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Pony Playing: Buckwheat
Option Taken: Pursue the sounds of crying.

RP Response: Well, she'd known it was going to be dark. Buckwheat trod carefully along the foreboding way, picking her way along by...mushroom-light. The glowing little caps would be cool, if only they weren't also so incredibly creepy. But hey - everything about the Willows had been terrifying so far, right? Seemed like it was kind of the swamp's whole deal. At least it did a really, really good job.

And oh, that was helping matters! The mare's ears swiveled toward the sound of crying. They flicked once, twice, pinpointing the piteous weeping. Buck's eyes narrowed all the while. Tossing her mane, she finally sighed: she was doing nothing more than postponing the inevitable. She was obviously going to check out the sobs. It's what they were here to do. Idly hoping that Dusk was alright on the other path, Buck set her hooves toward the possibility of a pony in need.

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Trinkets Won:

Pony Playing: Dusk Plum
Option Taken: Approach the ponies

RP Response:

Having grown up around these parts to know well enough not to go waltzing into the swamp without a damn good cause thanks to all the rumors that float around about this place. The rumors about the witch was true, so when saw the skull shaped flower having an idea for what it might be he was taken aback. Could they be at Death Lake? It was the only place he knew of that these kinds of flowers were supposed to grow. It would explain the lighting and the even larger abundance of water. Even worse than the stories floating about for Whispering Willow Swamp were the rumors to go along with a place like this if that were indeed be where they are. That being said upon making out two figures in the distance he had to ask himself if he was going to let his fears hold him back from finishing what he set out to do, or was he going to flee?

It was reckless, maybe even dumb and if he were wrong he could be in big trouble, but Dusk approached the ponies if that was indeed what they were for better or worse.

You approach the two figures. As you do so you spot a Pixie and Earth pony laying across from one another. The Pixie looks at you with a bored expression in their eyes, while the strange Earth pony scowls.

"Don't come closer." The Earth pony hisses, voice distorted, as if two voices are speaking at once. The Pixie waves at them lazily.

"Let it rest, Willow." The Pixie sighs tiredly. The Earth pony shrugs absently, drawing their eyes away and towards the water longingly.

"It took you long enough." The Pixie announces shortly. They gesture towards the swamp around them with a hoof, wings fluttering gently. "I've been lost for days, you know. I was just about to give up hope of ever leaving."

The Earth pony snorts, a mumble escaping them that cannot be understood. The Pixie scrunches their nose in response, shooting the other pony an annoyed glance.

"I like to come here sometimes to visit my dear friend, Weeping Willow, over here. But I went further than usual and couldn't find my way back, and he won't help me." The word 'he' was spat out and Weeping Willow barked a long and echoing laugh. He turned to view the group, his smile widening, reaching unnaturally long as it touched his ears. Creepy. His glowing eyes brightened, head cocking to the side. The Pixie just snorted.

"I won't help anyone without a price." He added. His head cocked sharply, like a bird, to the side, almost tilting at an angle that surely wasn't possible.

"The swamp changes every hour, it isn't possible to get out without his guidance if you go too far." The Pixie offered for clarity. "I made the mistake of thinking he'd help me regardless if I give him a gift or not. Perhaps you might have something he'll accept for his services?"

Weeping Willow laughed eerily. "I rather drown them."

"You drowned the last group."

There is no set options. Instead, look at your trinkets and offer one of them in bold to Weeping Willow, as well as RNG 1-100.

Use the form below when responding to this prompt.

Pony Playing: Buckwheat
Option Taken: Offer the carrot plush.

RP Response: Wait a moment... Willow? Her friend Willow? Buck tilted her head, mirroring the unusual green pony - although to much less unnatural a degree. Was it some coincidence that he was named after the swamp, and knew its intricacies? Or was it something more...magical in nature - and therefore just that much more of a bother?

On one hand, she yearned to know for sure. On the other, it wasn't part of their job: making sure that pixie made it back home safely. Although said pixie didn't exactly look worse the wear for being here...or hurt...or anything that might have warranted the sizable search party they started out with, wherever they might have ended up now.

If she didn't want to find out firsthand, though... "I found this when we started out. Close to where we met, ah...Hex." Buck pulled the carrot plush out of her saddlebag, hesitating only slightly before offering it to Willow. Nothing but rumor told her the witch's name, but just calling her 'the witch' - especially this close to a potentially sentient swamp she lived in - seemed too crude. Granted, none of that would matter if the strange Earth pony decided to drown them both instead. Would she die if he did? She was not prepared for the weirdness this hunt had brought her.

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Trinkets Won:

Weeping Willow looks at what Buckwheat has to offer, a curious glint to his eyes. Slowly, he pulls himself up to inspect the offering. Satisfied, for some strange reason, he nods, kicking the trinket into the water.

"I accept this gift."

Is it really a gift when it's forced from you? Whatever you call it, it seems you've satisfied the drowning monster. Sliding into the water, the pony casts a glance towards the Pixie, who slowly begins to stand and stretch.

"Tea next Monday?" He croaks.
"Of course." The Pixie answers.

Hopefully next time there won't need to be a search party.

Weeping Willow keeps his promise, leading the group slowly out of the swamp. There's moments where he drags an unsuspecting pony underwater, only to release them when the Pixie orders him to. When you finally reach the exit he seems irritated, only the upper part of his head above the water as he glowered at the group.

"I need a good nights sleep." The Pixie yawned, leaning against Buckwheat. It seems they expect you to offer your home for the night, or at least guide them to a hotel.

"Stay out of the swamp." Weeping Willow echoes from under the water, voice distorted worse than before. It's a threat, promising that next time you won't be as lucky. With that, he vanished under the water.

Congratulations, not only were you the first group of ponies to successfully save the Pixie, but it also seems like you were the first to meet the witch and Weeping Willow! Perhaps they'll resurface again in the future.

Anderleit, you won the Pixie!

Everyone else, except the winner of the first secondary prize and the person who turned down the other one will be entered into an RNG for the leftover secondary prize. Eggs should be held onto for a reason that will be released later.

Anderleit

Midnight Holographic

Fea Line

You won the Pixie! c: