Ponyville Square -- Calling Champions (PAARS)

[silverfall]

(That was pretty funny, though.)

Razz smiled at Moony and looked at Hollow with curious eyes. He did not let his curiosity linger, though. They had work to do. So he repeated his tale to the newcomers.

"Kail is in Dream Valley. The Rainbow of Light has been stolen out of the vaults beneath Dream Castle. If we are to preserve the rainbow's power. we must go there and set things right."

[Crescent]

Hollow was still frozen into the ghastly sight of death around him and the pressure he felt from the stripe inside him. He was not used to doing as told, or being urged in such way, and something in him was fighting against it - a little.

When Moon Crystal fell on him, he was completely woken up from whichever other place his mind had drifted into. He let out a surprised "urgh" and stumbled under the mare. As she got up, apologising, he shook his head and blinked. What had just happened?

While Moony greeted the others, Hollow staggered to his feet. The light faded a little from around him. His eyes settled, and though his muscles were still tense, the horror he had felt a while ago was gone. He looked around the square, measuring the other ponies. Champions. There they were, at last. But they were not all here yet. He wasn't sure if he was glad. It meant he hadn't been awfully late, but also that they wouldn't get on the way yet.

As Razz spoke, he pricked his ears and looked at the other stallion. He didn't know any of the others, save for Moony, but he tried to measure them up. The news of the Rainbow of Light startled him, however.

"Stolen?" he repeated, walking closer to the others, urgency in his movements. He wasn't paying much attention to Moony anymore, his full alertness was directed at the others, who seemed to know more about what was going on than she did. He was all business now, and he narrowed his eyes as he looked at Razz. "By whom? When?"

[[lol yeah, terribly funny! But useful for waking Hollow up ]]

[Silver Shadow]

Moony blinked, honestly surprised and shocked. ...the Rainbow of Light... was stolen? I didn't think that was even possible... She frowned, concerned of what this could lead to. The Rainbow of Light could be in hooves of anyone...

Curious also for more details and Razz's answers to the yellow's question, she moved closer to the group, all ears and waiting.

[Roxanne]

Roxanne grinned as two more champions appeared. Success! And the colors of the rainbow flitted and sparked in her mind. All right now, down, tiger. The colors subsided.

She checked out the newcomers. Some of these champions looked more familiar than others... boy, she had really been in a funk last time the Rainbow had united. She'd need introductions all around again, most likely.

But for now she stayed silent and waited to see if Razzaroo could expand on the situation a little more.

[Becka *Pone*]

"Champions Unite!" Blue shrouded the peg's vision as she landed on the dock before the unicorn. Sometimes, being a Champion was slightly annoying, especially when the other stripes could send out and catch her mind easier than Dragonrose had.

Shaking her head to dispell the blue mist that had wrapped around her brain, Kail decided she better try to contact the others before responding to Suncatcher. Holding up a hoof to signal quiet for a moment, Kail closed her eyes and tried to reach out to Razz, using her heart as much as relying on his power of the Rainbow.

Razzarro! I've found a boat for us to take. They are willing to follow the pirates for us. Meet me in Dream Valley as soon as you can, I imagine I will be at the Castle.And as an afterthought, Tell Blue not to call again huh? It really kills me not to fly back at that.

[silverfall]

Razzaroo grew tense for a moment, drawn into his mind by Kail's sending. He wished to lose himself in her call, but knew all too well that this was not the time to get all gushy. All he could manage was the projection of a quick peck on the cheek. Then he relinquished her back into the etherspace.

"Kail says we must hurry," he relayed to the others. "I'm not sure who stole the rainbow or how they got it, but Kail says it was pirates of some kind. They must have already set sail. She says she's found a boat to take us." But take us where? He wondered still. And at last added, "Roxy, Kail says to be careful when using blue. The call is quite strong. She says she almost came back. Maybe you can focus it just down a particular vein of the rainbow next time."

Razz liked to think that it wasn't the blue stripe that drove Kail, but he let it go at that. At least now he knew how to get her, if he ever really needed her to come back.

[Roxanne]

[[Did Kail's phrase "fly back at that" mean, like, "get angry at that" though? Ah well, I don't know.]]

Roxanne did her best impression of looking meek and gave Razz a cheesy grin. "Sure thing boss, just tryin' it out. You lead, I'll follow. Chaps?" She looked around the rest of the group.

[silverfall]

(I thought she meant she had to fight the desire to fly home, but that's just how I read it.)

Razz nodded. He still felt a bit weird being treated like the leader. It was a lot easier being the leader when it was the kids you were leading, but this was a more serious situation. Kail would have certainly made a better choice, no? Then he best get them to her fast, so she could take over.

"Um, to Dream Valley, I guess." He was still looking at Roxy when he realized 'Um' and 'I guess' wasn't very leaderly, so added in a firm voice, "Dream Valley, yes. We best get on to going now now now."

He surveyed the group when he was hit by a terrible realization. He strode across the way to Hollow and extended his hoof in greeting to the other pony.

"I'm Razzaroo, the violet. I'm sure you can sense that. But I do not recall your face. I should feel terrible not knowing your name at a crucial moment. Moony called you Hollow, I think? Is that short for Bartholomew?"

(Hah! Don't ask.)

[Jewel]

"Kail says we must hurry,"

"You lead, I'll follow. Chaps?"

Purple eyes travelled from Champion to Champion, taking in the new arrivals. On the outside, the indigo champ was still and quiet, but under her skin, Jewel's heart was racing, and her insides were turning summersaults.

Change and a buzzing energy hung in the air around the ponies in the middle of the square. Jewel's senses tingled from it. Her fetlocks had begun to tremble very slightly, and in an effort to make them stop, the peg raised a hoof and stamped it on the ground, then tossed her mane to clear her thoughts.

It was then as if the indigo stripe put her at ease. Concentrating on her forehead mark, she felt a wave of calm and security washing over her nerves. She wasn't going into this alone, and now she was sure.

The mare slowly turned to Peri, afraid for how long it would be until she saw his face again, if ever.

[Roxanne]

"Actually" - Roxy looked sheepish - "could we get intros all around? I know some of you but could use a memory refresher on a couple." She looked around the group and perked her ears forward. "I'm Roxanne, blue-foot to the rest of you stripey types," and she cocked her back leg so the blue mark on her ankle was visible.

[[*lol* I don't remember which of the Champions Roxy knows or has dealt with. Anyone help me out? ; )]]

[Becka *Pone*]

(the only new ones are Jewel and Hallow - she should at least recognize the faces of the rest. And Kail did mean fly back home, cause Blue was calling them all to meet in the Ponyville Square

[Rose Rebellion]

Peri's ears suddenly sweveled upward in alarm at the suddeness of Razz and Roxane's statements. It couldn't have been time, not yet. There was still so much to say, so much he wished he could somehow express to Jewel. Yet, nothing coherent or plausible formed of these thoughts, just the idea of wanting.

For an actor, it seemed almost everything he had known was forgotten. There was no longer an effort to cover up his growing anxiety and grief, and he trembled with the enomirty of it all. Jewel was leaving. And there wasn't a d*mn thing he could do about it.

He swallowed loudly, a wet and large gulp that signified the urge of swelling sobs wanting escape. A white hoof held Jewel's necklace closely, as if the item could ease the tension in the muscles surrounding his throat. Even now, he could feel the tears bubbling in his eyes, and in a moment of suddeness Peri had to clamp both hooves over his glass eye to prevent it from slipping from it's place.

Not a moment after it was secure again, Peri Winkle didn't hesitate in lovingly muzzle Jewel once more. A tender sentiment, one he hoped convied the unspoken words that would have magnified his earlier confession of love for the mare.

"Don't say good bye, it's too sad.," he whispered to her, "Say farewell instead."

Then, as if in a moment of cowardice, he stepped back from her and from the champians, pulled by invisible strings. His face suddenly grew calm, but the formation of tears remained building in his eyes. The actor offered a genuine smile, fighting back the tears as best he could.

[Roxanne]

[[Thanks Becka! Oh good, I was afraid Kail was all ticked off at Roxy ; ). Anyway, Roxanne hasn't seen the Champions in a month o'Sundays, and the last time she did she wasn't around for very long, so a refresher introduction could still be in order.]]

[Jewel]

"Don't say good bye, it's too sad.," he whispered to her, "Say farewell instead." Then, as if in a moment of cowardice, he stepped back from her and from the champians, pulled by invisible strings.

The tone of Peri's voice and the sorrow in his heart made it hard for the pegasus to swallow. She had never seen him so.. almost, fragile. It would never be a question to the mare as to whether or not he loved her. In many ways, it never had been.

As he stepped back, Jewel's attention strayed from the other Champions and followed his figure. Almost in an instant, she brought herself back to his side, burying her face in his mane and nuzzling him. She took a deep breath, then turned so their eyes could meet.

“You know I have to do,” She said softly, “And you know I don’t want to leave you, but.. this may be the only chance of us having a future at all,” Jewel said seriously. Her eyes communicated the seriousness of the matter at hand. “It’s not.. it’s not going to be fun, Peri..” She paused, not wanting to tell him of the snip of his future she had seen, “But I need you to be strong for me. Ok?” A pause, and a look away, Then a whisper, “Don’t let it take you.”

[Rose Rebellion]

Peri lowered his face and left a kiss on Jewel's forehead, brushing the new marking of the rainbow there.

"Hey, come on now. After fighting loonies like Eshu, you think a cold's gonna take me down?," his voice was optimistic, despite the tears in his eyes. Deep down, he felt grim of the matter as a whole. "I'll stock up on instant soup, and I'll tape a picture of you on a laddle handle so I can say that you're making it and nursing me."

Then, as some bizare afterthought. "I'll be sure to tape a picture of you on my shower head to so I can also say you showered with me."

He laughed at that, the tears strolling down as a side affect of closing his eyes. The laughs persisted, slowly until his body shook, the laughs turning to muffled sobs. "D*mnit Jewel, I wasn't going to cry."

It wasn't a Machismo thing. He truly didn't want to feel as if he was burdening Jewel anymore than he was with this forced seperation.