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AN UNKNOWN PLACE - UNKNOWN TIME
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Narrator: Five figures awaken to a blurry room. A memory persists of going to sleep last night, the world fading out as they closed their eyes. And now, the cold floor beneath them betrays the first signs of something wrong. The odd sensations as their bodies start to awaken furthers those signs, ears twitching slightly at some unfamiliar noises.
Narrator: The room appears blurry as they open their eyes, the dust around them seems relatively undisturbed save for where they lie. Opened crates and boxes, apparently empty, are scattered around the room, with one door leading out. And something else seems strange as well as they each start to come fully awake...
Histon turns, shutting his eyes tight. His body feels... odd, his bed unexpectedly hard. He makes a slight groan as he tries to force himself back to sleep. Today is his one day to sleep in, and he wasn't willing to give that up without a fight, no matter how much a feeling of dread started to grow within his gut.
Narrator: A fairly high-pitched groan comes from one of the forms on the floor. The form shifts a bit, showing red-and-dark-red hair shifting with it.
Carolina frowns, cursing a bit, still obviously in her sleep: "...I swear if I find the jackass who dropped jelly into my underwear drawer..."
Narrator: The white-and-blonde feathered lump groans and rolls over. Her head feels fuzzy, and something is making lying on her back very uncomfortable. Her everything feels fuzzy, actually. Like...pajamas...
Angel Feather hears someone else groan somewhere else in the room. So she's not alone? It didn't sound familiar. Is there a stranger in her room?
Walnut groans. He smacks his lips, which feel thick. How drunk did he get last night?
Narrator: Another faintly glimmering form lies in the corner of the room, for now seemingly insensible.
Carolina shifts in her sleep, her rambling turning into a faint snore. "...besides, it was not like that jelly did any zzz..."
Walnut attempts to sit up, but nothing feels quite right.. and where are his clothes? A sudden thought strikes him and he calls out in a panic. "Snake, man, it wasn't me, I swear! Jimmy was the narc!"
Angel Feather feels some of the head clear from her head as it's chased out by voices. Unfamiliar voices. And...she also suddenly realizes just how filthy the floor is. She scrambles upright quickly, her limbs feeling strange as she does. "Ahhh ew ew ew ew ew ew..."
Walnut looks about in a panic, unable to make out any of the other forms in the room. But something most definitely isn't right.
Histon grrrrs, still mostly asleep as he puts his hands over his ears... why are his hands in fists? A growing number of questions start to push sleep from his mind as Histon opens his eyes slightly
Carolina shifts again, this time on her belly... and it seems that her dreams finally take a turn for the... better? "Zzzh... at least the pear tasted good..."
Angel Feather looks around at the others in the room. A bit of snobbishness returns to her voice. "G...gross. Did I fall asleep in a petting zoo or something?"
Walnut shakes his head, trying to clear his thoughts. Couldn't have been Snake, anyway, he wasn't even in on that job. "Who else is in here? C'mon, someone say somethin'.."
Angel Feather looks at the...well, pony, she guesses, that's up and about. Its talking.
Angel Feather: What a weird dream...
Histon hears a voice behind a wall of boxes "Is... someone else there?"
Angel Feather: Oh, so all of you can talk? Am I your queen?
Carolina groans, not moving or opening her eyes: "What're you all doing in my room?"
Histon tries to slowly get up, slowly realizing he has no idea where he is "W-where... where the hell am I?" His legs wobble and twist underneath him, as if he can't remember how to stand out. With a yelp, he falls to his left, knocking though a wall of boxes that cover him.
Walnut squints, looking towards the numerous voices he doesn't recognize. "Okay, if I haven't been mugged, I've definitely been drugged. Holy hell."
Angel Feather jumps at the sudden noise of collapsing boxes. She wobbles on her legs for a moment, before falling to her "hands."
Narrator: The light red form in the corner twitches slightly at all the commotion, but doesn't show any signs of being awake just yet.
Carolina yelps at the sudden movement and gets hastily up: "No! Stop! I- I have a gun, right here! Stop moving and get out in good order so I-" she actually takes a look around: "I... I... this isn't my room."
Angel Feather blinks and stomps her "hand" against the ground a couple times, producing a noisy "clop"
Angel Feather lets out a very quiet, high pitched whine.
Walnut peeks around the side of a stack of boxes, moving towards the voice of Carolina. His body just doesn't seem to be responding the way he expects though, so he kind of drags himself around. "Lady, if they took my pants they probably took any gun you had. What the hell kind of sc.. sc.. scheme.." His jaw drops when Carolina finally comes into view.
Carolina blinks and looks up at Walnut: "What the... have you never seen a redhead chick before? I know my hair is unusual, but..." She blinks again: "Now wait. Who the heck are you?"
Angel Feather stares at her hooves. "I...I'm an animal..."
Carolina blinks at Walnut once more... and lets out a high-pitched scream.
Walnut shakes his head. "Damn they drugged me good.. I must have really pissed someone off this time." Then he cringes back, attempting to cover his ear, but they're not where he thinks they should be, plus his arms just aren't bending right..
Angel Feather screams again as she hears someone else scream.
Chance sits up abruptly at the sudden scream, letting out a shout of alarm as he looks around the room.
Histon yells out from under the boxes, struggling to get them off "What the hell's going on!?" He punches a box, still unable to get his body to behave "And what's wrong with my hands!?!" the punching grows more frantic and desperate as the screams continue.
Chance stands up abruptly, rushing to the center of the room. "Whoa! Whoa! Hold on. Everyone calm down!"
Carolina pauses mid-scream to take a good look around as she realizes she's not the only one yelling. "T-ttah-talking...." She then lets out a silent 'meep'.
Walnut looks at his "hands", finally trying to figure out why they just don't seem to be doing what he expects. He scrabbles back against another stack of boxes. "Aw fuck fuck fuck. This ain't no trip, is it? What the hell are you people? What happened to me?"
Histon keeps thrashing in his boxes "Calm down...? Sure, I'll get right on that." A long breath is heard in the box pile before a huge yell "ONCE I'M NOT UNDER A MILLION FRICK'N BOXES!" The pile shakes slightly as another box is punched away
Angel Feather feels something flutter and turns to look at her back. "Wings? Is this what the afterlife is like, then?"
Chance winces as a box goes flying, spinning around to try and look at all of the other ponies in the room. "Calm down! Everyone, please! Panicking isn't going to help anyone!"
Carolina looks frantically around, feeling another scream in her throat and just by some sheer willpower manages to keep it down. "B-buh, buh..."
Angel Feather: Right! It's just a dream!
Angel Feather: ...right?
Walnut: Lady, I'm tryin' to calm down, but I don't have any fingers, if you haven't noticed and everyone else in here is a talking horse and does that mean I'm a talking horse too this is.. ugh.. what the FUCK."
Carolina 's lips quiver for a moment more as she looks about and around, all these... she tilts her head... ponies? Around her, bigger than her. For that matter, why is her perspective so low? She knows she's not the tallest of any bunch, but...
Chance: I know, I know. We're ponies now. But we can figure this out, right? Right?
Chance blinks. "And... and I'm not a lady!" His voice goes shrill.
Walnut shakes his head again. "Sorry, I don't really know how to tell the gender of a horse and why the hell am I talking to a talking,... ergh." He rubs his head. "This is so confusing."
Histon struggling stops as he cries out "Talking... ponies? Oh crap... I've got locked up with the loonies!" His cries grow louder "Someone help! I'm trapped with crazies! Get me outta here before they tell me I'm a griffon or something." A thump can be heard as something slides out of one of the boxes and onto his head "SONOFA"
Angel Feather flaps her wings once. "Well, maybe..."
Chance: No one is crazy! Probably! We just have to calm down.
Angel Feather clambers onto a box and spreads her wings as far as possible. "Attention, ponies! I am your queen!"
Carolina looks around once more and then finally at her own hooves... h-hooves?? She lets out another high-pitched scream and starts talking rapid-fire: "How-what-when-why? What is this someone explain this right now to me or I will start make things happening that are ugly and not nice and why am I hoofed critter and why are all you talking and this doesn't make any sense and this is nuts
Carolina I must still be sleeping!" She stops to gasp for breath, nearly hyperventilating.
Angel Feather frowns as everyone continues to freak out.
Chance looks up at Angel. "You're not... we don't have a queen!"
Angel Feather: But I have the prettiest wings. I must be the queen!
Walnut gnaws at a hoof, wriggling it about, trying to make sense of it. It's impossible, but it's there and it's solid, and it hurts to bite down. "Ow."
Chance: You can't just name yourself queen just because you're a pegasus!
Carolina breathes rapidly and tries to gather herself: "What the..."
Angel Feather grins. "Well, what are YOU gonna do about it?"
Histon shakes the pile of boxes anger filling him as he feels more weight on him "OH COME ON, NOW WHAT!?" As his anger grows, a faint light glows from the box as the boxes, and Angel on top start to shake
Chance shrinks back from the pile of boxes. "Oh, shi—"
Angel Feather loses her balance and topples from the box she's standing on. "Gah! What now?!"
Carolina looks at Angel disbelievingly, blinking: "...ponies? Queen?"
Histon lets out and angry scream. There's a momentary flash as the boxes seem to explode out in all directions, leaving a blue, yellow maned pony lying on the ground looking up. He blinks, the boxes all gone. "H-holy shit... did I do that!?" His pupils grow small as he starts to stammer and sputter.
Chance pokes his head out form behind the box he dove behind. "Good news, my good fellow. You aren't a griffon. You're a unicorn!"
Carolina takes a few steps back, scared: "Eep!"
Walnut: You gotta be kidding me.. it's not just horses, but friggin' unicorns and pegasus..us..es.
Histon whimpers out slightly
Chance opens his mouth, turning to walnut. His jaw hinges a couple times, then he nods. "Well... yes. It does seem that way."
Histon: P-pegasi
Carolina curls up into a trembling ball: "This is not true this is just a dream I can not be having something that makes even less sense than pear jelly in my underwear..."
Walnut sits up as best as he can manage. "Whatever the hell this is, it's better than my initial guess. We're alive, right? Please tell me we're alive."
Histon blinks "If... we're dead" He swallows hard before continuing, "then I gotta say that the worlds got a sick sense of humor."
Chance: No, I am quite sure we're not dead.
Histon gives looks at Chance, opening his mouth before letting it hang open for a moment "...you weren't kidding about the whole pony thing."
Chance: No, I certainly was not.
Carolina feels her throat dry up, murmuring to herself: "This just cannot be..."
Histon weakly tries to stand up, falling back down "Jeez... how'd you manage that?"
Chance blinks. "Manage what, exactly?"
Walnut: I don't get this.. pony? You're all as tall as I am. Wait.. how tall -am- I?
Histon: Stand up?
Histon falls over again
Carolina looks up to the others in silent disbelief.
Chance blinks. "I, er..." He looks down at his hooves. "Oh." With a pronounced wobble, he topples to the floor.
Histon just looks at Chance for a moment before sighing, forcing his hooves onto solid ground. They wobble, but manage to hold "Come on... four legs should be more stable then two, right? Something like that?"
Chance chuckles. "Yeah, just... hard to get used to, huh?" He climbs to his hooves again. "It was a lot easier when I wasn't thinking about it, you know?"
Walnut attempts to get up on all fours, weird as his brain is saying that is. But the limbs.. kind of work better that way, the right length.. he manage to stand up fairly stably after a moment trying.
Carolina looks at the others' attempts and back to her own hooves. She puts one hoof on the floor, then the other. With some trembling she tries to get up and sort of succeeds... for all of two seconds, until she topples to her snout. "Uff!"
Histon takes a deep breath "Just... don't think about it?" He gives Chance an odd look "How 'n the blue blazes could you 'forget' about this!?"
Angel Feather: But I don't want to be a pony...
Angel Feather: Enough of this...where's the exit?
Carolina points a hoof towards the door: "It's over there I think." She then refocuses on getting up as though she said nothing of importance.
Chance: I don't know! It's just... your body knows what to do. Just let it figure it out.
Walnut: That seems about right. It's not too hard if you don't think about it.
Walnut: Which I am trying very hard not to do because this is insane.
Histon gives a hard poke to chance's chest "That has to be one of the dumbest things I've heard you... pink... whateverthehell. And trust me, I deal with idiots who think the Pacific Theater was an actual building on a daily basis."
Chance snorts grumpily. "Well, it worked for me. And I'm not pink!"
Angel Feather eventually finds a door after clumsily stumbling across the room. "Ah, here we are. Let's get outta this petting zoo..."
Angel Feather pushes the door open...
Carolina gets her forehooves steady and slowly gets up, her mind reeling.
Histon snorts back, his horn poking into Chance's head as he leans up close , snout to snout "You call'n me stupid? I know pink when I see pink." He gives a hard jab "Pinkie"
Chance huffs. "For your information, I am light red." He blinks as Angel makes her way to the door. "H-hey! Wait a minute, where are you going?"
Narrator: Behind the door, Angel sees what appears to be an empty storefront, just as dusty as the warehouse behind her. Another door, and more light, with the sounds of music and many, many voices.
Walnut looks himself over. "And I'm... burgundy? We can't have all gone the exact same kind of mad at the same time, could we?"
Histon "Rolls his eyes "You mean pi-" His head turns as he sees the other pony leave the room "Oh, for the love of-" With a sudden bolt of speed, he does his best to rush over to the other pony "Where'd ya think you're heading off to 'Queenie'?"
Carolina looks down at herself now that she has steadied her hooves in standing: "...well, my hair is the same as alw-" She absently swishes her tail into view for a second: "A-aand I seem to have a tail." She swallows and stares at a wall.
Walnut tilts his head slightly to the side, as if trying to make sense of this. "Tails, right. Ponies have tails, don't they? That all makes.. sense.."
Carolina blinks at Walnut, then back at her rump: "...sense. Sure."
Walnut reaches up, curious, and pulls some hair from his mane around where he can see it. "...pink. Of course it's pink. And none of you have any idea what's going on here?"
Angel Feather: I'm getting out of here. See ya, suckers~!
Angel Feather crosses over to the second door and pushes it open.
Chance: Whoa whoa whoa! We need to stick together! We need to figure out what's going on!
Chance scampers after Angel, ignoring the looming figure of Histon.
Carolina looks at hat and cane pictured on her flank, then looks after the escaping ponies: "I, uh... what's going on?"
Histon dives after Angel, grabbing onto her back hooves, trying to pull her back "What Mr. Pink said"
Angel Feather eeps and trips as someone grabs her rear legs. "Eeek! D-don't touch me!"
Angel Feather buffets the offending pony with her wings.
Histon yelps as he's buffeted in the face, loosing grip on Angel
Angel Feather manages to get away and pokes her head out the door.
Angel Feather freezes in place, then stumbles backwards, back into Histon.
Angel Feather: N...no way...
Angel Feather: A whole city of them...
Histon oofs as Angel stumbles onto him "What do you mean a city!? Ponies don't make cities!"
Chance: Well, uh... ponies don't talk either, right? Clearly these aren't the ponies we're all used to!
Carolina slowly walks towards the door, mumbling to herself: "Clearly..."
Angel Feather: Just what IS this?!
Walnut: Mass hysteria.. that's a thing, isn't it? But I don't think that's how it works.
Carolina gives Walnut a doubtful look and shudders: "I hope not."
Histon: D-did the whole city get...
Histon hesitates on the final word "Pony-ized?"
Angel Feather: This can't be a dream, or else I'd be the only one freaking out!
Angel Feather: Is this...the end of the world?
Chance: Well, it's not the whole city. Otherwise there'd be riots. They aren't rioting.
Angel Feather: Ponies don't riot!
Angel Feather: Because they're ponies!
Carolina blinks and admit that for a second Angel made sense there. She finally walks to the door: "Doesn't look like riot, nope."
Angel Feather: Don't you see? We're right where the terrorists want us!
Carolina: The what now?
Chance: Wha— Terrorists?
Angel Feather waves her hooves frantically. "The terrorists! Now they can have their way with the world, since we're all peaceful, happy animals!"
Angel Feather: I've seen it on the news! The secret weapons!
Histon: ...Get off me you sack of crazy!
Chance: I... b-but...
Carolina just stares at Angel: "Oh you're one of THOSE loonies."
Angel Feather: I am not a loony!
Histon does his best to force Angel off of him
Angel Feather staggers as she comes off Histon.
Carolina shakes her head and turns to look at the street before them.
Angel Feather: I don't suppose you have any better theories!
Chance: Well, no, but that's why we can't just go running off!
Histon staggers up to his hoofs, walking to the door and looking outside.
Carolina turns to nod at Chance: "I agree. Besides, it does not seem like we are in an immediately danger, whatever the heck else this all is."
Angel Feather sits down on the floor, exhausted. She still has energy to pout, though. "Feh..."
Chance: Besides. We can riot just fine.
Narrator: There's a city street outside of the door. Ponies of all kinds and colors mingle on the street, eating various street foods and relaxing. Music and sounds of talking manage to make their way though the door. The start of a group of stands is visible slightly in the distance.
Angel Feather: So...I guess you're all real, not-dream people...
Angel Feather: Well, actually, that's still a stretch.
Walnut: I'm about as real as any of you, at least I think I am.
Carolina looks down the street and muses: "One does wonder, but for a dream this is" she pauses as she thinks of a way to pinch herself and ends up awkwardly biting herself in forehoof: "...ouch. Awkwardly real."
Chance: Yes, we're real. Yes, this is happening. And it's not some crazy terrorists!
Histon tilts his head "They're... throwing some kind of festival. Maybe to some sorta god?"
Histon tilts his head the other way "Then again... this place looks a lot like Manhattan..."
Angel Feather: Or they're reigning in the apocalypse!
Carolina looks up the street and blinks: "...I can swear that corner had a McD's..."
Angel Feather: It's Y2K! Y2K!
Chance blinks. "Manhattan?" He trots over and looks out the window. "Hey, you're right! I think I can even recognize the part of town we're in!"
Histon blinks at Chance "You do?!"
Carolina nods at Chance: "I am tempted to agree."
Walnut peeks out the door as well. "It's a lot more pastel than I remember but somehow.." he shakes his head. "Heh. Mackie's corner is a couple blocks up that way, I think."
Angel Feather trots over to another window. "Very suspicious..."
Angel Feather: Doesn't this just support my terrorist ponification theory?
Histon takes a hard look "I... wait. Is this..." He trails off, looking away "We need to get away from here ASAP."
Carolina sits down as the weight of all this drops on her: "This is insane, and yet not a dream."
Chance: What? No, it doesn't support your theory. Then it would look just the same, and it doesn't. Plus there'd be rioting.
Histon walks to the door, opening it fully. His eyes wince once the full force of the sun hit them.
Angel Feather: ...mind control?
Chance: Wait, wait! Why do we have to get out of here?
Walnut shakes his head. "Ya kook. If it was mind control, wouldn't we be controlled too?"
Angel Feather: ...okay, fine.
Carolina tilts her head at the others: "What do you suggest we do?"
Angel Feather: So, suddenly and without warning, we turned into talking pastel ponies.
Angel Feather: And terrorists didn't do it.
Angel Feather: Probably.
Angel Feather: And now here we are, in a nondescript building in not-New York City.
Histon gives Chance a hard look "Bad things happen here. I don't know what happen to us, but I'm pretty sure that hasn't changed." He tilts his head to Carolina "I'm putting distance between here and me. Anyone who wants to join me can." He steps outside the door without turning back.
Carolina looks at Histon doubtfully: "I am not sure..." She fidgets a bit, uncertain.
Angel Feather: Hey! It's rude to not introduce yourself!
Chance: I... but... okay. He knows where he's going, right? Let's all follow him. We have to stay together.
Angel Feather glances out the window. "It looks harmless enough..."
Histon cocks his head back as the door starts to shut. "Name's Histon. Already know you're Queenie, so I guess that solves that problem."
Carolina looks down, muttering something under her breath.
Angel Feather stomps her hoof. "Stop trying to be so cool! My name's Angel, not Queenie!"
Walnut shakes his head a bit. "Dunno what you're talking about, dude. If this is where I think, this part of the city's pretty safe. Or.. if this is Manhattan, anyway, no one really runs down here. Too much heat."
Histon starts walking away from the store, slowly moving in the direction the rest of the ponies seem to be moving.
Angel Feather: H-hey, wait!
Angel Feather rushes out the door.
Carolina swallows and sort of wants to follow, but stays frozen in place.
Chance sighs and walks toward the door. "Come on. We'll find someplace safe to rest, and then figure out what's going on. Whatever happened, staying around won't help, right?
Carolina blinks as she realizes the storefront emptied from around her: "Hey, wait up!" She runs after the others in a short fit of panic, only to trip at the corner. She looks up from the grassroots level, noticing her confusion companions didn't end up far yet. "Oh."
Walnut hrms. "We're not going to find any answers while cowering inside a warehouse, anyway. It'd be funny if the cops hits us up for trespassing or something, though."
Chance: Exactly. The cops. But if we want to figure things out, we have to stay together.
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INTERLUDE - S&H INN - MAIN COUNTER - LATE AFTERNOON
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Pastel Life stands behind the counter, moving a quill over the registry, she spends a quiet moment in the day balancing the figures, reorganizing the sheets, and in general making sure everything, and I mean Everything, is in perfect order.
Zephyr Gust leans against one of the pillars beside the desk, watching Pastel fuss about with paperwork. "So... are we gonna hit the faire tonight or what?"
Pastel Life sighs, trying to maintain her focus, "And why, precisely, would I need to do that?"
Zephyr Gust shakes her head and raises her dark goggles. "C'mon Pas, the faire's only once a year and you never want to go. It's the most fun you can have in Central Park."
Remedy trots down the stairs, humming. 'Good morning everybody!' she calls in a sing-song voice.
Pastel Life frowns, closing her eyes and bringing up a hoof to rub her forehead, "I have work piling up." She doesn't look up, "And hello Remedy. It's afternoon."
Remedy blinks, then trots over to the window, looking out.
Remedy: Huh. So it is. Jazzy.
Zephyr Gust nods to Remedy and looks to Pastel. "Yeah, but you can't work ALL the time. I mean, winter will be here soon and then you can't enjoy the park at all."
Pastel Life: I don't go to the park. Not anymore.
Remedy: Why not? Parks are awesome.
Zephyr Gust laughs. "Neither do I, except for the faire."
Zephyr Gust: Well... and that one really good pretzel cart.
Pastel Life sighs, "Pretzels, mmhmm." She at last looks up, staring towards Remedy, "Did you say Jazzy?"
Remedy blinks. 'Yes I did. Addendum, a faire?'
Remedy claps her hooves together. 'We totally gotta go!'
Zephyr Gust cocks her head. "Jazzy?"
Pastel Life looks between Zephyr and Remedy. She slowly closes her ledger book. "A Faire... been so long since..." She shakes her head, "No. Absolutely not. I can't leave the Inn for... 'fun'!"
Remedy gives Pastel a sad look. 'Then why are you doing it anyway?'
Pastel Life glares at Remedy a little, "It's my responsibility."
Remedy: But why?
Pastel Life sighs, looking away. "If I say I'll go, will you drop it?"
Remedy nods. 'Yes. Yes I will.'
Zephyr Gust: Um, yeah.
Zephyr Gust smiles. "Come on, Pas. You know I'm not big on the heavy social stuff, but the faire is crazy good fun."
Pastel Life looks a bit distant, then just nods, "Alright. Alright, you got me. I'll go to the faire then. But I don't promise you I'll enjoy it. I expect to be back here by ten. On the dot."
Zephyr Gust: Sure thing.
Remedy salutes. 'Check!'
Pastel Life watches the two, then shakes her head, opening her ledger back up, "You're never going to let me weasel out of this, are you?"
Zephyr Gust looks at Pastel. "We know how important the inn is to you. We wouldn't let you fall behind.
Remedy strikes a pose. 'Then it's settled! We're off to the faire!' She holds the pose a moment longer. 'So... where is it?'
Pastel Life mumbles something just out of earshot about the faire being at the end of a long walk down a short pier, then raises her voice back up, "Central park district."
Zephyr Gust nods. "Just a few blocks north."
Remedy: Okay!
Pastel Life lifts her quill up once more and begins balancing her figures again. "Mmhmm."
Zephyr Gust flaps a wing, blowing the pile off papers off of the desk. "Come ON."
Remedy pulls ineffectually on Pastel's arm. 'Your paper got rocked, Pastel. C'mon.'
Pastel Life looks up, glaring at Zephyr. She sighs, slipping out of Remedy's grip, "Alright. Fine." She picks up the papers, puts them back into the ledger and closes it again, securing it away before coming around the desk. She brings up a little sign, blowing the dust off it to reveal the writing "Management is Out." and placing it upon the counter.
Zephyr Gust drapes a wing across Pastel's back. "All right. This is going to be great. Sorry about the papers."
Pastel Life gives another sigh, "Alright. If you say so." She gives a longing look back towards the counter as Zephyr leads her out the door. "What's the worst that could happen?"
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MANEHATTAN STREET FAIRE - EARLY EVENING
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Histon goes up to the nearest pony he can find "Hey... excuse me...?" He taps a pony on the shoulder with a hoof, wobbling slightly as he tries to balance on three hooves.
Narrator: A Random Passerby turns to face Histon, a funnel cake in one hoof. He chews a bit, then swallows, "Oh? Sure, what's up?"
Histon nods "Uhh... I'm new in town and I as wondering..." He trails off "Is that funnel cake?" His eyes are glued to the powered cake.
Angel Feather chuckles. "Only cool 'til you see food, eh? Just like a guy."
Angel Feather 's stomach growls before she even finishes her sentence.
Narrator: The Random Passerby takes another bite, nodding. "Oh! Booth is just over there! 3 bits!"
Chance waits for the ponies to exit, then, making a last sweep of the room, steps outside himself. As he passes Carolina, he bends down to help her up. "Come on, on your feet. Don't want to get trampled."
Walnut grumbles. "Food.. come to think of it, I'm feeling pretty hungry too."
Carolina takes the offered hoof with a trembling one of her own, offering a weak but thankful smile.
Histon looks at Angel beside him "Its funnel. cake. FUNNEL CAKE. Its just about the best thing in the wor-" He breaks off, looking back at the pony and blushing slight "Hold on, not what I meant to ask. What exactly is going on? What's with all the booths and stuff?"
Chance nods and continues on, catching up to the cake-ogling herd of ponies.
Carolina walks after Chance slowly, not sure she fits with these people but not having much other clue what to do either.
Angel Feather drools a little. "Funnel...cake..."
Narrator: The Random Passerby takes another bite, finishing off the funnel cake. He spends a moment, licking his lips, then nods, "Well, it's the harvest-fest faire, of course. They only throw it once a year!"
Angel Feather: Will you buy me one?
Histon turns to the other ponies "Guys, they have funnel cake here. Things are looking up!"
Narrator: The Random Passerby finishes wiping the sugar off his hoof, then reaches back into a satchel and pulls out three coins, "It's a faire, why not!" He holds out the coins towards Angel.
Angel Feather tries to snatch up the coins...and immediately drops them.
Angel Feather: Ah! Oh no!
Histon looks at the ground, then at Angel, then back at the ground. "Well... shoot..."
Carolina looks at the others and can't help but feel a bit of gurgle in her own stomach as she looks at the cake that was.
Angel Feather stares at the coins like an idiot, having no idea what to do.
Narrator: The Random Passerby tilts his head, looking down at the coins, "Something wrong?"
Chance sighs and trots up, picking up the coins, chuckling nervously. "Haha. It's okay, don't be embarrassed. Just a little butter hooves, right?"
Histon eyes go wide, but he coughs and nods "Y-yeah. He..ehe?"
Angel Feather blinks.
Angel Feather: I don't get it...
Carolina tilts her head: "Eh?"
Walnut looks at his own hooves. "How am I ever going to.. never mind. This is just too strange. I give up on making sense of it for now."
Chance smiles at the passerby. "Thank you, sir. Have a nice faire."
Histon scratches the back of his head, forcing a laugh "Thanks you for the cake! Um... have a good day..."
Narrator: The Random Passerby shrugs, "Well, alright then." He smiles wide, "Have fun!"
Angel Feather whispers to Chance. "First, how?! Second, those belong to me."
Chance sighs. "First, just don't worry about it. Second, I know. I'll get your cake for you."
Angel Feather: Yay~!
Histon walks with Chance "Well... he seemed rational and reasonable. Just like a person... except brightly colored."
Carolina looks at the others, considering her options... and coming up with a staggeringly short list. "Well, crap", she mutters under her breath.
Angel Feather: If he's supposed to be a New Yorker, I think we got lucky.
Histon nods
Chance nods, then trots over to the nearest funnel cake stand, ordering and picking up a cake.
Walnut stays with the group but stays quiet, making the most of his acquired talents of blending in. And listening.
Histon: "...so what should we do? Looks like there's a lot of stuff going on... but we know pretty much nothing about this place." He takes a look down the street, then turns back with a sour expression "Except that it seems almost identical to the real world..."
Zephyr Gust walks down the row of food stands with Pastel, happily munching on a giant soft pretzel.
Pastel Life walks alongside Zephyr, generally keeping a neutral expression about everything. If she's having fun, it's not showing. But she's yet to complain, so it's probably not that terrible.
Carolina keeps mostly just looking around at the eerie familiarity and unknown (at the same time!) of this place.
Angel Feather gratefully takes the funnel cake from Chance. "Thanks, Whatever-your-name-is!"
Histon: Pinkie. Her name's Pinkie.
Angel Feather takes a big bite out of it, getting a little powdered sugar on her nose.
Zephyr Gust nudges Pastel. "There must be something here you want to eat..."
Chance hands the cake to Angel carefully, hoping she doesn't drop it. "Oh, um... My name is Chance. And I'm not a her!" He mutters under his breath. "And I'm not pink."
Walnut: Y'seem pretty pink to me, dude. course, I'm not one to talk.
Chance: It's red! Red, okay?
Pastel Life rolls her eyes slightly, "I'm fine. I'll get something to eat back at the hotel. I am having fun, just like I said I would." She forces a grin.
Angel Feather giggles. "Pinkie kind of suits you, I think.
Chance: I... no! No it doesn't! My name is Chance!
Zephyr Gust stops in her tracks. "Oh no, you're not leaving the concession alley until you're stuffing your face."
Histon rolls his eyes. "So. Chance, Angel. What about the rest of you?" He turns to the other ponies.
Carolina looks up: "Me?"
Pastel Life stops alongside Zephyr, "Okay... I suppose so. Maybe some funnel cake..."
Walnut: Tradin' names now? Might as well call me Walnut. Everyone else does.
Angel Feather: That's a weird name.
Zephyr Gust nods. "Sure. I think it was back a ways." She turns and squints. "Ah, yeah.. right past that big group there."
Angel Feather nonchalantly munches her treat.
Histon raises an eyebrow "And being named after a mythical winged creature isn't?"
Chance nods. "All right. Chance, Histon, Angel, Walnut." He looks at Carolina. "You?"
Carolina mutters under her breath: "...thank you, Mom, again..." Then she addresses the group: "My name is Carolina Carlayanna Comodora Chiquitita Chel Cervina Cimeyena Cucumbura Connyshiva... Carlos."
Angel Feather raises her sugared nose into the air. "Hmph. My name is the best possible name!"
Angel Feather: Why, look how pure and innocent I am!
Chance blinks. "And... Carolina."
Walnut: Carolina.. Carly.. Can't we just call you Cee-Cee or something?
Carolina nods: "Most people just call me Caro or Carly or Cee or Chel or then there was this one guy who insisted on 'Anamaria' for some reason..."
Histon raises an eyebrow at the pony "Alright, I'm sticking with Cee."
Chance claps his hooves together. "Well then! Now that we're all properly introduced, why don't we find someplace to go?"
Angel Feather: Aren't we already someplace?
Narrator: A short distance away, a sudden dull thump pulses through the air, followed by several more as balls of light shoot into the sky.
Walnut drops his jaw for a second, and chuckles. "Angel there's got a point, sort of. Where would we go?"
Pastel Life looks up from the Funnel cake vendor, "Well. Fireworks. That could be interesting."
Carolina shrugs and looks up to the sky: "...whoa."
Narrator: A few seconds later, the sky is lit up with a dazzling array of sparkling pinpoints of light that slowly cascade back down towards the ground, fading out several dozen yards above the ground.
Histon eyes go wide "What the-" he turns and looks at the fire works. "PONIES HAVE FIREWORKS!?"
Zephyr Gust nibbles on her funnel cake. "Oh, of course. Fireworks are cool."
Angel Feather: Oooh, pretty~
Walnut looks up as well. "Now ain't that a sight."
Pastel Life starts to make her way over towards the fireworks.
Narrator: More thumps echo through the faire as yet more aerial bursts are fired, painting the darkened sky with a multitude of colors as the light reflects off of the clouds.
Carolina looks up in wonder, then a though occurs to her: "Hey. Since when have the skies of NY been this clear anyway?"
Zephyr Gust follows Pastel, glad that her friend is having fun.
Walnut: ...and since when do they fire off fireworks this far downtown, for that matter?
Carolina nods: "Dorothy is indeed not in Kansas anymore, methinks."
Walnut takes a deep breath. "I don't smell any gasoline, no exhaust. Do you even hear any motors?"
Histon blinks, looking around "You're right... hell, I don't think ponies could even really drive that well, could they? I mean, how would they hold the wheel?"
Angel Feather: I already said, this is not-New York City!
Angel Feather returns her attention to the sky. "I wonder how they make those heart shapes? So pretty~"
Carolina keeps looking at the fireworks, not really looking around her as she tries to focus on this one thing to keep her mind from reeling.
Walnut: Sure is a nice display, yeah..
Pastel Life comes up behind Angel Feather, overhearing slightly, smiling, "I've always liked fireworks. The colors, the shapes."
Zephyr Gust trots up beside Pastel, holding a large bag of popcorn. "Show's really good this year."
Carolina sniffs the popcorn and her mouth starts to water a bit. She swallows and looks around for the source of the delicious smell.
Chance starts after Carolina. "Hold on. We need to..."
Carolina turns to Chance: "Hmm? Need to what?"
Angel Feather: Ahh, they sparkle like the stars!
Chance sighs. "Nevermind. We can go watch the fireworks while we try to figure out where to go."
Walnut keeps his eyes up, at least the fireworks are pretty familiar.
Histon sighs "Go where though? We don't have money, don't have a place to stay, and we're not even sure how this world works on a fundamental level."
Zephyr Gust munches on the popcorn, then notices the other small mare eyeing it. "Want some?"
Carolina nods: "I would think about it... but I don' even know where to start." She turns to the offered popcorn: "You offerin'? T-thank you."
Narrator: The show continues, keeping the sky brightly lit. The source of the aerial display seems to be coming from very close by.
Pastel Life comes alongside Angel, smiling a bit. "I admit, this is nice. I haven't watched a good show like this in a long time."
Histon sits down on his haunches, looking up miserably "...its been a long time since I've seen fireworks." he looks down at the ground "...she woulda loved 'em." He seems lost in thought
Chance: Well... We'll figure out something. There has to be someplace to stay.
Zephyr Gust nods to Carolina, her eyes focused on the fireworks again. "No problem." She sighs happily. "I remember when my dad would bring me to watch the fireworks as a little filly...."
Carolina looks at the bag of popcorn, suddenly unsure what to do. How do ponies...? After a moment of doubt she dives her head into the popcorn bag, eating out of it like a... well, pony.
Chance looks at Carolina and winces.
Angel Feather: I only ever saw them on tv...
Zephyr Gust turns and blinks at Carolina, then breaks out laughing. "Sure... why not..."
Narrator: The crowd of ponies standing in front of the group parts, allowing them to see who is firing the display. A group of three ponies run about, lighting fuses in sync with each other as they're guided through the routine by a fourth pony. The one leading the group is a dark brown earth pony with a short red-orange mane, wearing a vest and jacket, and seeming much more animated than one would expect.
Carolina gets her head up from the bag, mouth full of popcorn: "Mmmf? Ifn't thif how uf ponief do thif?"
Pastel Life sighs after a moment. She turns to tilt her head towards Angel, "Tee vee?"
Smouldering Blaze rears up on his hindlegs and gestures grandly. "Ready? Light the fuses!"
Angel Feather: Um...
Angel Feather: The um...telly?
Angel Feather: Ooh, this should be good!
Smouldering Blaze wait for a few seconds, timing himself with the fireworks and calling out just before they launch into the air. "Aaaaand... FIRE!!!"
Angel Feather leans forward.
Histon blinks, coming back to. He gives Angel a look and motions to stop talking. He forces a laugh, looking at Pastel "Hehe... just ignore her, she doesn't get out a lot. We're new to the uh..." he trails off for a moment before forcing out "new to the area!"
Zephyr Gust pulls the bag back and scoops out a few kernels with her wingtip. "Well... I do it like this... I thought most unicorns just used magic to eat."
Pastel Life is about to ask another question, when her attention is drawn to the strange pony talking to her. She stops, jaw dropping as she sees Histon, "...new to the area?"
Carolina blinks: "Magic?"
Chance grinds his teeth nervously as he watches the other ponies in his ragtag group trying to talk to the locals.
Angel Feather bites her lip.
Walnut shakes his head slightly, listening to Histon. He's gonna make us out for total rubes at that rate.
Histon sweats a little, noticing Pastel's reaction "Uh... yeah... just" he mutters a moment "Heard about the harvest thingy!" He smiles wide, a slight squeak seeming to accompany it as he tries to hide his worry.
Zephyr Gust nods. "Yeah... you know... where your horn glows, and you make stuff float around?" She cocks her head. "You ARE a unicorn, right?"
Pastel Life stares at Histon, an expression of utter shock upon her face, "You..." Her eyes narrow, "Who do you think you are? Just... what are you trying to pull?"
Carolina blinks again: "My... my h-horn?" She looks up in wonder which then turns into panic: "I have a HORN?"
Angel Feather facehoofs, then regrets it as she sees how dirty the bottom of her hoof is.
Zephyr Gust blinks. "Huh..." She pokes at the horn with a hoof. "Feels real enough..."
Carolina feels a sharp tingle in a part of her body she did not realize she had two seconds ago: "Yow! Ookay, that IS real!"
Chance sighs and grits his teeth, stepping up to Carolina and Zephyr. "Sorry about that, she's, uh... not really feeling well right now." He shoots Carolina a warning look.
Zephyr Gust nods. "You um... are you okay?"
Angel Feather: It's rude to touch someone's horn, Lady!
Carolina blinks and looks at Chance: "I'm not? Well of course I'm not! I have four hooves more than I did last night when I went to bed and now on top of that I have this HORN out of my forehead!"
Histon starts to sweat, noticing Cee falling apart next to him "D-don't know what you're talking about. I mean, its a free city, ain't it?" He gives a look to the others as he gets up "Speaking off... we should probably get to looking at some of the other stuff in it!" he gives the group a pained look "Right guys?"
Zephyr Gust sits down on the ground. "I... see... so.. what did you have if not hooves?"
Carolina blinks: "Uh. Feet. Hands. The kind of things that is normal?"
Walnut sighs and rubs his head. "We aren't okay, not a one of us. I don't have any fingers, there are no pockets, and.. NO ONE IS WEARING ANY PANTS!" He flops down roughly on his butt. "I mean, did no one else notice this?"
Chance sets his teeth and looks upward. "Just... heheh... take a deep breath, Carolina." He winces at Walnut's outburst. "Oh, this is not going well."
Angel Feather: I'll keep my problems to myself. Just this once.
Zephyr Gust nods a little, taking a hard look at Carolina and the rest of her friends. "Maybe you and your friends have had too much sun or something..."
Carolina raises a hoof to object to Walnut, then looks down and gasps: "...well I'll be a monkey's uncle." She turns suddenly a bit red under her fur.
Angel Feather flutters her wings. "Look on the bright side."
Smouldering Blaze wipes his brow and heads back to a nearby stand laden with still more fireworks, all packed into flashy packaging and ready to be set up. The sky darkens again as the last of the fireworks are fired and the cleaning begins. After a sip of water, he calls out to the crowd. "I hope you all enjoyed the show, folks! Next one is happening in a half hour, so stick around if you want to see more!"
Pastel Life looks over at Walnut's outburst, then back at Histon. She takes a step forward, reaching out with a hoof to prod him in the chest. She pauses, then her voice goes quiet, "New to the area... You... have anywhere to stay?"
Zephyr Gust pulls the canteen off of her flight harness and offers it to Carolina. "Drink this. You might be dehydrated."
Chance: Yes! That's it. Too much sun. Just... need to find someplace to cool off, that's all.
Zephyr Gust looks over to Pastel. "Pas. I think these ponies need our help."
Carolina takes the canteen without another thought, fiddling it in her hooves and drinking greedily.
Histon blinks, not expecting the change. Without even thinking he says "N-no. We're a little low on cash too"
Angel Feather sighs. "Being broke is such a weird feeling..."
Walnut tilts his head just a little too far, and giggles to himself. "Don't look a gift horse in the mouth, right?"
Pastel Life looks away, knowing she'll regret this, knowing this is the worst idea, knowing there's nothing else she can do, "I run an inn..."
Angel Feather 's ears perk up.
Zephyr Gust drapes a wing across Carolina's back comfortingly. "It's gonna be okay, all right? My name is Zee, and me and my friend are going to help you and your friends out. We'll get you some help..."
Chance looks at Pastel. "An inn, you say?"
Histon: O-oh really? Well, I mean, I... I don't want us to intrude
Carolina nods meekly at Zephyr: "T-thank you. I am a bit, uh... lost?" She seems to think for a second: "A-and you may call me Carolina."
Pastel Life nods, "The S&H Inn... a few blocks from here." She glances at Zephyr, as if looking to confirm that this is a bad idea and she should just shut up right now, "I can... offer you room and board."
Zephyr Gust nods to Pastel. "We'll make sure you're all okay... Not everypony in Manehattan is a jerk, you know."
Chance nods, looking at the group. "I... that would be much appreciated. We'll find a way to pay you back."
Zephyr Gust pulls back her wing and offers a hoof. "It's nice to meet you, Caro. I'm sure you'll end up all right."
Walnut blinks. "Every...pony. Yeah. I give in. Sure, talking horsies, take me to your pastel dream suite. Maybe when the drugs wear off this will make sense again."
Zephyr Gust looks at the group. "So how many of you are there?"
Histon sweats some more "N-no no, I think... I mean, my folks... I remember when they tried stuff like this and it always bit them in the ass, I don't wanna cause anyone trouble."
Chance: Um... Five of us.
Carolina looks around, not sure what to do right now. She stays sitting down, still idly sipping on the canteen.
Chance looks at Histon. "Histon, calm down. They're just trying to be nice. We'll pay them back for it."
Histon whispers into Chance's ear "And after all the stuff they just heard us say? I'm worried their hospitality a *real* bad sign."
Pastel Life turns slowly to look back at Histon, her voice dangerously neutral as she stares at him, "I... yeah. Yeah, five ponies. That'll be fine. I can accommodate."
Zephyr Gust nods. "All right, well, let's get a move on."
Histon unblinking looks back "You don't need to" His voice matches Pastel's
Chance whispers back. "They seem nice enough. Besides, it's not like they could stop us from leaving if things seem off."
Carolina gets up and offers Zephyr's now-empty canteen back: "Uh, your canteen? Zee?"
Zephyr Gust smiles at Caro. "Come on... I'm sure you'd rather have a nice comfy bed to lie on..."
Pastel Life seems about to say something, then stops herself. She glances at Histon again, then looks at Chance, "I won't force you. I just want... I just want to help."
Zephyr Gust looks to Pastel. "We are helping, Pas. Don't worry about that."
Carolina nods meekly: "Yes... I would. This is all so strange..."
Histon blinks "I... " he stops, chewing something over "You remind me of someone..." he sighs deeply, looking away "I guess we could use help getting on our fe-..." he bites his tongue for a moment, catching his mistake "Our hooves."
Zephyr Gust lets out a sharp whistle. "All right, everypony on your hooves and follow me. Flapping our gums isn't gonna get us to the hotel any quicker."
Carolina gets up again and slowly starts after Zephyr, feeling more than a little helpless but out of other options: "I... I suppose."
Walnut decides to follow along and keep his mouth shut from here on.
Histon eyes don't waiver from Pastel
Pastel Life continues to stare at Histon.
Chance nods. "All right. Lead the way."
Histon nods "Lets get going..."
Pastel Life at lasts breaks her eye contact with Histon, and turns to follow after Zephyr, "Well, come along then. I'll see the rooms prepared."
----------------------------------------------
THE S&H INN - COMMONS - LATE EVENING
----------------------------------------------
Pastel Life trots back down to the commons, giving a sigh, her voice tired, "There. The rooms are set up. Two doubles, I'm afraid a few of you will have to share, and one single."
Zephyr Gust sits sipping on a mug of tea as she watches the others finish up their meals.
Carolina looks around the people she came here with and stops to ponder about sharing a room with any of them: "Uh..."
Chance smiles at Pastel. "Thank you again for your generosity. You're a real rarity."
Pastel Life smiles wearily towards Chance, "I have always said that I would never let a pony who needed it go without a good meal and a roof over their head, not while I can help it..." She trails off, eyes moving towards Histon.
Histon is sitting on a couch, looking out a window "Really... you didn't need to do any of this Miss...?"
Zephyr Gust finishes her tea and looks to Pastel. "So we have what, three mares and two stallions? Seems like an easy split."
Chance nods. "Yes, that seems... Hey! I'm not a mare!"
Carolina smirks and lets out a small giggle.
Zephyr Gust: I didn't say you were.
Pastel Life looks to Histon a little sadly, then her face falls back to her normal neutral position, "My name is Pastel. I own and operate this inn."
Pastel Life: And I do believe introductions are in order.
Histon: P-Pastel...
Histon blinks, shaking his head.
Zephyr Gust blinks a bit. "Oh. I had it backwards."
Walnut: Not like I've never shared a cell before. Heh.
Histon: Right, introductions would be a good idea Pastel.
Chance coughs. "R-regardless, three and two. Yes. My name is Chance."
Carolina nods and continues without a second thought: "Carolina Carlayanna Comodora Chiquitita Chel Cervina Cimeyena Cucumbura Connyshiva Carlos." Only after that two-second sequence does she stop to think: "Uh... Carolina is just fine."
Walnut: Walnut. Just call me Walnut.
Zephyr Gust nods to the group. "For those who haven't met me, just call me Zee."
Histon looks back at the group, looking aside "Histon's the name. History's my game... or something like that."
Pastel Life nods, listening, and stiffens a bit at Histon's introduction. "Well. Then... and the little 'Queen' who's already went to bed?"
Chance: That would be Angel.
Zephyr Gust nods a bit. "So... the two mares together in a room, then two rooms for the three guys?"
Carolina nods, then pauses. "Wait. Does that mean I am with that horrible example of a human being known as Angel?"
Chance: Well, unless you'd rather stay with one of us others.
Zephyr Gust blinks. "Example of a what?"
Carolina facehooves and groans.
Zephyr Gust looks to Carolina. "You could crash with me for a few nights, I guess."
Carolina gives Zephyr a thankful look, but shakes her head: "No, I won't impose more than I already do. I will deal with... her."
Zephyr Gust: All right, the offer stands if things don't work out.
Carolina smiles at Zephyr: "Thank you for the offer, then."
Zephyr Gust smiles back. "Just trying to help."
Chance looks at Pastel. "Two doubles, you said?"
Walnut mutters quietly. "Doesn't matter to me. I'll mind my own business though, wherever you stick me."
Pastel Life nods slowly. "The only single available was... The room adjoining mine." She looks away, "I thought it best if.. Histon used that one."
Histon blinks a little "Oh? What makes you say that?" He tilts his head slightly, giving Pastel a look.
Chance looks askance at Histon. "That might be best."
Pastel Life looks towards Chance, raising an eyebrow. At last, her voices lets out in a low tone, "He... seems the oldest. I thought it best he have his own room."
Histon thinks for a moment, then nods "Hey, sounds fine with me. I wont complain!"
Zephyr Gust turns her teacup around in her hooves. "So you guys... aren't from around here?"
Carolina shakes her head: "Not... not exactly."
Zephyr Gust: But you're sure you don't want to see a doctor?
Chance: I... don't think any of us are injured. Just need some rest.
Zephyr Gust nods. "All right." She lets out a yawn. "I think I'll head to bed, then. Gotta be up early for work and all."
Histon nods "Have a nice rest Miss."
Pastel Life nods to Zephyr, smiling slightly, "Thanks for today, Zephyr."
Walnut sighs quietly, still looking over his forehooves. "Working. Right.."
Carolina nods to Zephyr, whispering under her breath: "Thank you..."
Chance smiles at Zephyr. "Yes, thank you very much."
Remedy 's hooves slam into the door, leaving noticeable marks and kicking it open.
Carolina jumps at least a feet into the air.
Carolina: Eep!
Remedy: Paaaasteeeeel...
Histon just sighs and puts his head in his hooves "Now what..."\
Pastel Life rolls her eyes, "Ah, hello Remedy."
Zephyr Gust stands and flutters her wings. "If anypony nee--" She blinks at Remedy's entry, changing direction to run interference for Pastel if need be.
Remedy: Pastypastel my Pasty...
Remedy walks slowly towards the inn-operator.
Pastel Life nods, "It's Pastel."
Remedy: Last I checked, we were going to the faire.
Zephyr Gust: We did, and then you wandered off and we couldn't find you again.
Remedy: I wandered off?
Carolina suddenly finds a vested interest in the drink she had earlier.
Remedy: YOU wandered off!
Pastel Life nods, "It was a very busy faire."
Remedy: Friends are supposed to enjoy the faire together, not just walk off and leave each other to get lost three times on the way back home!
Walnut watches this confrontation with interest.
Zephyr Gust sighs. "We made a bee-line for the pretzel stand, just like we said we were going to. By the time we hit the concession alley, you weren't with us."
Remedy: Three times, Zephyr!
Remedy holds up three hooves.
Remedy: Three!
Remedy: Times!
Pastel Life: Ah, my apologies Remedy, but yes, Zephyr was rather insistent on dragging me... and I should also point out, we have guests...
Zephyr Gust: How have you lived in this city so long without knowing your way around anyway?
Chance blinks and stares back and forth between the ponies. "I'm sorry. And this is...?"
Remedy freezes and turns, pausing in her turn to look at Zephyr. 'I have my reasons.'
Carolina shrinks into the sofa she's sitting on, now solely focused on the ice cubes of her drink.
Remedy continues turning to look at the guests.
Zephyr Gust shakes her head. "Well, whatever. I'm going to bed. Good thing I have some booze up in my room..."
Remedy suddenly beams out a smile and waves. 'Hey there!'
Remedy: Don't drink yourself too deep, Zeph. They took my stomach pump away after last time.
Histon gives Pastel a look "A friend?"
Chance blinks at Remedy and gives an awkward, halfhearted wave.
Remedy waves back at Chance, smiling a toothy smile.
Zephyr Gust flashes Remedy a rather rude gesture with her wing before stomping over to the elevators and making her exit up to her room.
Pastel Life nods to Histon, "A client. A friend in that I haven't thrown her out of the inn."
Remedy: Well, It's either friendship or my mad skills keeping me here.
Pastel Life: You've yet to be late with your bits either.
Remedy wiggles a hoof dismissively. 'Aw, like that means anything.'
Remedy: So!
Remedy bounds over to the new arrivals. 'Names! I'm Remedy Needle, pleased to meet you!'
Pastel Life waves to indicate the guests, "They are from out of town, I do believe they were just about to tell us where they hailed from."
Carolina waves timidly at Remedy, giving a weak smile. "Hi."
Histon leans back a little "Uh... Histon. Histon Diggs"
Chance: Chance will do, thank you.
Remedy smiles at Carolina. 'I don't think your name is Hi, but hi anyway!'
Carolina blinks: "No, is Carolina..."
Remedy nods. 'Neat. Sounds all foreign and exotic.'
Walnut thinks. "So.. the money around here is 'bits'?"
Pastel Life nods, "Bits, yes.... just how far away are you from?"
Carolina blurts out loud: "New York. Earth."
Remedy blinks. 'Huh. That must be reeeaaally far away.'
Walnut: I'm not even sure how far.
Carolina: ...I do not know either. Since, uh...
Histon yells "NEW...HAY-ARK... EARTH...PLACEPONY TOWN SHE MEANS!"
Histon coughs
Carolina looks down at her hooves, then double-takes at Histon: "...whu?"
Chance covers his face at Histon's outburst.
Pastel Life stares at Histon, totally unsure what to make of any of this. "Right.... well... right."
Histon: Excuse me, New Earth Haytown
Histon turns red
Walnut rolls his eyes a bit.
Remedy blinks. 'Uhuh. You alright there?'
Carolina shakes her head for a bit, then lets out a huge yawn.
Histon shakes his head "We uh... traveled via... uh... the hard way. You know, takes it outta you!"
Chance coughs. "You know what? I think it's getting awful late, and we've had a long day. Probably better to leave getting to know each other for the morning, so we can sleep off that sunstroke, yeah?"
Remedy: Hmm, sunstroke?
Remedy: I might have something for that...
Chance: No! No, that won't be necessary. We've gotten everyone a drink, and now we just need to rest, isn't that right?
Carolina nods blearily and starts getting up: "Mmmhm..."
Remedy pauses, then smiles. 'Okay!'
Walnut: Sleep, yeah. Could definitely use some sleep.
Pastel Life nods, "It's been a long day. Bed would probably be a good idea for everypony." She steps up, pointing towards the stairs, "Your rooms are numbers 15 and 16, second floor and just to the left of the stairs." She looks at Histon, her face hardening just slightly, "Yours is number 2... you'll have to follow me."
Histon: ...OK. Lets go then.
Histon gets up, looking at the group
Histon: I guess... we'll talk more tomorrow.
Remedy waves. 'Seeya tomorrow, Histy.'
Walnut heads up the stairs and to room 15 without a word.
Carolina nods and starts walking upstairs, mumbling under her breath: "Maybe this turns out to be a bad dream after all..." She gets to the room and is glad to notice that Angel hasn't totally messed everything up. At least yet.
Pastel Life watches Carolina go, "Yes... just a bad dream..." Her eyes drift back to Histon. "Right. Let's go."
Chance sighs heavily, taking a moment to collect his senses.
Chance gets up from his seat, going behind the desk to scribble down a note before retiring for the evening.
Histon follows Pastel "I've been meaning to ask you something . Do you... know me?"
Pastel Life stops short as she heads down the hall. She seems to pause, then shake her head, voice cold. "No. But you remind me of somepony."
Histon: Uh.
Histon looks down, thinking "Its just a bit funny. I..." he looks aside "Well, lets just say I've been having a lot of weird Deja Vu here."
Histon: Like, heh... room 2 of all things
Pastel Life: What about it?
Remedy: Ooh!
Remedy pops up.
Remedy: Was room two your...
Remedy pauses. 'Thing with...'
Remedy: Uh.
Pastel Life sighs, "Not now."
Histon: sigh Not now...
Histon blinks, looking at Pastel "Did... that just happen?"
Remedy taps her forehead. 'Well, the synchronicity is kinda kooky, but I had something for a sec there.'
Remedy: Room... two. Hm.
Histon: It's... just something from when I was younger.
Pastel Life glares at Histon, then glares at Remedy. "Good night, Remedy."
Remedy: Ah well. It'll come to me. G'night Pastel!
Remedy hums and trots bouncily up the stairs.
Histon walks with Pastel "Colorful character that one..."
Pastel Life smiles just slightly, "You could say that. Still, she can be... amusing." She stops at the door labeled with the number '2', pushing it open. "It's not been used in... awhile."
Histon looks around the room "God... its..." He trails off, looking though the room. There's fair layer of dust over everything "Haven't rented this room out in a while? You seem like you're in the heart of town, S and H should be doing fine..."
Pastel Life nods, voice still stoic, "I do... well enough. The room shares a bathroom with mine. I like my privacy, so I don't like to rent it out."
Histon raises an eyebrow "But you trust it to a guy you just picked up off the street?"
Pastel Life inhales a bit, then nods. Her voice is quiet as she looks away, "It's the only one available."
Histon just looks at Pastel, studying her. After a moment, he walks forward, studying the room. He mutters softly to himself "...just like I left it..."
Pastel Life narrows her eyes. "Look... I don't know what you think... or who you are... but I swear if you're trying to pull something..." She lets out a long sigh. "Good night, Histon."
Histon looks at Pastel "Pull... something?"
Pastel Life just shakes her head, closing the door behind her.
Histon sighs, doing his best to get up to the bed and lay down on it. He sits on his back, sighing loudly "How the hell do ponies sleep?"
Pastel Life trots over to her own room, opening the door and slipping in. She moves to her bed, climbing up slowly and curling up close upon herself.
Pastel Life lets herself think about something she lost long ago, and a feeling that she seems to have found in the strangest way. And for the first time in years, she breaks down, crying herself to sleep.