Landing in the Everfree Forest [Open]

[Shadow Thrill]

Ponyville? No! Ponyville? No! Just trees so far.... lots and lots of trees. The breeze raced itself across the river shores of the Everfree forest, rustling the leaves and creating the waves. The small waves directed itself onto the shores and crashed themselves on the small rock sides or the willow trees. As well as that, some crashed against a crooked wooden raft. Wooden logs attached together to form a float for Shadow Thrill to, not so comfortably, travel on the water. It was convenient that there was no violent winds or strong currents. On the raft, Shadow remained standing on the poorly constructed wood he attached together. Yes, he is smart enough to think up with designs for sailing. No, he was no forepony or crafter, nor was he a navigator. The raft itself, how crude it may be, had seen better days. Shadow's head sharply turned to view every corner, looking for any civilisation around. From what he heard, Ponyville was the next town that he was approaching. The past few days, since he left his home in Academia, Shadow had only passed by on this raft which he made and quickly entered the mouth of a river, passing through many villages beside the river shore and the wilderness. It was all beautiful and exotic for him to finally seen mainland Equestria, making him feel alien to his own home kingdom.

Now however, his atmosphere was creepy. Shadow was not afraid, though he was eager to quickly get out of this forest and see Ponyville for himself. What made him paranoid was the fact that most sunlight was blocked by the depressing willow trees and the sea of leaves up above, making the surface rather dark. Some time passes and suddenly motion on his raft stops. Shadow Thrill clumsily fell onto wild and untrimmed grass. He had hit the shore! And with that collision, the raft's life ended as the wooden planks chipped themselves apart and floated as debris. Shadow Thrill lifted himself up and let out a sigh "Looks like I am walking."

Shadow's hoofs stepped forward on the natural grown grass. Passing by the forest, he had never seen the environment so.... chaotic. Though he felt eerie over how everything here was naturally untamed.... it felt almost exciting to see something so new, no matter how chaotic it was. "Wait a second? Did I pass that rock before?" Yes! He did recognize that rock shape. To his dismay, he had been walking along in circles. Letting out another frustrated sigh, he took off in a new direction. This forest had better end soon. He just wanted to get to Ponyville right now, being in at least some decent civilisation that was not home.

[Pinkie Pie]

"Wow, Gummy!! Isn't it FANTASTIC that Zecora is coming to my party? I've never had her at one of my parties before! This is all so exciting! I can't imagine that this day could get ANY more exciting! I might just EXPLODE from the exciting...ness..." Pinkie pie giggled so hard she snorted a few times, her toothless alligator merely blinking on her back. she continued to trot through the Everfree forest, a smile on her pink face, her eyes wide open. Her smile faded for barely a moment when she heard something rustling nearby, followed by a "wait a second? did I pass that rock before?"
"What was that? Is someone lost?" She wondered, hopping towards the voice. She noticed a dark colt, wandering around the forest...
"A new friend!!" She exclaimed, her eyes lighting up, and the pink pony raced towards him, only slowing when she caught up. She started to hop beside her, a grin on her face, "So where are we going?" She wondered without even introducing herself, the alligator on her back hopping up with her, and flopping back onto her back when she landed, "In such a hurry?

[Illusive]

The forest was just as dark and utterly unpredictable as ever. Illusive knew the way was confusing and often treacherous, but in her ever confident ways, she figured that she could get through it without any trouble. And thus far, she was well on her way to Ponyville. She had not been to the town in quite some time, and she had little doubt it was simply ripe for the plucking.

As usual, she was spending the trip trying contemplating what sort of disguise she would put on for all the gullible folk, before she sauntered out of town carrying whatever she could get her hooves on. As for the moment, she'd put a simple illusion on her cutie mark, hiding the bandit mask that marked Illusive's more mischievous nature. Though, she doubted anyone would raise too much fuss, she would naturally be the first suspect of any crimes if anypony saw it - even if Illusive wasn't the one to have done anything at that particular moment. Alas, a curse, but it was well worth it for her excellent gifts.

Pattering on through, she took a moment to pause and get her bearings. Had she turned the wrong way at that stump that looked like her granny? No, no, surely this was correct, she'd see the next landmark if she continued on a bit further. Although, it had been some years since the last time she'd been through the Everfree Forest. At that time, she'd still been at the academy. But... no, she'd find her way, surely. Illusive shook her thick mane and continued to press forward. That was when she heard the voices speaking.

Pausing, she wondered for a brief moment whether it was the forest playing tricks again. However, they seemed to be normal sounding pony voices to her ears - one male, and one female. Cautiously, she crept forward, poking her head around a tree to gaze curiously at the two. One was black, quite a shifty looking fellow if she could say so herself. And generally, shifty people (including Illusive!) were up to no good. The other was a bizarre contrast, all pink and bright and seemingly hyperactive. Illusive considered whether she ought to just walk away or not... when she stepped on a branch, signaling her presence as sure as anything. Wincing, she cursed this amateur mistake. Then again, it wasn't like she'd been planning on sneaking up on them or anything. But then again, Illusive thought that she could turn an advantage from any situation.

Quietly stepping forward, she appraised them with a well-practiced coolness that bordered on arrogance, a sly smile on her lips. "Hmm... fellow travelers? From Ponyville, perhaps?" Illusive wondered if she could just follow them back to Ponyville, if they were indeed residents. It would certainly be simpler than admitting she didn't remember the way! She congratulated herself on this sudden windfall before twitching her ears forward to listen for a reply.

[Peach]

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[Shadow Thrill]

As Shadow Thrill trotted near the side of the river shore, his gaze was fixated upon the debris that was once tessellated as his raft. A disappointed expression on his face as it had always been... well... disappointing to see his crude contraptions destroy themselves. Thankfully that was not the death of him. As usual, he gave a brief reflection upon first making the raft, that had carried him across the sea onto the mainland. It was silly to reflect upon a none living object, then again, it was his... "So where are we going?" Startled from the sudden interruption on his train of through, Shadow tripped himself onto the ground once again. The sudden appearance of another pony was completely unexpected and especially in a natural forest like this. "In such a hurry?"

With his head on the ground, Shadow rolled his line of sight to the newcomer... a pink pony...looking giddy and hyperactive... Hey maybe she was a habitant of Ponyville! "Good day madame." Shadow greeted her while lifting himself back onto four hoofs before brushing off some of the dirt off his coat with one hoof. At least it was relieving to see another pony around here, his first reaction being that she could help him navigate his way out of this forest. "I'm sorry I don't believe we have met." The pink pony seemed awfully casual with his presence, as if she saw him already acquainted and a friend. Originally Shadow rationalised this introduction as her perhaps confusing himself with someone else. "I'm glad you are here though! I'm lost you see an-" A rather loud and interrupting sound of a nearby, thick, twig snapping itself against force. "Did you hear that?" He whispered to the excited pony who still appeared to hold her joyful expression. Shadow's naturally become cautious and weary.

Staring at the general direction he believed the source of the noise came from, another pony emerged. A unicorn type, like him. Fantastic! Maybe she and the pink pony were together, then she too would most definitely be from Ponyville. Falling for her cool facial display plus having been under the helpless feeling of being lost himself, Shadow instantly fell for her sly motive. Yet his theory that both these female ponies were companions dropped after inferring her words. That's okay though; this did not deny that she was from Ponyville. "Oh why yes, I am a traveller!" He exclaimed, taking a mental emphasis upon the utter of 'travellers' as travelling was what he was newly partaking in. "And actually, I'm trying to get to Po-" Once again, he was interrupted by his sense perceptions of hear and sight. With a loud rustling from the bushes, a new pony figure emerged.

Shadow merely watched from the margin as the new pony sat himself down on the dirt. Confused and bewildered from the sudden intrusion of these three ponies. So had he been with one of these two? "So what you three doin' here?" Shadow allowed a momentary pause of silence to pass by, ponies giving each other awkward looks. Well Shadow did of course, his head flowed around to first look at Pinkie, then Illusive then Peach. This was all too crazy. Giving himself a small shake of his head, Shadow replied to the newcomer "I'm lost. Ponyville. Must find." Fast and unconstructed sentences, yet he felt the need to explain himself so before any more ponies would possibly arrive and interrupt him again.

[Pinkie Pie]

Hehe, what a funny move! Pinkie pie mimicked his falling, landing on her back and looking up at the dark pony as he spoke, "I know we havn't, which is really weird!! You see, I know EVERY pony in ponyville, and the only pony in the forest is Zecora! Which means you must be new. Which means you need friends!" She replied with her biggest smile, then heard him speak again... "... lost?? Oh, well thats no fun! Unless you're lost in a forest of Candy. I wonder if theres any candy around here. Theres candy in ponyville, wanna follow me there?" She asked, then sat up.
Another pony? Nifty! More new friends! She listened while the other two spoke, then started to giggle. EVEN MORE new friends!! This really was her lucky day. "You need to find ponyville! I know where it is! Follow me!" She hopped to her feet, and started to hop away in her usual pinky-way.

[Illusive]

The surprises continued to grow when there appeared yet a fourth pony. Now this was certainly suspicious. It seemed that they were all perfect strangers, based on what she heard. And all of them heading towards Ponyville. This was very queer for a set of coincidences. Illusive looked around her at the forest, her eyes narrowed. The forest was strange indeed, to have had all of their paths cross here, at this exact time and place. Was it preordained? Sometimes she wondered if the forest was sentient and got a kick out of playing with poor pony heads.

The dark fellow seemed to have an interesting way of speaking - very cultured, she thought. Definitely not something one saw every day. But the pink filly - if she wasn't that young she certainly acted that way - was quite... different. Her mouth fountained words, and she was a bottle of energy. Was she literally... hopping? But it seemed that she knew that way, and was willing to lead the other three ponies ahead. She glanced to her left and right. Perfect strangers, on either side, a very large male and one very dark and mysterious.

Best to continue to watch her step, here. She didn't know any of these folk, and could not precisely trust them. Though the pink one seemed weird and hyperactive. Naively friendly as well. Usually something that pleased Illusive. For the moment, it only made her more uneasy. This was no place for fun and games. "Riiiight. I guess I'll be following the... bouncey one. For now." She didn't bother asking if the two boys would be coming alone as well as she breezily strode onward, as if following a spazzy pony was the most natural thing in the world. Something she did every day, nothing at all unusual about this entire situation. Illusive had to maintain the appearance of being in control, after all.

[Peach]

[/b] Peach picked himself up from the ground in order to follow their bouncy new friend. It looked a little fun to hop around like that.

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[Shadow Thrill]

"You need to find ponyville! I know where it is! Follow me!" Wonderful! Shadow presumed the pink pony was from ponyville herself, seeing as she knew the way. Then again, there was still the awkward matter at hand over these two stranger ponies. The question being, why are they here? They were from Ponyville too right? Seeing as neither of them requested the location of Ponyville like he did, they most probably were acquainted with the direction. Oh well, seeing as the pink pony begun to hop off toward the direction of Ponyville, with the role of leading, he could depart this unexpected meeting of strangers. As Shadow opened his mouth to grant his farewell, the female unicorn pony showed no intention of leaving. "Riiiight. I guess I'll be following the... bouncey one. For now." It looked like she was coming along too... then again there .was something odd in her tone of voice. Was Shadow detecting a hint of irritation perhaps? She did seem a lot more mellow when she had first entered. Nevermind! There was no time to analyse any motives, it was time to follow the pink pony.

"Right, let's go!" Oh? So it seemed that the elder pony with a seemingly heavier build would also be accompanying him along the way. So they are all heading back to Ponyville? No matter. Shadow had to stop questioning so much chances and just go with the flow sometimes. Quickly, he shrugged this off and was the last of the group to depart. In the lead was the pink pony leading the way, followed by the unicorn and then the bigger male, lastly Shadow Thrill trotted at the back. Keeping his silence on the way, he found himself in that socially awkward moment, pondering as to whether he should get to know these new people. Maybe getting to Ponyville would take longer than expected.... and... it would be less rude to at least strike a conversation... "Well then companions. It's a pleasure to meet you all, my name is Shadow Thrill."

[Pinkie Pie]

"I'm Pinkie pie!! I live in ponyville, the happiest little town in all of equestria!!" The pink pony chirped, not stopping her bouncing for a moment. They were all new, which meant she must be the first to meet them... Oh boy! She was already thinking about where she would take them. "You must all be new around here!! Which means you don't know anypony! Don't worry, your auntie Pinkie pie will make sure you know EVERYPONY in ponyville by the end of the day!" She grinned broadly, turning her head to look at the others, but not stopping. Surprisingly, she seemed to still be swerving around any trees that came in her way.
It wasn't that far to the edge of the forest, and from there it was just a walk along the path. she plopped down on the edge of the path, and motioned towards the city, her smile only growing with her excitement, "and that, my friends, is ponyville!! What do you think, what do you think??" She could barely contain herself! it wasn't often she got a hold of the new people first!!

[Illusive]

The whole party seemed to be filled with a slight discomfort. No doubt they looked to be quite the motley crew. A large and buff pony, a tiny pink and bouncy one, a black and fierce fellow with a surprising amount of decorum, and Illusive herself, who was no doubt as mysterious to them as they to her. She didn't bother even offering them a name, real or false. It seemed pointless when she'd be assuming a new identity as soon as she reached Ponyville, and then calculating the most profitable heist that could be feasibly pulled off.

And ah, there it was on the horizon, the very town she'd been looking for. It had been quite some time since she had been here, indeed. The town looked to have grown some, although she supposed she would see the extent of the change once she got a close and personal look. "Lovely, dear, many thanks and all that. I'll be going now." She broke rank from the rest of the ponies, flipping her tail mane in a casual dismissal of them all. Illusive hadn't found any of them overly interesting. They didn't seem to be wealthy or powerful in any way, and thus were beneath Illusive's notice. She was not, by any means, a petty thief, robbing the average pony. The very idea of it insulted Illusive's sensibilities. She herself had come from a family of strained income, and she didn't put herself to increasing the burden of others while heightening herself. Well, unless they really deserved to be knocked down a peg.

Illusive made a quick pace, hoping vaguely that none of them would have the bright idea to follow her. She desired to find a quiet place to assume her new identity, and such was not possible with any eyes upon her. Then again, perhaps the whole mysterious stranger act wouldn't work to her benefit - some ponies had terrible curiosity when they really ought to mind their own business, the nosy pests.