For a Thousand Years 2: The Rising Night (CableZ) [Dead]

[CableZ]

Quip blinked a few times as he slipped back into the realms of consciousness, he at first thought his eyes weren't working, or maybe that his mask's magic had faded, but as the colour and shape of a pony came unto his vision, he was relieved to find out that the world around him was just pitch black. Silently breathing a sigh of relief, Quip quickly got up onto his hooves, immediately seeing Codii, he trotted over to her softly.

"Well...this IS somewhere different I suppose" Quip chuckled, looking around at their surroundings.

Looking down at his feet, Quip noticed that his infinite purgatory they seemed to be was just there, the pitch black nature did not offer them any sort of floor, it seems to be based on themselves. Quip thought, well they could be anywhere in this realm, would that be a floor for them also. With this thinking in mind, Quip lifted a hoof tentatively, and then lowered it with a curious gaze. Sure enough, hs hoof went through the psuedo-floor that he and Codii were stood on, and it came to a halt below it. Looking up at Codii with a smirk, Quip then began walking forward, but...down at the same time. The way he placed his hooves one after another, it looked like he was going down a set of stairs.

Turning around, Quip was now around 6 meters below Codii, he looked up to her with a wave and a giggle. He then stuck his hoof out, and seemed to find traction on the nothingness, albeit it vertically. Quip walked up an imaginary curve and from Codii's perspective, was now walking up a wall, but with the ease of walking along the floor. Gravity didn't pull him down, it didn't even make it difficult for him to scale the..well nothing. To him, he was walking on straight ground and now Codii was the one who was floating as it were. Walking up to her level, Quip turned his head to look up at a probably confused Codii. Having a masked pony on what you perceived to be a wall, looking up at you, was certainly weird.

"So where are we now Codii?" Quip giggled, as if what he was doing was totally normal. While she answered and processed what he was doing, Quip continued to walk around various angles and positions.

[Xelliea]

Codii watched Quip's strange vectors and movements with unblinking eyes. There were so many ways what he was doing didn't make sense. About half way between when Quip woke up and when Quip asked Codii where they were, Aurora stumbled from her odd slumber, her eyes attempting to adjust to a darkness that masked nothing. Her mind told her to worry, but seeing Quip running around the place like a wall-climbing spider, she couldn't help but giggle. After a while, she too tried to explore the strange angles of the place, but she just ended up falling off her hooves onto the non-existent floor. It was at this fall that Codii snapped out of her confused stupor, glancing around and attempting to address her surroundings. Various ideas ran through her mind, but nothing really matched up. That was, however, until something actually broke through the barrier of confusion. She gave a quick 'aaaah' of understanding, and would have snapped her fingers if she had them.

It appears, Mr Quip, that we are in a parallel void. A kind of separate plane of existence to Equestria. From what I can tell, this void is some kind of pit stop. We go in the relic one side, stop here for tea and crumpets, then hop out the other. But the relic was temporal in nature which means... She stopped in her sentence, as if she'd just been hit by an invisible wall in her mind. She frowned a little. Which means we're either being frozen in time, or we're moving through time. Which one, or where we're going, I have no clue. 'Tis anypony's guess. Once she'd finished her sentence, she shot another confused look at Quip, then continued to study the make up of the place. Across from her, Aurora continued to try and climb around on surfaces that weren't really there.

Codii had studied minor temporal items for a short while, but most of the ones that were passed down to her could only affect the flow of time by a millisecond. Any attempt to go back in time ended up with a reversing effect, so there were no temporal clones to look at, and certainly nothing like the relic she'd activated. On the other hand, she'd also had a look at void items, most often storage bags that could hold more than they might seem able to. Again, these trinkets paled in the face of the void she, and the other two, now stood in. One might think that even the most mundane magical trinket would break the laws of physics that Codii clung to, but that wasn't quite the case. In a world full of magic, it only made sense of the physical laws to be built around the presence of magic. They hadn't, however, taken into account that there might be such a relic as this somewhere in the universe.

[CableZ]

Quip was around 7 meters up, and standing completely upside down when Codii began explaining their current location. Looking up/down at both her and Aurora, he stroked his chin slightly, wondering what must be going on outside of this plane of existence, if time was stood still, then it would be like they never went anywhere when they returned, but if they were traveling in time, and got a choice of when they got to go back, then it would also be like they never disappeared, so there really wasn't reason to worry, either way he wasn't losing any time. However the thought then occurred to Quip, and he needed t talk to Codii.

As simple as a thought, Quip's grip on the pseudo-ceiling faded, and he fell gracefully toward the floor or level that the mares were stood on. However, instead of hitting it as one would expect in normality, Quip fell right through it, and continued to fall into the darkness. Then, in an instant, he was falling from above again, and landed on his feet, in front of Codii, without so much of a flinch to tell that he had felt any impact from the fall, which he hadn't.

"Codii! If we are traveling through time, which way are we going? I've heard of some cases of traveling back in time but is it possible to travel forward? and if we have traveling in time...just how far back are we going? Because if it's to last Tuesday, I need to tell myself to NOT DRINK THAT MILK...that milk was off by several months" Quip shuddered in remembrance of that milk, frankly in hindsight he didn't know why he drank it, he shook the carton and it slushed out...yuck.

Quip then saw Aurora was awake and bowed to her a little as a form of greeting, looking around once more, Quip saw no change in their environment, however he had a theory.

"Hmmm you know each time we've gone to a new place, we've woken up there after being unconscious, at least thats what happened with Hasta and Dread Lock, ANYWAY!...If we are traveling in time, I get the feeling we're gonna pass out soon and wake up in whatever time we are being taken to...probably after seeing a bright light" Quip rubbed his chin thoughtfully, before looking to Codii with a chuckle "What? did you think I was just a pretty face?" Quip laughed.

[Xelliea]

Chapter II - Brave New World

In a small and open forest, just on the other side of Canterlot to where Ponyville would be located many a thousand years later, a small filly skipped over the neatly cut grass, the entire woodland very well kept. Spring was on the edge of becoming summer, and the pink blossoming trees matched precisely the colour of the filly's coat. Her mane, a much paler and white-ish pink, flowed over her horn, down over her neck and ending between the pair of small wings on her back. Indeed, this filly was an Alicorn. Even then, she wasn't just any Alicorn, as the small tiara on her brow gave away, she was a princess. Well, in title at least. It would be many a year until she was involved in any of the politics of the Equestria around her, good thing too, she found silly things like that boring and a huge waste of her time. She just spent most of her time enjoying the life of a young princess, and skipping off to play most of the time. Her father had told her she was to never run off alone, but still, it was fun to wind up whoever was looking after her, especially if that person was, like today, her brother.

It was when she came to a small glade in the woods, however, that she stopped suddenly. On the floor, half buried in the ground, was a strange, triangular object. It glittered in the light of the noon sun, making it extremely pretty to look at. Oh... my... The filly couldn't take her eyes off the way it sparkled, staring at it in awe. What she wouldn't give for something just like that to put in her room in the castle. It was perfect. She'd been told to be careful of strange magical things she found, but it didn't look like it would hurt her. It was hardly going to blow up or something, right? Well, she'd have to check it out to see, wouldn't she? With a little care, she tip-hoofed over to the pyramid. Filled with excitement and a little worry, she told herself not to be scared of such a silly thing, before reaching out and tapping the thing out of the ground, trying to see if she could get it out of the ground.

_________________________________

Codii, trying for her own sanity not to look too much at Quip's odd vectors, was glad when he finally returned to the same level as her. Had Quip been a little more to the point with his speculation, she might have even been impressed. As it was, he rambled a little, but it made some sense. I think, Mr Quip, we're going back a little more than a week. For us to have to be transported into this relic, it must be taking us back many years. Who knows how far. A hundred years? A thousand? ... She went to speak more, but was interrupted when the entire void-world around began to shake. Aurora let out a squeal, jumping to grab Quip and keep herself stable. It felt like the place was under the effect of some kind of earthquake. Under the pseudo-floor the three ponies stood on, a large streak of white formed, like a rip on a piece of paper. While Aurora clutched Quip tighter, terrified, Codii looked on both confused and interested.

When the crack both began to grow in size, and the group of three could feel themselves being pulled slowly downwards into it, however, she too found herself a little worried. Still, she reminded herself, the best knowledge required adventure, and the best adventure required a little bit of danger. At this, her fear just became more interest in the events going on around her. The crack, continuing to grow and pulling the ponies down at ever increasing speed, began to show what looked like a blue sky at its centre. Did that mean they were falling upwards? It certainly made little sense, and before Codii, or Aurora for that matter, could fully understand it all, the group were pulled through the rift, a feeling of being stretched and squeezed running over them.

__________________________________

As soon as she tapped the pyramid, the thing began to hum. The runes written on its sides lit up with a bright light, bathing the filly in an unearthly glow. Quickly taking a number of steps back, she looked carefully at what the strange thing in front of her was doing. Finally letting out a sound not unlike a bang of a balloon being popped, the runes let out four rays each, forming the edges to a projection of light, just like a photo projector. Soon, three forms became material from the screen of light. A masked Earth Pony, a Pegasus who still clung to him, and a green Unicorn. The young princess found herself quite frightened by the sudden and odd appearance of the three ponies, but they didn't look dangerous, if anything they might be somepony to play with, so, as she'd always been taught to be polite, she saw no reason to say something. Hi there! I'm Princess Utopia. How did you do that, was it magic?

[CableZ]

Quip welcomed the embrace of the relaxing darkness of unconsciousness, he laid down before it took him, resting his head in his arms and closing his eyes with a slight smug smirk present on his face. The transition into sleep state was seamless, no light headed dropping to the ground for Quip! Time seemed to become liquid in their sleep, a million years could have passed, or just a few seconds, they may never know. Was was apparent was the unnatural nature of the sleep, it was not restful or relaxing, it was forced, numbing. Quip didn't wake up immediately as he thought he would though, something weird happened.

---

Eyelids flickering, Quip woke up slowly, feeling a sense of nausea wash over him slightly. It quickly became apparent that this was not real, the blurry lines of the surrounding walls made it obvious that this was no reality. The entire area was unfocussed, with the colours blending together, and the lines being skewed, as if too much light was shining in your eyes. Looking around with a concerned yet slightly curious gaze, Quip took in his skewed and blurry surroundings, it felt so familiar, but not, at the same time. The layout, the buildings, the design, it all looked so familiar. Quip couldn't quite grasp at it, but he had been here before..Canterlot, he was sure, but not..his head was a mess. Slowly and uneasily standing up, Quip felt his body washed over entirely by a numbness, it made standing and walking quite difficult. Thanks to Quip's acrobatics and gymnastics, he was able to stand, where as any other pony might be too dizzy and numb to even stand. Quip took a few steps forward before the worst thing became apparent to him, he wasn't wearing his mask. To Quip this was the worst thing that could possibly happen, his mask was the focus on his identity, it was the only thing that focused his fractured mind, and kept it together. Without it, he was truly scared, fearful of himself, he wanted out, this was now a nightmare. He couldn't run however, as he tried time slowed and he froze in place, why could he not leave, why was he not awake? Then it all became apparent, sort of. He felt a dark shadow loom over him, the winged, horned shadow enveloped Quip, casting darkness over him. Quip turned around, and saw the silhouette of a horned, winged pony.

"Well well well...what do we have here?"

---

In a flash of light Quip's eyes darted open, a cold sweat on his brow as he leapt up onto his hooves in a way that was probably impossible. Just as the young alicorn said hello to them, Quip popped up and saw the girl. There was an awkward pause for a moment, as their eyes met, before Quip screamed like a little filly.

"AIEEEEEEEEEEEE NIGHTMARE!!!" He then dashed away behind a nearby tree, peaking out to survey the situation.

However once he saw it was just a little girl, he came out from behind the tree. Well actually, he ducked back behind the tree and then appeared behind the girl. Stroking his chin thoughtfully, making a hmm sound.

"You're not a big scary shadow alicorn...why, you're just a small scary little filly alicorn...wait is that worse? Anyway! Hey there kid, my name is Quip, these are my...um...companions, Aurora and Codii" Quip pointed to the wrong girl when he called out each of their respective names.

[Xelliea]

The shadow looked down at the quivering pony before him. It wasn't often ponies were found in the void, in fact they were almost never found there. Still, his master had believed the void an opening in its own right, and so something that needed to be guarded, or at least a lookout needed to be placed there. Which is what the shadow, this one appropriately called Ash, was there for. However, the pony that stood in front of him now didn't do much. In fact he looked quite the fool. There was little more he could say to or about the pony, however, as moments later, he vanished. Odd, certainly odd. Odd enough to warrant a report, without a doubt. If anything, Ash was there to look, not to do anything to affect anypony he came across. After all, they could be welcome guests. With a flicker, Ash disappeared.

Only moments later, he flickered back into existence. The setting was different, to be sure, but the area was almost as deserted, just with one pony before him, the one he called his master. The shadow looked up, glancing at the pony and meeting his gaze. My lord and blessed master, you had wisdom in your command. I did indeed spot a pony in the void. There was a groan in front of him, one not of irritation but interest. A visitor, indeed? Well, Ash, you're quite the... He stopped for a moment, staying still, then continued. You're quite the lookout. Gather your troop, keep an eye out for our new friends.

____________________________________

Codii gave a small frown and Aurora just looked confused at Quip's mistake in introducing the two, but they both said their hellos in turn. Codii, having given up on Quip's strange antics, ignored his strange display of fear and approached the Alicorn filly a little. Wait. You said you were a princess? Does that mean... Aurora jumped forward, laughing at Codii. Don't be silly. She's probably just playing a game. Weren't you ever a foal, Codii? The Unicorn looked unimpressed, raising a hoof. She's an Alicorn. You can plainly see that. Unless one of the princesses suddenly changed her name and regressed to a filly, I've a feeling we're not in Canterlot any more. As the two ponies in front of her talked, Utopia looked at them both with slight confusion. That, coupled with how strange the masked one was acting just made nothing make sense to her.

She gasped a little when she saw Quip out the corner of her eye, turning around to face him. Are you a jester? I've never seen you around the castle. Are you new? Father doesn't really care about jesters, he just has them for me sometimes. So are you new? She looked up at him with a great deal of both confusion and interest. As she looked up, there was a call from a little way off in the forest. Not too much later, an older Alicorn, on the edge of adulthood, came rushing through the bush line into the glade. His black mane and coat contrasted with the bright colours of the glade. Utopia, I told you not to run... Who the void are you? He looked at the group of three in the glade with a glare. Utopia rushed toward him, trying to stop him from doing anything rash. Brother Noctis! Please, be calm, they're my friends. The prince calmed a little, but remained a little forceful and protective. Would your friends care to explain who they are? And where they came from? You three certainly aren't from Canterlot.

[CableZ]

Quip raised an eyebrow at what the girl said, she was cute; if not in a naive way. Quip took the whole alicorn thing in his stride, he had a conventional way of thinking when it came to the unconventional things. It made sense to Quip that if they had traveled in time, there would be weird things, Quip just didn't feel the need to question what needant be questioned, or at least Quip didn't feel the need to question it. Quip had a weird logic, but it allowed him to not get bogged down in the menial questions that were almost designed to hold back a situation, of course this meant that his mind was free to be...well Quip, and that could just be weird.

"I am a jester that much is true" Quip smiled, kneeling down in front of the girl, getting on her level with his metallic smile. Quip was good with kids, despite her lofty title, he could tell she probably didn't like that nearly everypony seemed to be stood above her, Quip showed more respect by being on her level. "But no walls can hold me, comedy is for all!" Quip laughed , holding out his front legs to the side for emphasis "I bring fun and joy to all, why would anypony keep that within a castle court?" Quip smiled, he had never understood the idea of working for just one pony.

When the thunderous hoof steps came from behind him, Quip shot into the air slightly, before landing on his hooves in time to turn his head to see the big alicorn storming towards them. Despite his nightmare, Quip didn't seem too afraid. Stepping forward at mention of their names, Quip bowed slightly with a smile, under his metallic smile. "My name is Quip T. Crack, and these are my companions Aurora and Codii" Quip appeared at the side of each of the girls as he gave their names, giving them a little hug as he did so for emphasis, he then appeared back in front of Noctis "As for where we're from, I'll spare you the lame time traveler joke an...oops...gave it away" Quip slid away to the side, without moving his feet. He then slid back over to Noctis' side, albeit on level with his head, despite the significant height difference. Quip put his arm around Noctis' shoulder, and whispered into his ear while looking around suspiciously "We're from the futuuuuure" Quip laughed, before sliding away once more and sliding back into place in front of him. "Believe it or not..I'm gonna need a police box...or at least a chair with a big spinny thing on the back" Quip laughed.

[Xelliea]

The future? Noctis looked confused. Was time travel even possible? He'd heard whispers, but... well, there was proof in front of him. While your story is... an odd one, I'm willing to believe it. My name is Prince Noctis of Equestria, and I'm sure you've met my younger sister, Utopia. The filly gave him a slight glare for not calling her "Princess" Utopia, but quickly turned back to be sure he didn't notice. Before Noctis spoke again, Codii blurted out You introduced yourself as 'Prince'. If my knowledge on basic monarchical structure is correct, then there must be a king? Noctis was happy to let the Earth-pony speak, something the arrogance of most Alicorns wouldn't allow. Still, Noctis prided himself on being better than all that. He was arrogant, sure, but a little less so than most. Yes, my father, a pony it would do you well not to cross. Even worse, he seems to have the entire land under his hoof thanks to his police force of shadow-ponies.

How come you're telling us all this? We're strangers. Codii commented, leaving Noctis puzzled as to why she'd ask such a question. It's only common knowledge, I assure you. And anyway, it's not everyday that one meets ponies from the future, so the normal rules of interaction don't really apply. Utopia raised her hoof a little. And they're nice ponies! At this comment, Noctis chuckled a little, almost rolling his eyes. Yes, ok, that too. Still, if you'd be happy with talking about your time, then perhaps we could retire to the castle, I'm certainly interested to hear whatever you would tell me. If father, or anyone else for that matter, starts asking questions, I'll tell them you're servants I hired. Best way to avoid questions. I have friends in the study of magical science I know I can trust, so in the long run we'll see if we can get you home when you're ready. Give me the nod and I'll take us to Canterlot.

Codii's ears had perked up at the mention of magical science. Her mind raced with thoughts of what secrets might have been lost to the ages, but would be like an open book to anypony in this age. Despite this, though, she was sure to keep quiet. She didn't want to start making requests yet, even she knew it was a little early, and he was a prince after all. Aurora on the other hand was much more interested in the past as a whole. She didn't really care for facts or historical discoveries, but she was certainly interested in what other ponies would be like in this time, and, even more than that, she was excited to be able to see the castle of so far in the past, for both its beauty and bragging rights. Who else could say they'd seen something like that, well, apart from the two ponies with her. But, ignoring them, she'd be able to make the most learned professor listen to her stories like a young school boy.

After the few moments passed for the ponies to think, they informed Noctis they were ready to teleport to the castle. Hold still then, we want to keep this thing quiet. His horn was enveloped with a dark aura, which spread to cover the area upon which the five ponies stood. With a flash, they all disappeared. After a brief feeling of vertigo and being stretched, the group appeared in a vast hall, coloured light running along each wall from stained glass windows. This was the Nascent Hall, the part of the castle that housed members of the royal family who weren't the king or queen. At the end of the hall was a huge set of doors that linked to the rest of the castle. Noctis nodded toward one of the doors on the west wall. Make yourself at home, that room should be empty. If you need anything, let me know and I'll have some of the servants fetch it. Just stay in this wing, don't go to the rest of the castle.

[CableZ]

Quip didn't think much of this prince, in fact Quip didn't think much of anypony who wasn't a fellow performer, he preferred staying in his own little world of acrobatics and idiocy. Staying silent as Noctis poke spoke with Codii, Quip watched back and forth between the two as if there were a tennis match, albeit a tennis match between a small pony and a really tall tree. Frankly though all this talk bored Quip, he was not one for it all, at least when it wasn't something overly interesting, and this certainly wasn't too interesting. Quip find the little princess to be far more intriguing, Quip always preferred the company of children, they were easier to bring a smile to, and make laugh.

When they were eventually teleported, Quip looked around at the new scenery, it was nice enough, frankly you've seen one expensive castle you've seen them all. It was nice enough, Quip had been in the Canterlot castle a few times, although never on a performing level, so this could be fun, that and the it was all shiny and different, time travel really was cool. Quip walked over to the indicated door as Noctis pointed it out, slowly opening the large heavy set wooden doors, peaking his head round and looking into the room.

It was a large affair, semi circular in layout, with the large curved wall being the outside wall, 3 large windows running along the curved wall, with 2 beds angled facing into the center of the room. There was a door leading onto an en-suite, all in all in was a very fancy and nice room, Quip walked into the room without much of a word, waiting for the others to join him as he looked around.

[Xelliea]

Ash ran a pseudo-physical hoof over the door out of the room before opening it. He stopped. His shadowy body rippled like a heat haze, its surface segmenting and folding it on itself, the outside changing in appearance. Moments later, his entire form had changed to look like one of the royal servants. Ash was what was known as, among his own people at least, a Tare. Tares were Shadows with the ability to change their appearance, in fact their entire body, to that of a pony of their choosing. The only way to tell the difference between a Tare and a real pony was that the pupils of the impersonator were constantly dilated. Those in the know could tell on close inspection, but Ash only planed a quick trip to his destination. Noctis would notice though, so he hoped he'd be able to stay a good distance from the prince. Still, for the visitor, it'd be perfect. Bursting the doors wide open, Ash was greeted with the bows of his fellow Shadows, each one blindly loyal to him and his cause. Shadows could notice a Tare straight away, even in disguise. It was something nopony really understood.

Brothers, you're on alert. You are to look for a masked Earth-pony if he leaves the Nascent Hall. Inform me immediately if he's found, understood? They was a unified shout of confirmation from the group, before they rose, and left in unison to begin their task. The Nascent Hall was prohibited to Shadows, Noctis had made sure of that, and Ash didn't expect a very warm welcome if he was discovered. But, on the up side, the prince was just one pony, he couldn't look everywhere and he couldn't always be on the look out. It would take the right timing, but Ash was confident he'd be able to slip in unnoticed. With a sinister smirk, he slowly trotted off.

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Aurora almost squeaked with joy at the beauty of the room. It was even better than her room back home. She leapt forward, jumping and landing on one of the beds, rolling about a little on it. After all the strain of travelling in time, it felt so good to finally lie down on a comfy bed. You know, I really could get used to this! I mean, who says we can't stay here for a while. The future's no going anywhere. Codii, who had been looking to Aurora, turned back to look at the rather extravagant fireplace, sitting down in a grand chair. I must say, your argument is not without merit. I certainly would like to drink from the fountain of knowledge in this era. She turned to look at Quip. And Mr Quip... Beyond your silliness, you've been rather quiet on your feelings. Is that usual for you? Or are we just lucky?

[CableZ]

Quip looked around the room with his uncharacteristically silent demeanor, it was slightly off putting with Quip having no discernible face to speak off, with only a metal mask as a point of focus for your attention, there was no telling what thoughts lay beneath. Quip turned his attention to face Codii as she addressed him, cocking his head to the side slightly in curiosity at her words. He wasn't sure to take the whole 'lucky' remark as an insult or not, ah well, not like he cared much either way.

"Oh thoughts, feelings, emotions, ponies are always so intent on explaining everything thats going on in their head, its like they're in a tv show or something" Quip giggled before doing a triple spinning back flip onto the empty bed that Aurora wasn't occupying.

Quip layed with his back on the bed, sprawled out happily in the softness of it all. In fact, it was TOO soft, and Quip promptly sank down a few inches into the bed with a giggle. Spelunking his way out of the bed based cave, Quip held onto the bed with his front legs while his beg legs dangled below in the bed chasm.

"So what exactly are we gonna do here? Somehow I doubt that these ponies are just gonna give up all their knowledge and secrets to you if you ask nicely...MAYBE YOU COULD PUT ON A PRESENTATION DETAILING THE FINER POINTS OF WHY YOU SHOULD GET THE INFO" Quip spoke sarcastically enthusiastic in a nerdy sort of way out of a joke. "Do you have any sort of realiable game plan...please tell me a presentation wasn't your game plan"

[Xelliea]

Codii thought for a moment about Quip's point. Noctis certainly seemed happy to help them, but would the others be as happy to explain the finer points of their findings in the field of magical sciences? Then again, she wasn't too worried about the details, even the surface information would keep her very busy, or so she hoped. Then again, if they had a good word from Noctis, who was going to keep secrets? Maybe a few of them, but it seemed like the majority would be all to happy to share things with travellers like themselves. I wasn't planning on any presentation, mr Quip, no. I would ask nicely, but to be honest I can't be the only one to find that mask... creepy. She stopped for a moment and thought to herself, then added in a hurry I hope I didn't offend, it just looks a little too clown-ish for me. She gave a little laugh. She had to admit, once one got past the slight madness and physics breaking of Quip, he was an amusing character, and Codii was sure to look over to him with a smile, just to show the mask comment wasn't meant in ill will.

Just as she sat down on the edge of the bed Quip had seemed to have completely sunken into, Aurora reached across and poked Codii with the tip of her hoof, the Unicorn to gasping and then frowning at the other pony. I'm bored. She pouted for a moment, then smiled as an idea popped into her head. Oo! Oo! Let's have a look around. What's-his-name said we could as long as we didn't go too far. Oh, and for your information, I think Quip's mask is great. Codii groaned as Aurora sprang to her hooves. She was less than a foot from the door when there was a knock, causing her to stop and gaze confused at the door. After there was another knock, Aurora reached out and pulled it open.

Standing behind the arch was a pony, an Alicorn in fact, who seemed to be dressed like a waiter. Hello miss, Noctis wishes to speak with you three, if you'd come with me. He stood to the side, leaving the door open for the three ponies. For a moment, Aurora looked up, confused. Then she just shrugged. Sure, why not. You two coming? Without even looking over to the pegasus, Codii raised a hoof while shaking her head. No thank you. If our royal friend wishes to talk to me, he knows where I am. Have fun. Noticing a small bookcase on the other side of the room, she trotted over to it, not giving Aurora another glance. Oh be boring then. Come on Quip, let's go have a look around and see what he wants.

[CableZ]

Quip didn't really listen to Codii, he moved his move in a yapping sort of sense, well if he had any sort of fingers he would be able to do it a little more effectively, at present he was just sort of waving his hoof about slightly. However once he thought back quickly and listened to what she said properly and looked at her in a somehow deadpan look despite his mask, he stared at her for a moment. Time seemed to stop for a moment as Quip stared at Codii. Just then he raised up on the bed, as if the chasm he was in just decided to stop existing and Quip rose up quickly like there was a lift beneath his hooves. Quip then silently and rather creepily walked toward Codii, his gaze never faltering from her eyes, he moved toward her until he was mere millimeters from her. Quip continued despite his legs not moving, moving onto his front legs and his rear legs lifted up, as he looked down on her in his cartoony fashion.

However Quip came to a creaking halt, stuttering and sputtering in his movements much like a stalling engine. Coming down to a halt from his pivot point on his front hooves, as he stood normally he rubbed his chin for a moment.

"Well I guess that's a fair view point, I mean not everyone likes smiles" Quip shrugged with a chuckle. Quip then turned to look at Aurora as she complimented him, which caused him to bow slightly "Why thank you Aurora, its nice to know my smile makes others smile themselves" Quip smiled happily beneath his mask.

Quip was about to hop back onto the bed, and was in fact in mid air when the knock on the door came, as as the subsequent knocks on the door, Quip edged backward in mid air, landing back on the ground as door opened up and revealed the alicorn stood on the other side. Quip wasn't much bothered in exploring the castle, but he felt that staying in a room alone with Codii would make him eat through his mask just so he could eat his real face so he opted to head out with Aurora with a quick nod in response to her invite.

Walking from the rom behind Aurora and closing the door with a little way to Codii, Quip turned to face Aurora with a smile, however he then remembered that there was an alicorn...butler? stood next to them, to which Quip just sort looked at him for a moment before walking on like he wasn't even there.

"So...where exactly in this place can we go?" he wondered aloud.

[Xelliea]

The butler groaned a little at Codii's stubbornness, but otherwise ignored her. Very well. If you two would follow me then. Being sure Aurora and Quip had left the room, he closed the door behind them in a graceful manner, then took his position in front of them, trotting off toward one of the other doors. Walking, Aurora decided to talk with Quip for the time. Don't let Codii get to you, I'm starting to think she just hates fun. If you ask me, ponies who know the most are always the most boring. Apart from you, you're smart and fun. She leaned toward Quip a little to give him a hug with a smile. You're the only pony I need. She quickly straightened back up, not wanting to come across as clingy... quite literally. Soon, the two ponies had been lead through a rather grand door into what seemed like a living room of sorts, only much bigger. What confused Aurora most was how empty it was. Weren't they meant to meet Noctis? Where are we now? She was half asking the butler and half herself.

After looking around to be sure nopony else was there, the butler turned to them. Oh nowhere specific, we'll just be taking... he burst forward, grasping the two ponies while his face flickered like a television with bad reception, turning into the same dark visage Quip had seen in the void ...A little short cut. In a burst of black smog, the two ponies were whisked with the dark being, leaving nothing where they'd stood.

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Codii had just finished finding a book when there was another knock at the door. She groaned, turning to look over her shoulder. Yes? The door was pushed slowly open as Noctis took a couple of steps into the room, looking around with clear confusion. Just you? Do you have any idea where your friends have got to? Codii looked back equally confused. You didn't send a butler then?


____________________________

The three reappeared in a room that made the last one look like a pathetic shack. The room itself looked like a mansion, stunning beautiful in every regard. Trickles of water could be heard from numerous fountains, the streams themselves reflecting the colourful light that came from outside into even more beautiful patterns. One only had to look around a little to tell it was the throne room, yet eerily empty, beyond a single Alicorn sitting on his throne of gold and ivory. He looked quite similar to Noctis, but his mane and tail flowed brilliant silver to match his same-coloured coat. You'd be our visitors from a far land, I suppose. I apologise for not introducing myself before, but my son has a habit of keeping secrets. I am Cronos, sovereign of Equestria and... hmm, what's that... He stopped as if someone where speaking to him, but the entire room was silent ... the future? And you're sure? Well well well, aren't you two quite the special little duo. Please, take a seat, we've a lot to discuss... He looked down upon Aurora and Quip with a grin that could scare even the most heroic heart.

[CableZ]

As Quip and Aurora walked side by side, Quip didn't react much to her near stalker levels of affection, this was stuff Quip had dealt with before, funnily enough however Quip never associated himself as a celebrity, even though it was something he undeniable was. The reason for this was that Quip never really hung around with celebrities, it was a life style he didn't embrace, for the paradoxical reason that he didn't think he was a celebrity. It was one of those things where Quip sort of lost his grip on reality, his mind just didn't make the connection, in his own mind he was a regular pony. As she hugged him, he just chuckled slightly and gave her a little pat, it didn't really phase him. The amount of mares that had fallen in love with Quip and he simply just didn't notice and at the same time didn't care, it sounds selfish but that only because it is.

As they entered the room and found it to be of the empty disposition, Quip looked around for a moment, wondering what was up, however after remembering what was in the script he recalled that this was the part where they fell into a trap. Sure enough they soon found themselves within some stupidly large room, seriously this one room was like the size of a city block, why would anypony need that much space. Eyes drawing over to the throne that seemed to draw all attention, as if the entire room lead to it, as if that was the only point of the room. Slowly approaching the throne, hoof steps lowly echoing around the room a few times.

"awww we do? why is it we always everyone always has something they want to discuss, why can't somepony kidnap me and for once simply just want to play a card game or something?" Quip then sat down on his rump, pulling out a deck of cards and a green dealers cap, replacing his jesters hat as he quickly shuffled the cards in a seriously skilled set of ways "Whats your poison? Bridge? Black Jack? Solitaire?" Quip giggled as he dealt the cards to no one in particular.