Follia and Spike “Uh, sure,” Spike replied. “No problem.” He glances forlornly into the bag and mutters, “Gosh, I hope Twilight can turn them back to normal…” ----- Toxic Rain and Mystic Heart Spoiler: Moving the RP along For the time being, I’ll control Toxic Rain. She’ll be an NPC until PsychoPunk returns. I don’t think she’ll mind. Toxic Rain blinks hard a few times and glances around the room, as if expecting something to happen. When whatever it was that she was expecting doesn’t happen, she replies to Grey Mane with a sleepy, “Yeah…that might be good…” Not bothering to brush her mane, she leaves the room and heads downstairs to the main lobby. ----- Grey Mane and Silver Shield Spoiler: Roll Sneak for Grey Mane 46 + 5 + 5 = 56 Ambiance cocks an eyebrow as he spies Grey Mane cleverly sneaking up behind Silver Shield, but says nothing. Before he can see the results of Grey Mane’s “attack” he sees Toxic Rain coming down the stairs. “Wow. You don’t look so good. Didn’t get much sleep, eh?” The professor turns to Ambiance and glares at him. “How did you guess?” “Sheesh, sorry, lady.”
After her morning brushings and slow waking up, she slips her ear rings. She slips her saddlebag over her back and makes sure the book is secured inside her pack before cheerily trotting downstairs. Despite everything that's been going on she was humming lightly, feeling well rested, and a sense of achievement from the day before. Her well-brushed hair and simple smile accented with a happy pair of eyes. "Good morning! How did everypony sleep?"
Silver came across an especially interesting part of his book about the society of the pre-Celestia Pegasus Kingdom.
Grey Mane decided she'd waited long enough. Before Silver could finish reading his book, Grey Mane shouted "BOO!"
If Silver Shield had had opposable thumbs with which to grip the table in front of him as his chair tipped backward (a result of his jump after Grey startled him), he would have been fine. Unfortunately, he was a pony, and ponies did not evolve with gripping appendages, and you can't use magic on reflex; magic always had to be thought out. So, instead of catching himself, he just flailed his hooves uselessly in the air as his chair went backwards, seemingly in slow motion. The front leg of his chair hit the table he'd been sitting at, flipping it (and his book) over and knocking over several other chairs as well. Silver himself landed hard on his back, looking up at Grey with a sheepy look on his face for a moment, the wind knocked out of his lungs and his brain still processing. Then he glared at her. "Hilarious. That was so funny. A pony can't read in peace..." He continued grumbling as he began to pick up the table and chairs with his levitation.
Grey Mane simply burst out laughing. "Sorry. Have not *snicker* had a good laugh in ages!" She then resumed laughing and was rolling on the floor.
She blinked a few times and stared at the scene. As far as she recalled it was unusual for her to be completely ignored... but she didn't mind it too terribly much, at least not today. Instead, she took this opportunity to merely walk out the door without announcing it, walking out towards the edge of town where the varda was. Today, she was extra cautious... she didn't want any unexpected interruptions barring her path...
As Silver was reorganizing chairs and tables, he noticed Mystic Heart walking out the door. Where was she going?? At least she could wait for everypony else! He levitated his book into his saddlebag as he started running to catch up with her. "Mystic, wait up!" he called.
Grey Mane stopped laughing and regained her serious behaviour. "Wait up! I'm coming with!" She called after as she began to chase after Silver and Mystic.
She turned abruptly and stomped her hoof. "Ah, so now you pay attention. Not to my "good morning, how is everypony," of course not." She glared at Silver for a few moment, then went back to her usual sweet smile. "Anyway, let's be on our way!" She turned back around and began trotting once more.
Mystic Heart, Silver Shield, and Grey Mane Spoiler: Roll Luck 41 As you make your way to the varda, Yellow Belly rushes up to you all. "There they are! Hey, guys, they're here!" He frantically waves his hoof in your direction, and he is soon joined by Licorice, Tip Top, and two ponies you don't recognise. Licorice takes the lead. "Whew! We thought you left! Mayor Mare is completely wigged out. She has everypony in Ponyville looking for Twilight! She disappeared during the night!" "You...uh, don't know where she went, do you?"
"Yellow Belly!" She held a hoof to her chest and caught her breath. "So what you're saying is that Twilight Sparkle has actually vanished? I'm not sure, actually, and sorry to say it. I wish I knew. I shall let Mayor Mare know if I see her, in fact!" Ahh, Twilight, what are you up to? She wondered, just what all can I do with that doll? Can I find her with it?
Silver was nonplussed. What does she mean, "Now I pay attention"...? ...Oh. Yes. He seemed to recall her saying good morning, but he had been busy at the moment...he couldn't just put down a book without at least finishing the chapter, right? Ignoring the fact that he just had, anyway... He didn't quite understand her reaction, but then, he had never really understood girls. Maybe someday, but he doubted it. Advanced physics was less complicated than female mind. Perhaps there were some things a pony was never meant to understand... And then Yellow Belly was talking about Twilight disappearing, and he forgot all about that. Had she gone somewhere of her own volition? Or was this something more sinister? Perhaps the book still held her in its thrall, or she'd been forcibly removed from her home! Silver pressed Yellow Belly for more info. "Was she sleeping in the library last night? Have you checked her room for clues?? Has any search been conducted yet??? Have you questioned the neighbors about any unusual activity???? What measures have been taken so far?!" He had more questions, but he paused to let the pony answer. If he even could; Silver wasn't sure he'd know half the stuff he needed him to.
Spoiler: Roll Knowledge for Mystic Heart 41 -2 = 39 Spoiler: Roll Magic for Mystic Heart 34 + 18 = 52 Mystic Heart examined the "Twilight" doll. She felt a slight twinge of magic emanating from it. Yellow Belly, meanwhile, back away at each question that Silver asked. Before he straight up panicked and ran away, Licorice stepped forward. "Take it easy, willya? The poor guy's got a nervous condition. And to be honest, the weirdness that's been happening hasn't been helping things." Yellow Belly cowered behind his pegasus friend as she continued. "Nopony's gone into the library since yesterday for fear that...that thing might show up again." At the mention of the Tickbalang, Licorice shivered a little. "I thought you all were the last ones to see Twilight yesterday evening, in the hospital. The Mayor went there this morning, and found the doctors in a panic. Her room was completely empty. I mean...the bed and things were still there, but Twilight wasn't! They said her window was open; that must've been how she got out." Tip Top added, "There are a few brave souls who stayed by the Library all last night, and they said that they haven't seen her." He glanced around nervously. "Do you think that the zebra had anything to do with it?" Then, almost as an afterthought, he said, "Nopony has gone to his wagon today, but it's still there at the edge of town...if, uh, you guys want to to it."
Licorice shook her head and replied, "Nopony has seen hide nor hair of Applejack, Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, Rarity, or Rainbow Dash... Twilight is the most recent pony to go missing."
Grey Mane nodded. "Thank you for this information." She then turned to Mystic Heart and Silver. "I say we pay Virulento a visit. Dont you?"
She looks irritably at Grey Mane, then flicks her head to the side, flipping her mane lightly. "Ugh! Where do you think I'm going? Just out for a stroll? I'm headed to Virulento's varda now to speak to him. I have other things to ask him as well." She continues on her way towards the varda. These distractions getting irritating.
Mystic Heart, Grey Mane, and Silver Shield make it to Virulento’s wagon in short order. Much like yesterday, the wagon is closed up tightly. As you approach, the sounds of hoofsteps can be heard within. Seems like somepony’s there, at least.
