed where she was, but she pushed aside the attracted feelings dwelling inside her to speak. Her face was tainted with scarlet, a warm blush on her cheeks that wouldn't leave if she wanted it to. Keep it together! That...whatever it was, portal thing, probably got your head screwed up.

"Hello...Well- I'm glad I'm not the only one here." Ori said softly to prevent the raspy-ness in her voice to come out again. She brushed away a few strands of her white and yellow hair from the front of her eyes in an oh so awkward way, pulling up a small smile.

"Erh, do you know where Ponyville is, by any chance? Or were you..." She sorted out the possibilities in her head. "-taken here, too? By some glowy thing?"

**I ship it already.

[Shadowbolt0]

Thunder had to take a step forwards, he could barely hear what the are was saying, she sounded so quite, almost, delicate? That or she could be scared? Though that didn't make too much sense due to the noise she'd been willing to make , so what had changed in the mare? Whatever it was, he brought a small smile on his face for her. She probably needed, security, safety, to feel those things, and he would do his best to help her. He barely knew her, yet he'd jumped through a random portal to help her. No going back at this point.

He listened carefully to her speak, she seemed, disorientated? He wasn't too sure, he'd never been that good at reading others emotions and feeling, so he'd just have to find out what she felt like. He watched her as she moved some of the hair that had fallen in front of her own face out of the way, giving Thunder a better look at her. He didn't know why, but her eyes jumped out at him. He nearly hit himself, he needed to concentrate, not think about how she looked.

Thunder cleared his throat before replying "I'm afraid I haven't the slightest clue" he said, shaking his head "I charged into the portal thingy after you went through. Are you ok?" He asked, starting to walk closer. He didn't want to come off as intimidating, but he wanted to check if she was hurt.

[Viridian]

Origami had easily felt relaxed, even as the stallion got closer. His aura was calming, as if she'd seen him before around Ponyville.

"I've been better, but fine I guess." She examined her hooves and tail for any visible damage she didn't feel, looking all around like a spider was crawling around. Aside from the mental stress, nothing was too bad except the few light scrapes and scratches. No blood or unbelievable pain.

"How about you? Good?" The question was practically an excuse to admire his gaze. Her feelings just couldn't hide themselves at all, and she hoped in Celestia's name he didn't notice her unusual tendencies.

[Shadowbolt0]

Thunder chuckled at her, being transported through a random portal to some new forest could make some lose their mind or just crack, but she wasn't, she was acting like this was the usual saturday roam for her.

When she asked him if he was ok, he nodded his head slowly "I'm fine, a little scratch here and there, but nothing I can't handle. Why were you chasing that guy anyway? Must have done something pretty dumb to annoy a mare like yourself" he wasn't trying to be smooth, he was legitimently curious. No many would chase somepony through a portal, unless they'd really annoyed the other one. So what had happened between them?"

[Viridian]

*Throws self out window for not replying in 50 years so much homework I cant feeling so bad*

"Oh, my bits- he took them..." Now thinking back on it, Ori couldn't seem to understand her own purpose of going through the portal. Was she really that blank-minded to walk into a very suspicious portal just to get back a few of the shiny coins? Now she was lost, and probably too late to go to the theater now for the play. Just fantastic. It felt like a surreal nightmare now. Except she could feel, see, and sense everything precisely.

"I kind of regret it." Ori rubbed a hoof against her aching head, just below her ear. "I don't even know what this place is- or where! Do you, assuming that you don't?"

[Shadowbolt0]

A look of anger flashes across Thunder's face, before vanishing. It was theft, he thought that ponies were above that, but no. They couldn't just be nice, they had to break the law for a personal good.

"Thiefs..." he muttered, before taking a deep breath, keeping his emotions under control. "I have no idea where we are" he confessed, it was the honest truth, he didn't. He had jumped through the portal just as blind as her. "We may be in a bad of a bad spot" he says "But we need to act. We need to find where we are, find a town or something like that" It was their best hope. He didn't want to push the mare, but he didn't have a choice. In fact, he wasn't even sure what her name was.

"Oh, it's Thunder..." he bowed his head slightly, offering his hoof to her for a shake.

[Viridian]

Ori nodded agreeingly. There must be civilization somewhere, if not close. She looked down at the held out hoof of the stallion, Thunder, and gladly shook it with her own. It turned her cheeks warm in the brief moment. "Origami Heart. Most would call me Origami or Ori." Now that they were proper acquaintances they just had to...travel. There wasn't any obvious sign that said "Ponyville this way" with a directional arrow. The mare spun around in place, looking around at the surrounding trees. Every place was just as dark as the other, and had the same amount of the different trees and tall bushes. Maybe walking forward will get them somewhere at some point. The thought pained her. It sounded so exhausting but they had to, to not get eaten by whatever was in that forest.

Ori huffed and began to walk forward steadily. She pushed aside the leaves and lightly yellow striped branches with her hooves to make a small opening to get through. "Let's...just go through this way!" She said through light breaths, stepping over to the other side of the thick plant. Kindly without wanting to be alone, she waited for him to get over until they kept walking. Who knew how long it would take.

[Shadowbolt0]

Thunder smiled at Origami Heart, though he had a feeling he'd call her Ori more than anything. The short nickname suited the mare in his opinion. "An absolute pleasure, though i wish we weren't in the middle of an unknown forest" he says playfully, a sly smirk forming on his face as he spoke that. He looked around, seeing only trees and forest around him. He could fly up, but he didn't want to leave Ori on her own, he had no idea what might be lurking in the forest, and he'd never forgive himself if she got hurt on his watch.

He simply watched as Ori picked a direction, and followed. He had no idea to start, to he couldn't question her idea of where to go, instead, he would follow and they'd find out together. "So...Ori" Thunder looks around, knowing that small talk would hopefully keep her spirits up, as well as his own. They could walk forever and end up being in the wrong direction, and they could use a distraction, even if it was small talk "Say, do you often go chasing ponies through portals? Because it doesn't seem like the hobby for your average pony..." He chuckled, even at his own words. He couldnt' believe that she had done it, and that he'd followed, but here they were. Might as well make the start of their who-knows-how-long journey start with some fun.

[Viridian]

"Nah, not really." Ori answered, steadying her pace to be side by side to Thunder as they headed to whatever was in front of them. It was mostly still the trees and bushes. "It's not often you find glowing portals to run into, unless you have?" The question was obviously sarcastic, followed by a soft chuckle from the mare. An effort to block out the worrisome thoughts of getting lost. Possibly forever. But being optimistic should keep herself sane for long enough with the stallion. He was nice as far as she could tell.

**I think they could encounter a village or something and then have someone inform them about the whole situation with King Sombra. In my head they make some deal to defeat Sombra in trade of going back home c:

[Shadowbolt0]

*That sounds good, a village then meeting a mayor of some kind who informs them? Then hunt for something that can take him down?*

 

Thunder let out a laugh as Ori replied with sarcasm. At least she wasn't boring company, which was a saving grace. But he had put himself in this position, and she was his best hope to get home. She wanted to get home, he wanted to, and they hadn't a clue where they were. It seemed fitting they work together, that and he couldn't leave someone behind, that would just be cruel beyond compare.

 

"I'll have you know I graduated Pegasi school with specialsation with running through random portals" he says jokingly, before shaking his head "But being a weather pony is much easier, better pay and better hours" He held a small smirk on his face, mixing between watching where he was going and looking at Ori. He wasn't sure why, but he kept looking at her eyes. They were just so, beautiful to watch. He had to admit to himself, Origami herself was very beautiful in her own way, but her eyes are what lept out at him.