1st Candlebraum [Visual]

[firstofthefallen]

[There's a very somber, very sour looking foal looking into the scroll, laying flat on the ground and just glowering at the scroll like it bit him. His light blue coat somehow seems jarring against the green of the grass he's laying on, and the blonde mane doesnt help. He looks very much like any pouty little boy, but there's almost something off. As if the wounded dignity he seems to have would never be worn by anyway boy. The mismatched red and blue eyes don't help either.

It's clear wherever he is from the scroll, it isn't Ponyville. The grass is too thick. The trees, to dense.]

I suppose there could be worse things to wake up as, or places, though I am havin a hard time discerning what they would be at the moment.

[The child's voice is bitter, suitably young but with a tone underneath it unbefittin a child. He turns his head away from the camera, one of his hooves scraping and dragging at something to the side of him. Something that's flat on the ground and has weird, scaly chicken feet.]

Being stolen away from home is scary, isn't it? Do you wonder if we can go back home? Do you wonder how we might appear once we go back? The world, the universe, both are frightening places. It makes you wonder: how long has something like this perhaps happened in other, perhaps darker, corners of the Earth?

You'll have to forgive me. My mind tends to wander, and I'll admit I find the town very boring.

This forest, however, is quite agreeable.

[The foil finally drags what he was poking with his hoof at in front of him. The thing he brings out is ugly as hell. It looks like a large, winged lizard about the size of a chicken, which is fitting considering it has the head of one. The cockatrice is lying flat. Still, face down to the ground, not making a move or sound. Not even, it appears, breathing.

The foal studies it, not with the wide-eyed curiousity common in boys, but genuine scrutiny.]

The wildlife is amusing, too.

Comments

[foalarcana]

[...he's getting a serious case of deja-vu here; does he know this pon-- person? Maybe it's the hair... it's almost looks like what Teddie's hair would look like if it were longer. Maybe that's it.]

What did you do to it?

[firstofthefallen]

[Hello Yu. Maybe you don't know him but he sure knows you. It's a bit harder to immediately tell who you are with the hair and all, but he recognizes you after a moment. Can feel the part of him that is in you calling out to him.

He looks at the cockatrice a moment, as if non-plussed, before lookin back up to Yu.]

It attacked me. I defended myself.

It'd seem there's danger even in a place like this.

[foalarcana]

[So there were dangers in this place, despite how happy-go-lucky the general atmosphere seemed. He was going to need to figure out how to summon his Personae really quick.]

[...okay, the fact that this guy seemed familiar, despite being ponified, was starting to get on his nerves.]

...have we met?

[Filtered]

[firstofthefallen]

In a manner of speaking.

You might say that in some ways I am thou. And thou?

Art I.

[Filtered]

[foalarcana]

[Yu's eyes went wide at that. One... of his persona? In it's own body?]

[...]

[HOW?!]

I... see.

[BECAUSE WHAT ELSE WAS HE SUPPOSED TO SAY!?]

1/2

[stormbroken]

[...Okay. Every one of her gut instincts started screaming at that.

Some foal.

Just killed a cockatrice. Without a scratch.

And called it amusing. Take notes, Zetta, this is how you properly send fear into a pony.]

2/2 [Visual]

[stormbroken]

[Right. Calm down, Flare, let's not jump to conclusions. Deep breaths.]

So... was the cockatrice like that when you showed up, or did you--?

[...It's best not to make assumptions, but no, that is definitely a dead monster there. They usually breathe, and all.]

[Visual]

[firstofthefallen]

[So it was a cockatrice. He'd had a gut instinct it was, even if it looked a bit different than how it did in his world. It was hard to mistake for something else.]

No. It was alive.

[He paws at it a bit more with his hoof, rocking it.]

And angry, I assume.

[Visual]

[stormbroken]

[Meaning he had enough presence - or former knowledge - to avoid talons and glare alike. No, that isn't creepy at all.]

...They... ah... they're rather aggressive. Probably thought you were an intruder.

Who... [No, what are you...] Ah... excuse the rudeness, but I've never seen a pony quite like you. What's your name?

[Visual]

[firstofthefallen]

[Lucifer tilts his head a moment, crossing his front hooves over the dead cockatrice. He thinks about saying his name flat out; after all, these creatures are unknown to him. Would they even know his name, know what it means? Lucifer supposed in general it wasn't a very import matter; he had never been good at hiding his identity in the first place.

Still. There might be others here who could know who he was. If he had been taken from his own world, who knew if others might be here as well. One of the Persona users from the world that had been cut off, had never known the thunder and fire of Thor's Hammer, was here after all.

He could call himself Louis, yet again, he supposed but that seemed like it would seem out of place here. He thought of his titles, and his names, and decided to use one he hadn't in quite a while.]

My name is Morning Star. And yours?

[Visual]

[atomicsuperstar]

If by amusing you mean horrific, then sure.

[Seriously, that thing looks like a taxidermy gone wrong. Robo's stared down worse stuff but still.]

[Visual]

[firstofthefallen]

It depends on one's perceptions, I suppose.

Though in a world full of talking horses, I would not think creatures like this would be too great a surprise.

[Visual]

[atomicsuperstar]

Fair enough. I know I've seen crazier stuff than that.

Still sorta curious about how you managed to down that thing, though.

[Visual]

[firstofthefallen]

It chased me and I let it until I could get out of sight. Then I circled around it and took it down from behind.

[The little pony's front shoulders shrug, as if this was nothing at all.]

If you find one yourself, I'd suggest avoiding it's gaze.

1/2 (Yes I'm doing this...)

[faunafriend]

Oh uh are you and the cockatrice alright? I hope neither of you were too hurt...

_{[At first what she sees is a young foal lost in the woods and an injured cockatrice.]}

2/2 (If he's going to kill the wildlife he had this coming.)

[faunafriend]

_{[Then she realizes he's standing over a dead cockatrice. Did he just call this sight "amusing?"]}

W-What? How? Why?

[firstofthefallen]

[Oh for Pete's sake. Is defending oneself in this world really that unheard of?]

It attacked me. What else was I meant to do?

[faunafriend]

I understand he if he was going to hurt you, you had to do something but... To kill him? Was it not enough to scare him away? Hurt him only a little?

_{[Her voice shakes as tears stream down her face. And it was done by this young foal? Who was he? Children didn't hurt others this way, ever. Right?]}

[firstofthefallen]

[Lucifer, meanwhile, is just bored. Tears mean nothing to him, aside from identifying the weak.]

Would it have made much difference either way? It pressed the attack, I killed it. If I allowed it to go on its way it merely would have tried to do so again.

[faunafriend]

You can't be sure of that! Cockatrices can be bullies but some of them have learned their lessons and live peacefully with the other forest creatures. I...

_{[This just isn't natural, not to her at least. This sort of thing didn't happen in Equestria. Foals did not venture into the forest, kill, and feel no fear and no remorse.]}

W-Who are you?

[Visual]

[strawberryredgrave]

(There is something very, very familiar about this pony. Strange, considering no other pony made him feel this nostalgic. it was almost...uncomfortable.

Not that he let any of that show, of course. He had an idea who it was...)

I guess that forest really does have all kinds of stuff. That chicken thing there actually isn't the weirdest I've seen.

You don't seem the type to go for small towns. Gotta admit that it's full of characters, but it's way too cutesy and shit.

[Visual]

[firstofthefallen]

[Lucifer looks at you for a moment Dante, tilting his head to the right a bit in consideration. It would almost be a cute motion, if the pony's odd appearance wasn't so disconcerting.

The fact that a small smile is forming on the foal's lips? Doesn't help.]

No. I would be disappointed if there weren't more bizarre creatures lurking even outside the forest, let alone within it.

Small towns have their charm, but I prefer the city.

I always thought you did as well, hunter.

[Visual]

[strawberryredgrave]

(He shrugs. That definitely confirms things, but Dante's not going to let that bother him.)

What can I say? I'm a city guy myself, but I can adapt to quieter places; it's easier to sleep, that's for sure. News moves pretty quickly in small towns too.

So you going by any particular names this time? Not that I'd expect horses to be all that familiar with religious figures in the first place.

[Visual]

[firstofthefallen]

Morning Star, I suppose, is the name I shall take here. For the most part.

A dragon, hunter. It would seem fortune has favored you in the form its bestowed.

[Visual]

[strawberryredgrave]

Can't say for sure if it's better or worse. Don't get me wrong; I appreciate looking badass wherever I go. The catch is there's no bar big enough for me to crash.

I thought you'd be one of those unicorns with wings. They're supposed to be the really special ones or some shit like that.