This could be the place. [Dead]

[PLOTYNSTYNE]

Dawn rises gently over Ponyville, greeted by the songbirds of morning.  The promise of a sunny day is marred, however, by the looming presence of clouds in the distance, carried by the winds toward the small town.

Out the road from Ponyville a ways lies a stand of trees and brush, within which stands a single small tent.  It is invisible from the main road, and one would need to get rather close before they could even realize it's there.  It has certainly seen better days.  Several stitches mar its green surface where rips and tears have opened the fabric.  It has no real closing mechanism or anything of the like, its contents blocked off from the outside just by a flap, held down by nothing.  A stiff breeze would open it to the world.
Within the tent lie two ponies, a unicorn colt and an earth pony filly, on a single mat along one of the sides, huddled together under a black blanket.  In the corners not occupied by the sleeping pad are packs and saddlebags, some filled near to bursting while others are left sadly nearly empty.  Along the wall between the piles of packs stand several figurines, most made of clay or dirt, though others are of more precious materials.  A majority of them match the sleeping filly, and all of them are practically perfect in their detailing of what they depict.

The filly opens her eyes and looks around the tent.  She stands up from the mat and shakes herself before bouncing around the tent excitedly, going from sleeping to energetic in approximately 4.8 seconds.  She pokes her head out of the tent flap just in time to catch a dewdrop falling from the peak of the entrance onto her nose.  She gives her head a little shake and laughs silently, then turns to the colt that was sleeping beside her.  He hasn't stirred from his slumber.  The filly moves closer and makes as if to shake him awake, but turns and leaves the tent instead, letting him rest.
Around the tent she goes, bouncing impatiently as she circumnavigates the tent.  After several laps, she bursts back into the tent and over to the colt's side, jostling him.  He snorts and shakes his head, then blinks his eyes several times before yawning and putting his head back down.  "5 more minutes," he says, his voice slurring with sleep.  The filly shakes her head and grins mischievously.  She jumps onto his back.
The colt grunts and shakes her off, standing as he does so.  "Okay, Clarity.  I'm up."  He yawns and stretches while she bounces in excited circles around him.  "Well you seem excited this morning, my little ball of sunshine."  She nods and tackles him in a hug and they fall to the mat again.  They laugh in a tangled heap, her silently, then get up and touch noses.  "I love you too," he says, smiling deeply at her.
"We'll wait a few hours, then make our way to the market."  A look of surprise crosses the filly's face and she stamps her hoof impatiently.  "Now, hold on.  Ponies are still waking up.  I'M not really sure I should be up and about yet."  He yawns.  "Let me get a bit more sleep.  Remember, our first priorities are restocking and finding work.  We can do neither of those before the day starts for everypony."  She heaves a silent sigh and nods morosely, and he strokes her cheek.  "Now now, it won't be so bad waiting.  You always find something to do."  He lies back down on the mat.
The filly beams and gives the ground a sequence of taps and rubs.  The colt's smile falls off of his face.  "You have a feeling about this place?" he asks, and she nods.  "You had a feeling about the last place we stopped, too.  As well as the one before that.  And the previous one."  He turns his head away and frowns.  "We didn't even last a week the last time."  She shakes her head and taps the ground some more.  He turns his head back to her and smiles again.  "Well, if you say so.  As long as we're together."  He pulls her in close for another hug.  "Always and forever."

__________________________________________________________________
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The sun shines dimly above Ponyville, obscured by a cloud bank.  Though overcast, the clouds give no indication of rain in the near future.  The streets in the market are filled with stalls, ponies looking to sell their wares or find a bargain.
Another pair of ponies enter the commotion, drawing several pairs of eyes.  Leading is a light yellow young earth pony mare, little more than a filly.  Her walk is as energetic as it can get without her actually bouncing along the road.  A smile the size of all outdoors adorns her face as her deep yellow eyes dart around, taking in the sights.  Her gold mane is held back from her face with a plain black maneband, and a purple flower sits tied in by its stem.  Behind her ear is a pen.  She is slightly taller than average, somewhat muscular.
Behind her, a male pony follows.  His pace is much more sedate, making it necessary for the mare to backtrack fairly often for them to stay together.  His coat is grey, at least what can be seen of it under his form-concealing white cloak.  A horn sticks out from under the raised hood, medium length.  It's thicker than most at the base and thins out uniformly to a sharp point.  His mouth is set in a line and his eyes are concealed behind a pair of sunglasses that cover them from every angle.  He doesn't turn his head as he walks, seeming intent.  His age is hard to gauge, but he is a bit shorter than the mare who accompanies him.
The two make their way toward one of the stalls where somepony haggles for an apple.

[Afterglow]

"sa sa sa sir i-im sorry but 6 bits for a apple is just a l-little to much you see im travailing and dont have vary many bits to spare at this time" said Afterglow to the burly stall vender his voice and legs quivering with anxiety. He was fairly smaller then the vender but size had nothing to do with Afterglows anxiety he never felt comfortable talking to strangers but here in ponyvil he felt his jet black pelt made him stand out in the crowd and if theres anything afterglow dosent like its standing out in the crowd. "6 bits take it or leave it pinky" the vender said commenting on Afterglows mane. the speed of Afterglows trembling legs seemed to double then they stopped and at that vary moment Afterglow slamed both his hooves on the stall table shaking the apples as Big smile spread across his face reviling his unusually sharp teeth "come on how about 4 bit for a friend?" he shouted and as he spoke the word "friend" his horn began to glow and a flicker of orange light that matched the venders pelt danced in the air spelling the word. the vender didn't know how to reply perplexed by the colts sudden change of demeanor he only had time to speak a meeger "du?" before the toothy smile vanished from afterglows face just as fast as it appeared " I I I I sorry" he said in a panicked voice. He tuned 180 degrees and began trotting away looking up just in time to look a pair of sunglasses in the face before slamming headlong into a wight cloaked figure.                      

[PLOTYNSTYNE]

Clairvoyant lets out a grunt as the pony bowls him over, knocking both of them to the ground.  His sunglasses fall from his face, revealing his pupil-lacking grey eyes for an instant before he closes them.  Clarity, seeing the collision, covers her mouth with her hooves before stepping forward to help him up.  "Excuse me, sir," Clairvoyant says, getting to his hooves with the mare's help.  Some surrounding ponies stop to look at the spectacle (a laugh is heard from a few) before continuing about their business.  He levitates his shades back to his face, concealing his eyes again.  Clarity turns to help the other pony as well and stops and stares.  She runs her eyes along him, taking note of his cutie mark and coloring.  As she does so, her expression turns absolutely delighted, and she hops around him excitedly, looking at him from every angle.  "Manners, Clarity," says Clairvoyant, holding out a hoof to help the other pony up.  The hood of his cloak has fallen, revealing a short, stark white mane, combed forward.  Clarity bounces next to him and stops, but her eyes stay on the pony.

[Afterglow]

afterglow fainted upon the coalition from the embarrassment "no no no no that didn't just happen im going to need to leave ponyvill how terrible of me how could i of messed up so bad its all over" Afterglow said to himself within the confounds of his brain but then another voice broke through in the midst of the scattered thoughts "nonsens you wanted to come to ponyvill to learn how to meet new people how to talk to strangers and make friends this is your chance its a perfect icebreaker now wake up and help that man up im not doing it for you this time you need to do it yourself if your ever going to be me" Nightlights voice boomed inside afterglows head. Afterglow knew he was right this is exactly what he came to Ponyvill to do. as his eyes fluttered open he looked apon the wight haired stallion taking note of the glasses. He then got onto his hooves and began to speek pink swirls flying from his horn signaling his nervousness "i-i-im" "just spit it out already!" he said to himself out loud as a large smile flashed across his face "Im Afterglow nice to meet you are you from a-around hear" he said as fast as he could as he held out a trembling leg looking to shake hooves before realizing he had completely neglected to apologis.             

[PLOTYNSTYNE]

Clairvoyant calmly extends his hoof and shakes.  If he is fazed by Afterglow's manner, it is not reflected upon his own.  "No, we are not from around here," he replies.  "My name is Clairvoyant."  He gestures to the mare beside him, who is absolutely enraptured with the pink swirls spouting from Afterglow's horn.  "This is my twin sister Clarity.  It's nice to meet you."  Hearing her name, Clarity gives a happy little jump before stepping forward and giving Afterglow a big hug.
Clairvoyant shakes his head.  "You've just met him.  I'm not sure you should be hugging him this soon."  Clarity breaks off and turns to her brother, giving a sequence of taps and rubs to the ground.  "You may think that it's the best time for hugs, but did you ever stop to think that not everypony would think so?" Clairvoyant asks, apparently responding.  Clarity keeps smiling and shakes her head.

[Afterglow]

The hug catches Afterglow completely off guard a thin pink beam of concentrated light shoots from his horn in a random direction burning a hole clean through one of the apples on the stall table furthering the venders confusion. the last time Afterglow was hugged was almost a year ago and it nearly paralyzes him. "no its f-fine i dont mind hugs to be honest its just its bin awhile since i actually engaged anypony in a real conversation" Afterglow scratched the back of his neck with his right hoove "i dont exactly live around hear but iv bin in Ponyvill for nearly two weeks im on a um well a school trip thats i-it a school trip you see im a Honers student at the Canterlot School for Gifted Unicorns and im out hear doing field work before i can graduat but i know my way around if your looking for anything s-specific" as he speaks Afterglows voice goes from one of dismay to one of a calmer more subtle tone at the same time the sparks sees to fly from his horn but seeing the smile they put on the mares face with no sign of effort he lets out one more this time it was a shade of vibrent yellow that matched the mares pelt and seemed to dance around her hooves.            

[PLOTYNSTYNE]

Clarity jumps backward slightly, startled at the dancing light near her hooves, but bends in to get a closer look at it when she recovers herself.  Her smile grows even wider, as impossible as that might have seemed a moment ago.
Clairvoyant turns his head in her direction and smiles before shifting back toward Afterglow, his expression back to neutral.  "Perhaps you can help.  We are currently seeking employment.  If you could direct us to where we may find it, we would be rather grateful.  One moment, please."
He steps past Afterglow and up to the apple vendor, who still seems rather dazed.  "Good day, sir."  "Er...what?" the salespony responds.  "Ahem.  I would like to purchase some apples," Clairvoyant prompts.
The pony immediately recovers himself with the prospect of a sale.  "Yes, yes.  Of course.  That will be 6 bits apiece."
Clairvoyant shakes his head.  "Nonsense.  Even in Canterlot I have never needed to pay that much.  3 bits."
"3 bits!? Out of the question!  Where do you get off, whitey-locks?  6 bits, take it or leave it!"
"I am not sure you have noticed, but your business has almost ceased since I arrived."  The vendor looks around, the sight of the ponies carefully walking around the stall and the group in front of it confirming the fact.  "The sooner we finish, the quicker you can get your customers back.  Alternately, I can stay here arguing with you and you will receive no profits rather than half of what you wish.  3 bits."  Clairvoyant's voice and expression remain unchanged through the entire exchange.
"...5 bits," concedes the vendor, his expression sour.
"3 bits," Clairvoyant counters.  He raises his eyebrows.
The vendor folds his hooves in front of him.  "4 bits.  No lower."
Clairvoyant stays still and silent for a moment, then nods his head.  "4 bits apiece.  2 for the one with the giant hole in it."
The vendor gives a huff and draws in breath, seemingly about to make another outburst, before letting it out.  "Fine.  Not worth my trouble."
"A pleasure doing business with you, sir," says Clairvoyant, levitating a wallet out from his pack under his cloak.

[Afterglow]

when the stallion went to go speak with the vaender afterglow tuned his atention toward the exuberant mare standing before him. The light spun around clarity once more before flying its way back to Afterglow to rejoin with his horn "s-so you two are travaling as well iv bin on the roud for about 3 months now i just retuned f-from trottingham" afterglow spoke softly and struggled to find a subject to speak of. When it came to mares nightlight usually did all the talking "your friend said you ware looking for employment may i ask what you might do for work-k-k-k" he began to shudder as the faint smile on his face began to grow till it looked like his cheeks were going to Rip. "the name is Nightlight glad to make your acquaintance any who dido to Afterglows question what do the two of you do for work and be honest wile mr. wall flower passed out i was all eyes and ears and i know your smart looking frend is as blind as a bat" Nightlight stoped to consider his statement then contued to speak not give clarity time to respond "or well he looks more blind then a bat maybe as blind as a slug without eyes or something like that"         

[PLOTYNSTYNE]

Clarity's smile wavers a bit when Nightlight starts talking as opposed to Afterglow, but she keeps her face pleasant until the mentioning of Clairvoyant's blindness, at which point her face falls.  She looks around, but nopony else seems to have heard.  She nods, then removes the pen from behind her ear as well as a paper pad from where it was concealed in her tail.  Placing it on the ground, she takes the pen in her mouth, writing on it in a flowing, embellished script, awash with punctuation and spelling errors. We do od, jobs for anipone hoo; needs help.  And, Clairvoyant skulps!  She picks up the pad and shows the note to Afterglow/Nightlight, looking uncertain.

[Afterglow]

Nightlight reads the paper and the smile fades from his face "if your looking for odd jobs i think i know of one but it might be a bit dangerous you see i spend a lot of time siting in town square practicing being comfortable around other ponies and i hear lots of thing" Afterglow stops speaking for secound and winces a little noticing how awkward that sounded but continues to talk as a bead of multi colore light dances up and down his horn "MortarAndPestle's apprentice is off getting Jazz root powder from a gardner in Filydelphia and wont be back for a week but hes bin commissioned to make a special brew that needs the petals of a blue flower from the outer rim of the ever free forest and he is far to old to retrieve them himself but he's willing to pay good bits for some pedals i was actually going to take the job myself but" Afterglow blushes and he scratched at the ground with his hoof. "i kinda sat outside the shop for 3 hours trying to build up the curage to walk in and ask then well it never really happend" Afterglow finishes speaking with a smile. "and ask her the other thing you silly"he spouts abruptly."O ya that" he looks clarity in the face with a questioning look in his eyes. "Nightlight says you seemed really happy to see me have we ever met before?"               

[PLOTYNSTYNE]

Clarity smiles as she hears of the opportunity and pats Afterglow on the shoulder comfortingly at his admission.  At the question concerning whether they were acquainted, she tilts her head thoughtfully for a moment, then shakes it.  She writes again on her pad.  I dont think, so: I just thenk yu luk neet!  I liek yur colrs?  She shows Afterglow the note and puts a hoof to his mane if he lets her.  The top paper on the pad is full of writing, so she tears it off and writes on the next one.  And yor lite is, grat too.  She considers for a moment.  How du you spel yur; naam!
At this point, Clairvoyant finishes his transaction with the vendor pony, exchanging some bits for several apples.  He turns his back to the stall and walks back to the other ponies, stuffing the apples into his pack.

[Afterglow]

afterglow lets clarity place the note in his main with no issues more put off by the complement. As with the hug its bin awile since he'd had one. there was once a time Afterglow thought that his unique colors were pretty cool as well but his peers in magic kindergarden did a number on that idea. He lifted the note out of his main and placed it in a magically concealed saddle pack that seemed to appeared from now where. then it hit him Clarity had yet to spoke a single word he wandered wether or not she was possibly mute he thinks about asking but decides not to make a big deal of it "A-F-T-H-L-I-G-H-T" He stops mid spelling with a grotesque expression on his face as if it were battling itself but he composes himself and continues to reply as if nothing has happend "A-F-T-E-R-G-L-O-W" he replied now sounding comfortable talking to the yellow mare. when Clairvoyant aproches the two of them afterglow goes on to repite what he had said to clarity about the job with the apothecary leaving out the part about siting in town squar being creepy and adding in "i hope you two woudent mind if i tag along as you can see im a bit short on bits" Afterglow winces agen realizing his poor choice of words.

[PLOTYNSTYNE]

Clarity looks in wonder at the pack, then carefully takes down the spelling on a fresh piece of paper.  She tears it off folds it before sticking it into a pocket on Clairvoyant's pack under his cloak.  Clairvoyant calmly listens to the job proposal and nods his head.  "Yes, this could work out quite well.  I see no harm in having you along, either."  He drops his voice.  "Do not make a big deal out of it.  Please," he says, apparently aware of Afterglow's regret at his wording.  His voice returns to his conversational volume.  "Would you please lead the way?  We are unacquainted with the town."  He turns his head back to the stall.  "Oh, and we may wish to move our conversation anyway.  I promised the apple-selling gentlepony that we would leave to get a better deal on the apples.  I am afraid I may have made him uncomfortable."  The vendor looks after them with a steamed expression.

[Afterglow]

Afterglow led the two ponies down the rode as he talked "it feels good to actually be talking to others agen its bin a wile" he lets out what can only be described as a faint giggle "i probely look like a sad thing. You two must be used to dealing with other ponies but to be honest this is the first time iv really spoken to anypony since i left Canterlot you see i-i havent bin vary hounest with you as to the reasons i left Canterlot" Afterglows horn began to glow as he pondered why he was about to spill his heart out to these two. "because there your friends." said a voice in the back of his head "But we just met!" afterglow said out loud objecting the absurd statement as a flash of bright red light burst forth from his horn. he began to apologias but then he realized they were already infront of the apothecary. he tuned to adress the duo behind him and for the first time laid eyes upon clarity's cutimark. A Ping Of Hevy sadness fell over him tears almost began to well in his eyes. There was no denying it it was a sever case of Cuti-entropy* he had seen this condition once before at school when he was taking coerces on Healative magics there was a master swordsmen a ex-member of Celestias royal gard who lost his sword hoof during the royal wedding crisis within months his cutimark (a sword and shield) began to fade. he would come to the school everyday for aspiring spell makers and healers to practice on. It was a sad existence the princesses could have restored his leg no problem but he refused to let them work there magic on him out of some silly sense of honer. "w-w-we are hear" Afterglow said a quiver letting itself back into his voce but this was not one of anxiety but one of sadness a green arrow akin to a neon light sign appeared in the air above his head labeled apothecary                           

*cuti-entropy: a terrible condition were a cute mark begins to fade do to a ponies in ability to utilise there special talent  

[OOC] ok i might need to re write this entier post just tell me if i completely miss interpreted the faded cutimark thing my suspicion is clarity's talent had to do with her voice but when she was rendered mute her cutemark began to fade

[PLOTYNSTYNE]

Clarity and Clairvoyant follow Afterglow to the apothecary shop.  She hangs on his every word, nodding sympathetically at his plight.  She seems a bit confused from his outburst, but shrugs it off, amused by the light from his horn.  She claps her hooves at the green arrow, apparently oblivious to Afterglow's sadness-induced stutter.
Clairvoyant gives no indication that he hears a word being said, his face unreadable.  The emotions coming from this pony are almost palpable, he thinks.  They're almost as strong as Clarity's, and I haven't yet met anypony else like that.  He walks to the indicated building and opens the door for Clarity and Afterglow to enter.  She bounces in excitedly, sweeping the room with her eyes before taking a deep breath, followed by a look of disgust and a wrinkling of her nose.

[OOC]  It's good.  You're spot on with the cutie mark, though it didn't begin to fade for years after she lost her voice and fades rather slowly.