Graveyard.

[Plush Ramen]

Spooky on its own, the mass amount of graves and tombstones around the fields make even the sunniest of days dreary. From the years, this place has been a tearful reminder of the war that occurred.

[Plush Ramen]

[Enter Plush Ramen & Orange Glow.]

Gazing over the dark and dreadful place with a small chill, the orange coated mare had moved forward with little choice. While the morning sun was seeming up in the blue sky, Plush couldn't help but find this place to be cloudy and shrouded as she approached on. With the uneasy sensation swirling through her blood stream in waves, Plush Ramen found solitude in her reason. She deserved this, the very presence of death as it surrounded her with unholy eyes. Cemeteries were never for the faint of heart, and with Orange just the same, she had no doubt about it. They were murderer's, outcasts, and above all, emotionally damaged. This place was not about to scare her away. Stepping up to a stranger's tomb with a lowered head showing respect, the words carved in stone had her body frozen in place.

'Here lies a mother, wife, and best friend. You will always belong in our hearts.' Accompanied by the date and name of the pony written, tear forming pupils tried their best to stay dry as her failing attempts left the mare turning away. This pony or creature was a mother and a wife to others. Just thinking about her children watching their mother pass as war turned their souls into something formed of hate was starting to make the sensitive mare stream tears more. Sniffling and trying to move on, Plush knew who she was looking for in this large rock raised land. And she was going to find them if it killed her. Awaiting Orange Glow's response, Plush tried to shake off her feelings as they crept about from within.

[Orange Glow]

"Well, I already told you how my sister is gone because of me. So sometimes at night when I sleep I get haunting nightmares about her, then when I wake up I usually look like her. Sometime during the night I shift into her and I'll cry in the mirror, which is why it's broken now. I could stand the sight of her anymore so I shattered them." Orange sighed deeply thinking about it for a moment.

Orange looked around the grave noticing the various gravestones imagining the amount of ponies who must have been laid to rest here. It was a little unsettling to be honest, but it didn't bother her nearly as much as it seemed to be bothering Plush. Her glace focused on her for a little while, it was so weird seeing this mare vulnerable after what she had done in the past.

[Plush Ramen]

"I think you're being too hard on yourself"

As her words seemed to come out of nowhere, the mare continued to search through the stones with dedication. 'It has to be here somewhere..' Hoping they were alphabetized to an extent, Plush Ramen turned back to Orange after what felt like minutes of silence followed. She was being selfish. Right in front of her, Orange was spitting out her pain. Looking through her colorful orbs as if looking for something within, Plush offered her condolences through facial expressions alone.

"You did what you did for survival. If not her, it could have been you. Survival is why we're here. You are strong enough to fight it. And now? You're at the top of your game. The Queen's daughter. You could ask for anything I am sure. Why haven't you?"

[Orange Glow]

"Because.. I know the Queen and I know what she does.. Likely my sister is an emotionless husk or dead, and I.. I don't want to hear it from her. As soon as I hear it from her it is real and my heart will drop. I'll know I traded my sisters life just so I could be safe!" Orange's eyes began to tear up, the glow from her eyes causing a weird glistening effect to cast through out the grave yard.

Orange cried for a few short moments just standing there, her body shaking. It took her a bit, but eventually she stopped crying and sucked it up. "But, we are here for you.. Lets go"

[Plush Ramen]

Stopping completely, true pain oozed from the halfling's presence as her sorrow only continued to grow. Knowing what that was like, to live in the constant fear of knowing death of loved ones, Plush had placed a hoof to her back in sympathy. She needed it more now then ever it would seem. With Orange Glow's eyes projecting more then she ever thought possible, the orange coated mare couldn't deny their beauty.

"So you'd rather live your life in denial? Orange Glow.. I dont think thats whats what she'd want.. Sorry. I'm not used to this comfort thing."

Speaking as if she were dead, Plush knew not of specifics. What she did know, was that the Queen didnt seem like the type of pony to let just anyone live these days. However, proving that she was still alive, it seemed her motives may have been cleaner then even she realized. Shaking her head and unbelieving that such a monster could actually have a heart, the mare tried to concentrate on why they were actually here. Starting to move before tripping over a smaller stone, Plush managed to catch herself before falling.

"U-ugh."

Looking behind her to see the name written in fancy writing, her blue orbs shifted towards the center. She couldnt place her hoof on it, but she knew this name from somewhere.. Flashing back in her memory on an orange dragon desperately trying to search for this pony, their reunion was interrupted by.. her. While many years passed since she even thought about the weeks that passed looking for the princess, it all had begun to slowly come back to her. Not putting the puzzle together with Orange, Plush spoke mainly to herself out loud.

"Octavia.. Wow. I guess I didn't expect to see her here. She seemed so.. well protected."

[Orange Glow]

Orange hung her head after hearing Plush the first time, she knew she was right and she had been getting better at it but she still wasn't handling that loss well. Though what Plush said next came as a shock, Orange gasped and ran over to the gravestone. It was indeed Octavia's and for a second everything just stood still for the mare, Octavia was her sister's special somepony if she were still alive it'd kill her to hear it. A few new tears streamed down the face of the mare for a few moments. She didn't know her well, but she'd defiantly miss the talented mare who made her sister happy.

"Oh Octy, I'm so sorry.. You poor thing you must have been devastated when I gave Vinyl up.. I'm so sorry" Orange hung her head again resting a hoof against the stone staying quiet for a few moments. With everything that had happened since those five years had passed Orange had pretty much turned a blind eye to all the death that followed the wars. She sat their slumped not speaking.

[Plush Ramen]

"Orange.. I'm sorry."

Dialated pupils watched as the distraught halfling's actions brought memories flooding back in waves. Vinyl was Octavia's, Orange Glow was related to Vinyl, and the betrayal that swirled within. Wanting to give Orange her space, Plush had begun to walk away. Still within the boundaries of the graveyard and continuing her search, blue distracted orbs glanced back to her guardian with a deep sadness. Overlapping her need to search for her old friends, the maturing pegasus begun to walk back.

Not realising she trotted so far away, perhaps it was the fog that disrupted her vison on distance. Shaking it off, Plush makes her way closer before hesitation took hold. What if Orange Glow wanted to be by herself? Standing there and unsure on her actions, remaining close yet far enough for personal space seemed like the right thing to do.

[Orange Glow]

After a few moments of silent weeping Orange got up and looked a Plush with a sad smile. The mare was clearly depressed at this point and ragged. Though after a few moments she put a happier smile on her face for Plush's sake and walked over to her. "We are here for you, I can mope later if I have too"

Orange walked passed the mare away from Octavia's tomb trying to shove those memories back in the past. She continued looking around the graveyard noticing the sheer number of graves, she'd wonder to herself how many were caused from this war alone. It saddened her further bit she blocked it from ehr mind. She was here for Plush and Plush's family or friends.

[Plush Ramen]

Touched that her friend would rather put on a happy face and tough it out then dwell on her own life, Plush could only imagine the internal struggle it must have caused. Looking deeply into the halfling with true respect, the orange coated pegasus had begun to tear up on her own. Breaking the stare and glancing away to distract herself, this no longer seemed like a good idea for anyone.

"Thank you Orange. It means alot. You've been.. wonderful."

Contemplating actually leaving before reaching her destined tomb, shifting pupils catch sight of a unique path. As if something was calling her from deep within, the troubled mare had begun to walk off. With instincts flaring to life with a heaving urge to obey, Plush spoke with little to her thoughts.

"Stay here."

[Creatures and Magical Beasts]

Stepping over the snapping sound of rotting twigs & crinkling leaves, a vibrant glow could be seen inching closer and closer to the two unsuspecting ponies. Starting to sound almost like coherent grows through the fogs embrace, sharp teeth snapped in place of their visualizing growls. With the dense fog attempting to clear from their disrupting presence, three wolverines could be seen reaching closer to their designed target.

Starting to arch their backs with stiffened prominent fur sticking out as a defensive strategy from the wilderness perspective, low snarls seemed to soon follow. Almost chuckling in their vicious attempts to stalk and drive away, drool escalated from whitened fangs to the pitiful grass below. Snapping their jaws once more, the three dark and dangerous creatures parted directions. Circling around towards Orange Glow's behind, the other two seemed fairly attracted to the other mare in wait. While Wolverines weren't common along these parts, they were foretold to be incredibly vicious and deadly to all that faced their path.

[Orange Glow]

Orange Glow quickly noticed the sounds of snapping twigs around her, immediately dimming her eyes so the weren't to obvious to revealing her location to whomever or whatever was approaching. She quickly noticed the rabid beast that were approaching her and Plush Ramen. She quickly took to the air in an attempt to avoid the beasts and flew over to Plush as fast as she could.


"Plush! Look out Wolverines! We need to get out of here or if you are heart set on visiting who ever you are visiting we got to get rid of them" Orange warned the other mare.

Orange mean while kept a close eye on the beasts, thank goodness for her being a halfling she could fly and use her magic, though both at the same time was always a bit harder to do to keep her focus. She charged her horn preparing to attack if she needed to defend herself. Truth be told she wasn't the best fighter not like some of her old friends, but she knew a few tricks that would surely put a stop to the beasts.

[Plush Ramen]

Staring into the eyes of the creatures before her, her stiff and tense body had froze in place. Uncertain on what to do, the mare's wings refused to un-clench from her sides, her blue orbs continuing to lock on with a trembling gaze at their mercy. Hearing Orange Glow's words as if she were further away, the sentence remained unknown to her ears. Breaking from her stupor at the sight of the halfling above her, Plush Ramen did the only conscious and remotely doable option right for her. She ran.

"No."

Taking long strides away from the beasts all together, her gallop only seemed to pick up as her hooves finally broke some distance from the fears that were. Not daring to look back, she only hoped Orange would follow as her instincts led her further from the cemetery. Spreading open her wings after some time, the mare had begun to flap them in mid run.

[Creatures and Magical Beasts]

Creeping up behind the changeling before she took off into the air, snapping jaws had barely missed. Lunging after the mare with growls echoing throughout the graveyard, its opportunities drew closer each and every time it snapped.

Watching the orange mare run off, snickering teeth chattered in delight. Chasing after the mare now with wicked speed adding to their frightening resume, the two wolverines chasing after the one pony had dispersed. Nearly disappearing into the high dead grass, their bodies were as spring boards, leaping to snap when they got the chance.

Splitting up, the darker coated demon had turned back to attack Orange Glow in question. Hidden deep against the ground, it waited for the perfect strike. As its brother distracted her with his own lunging and snarls, the lone creature planned ahead. Sneaking up on the half breed with vicious intent, it bolted. Rushing up onto its brother's back as he lunged once more, the darkened blood eyed beast hit its target. Leaping off and snapping hits heavily guarded jaws onto Orange Glow's back leg, sharpened fangs dug in with brute force. Now dangling from her body with dagger like claws swiping away at what it could reach, not many options were available either creature in need.

Chasing after the pony left with little room to follow, the lone wolverine rushed to close the distance. Not fast enough to catch the pegasus on foot, the carnivore hissed in frustration. Clawing itself up the first tree it could find, the wolverine had begun to prepare an ariel attack from above. Jumping from branch to branch before leaping out towards the orange blur before it, its aim could have used some mastering. Falling from the air and already regretting its decision, its clawed paw had reached out to swipe Plush Ramen's body. Snagging her left wing as jagged claws dug their way through new and old feathers, the wolverine hadn't much time. Unable to keep its hold, the wolverine attached had broke off. Rolling to the ground upon her take off and stunned for the moment, its only hope was relying on its family to do the rest. 

[Orange Glow]

Orange's quick maneuvers allow her to escape a bad injury but the little beast did manage to latch onto her hoof, and it'd be it's worse mistake it ever made. All of a sudden Orange's eye glowed with a new intensity her normal orange magic aura started mixing with that of her changeling magic making it a swirling combination of green and orange. Within mere second of the bite the mare brought her hoof down hard on its skull with the strength of an earth pony, her hoof partially transforming into that of an earth pony. As for the other two Orange launched a giant green fireball at them cause a small explosion where it hit incinerating the land in its immediate vicinity. Where Plush was currently at in the field she would find herself safe from the now violent mare, though she'd have one hell of a few of what the mare could do.

Breathing heavily it seemed the mare had a very interesting trick up her sleeve, if she wore sleeves. With a flash of green magic the wolverine who formally attached its self to her leg turned into a harmless bunny rabbit. If it hadn't lost grip of the mare's hoof before it most certainly did now with the lack of canines in its jaw.

[Plush Ramen]

Screaming out in pain as her wing found itself sliced into, the orange mare had flailed vigorously through the air. Watching the wolverine drop to the ground before retreating back, blue orbs widened at the reality of what might happen. Orange Glow was in trouble! Wincing and finding herself making a horrendous landing to say the least, a hoof went to her damaged wing with small whines successfully escaping her mouth. Needing to ignore it for the moment, Plush Ramen had begun to move towards the graveyard when a flash of red caught her eye. Stopping short and covering her eyes with her hoof from the bright explosion, the mare had been more then stunned by her friends actions.

"Oh goodness.. What have I gotten myself into.."

Pushing forward and keeping her wings closed, there was no way she was flying over this right now. Spotting the halfling and immediately relieved to see her alright, Plush tried to avoid the burnt sections of grass when she could. If she could just get to her. Inching closer and in clear view of eachother, the orange coated mare looked at Orange Glow in new light. Despite being a hot mess, this creature was also dangerous. Somewhat frightened to say the least, Plush stopped moving.

"Orange Glow?"

[Creatures and Magical Beasts]

Destruction, the fields alone were singed to the point of smoking as the three wolverines that once were became no more. Twitching at the initial shock of the earth pony like stomp, the now nose shifting bunny had panicked. Bolting with blurry vision about him, the furry creature had crashed into more then its fair share of tombstones. Regretting its decision and stopping short of the graveyard's exit to stare back at the crazed creature that caused such terror, it fled.

While its brother's received no such luck, the burning pile of wolf could be smelled from miles away. Hopefully not signalling another beast to their location, staying in this now damaged land seemed like a poor choice for even the vultures. Throughout their long hard battles, the carnivore's were no more, allowing the two ponies to believe they were safe once again, if they ever truly were.

[Orange Glow]

Orange finally landing after the she exerted herself didn't notice the pain in her hoof as she immediately lifted it off the ground to avoid putting pressure on it. The normally fragile mare was panting as she was calming down before she heard Plush speak up. She looked over to the slightly frightened mare and smile a bit, sweat coming from her forehead.

"Oh hey Plush, did you find who you were looking for?" She tried to play it off cool even though her hoof was bleeding pretty bad and stung with pain.

Her body had returned to its normal unicorn pony state. It was a bit obvious to Plush that the mare had over exerted herself, as she didn't have much of a mana pool to begin with.

[Plush Ramen]

Shaken orbs stare with doubt, Orange Glow'S sudden personality change had the mare struck silent. Finally breaking eye contact, her eyes venture to the halflings injured hoof. Noticing the blood, the situation hit Plush hard. She bled too.. just like everypony else. So why was everyone fearing her? Taking in a deep breath, the mare needed to get over herself.

"I.. lets get to the hospital Orange Glow.."

Contemplating what to do, the mare sighed in defeat. She was a prisoner, she HAD no choice. Even still, her holder didn't seem as well off as she even was. Looking around, the thought of escaping had briefly wandered through her thoughts. Twitching her wing however as the pulsing injury threatened her from flying, the orange coated mare surrendered her second thought process away.

"We need to hurry.. "

[Orange Glow]

"Nah, we came here so you could honor somepony and that is what we are going to do. Lead on Plush, I'll be fine for a little while longer I promise. Besides I can still fly if I want too, so what if I walk with a little limp. It doesn't really matter to me" Orange smiles reassuring the mare.

Honestly while her hoof hurt it didn't bother as much as it should. She could probably walk on it if she wanted to. She gently shoved Plush being careful not to knock her over or hurt her. Though as soon as Plush honored her friend she was going directly to the infirmary, they were both pretty hurt and that wasn't good.

"So who is this pony anyways Plush?"

[Plush Ramen]

More concerned over losing blood then her holder it seemed, Plush tried to ignore the constant stinging sensation coming from her left wing. Keeping them closed and looking around the now smoke filled graveyard, Plush felt beaten. They had just caused destruction in a holy place of grief, what was to come next? Amusing Orange and walking through the stones she hadn't read yet, hooves stop short of the end. Before her, her old friends name was engraved. Reaching out to brush the cold cement tombstone with drooped ears, the mare closed her eyes in respect.

"An old friend of mine and Joxer's.. I murdered her. Swift Gale.. its been a long time."

Remaining silent as her prayers mentally swirled through her mind, the raven maned pegasus had failed to keep anyone alive. Wondering if Fader was here as well, Plush couldn't quite remember how that went down, but she was sure it wasn't pretty. Opening her eyelids before turning to Orange to leave, a stone in particular caught her attention. Moving to it with a hint of shock running through her emotional level, Plush turned to the halfling with a worried expression.

"This is Joxer's... But we saw him back in the palace. How could that be? I.. I mean I killed him and then he appears and now this..? Does the Queen bring ponies back from the dead?"

[Orange Glow]

"I don't think so.. When you were the evil one 5 years ago they were there with you. They attacked with you that day in the park, honestly I haven't kept track of him though. I don't like him and I'm sure he shares a similar affection for me." Orange was testing her hoof while she and Plush talked.

She slowly put in on the ground and reacted by wincing each time it hit the ground. After doing it a few times though she was able to at least stand on it. She didn't want to appear weak in front of anypony. Weakness didn't go over well in the hive and she didn't want any of they changelings trying to take the opportunity to get rid of her. Though she honestly doubt they would, the Queen loved her daughter

[Plush Ramen]

"Its like.. I don't know him anymore."

Speaking more to herself, the orange mare had lowered her head in dispair. Turning to Orange Glow and pushing herself to not cry, Plush moved forward. Passing her and starting her journey back to Canterlot city, the rippling nerves aching at her steps had the mare.concerned on a number of levels. Shifting an eye to see her guard simply hesitating to walk, she soon begun to wonder just how severe her hoof was.

"Can't you call for help with magic or something? I feel like I'm dragging myself back to prison here."

Giving her something to smile about, Plush stopped walking all together. Watching her wing combined with the mare's hoof, they certainly weren't the best team to out run the next challenges that struck them. Unable to shake this feeling of paranoia, the mare looked around from all sides. What else could go wrong?

[Orange Glow]

"I mean.. I'd teleport us back to the castle, but I don't have the magic left to do it at this moment. Teleporting one pony is hard enough to do, two is a hassle and I used a bit too much magic in that fight.." Orange shrugs a bit.

"I could call for help, but I don't want to seem weak to the hive, they already think next to nothing of me." Orange sighs and continues on her way to the castle with Plush. "I'm sorry that you feel that way, but we have to deal with it for now"

[Plush Ramen]

"Whatever.. Its fine."

Depleated of motivation, the mare's efforts in escaping were zero to none. With each hoofed step she took out of the fog covered cemetary, her energy went with it. Emotionally damaged from the inside out, having her life dragged out was becoming more of a bother then she initially insinuated. Chancing a quick glance to Orange Glow's position, Plush found herself doubting further. Was this all a test? Hesitant for the split second they caught eye contact, the orange coated mare soon regained her composure. Stepping further and further away from their old destination, dull drained eyes focused forward, her body subconsciously bringing them back to the direction of the palace as her lost mind wandered on.

"We better be off then."

[Exit Plush Ramen & Orange Glow to Exit Path]