mylittlelogs | Into your life it will creep

Entry tags:

Into your life it will creep

Who: Jappleack, Kyouko, and Minako/Sailor Venus
What: After the Pale Pony's appearance in the games, Jappleack's jumping back into the Void, with backup this time.
Where: Sweet Apple Acres and then a hop, skip, and jump into eternity
When: Monday Morning
Warnings: Pale Pony, bad attitudes
Prose or Commentspam: Starting Prose, do as you feel

"Before we get started on this, I should probably explain a few things."

Now that the 'gang' was all here for traveling into the belly of the beast, Jappleack closed the door to the room she'd been given in Sweet Apple Acres. She wasn't going to try journeying outside, although in her experience she could feel the Void much better that way; she had learned her lesson from the last time and that she needed to avoid putting herself in sight the moment she got there. She was pretty sure the Pony would know they were coming either way; but if they could avoid being immediately where it's gaze could reach, they'd be off to a good start as far as JA was concerned.

God. She feels stupid doing this, like she's some dumb teenager holding a party and giggling with her friends. This is important work dammit, and that's why she painted this elegant sign to make sure that work wasn't disturbed.

She turns back to her fellow 'travelers', rubbing the back of her head as she tries to find her words. "I should probably tell you that the first time I did this...I kinda faked up. I mean I flushed up real bad. So to try and keep us from screwing the pooch to hard on this, I'm going to give a few bits of advice. And then I'm going to ask you something."

Jappleack paces a little as she speaks. She hates it; she feels way too nervous about this. And why shouldn't she? Things went bad the first time she tried diving, majorly because she didn't know what the hell she was diving in to. And she has no clue if she's going to be able to pull another person with her, let alone two. And if she does succeed?

Their lives are on her shoulders.

So she paces, side to side as she talks like a nervous school teacher.

"One: you both saw how it's gaze effected everyone? Well, when we're outside, it's gaze is everywhere. We need to be careful and slow when we're moving, and never, never look up at the sky. That's why we're inside; hopefully we'll end up in here when we cross over. Two: There are a few...ponies and others living here, on the other side. And they probably aren't going to be that happy to see me again. But they're the best source of information I've got right now and who I know here so we have an idea of where to go for whatever else we're doing here.

Last thing for now: if everything goes to shit and we get separated, you need to haul ass to the Ponyville train station. There's a portal there that will bring you back here, and it's the one way out I know of.

There's more, but like I said? I gotta know something."

She finally sits down, looking at the two other girls.

"So, what do you two think you're going to do here? I think I know what you-" she nods her head towards Kyouko - "are planning, but if you've got any surprises for what you're trying to do in this thing, I'd like to hear them now. And I have no clue what you" - she nods towards Sailor Venus, Minako's 'friend' (seriously are they related or something they look damn similar) - "think you're going to do or why you want in.

Because I shouldn't have to say this, but that thing? Is dangerous. And it'd be best if we all go in knowing what the other wants, because the less fishing surprises we get inside of her, from anyone or anything? The better."

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Kyouko chews on her Pocky while listening. It's remarkably effective at keeping her heart from racing. Her hooves are crossed and she's leaning up against the wall. So what if she's not entirely ready for this? The opportunity is there, and she isn't about to miss it.

"'m not gonna do anythin' withou' lettin' you two know first." She glances at Minako, who she doesn't know, and Jappleack, who she barely knows. She's more conscious every day she's living here that what she does affects other ponies, whether she wants it to or not. Even if she'd rather care about as few people as possible... "If it's as dangerous as ya say, then either we all get back or none of us do.

"'m there ta figger out what we're dealin' with. Tha' means stealth first. But if there's a way ta hurt it, we gotta take it. We owe it ta th'other ponies 'n' bears 'n' stuff." The Pocky breaks and she chooses another one.

"I'm here to help," Sailor Venus replied, crossing her arms. Though she herself is nervous, she's calm; wouldn't be the first time she'd been in the belly of the beast. Even literally. "To investigate, as well. If we can find a way to pinpoint a weak spot within the Pale Pony, we might be able to do an early strike before it gets any stronger. I'm not sure what powers of mine will work once we do this, but I have the ability to attack and defend if need be."

And...well, yeah, Minako's friend does look oddly similar to Minako. Probably a relation of some kind.

"Hopefully it won't get that drastic."

Edited 2014-08-18 19:38 (UTC)

That was pretty much what she had wanted to hear. Still, Jappleack grits her teeth a bit before she responds.

"...I'd be up for striking it if we get the chance. But the thing that worries me is I'm not sure how that's going to effect everyone stuck in that piece of shit. ...We see an opening, and we'll see what we do when we get there."

But she's still hesitant about it.

She quirks an eyebrow, and smirks, just a little bit.

"So, one last question before we go: how well do you two think you could slip out a window?"

Kyouko raises a wing. A couple of scars grace her side, not as fully healed as they might be in her human form.

"I can make it work.

"An' yeah... 'm not gonna do somethin' rash. I'll try not ta, anyway." And given her nature, this might prove a little difficult, but... she'll give it her best shot.

"Easy enough for me," Venus replied with a smile. "You'd be surprised who I've had to jump through windows from!"

~~Which may or may not be a good thing to admit to, but anyhow.~~

"You can count on me. I won't escalate anything needlessly."

Edited 2014-08-19 17:43 (UTC)

The scars Kyouko has are a bit concerning. Jappleack might have to make sure to keep an eye on her to make sure the physical toll of this isn't too rough. She cracks a smirk at Venus' statement though. Far as she was concerned, the more experience they have with doing dangerous and dumb shit, the better.

Jappleack takes a deep breath and, exhaling, sits on the floor, holding out her two front hooves. "Alright. Our main goal in this is to try and find out what we can, about the Pale Pony and about everyone inside the thing. Along the way we're going to try and tell get the messages everyone sent to those trapped in this thing out."

She closes her eyes a moment, then opens them again before continuing. "If we get information, and it's decent, we head back out here as soon as we can. Keep in mind I still dunno how long we'll keep this asshole from noticing we're goofing off around inside her. But if things go real bad, and she spots us and won't let up on noticing us? I want you two to make a run for the train station and the portal while I distract her. Hopefully I'll...probably not piss her off, but she'll pay me more attention after the last time."

She looks at both of the other girls, from Kyouko to Venus, before speaking again.

"At least one of us has to make it out if we find something and it goes to shit. We owe that to everyone here and in there.

If either of you got second thoughts about this, you need to go. And know that that's alright. But we're sure as hell not going to have time for uncertainty inside that thing."

Edited (Phone typing SUCKS) 2014-08-19 19:44 (UTC)

"Got it, boss." The nickname is only halfway joking; Jappleack's the experienced one here, and for once Kyouko will defer to her judgment.

"But I'm not leavin'. If ya need ta beat a retreat, I'll provide cover."

Scowl. "We gonna go do this or what?"

At this, Venus put her hooves on her hips.

"Got it. I'm ready when you are."

Heh. Jappleack laughs a little at the reactions. They've got guts at least. She likes that.

"You're right. Let's get the hell out of here."

She sits down on the floor and extends her front hooves.

"Sit in a circle and join hooves. Then close your eyes, and..."

And what? Hell, when she did this, it was essentially diving deep into herself. Of finding that little doorway in her that would lead to the Void. What should she describe to them, what feeling?

"...Try to feel around for a current, like you're swimming in the ocean. ANd you don't struggle. You just keep holding on to each other and let the current take you away."

And hopefully Jappleack will be able to find the current well enough, and hold onto them strong enough, to pull them through with her to the other side.

She's searching now, finding that current. And hoping the other two can find it with her.

Kyouko sits and joins hooves with Minako and Jappleack. This feels a little silly, like one of her chilhood games, but not much sillier than being turned into a pony, to be honest. She can't tell if she's able to feel the current or not, but thanks to her soul gem, she finds she's definitely able to sense the essences of Minako and Jappleack sitting next to her. She keeps Jappleack's consciousness fully in her mind, then, holding onto it as tightly as she can, and grasping onto Minako's as well, to make sure they all come along for the ride.

Venus also held onto the hooves proffered by Kyouko and Jappleack. Unlike them, though, she seemed prepared and accepting of what they were doing. Why not? She'd done it before, albeit with fellow sailor soldiers. Like teleporting, but simply with her soul.

She also began to concentrate, and soon enough, a soft glow began to emanate from her chest. Her sailor crystal. Well. It meant it was working, as she focused herself, with her own limited spiritual power, on keeping close to Jappleack and hanging on as best as she could, in whatever tide the "ocean" brought.

Her own essence is warm and soft, like a star's core. It would be easy to find her if they somehow git separated, at least.

Edited 2014-08-20 18:50 (UTC)

At first, just like before, there was nothing. Silence, quiet, eerily so. However, unlike last time, the wait wasn't long.

The pull comes quickly. Harder, more abrupt than the first time that Jappleack remembered. It might put all three of the ponies off, but it was too late to turn back. Right?

In any case, whatever was trying to pull them wasn't going to wait for them to back out. They were going, whether they wanted to or not, now.

This may have been a mistake.

Not the jumping into the Pale Pony again, but bringing others with her. Of course the thing would've been waiting for Jappleack to try again; It was dumb to have thought it might not do such this time. She hadn't thought it through enough.

At the same time? No regrets.

Jappleack had said she was going to do something. And by. God, she was going to do what she'd said.

She 'holds' onto Kyouko and Venus, hoping they can ride the pull as well as she can and they all get to the other side.

But as far as Jappleack's concerned? The more aggressive pull just makes sure she'll get where she's going faster.

Kyouko braces herself, feeling herself slide away from her material body and into a realm of souls. The two other consciousnesses and an incessant pulling sensation are the only things she's aware of, but she clings onto them as tightly as she can. They're this close to finding out more about the Pale Pony, and she sure as hell isn't going to give up now.

She'd expected it. It didn't make it any easier. She didn't just feel her sailor crystal slip from her body; she could feel her body disintegrate even as her consciousness remained intact. At the very least, she could ensure her ashes wouldn't be disturbed.

They formed into three letters as, at last, her soul was pulled away and her body became a pile.

BRB.

~~It was true. She didn't intend to be long.~~

Rainbows. So many rainbows, as they flew through the planes of existence, the pull threatening to rip them apart--

And then, they were back in Sweet Apple Acres. But Jappleack would have known better, and soon her two companions would have become aware of the difference. The silence. The grey. Their own translucent state. The whispers, echoing through the sky.

The eyes weren't there. Not yet.

But it could only be a matter of time, right?

It takes Jappleack's eyes a moment to adjust, still, to the shocking day of the world. She shakes her head a moment, getting used to it. And grits her teeth.

Dammit. She had hoped that since they'd started their trip inside they'd end up inside when they got here. She hadn't thought, again, that the Pale Pony might have always decided where she started when she came here.

Would they have ended up outside Sweet Apple Acres no matter where they did this? Was the Pale Pony putting them here specifically because I was Jappleack, and it was tryin to gauge a reaction? Jappleack didn't know.

Still, they can't just stay here too long in plain sight. Jappleack turns towards Kyouko and Venus, looking straight at them but keeping her head bowed enough that she wouldn't look at the sky.

"Follow me." She whispers. She'll take the chance of whispering, though not for an extended time, out here.

She runs back around towards the farm house and begins to walk. Slowly. Carefully. They'll move to the closest shelter and, if they can, either enter it or hide in the shadow to discuss what should happen next.

She hopes her body language communicates what she means to the two others. Move slowly. Keep close to her. Don't talk too much and whisper if you need to.

Do not look up.

Kyouko blinks twice and takes a moment to steady herself upon arrival. She does look around to get a sense at her surroundings, and is somewhat surprised by her own translucency. That slows her down. But a couple seconds of cantering and she's caught up to Jappleack again.

"Who's here?" She says in a low voice, still looking anywhere but up. "'N' where are they?"

It took a moment for Venus to re-materialize. When she did, though, she looked...slightly less Venus-y.

"Damnit." The journey had undone her transformation. Of course it had. "Let's get inside, right?"

It was silent, so silent. And in the farm house, when they got there?

Nopony was there. It was quite devoid of any spirits, unlike before. However, there were signs that there had been ponies and people there, and that they had been there recently; the faint smell of pie still wafted through the air. As to where they were now, who knew? Those who had been there left little trace.

Still, it was a safe hiding place, at least for the moment. No eyes would open right on them in the Apple farm house for the present.

"Friends of mine, in the farmhouse." Is all Jappleack says to Kyouko for now. She's uncertain if Kyouko means the what other people and ponies she had met here, or the voices that surround them in hushed tones. For the moment, she'll act like she means the former. Jappleack looks back, just a little, at the sound of consternation coming from Venus. When she sees the other girl is alright, she turns her head back and keeps on walking. The fact that Venus has transformed back into Minako hasn't quite hit her. Not yet.

Jappleack just stands stock still after they get into the farmhouse. The emptiness of it, the quiet, is haunting. It wasn't a lively place the last time she was here but...at least there were others.

They're okay. She just tells herself that in her mind. They're okay.

"Take a breather, if you wanna," she says, keeping her voice low as she talks to the others. "We can decide where we go from here."

Although, Jappleack does take a moment to look over her shoulder at something.

"Or if you're up to it, you can come check out the basement with me. There's something I need to check."

Because if they left any of that zap-apple invisibility juice down there (which she admits is unlikely)? She wants to get her hooves on a bit of that. It'll make the rest of this trip a hell of a lot easier.

Either way it's towards the basement she's heading.

Edited 2014-08-21 15:18 (UTC)

Kyouko, meanwhile, follows her nose, leaving Jappleack to her devices. The house is eerie quiet, and there's a heaviness hanging over the place. She's glad there aren't any skylights nearby, because she's tempted to take just one glance at the sky.

She begins opening and closing cupboards in the kitchen, to see if they've left anything behind. Not that she knows whether or not she can eat in this form. But it can't hurt to try, right? And she's sorely missing having a box of Pocky at her side.

Minako, as well, began to look around. It was...eerie, this quiet. And even in here, she could feel the sense of foreboding and dread. Nevertheless, she began quietly walking through the house, making her way up the stairs. Her hooves creaked and squeaked softly over the heads of those on the main floor.

Nothing? Was there nothing or nobody here?

Nothing. Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse. For Minako, the trail was a dead end, though the used sheets in the bedrooms indicated that there had been life quite recently.

Jappleack wouldn't come out empty-hoofed. There were a few bottles of the zap-apple potion, and the scent indicated that they were made within the past few days. No one, however, was in the basement either.

As for Kyouko? The pie, though not there, was made very recently. The smell still hung in the air of apple pie. And above the oven was a calendar, with days marked off, though the days on the calendar were not numbered. A sign that no one knew just what day it was in the place they were at now. But, on each day of the week, were certain codes: SwAp, PoSch, ClTo, CMC, SuCo, CaBo, GOL. One for each day of the week; GOL was the first unmarked day.

Edited 2014-08-21 21:24 (UTC)

At least there was something to get out of this place. She'd have preferred it if there were others here, or something else to find here, but some of those potions? She'll be taking those for now. She stands there in the silence and the stillness for a moment before she goes back up.

And now that she's done that, she had much the same idea that Kyouko had: she's heading to the kitchen cause damn does that pie smell good. And...of course there isn't one. She doesn't even get pie out of this deal. Things are truly terrible already.

She almost doesn't pay attention to the calendar, but then doubles back towards it when she notices how odd the days are. And notices they aren't days at all.

She just stares at it for a moment, mumbling to herself before nudging Kyouko. "Hey. You seeing this?"

Edited 2014-08-21 21:42 (UTC)

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