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 Posted: Thu Aug 22, 2013 2:29 pm
She had chosen the fountain first, the path from destruction and creation seemed to lead her to something a little more safe and quiet. In her mind, she could feel that someone important had been remembered. A name, interactions. Maple remembered him better, her dear friend AJ who had kissed her hand at Scarentines and taken her to Prom some few Octobers later. It made her happy to remember him more.
She was smiling, softly and when the warm little light appeared before her, she for once didn't seem to flinch. Perhaps from her memory being returned as little as it was or perhaps the enchanted air all and calm mist around her. It didn't seem threatening, seemed to ask for her to follow. So she did.
Music filled her ears as if someone was humming, and for a moment she wondered if the wisps that were circling more and more were the ones making the tune for her. Or if it was just the nature of the place.
Maple traveled, following the flecks of light and found herself in a forest of small silver trees. They were pretty in an almost haunting way, scattered far around as she walked through them.
The large tree was hard to miss, its mass more impressive but like the smaller it was as barren. But it still seemed to hold so much life.
"At last," it echoes, a feminine voice. Maple looked around, trying to find the source until she realized it was from the tree itself. "At last, someone has arrived to hear my tale. It has been so long, I have been silenced too long, taken and hidden, my power feared but not respected, cultivated until I am barren and empty. This is all that remains of my Legacy, but I am not finished, not yet. As long as my powers remain, my children will prosper after me. They will take up my mantle, to protect, to serve, to remember, and to grieve. Men like the Great King will rise again, and fall just as easily, but I only wish to serve. Come now. Help me fulfill my last desire."
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chirigami rolled 2 10-sided dice:
9, 3
Total: 12 (2-20)
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Posted: Thu Aug 22, 2013 3:13 pm
Maple wandered through the rest of the forest having heard the tree's tale. It seemed sad, and for once she wanted to do something about it - it at least didn't seem like she would need to be put in too much danger helping a tree. Though, the last time she had been in a forest (from what she could recall) she was being chased by a weird shadow demanding a heart.
But at the clearing from this forest, she didn't find a scary bridge but a beautiful lake. Clear, with thousands of glowing lights dancing all around it. It looked as if it were white, with the way it reflected everything around it. And Maple approached it with no hesitation and gently kneeled down beside it. Her hand tapped at the surface, creating a small amount of ripples.
There was a voice, whispering to her from these waters. And after a moment, Maple stuck her head in to find its source.
"Heal my children," it chimes, "And when you do I will give you a gift of immeasurable value. That is my only wish and my only desire. Take these waters and carry them to my children."
There was a gentleness around her shoulders suddenly, pulling her from the banks and to collect the air she needed. So, this was her task. Maybe she could actually do this.
Maple formed her hands into a small cup and collected a little bit of the waters as the voice had asked of her. She got to her feet, wondering where to go. But the little spirits of light seemed to know where she was needed and guided her back to the sick tree. Carefully she walked, trying not to spill any of the water. And somehow she managed to keep a large amount of it to offer to the tree. The tree seemed to quiver from the nourishment, it trembled and shook. Maple was unsure of what it meant by this action but soon enough she found herself gifted an acorn and a thank you.
And so, began her task.
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chirigami rolled 1 10-sided dice:
2
Total: 2 (1-10)
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Posted: Thu Aug 22, 2013 3:42 pm
Everything had been covered in grey, the color had all consumed and only few stark contrasts remained in the new monochromatic world consumed with Insanity.
The world had become a dismal place and Maple, as once she had been called - some iota of a recognition to a name that she had simply let go, had let it consume her without much of a fight. Because as chaotic as the shift had been, swift in assimilation there had been a new sort of order established. And here, she couldn't fail. At least as much as what she remembered she could, because things were simple in this new crazy chaos. She was numb and simply worked, simply lived in a hollow like shell that couldn't be said to be much of one with how broken she was. She was grey like the rest of the world, like everyone else. Only so much of her remained that could really be called Maple. Parts of a horn, a small wisp of hair but she was simply not her anymore. Not as much.
She had given in and let the whispers and demands of the Goddesses be her new world. At least in this one she wouldn't be a disappointment.
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chirigami rolled 1 10-sided dice:
9
Total: 9 (1-10)
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Posted: Thu Aug 22, 2013 3:43 pm
For the longest time, Maple had a thing going for her without even realizing. The frail girl, on the verge of tears, too afraid to fight against the other competitors in the Arena and somehow managing to win simply by blind luck. It had worked the first few fights she had been forced to take part of when she was put into the Arena, the pity that grew from the spectators and other champions alike. But after so many, where she managed to win it grew stale and old and many thought it was simply an act. The shift in the cages was evident after some time, the hostility that grew between the other fights and her.
Only a few did come to know it wasn't. That even after ninety-eight fights, and how hardened her form had become with the muscle on her lean figure and the broken horns on her head that she was still the scared little girl who didn't want to fight. Only doing so to keep on living, a fleeting desire even though she was always so close to giving up before each brand new day. Something pushed her, perhaps even her luck. But in time she was sure it would soon run out for her.
Ninety-nine seemed like a good number, as had all the other ninety-eight before it but it still never came. Standing over her slain foe was enough for her to know that. Perhaps it was building up for one big ball of karma to come and squish her, for taking out those other fighters when they deserved to live another day more than she had.
But today would possibly bring that number and when she was informed of who she would fight, she felt the floor fall out from under her and tears weld in her eyes.
Uru.
He was someone she could have considered a friend, being only so many cage spaces away from her. They had conversed on occasions, he knew how scared she really was; one of those few. And now she would be pitted against his strong larger form, it was what filled her with dread but having to go against someone she actually had a bond with.
"I can't go easy on you Maple," she heard whispered a few cages away. There was sorrow in that tone, but determination all the same.
"I... k-know..." she whispered back. She had to prove herself perhaps, or simply made she should just embrace defeat finally.
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chirigami rolled 1 10-sided dice:
1
Total: 1 (1-10)
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Posted: Thu Aug 22, 2013 3:45 pm
They had been fighting for so long, no one would remember the exactitude of the dates, how long their resistance had been putting up a fight with the Horsemen and their reign.
All Maple could remember was fighting, sneak attacks and the defense of various locations around Halloweentown. Amity had become a fortress to keep those among fighting in a safe haven, guarded and protected with whatever they could get their hands on from the more powerful foes. From as soon as she was old enough, she had been placed into squad after squad, dreading each day and hoping for some kind of end to it all. She didn't mind which one.
Today she was given orders to go with one of the Reaper squads on a simple materials run, supplies was running a little low and a few were needed to go into the Human World; she would be one of those. Simple, the orders said but she knew it wouldn't be just. Not when the Reapers could look simply like the human food that the Horsemen so loved to play with. She at least had something to set her apart from the common human but that only made her more of a target because the clansmen knew no difference because either side needed to be pushed out of their way.
Maple stared at the list she had been given, the supplies she would need to go get and those she would be traveling with. None of the names she knew, it was hard to know how things would go. If this would be their last fight, that her end would finally come with a swift death.
But she took her orders with a grim face and made to prepare for the mission, be it her last or upon the list of few accomplishments.
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Posted: Fri Aug 23, 2013 6:37 pm
Growing up as a Nublins in the Scarefari wasn't too terrible. Maple was a small thing, not as mighty as her parents and she hoped one day to be just as big and strong as them, if she could ever really get over her self esteem issues.
A lot of the other minipets, especially at Minipet Battle School usually paid very little attention to her, or usually didn't think much of her given her size and stature. She was a puff ball with little beady eyes and barely and horns like others. But this was what she went to school for, right?? To one day grow up bigger and find a mate and make amazing children, if only she could get past all of that. (And not many things bred well with a Nublin).
Today was not one of the good days, though it was beginning to become one of the common things in the morning on the way to class. Andrew, the Firelands Luck Dragon, following her and asking her for help in spars and homework.
"Leave me alone, Andrew," Maple whined in her squeaky little voice.
"But you're the only one I know that reads the books, please?"
"No, I don't want to." She pouted into her fur.
"If you help me, I'll take you somewhere cool." He always did, and they never were any places cool.
"The last time you and AJ didn't take me anywhere fun," her whine was back, she was on the verge of tears remembering ans when that happened she usually went into an incoherent stutter. Because the last time they had promised to take her anywhere in thanks for help, she was nearly sold on the black market. A terrible fate for so many a Mini, not as bad at the Alter though. There were tales, she never dared to attempt to see such a place.
Andrew seemed to roll his eyes, or at least she could imagine since he didn't respond so quickly. "Please, you were fine. We saved you."
"Barely," she yelled out, stopping in her tracks. "Why don't you go ask Olivia? You're always following her." Honestly she had no idea how powerful those words would be, stopping him in his own pursuit. The fuzzy ball could have sworn she saw a small blush spread across his already heated cheeks. Maple had no idea why he was always following The Frost Puck, they were just not compatible at all - polar opposites. But the other girl didn't seem to push him away either. She couldn't see it, but she just didn't know the type of crush he had on her.
It was enough to get him in this state apparently, but Maple didn't realize. All she knew was Andrew seemed at an impasse and was not going to be following her for a time. "I'm late for class." Taking the opportunity, she ran.
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Posted: Fri Aug 23, 2013 6:40 pm
Usually Maple didn't mind having her surname start with the last letter of the alphabet. Usually it meant being placed in the back of the class where she could do no harm, or passed over since no one wanted to go that far down. Sometimes she was even first to get things over with when someone wanted to go the other way around.
Today was a day she didn't like it, as she milled around with the decreasing number of fellow future classmates as they stood in the Grand Room. They were being sorted today on their first night at Pigfarts, and the aspiring wizard was probably going to be last. Her nerves were getting to her. What if she didn't make it into Capricorn like the rest of her family for generations? What if she were a failure? What if the hat deemed her more for a Pegasi? Or worse yet, a Serpentarius? She would never get to live that down. (There was no way she was a Leo).
So, the brunette stood there, waiting her turn as the worry began to spread more and more on her face. She began to fidget, her hands clasped together tightly and rubbing together every so often as the sweat began to build in her palms.
And then finally, it was her turn. Maple carefully made her way to the chair, least not to trip or something, and sat down. The hat was placed upon her head and her eyes shut tightly. There was a voice in her head, grouchy and impatient. Probably so for having to look upon so many kids. It was probably not even going to bother doing a thorough reading on her, just to get it over with. Maple tensed as it mumbled to itself, as if almost asleep.
Hm... potential, it said in her mind, making her more worried. It could go either way. Smart, but doubtful... but potential. What did that even mean?
I'm going to make this interesting for you, let's see what you can do. I'm going to sort you into Serpentarius.
Maple just kind of sat there, wanting to melt into the ground beneath her feet.
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Posted: Tue Aug 27, 2013 12:36 am
Maple gladly offered these memories of other possibilities to the tree, where her sad existence seemed to follow her no matter where she went - from where she was concerned, too many of the memories she had managed to obtain and keep seemed just so sad. Was she ever happy in any of them?
But the small sapling seemed pleased with her offering, growing slightly at each one she freely gave it. Blissful once again when they were gone, and pleased with the growth she had managed to give.
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Posted: Tue Aug 27, 2013 12:50 am
The tree had grown, on the way to recovery from how Maple could see it. A small shy smile graced her face as she looked upon it, now unaware of the memories she had offered to it in its aid. The girl was ready to leave, to end her task when she heard a gentle voice calling to her once more.
Not yet. Maple turned, her eyes opening wide as she saw the beautiful castle in the distance. It was far but from it various pools were born from it as water poured down from its mighty peaks and towers. She was supposed to go to these pools, she was told and so Maple followed, carefully and with thought.
Each pool felt differently, a different sort of aura and coloring. Some of them were more inviting than others, others calling to the nature of her heart. But she was tired of dark and sad things and thus Maple collected water from the warm pool.
She could feel them, memories of laughter and a smiling face. His smiling face as he pulled her along to various booths in hopes for a smile from her. For her to have a good time. They took a picture together and had stolen a duck from the pond... happy memories.
Are you satisfied with what I've become?
"Yes..." Maple whispered, placing a hand on what she helped create. Even in the darkest of memories, something beautiful could be found.
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