Lambicorns // Festival of Dreams • Dreamland

[bakuraas.]

I'm going to Dawn's Edge!
Username: bakuraas.
Art/Writing: [ 994 words, 4 lambicorn bases ]
[ feat. Iso ●, Azu ●, Cepho●, and Pally● ]

Iso grinned as he put the remaining things he needed into the basket. Yes, basket- this time around he wasn't going to carry anything in that small bag he used before, he didn't even need to bring anything to anyone, so he decided to use something different. Besides, it was fitting for what he and his friends were planning. After checking over everything twice and getting a forehead kiss from his grandmother, he walked out the door, politely walking out and finding the group he was travelling with outside. Azu and Pally were bickering, but it was clear that it wasn't going to escalate any further. Partially because both of them were carrying something, and partially because Azu didn't want to fight anyone in front of Iso.

"Well, I think Lambent's going to like what I'm bringing!" Pally smiled as he spoke, only for Azu to scoff and give a hissed response. "Bold of you to assume that, Lambent's a lambicorn elder- which means they're not even going to be able to hold any of the food we bring, let alone enjoy it." The bright-colored male laughed in response. "You're just mad because Lambent's gonna see how booooooring what you brought is~." Before Iso even got too close, he could hear the growl that came out of Azu that was directed at Pally's comment. As Iso got closer, he also noticed that Cepho was looking between the two bickering lambicorns, and was obviously uncomfortable sitting in the middle of it all.

Cepho spotted Iso on his way to join the group and perked up immediately, alerting the other's to Iso's presence. "Hey, there you are Iso! You ready to head out?" The bubbly lambicorn looked to Iso with a grin, and after a small adjustment to how he was carrying his basket, he replied. "Sure am! You got the map Ceph?" Sure enough, Cepho dug out the map from his sports bag, and made sure he could access it whenever it was needed. With that, Azu sighed, stopping his argument with Pally now that they were going on the move. Cepho took the lead, looking at the map while he walked, decoding the bodacious notes that Lambent left on the map to help them get to Dawn's Edge.
----
Once the group got to their location, they looked around for a good moment. Not too many lambies seemed to be here yet, maybe they were a bit too early? Azu seemed a bit apprehensive about continuing on after realizing how...unpopulated the area was, but he seemed to not have a choice as Pally burst out to a clear patch of grass near the edge. "Welp! Seems we're early! More room for us then!" He cheered, looking over as the rest of the group joined him on the grass. As they found a place, they all set up little areas with different colors of blankets covering the ground.

Iso watched as his friends unpacked their things for only a moment before going to help them. They all had their own way of needing help, but it wasn't anything Iso couldn't handle. Cepho just needed to organize some frosting bags that he had brought, and with Iso's help they were set up in a rainbow in front of a very large stack of boxes filled with cookies. Azu needed a little more help, handing cupcakes over to Iso so that he could sprinkle them with little star and moon sprinkles. He would have commented on how cute they looked, but something in him felt like Azu wouldn't appreciate that compliment. Pally didn't even seem to need help at first...that is, until he opened his cooler and let dozens of ice pops fall out. The ice pops looked like lambicorns, but...perhaps they were a bit melted already... Iso helped Pally set up a little decorative stand to show off the ice pops, finishing off what he could do to help his buddies.

But with that, all of his friends were set up for what would hopefully be a little fun get-together with both teams.


Cepho has cookies decorated with Lambicorn Faces, anyone who shows up seems to be free to ask him about decorating one for themself!
Azu has surprisingly cute-looking cupcakes with cute decorations! Maybe you can decorate the topper with some markers?
Pally is giving away...Ice pops. You can apparently make one in your own image...but do you really want to?

Iso moved back over to his own bag, unfurling the checkered blanket that he had brought from home. He sat down near his friends and opened up his basket, looking inside expecting to see all the small treats he had made for everyone, as well as the coloring books he brought along. And yet...while he found those things, he found them underneath a large group of butterflies- not just any butterflies, the butterflies that Nai'a gave him. Iso didn't have much time to question how the group got into his bag without knowing, as they flooded out and started flying around him and some other lambicorns as soon as the bag was opened.

The butterflies that followed Iso here seem to be very friendly! A few are going around landing on other lambicorns, much to Iso's dismay.

Iso nervously looked over to his friends, and while Azu seemed to be focused on protecting his precious baked goods from the insects, Pally and Cepho just let the little guys land on them, Pally laughing all the while and Cepho seeming to babytalk the butterflies. Iso sighed in relief, seeing that nobody seemed to be mad at him, and he was sure that anyone that was angry was a little bit away, and therefor didn't know where the butterflies came from...still, he thought of how he should probably get them back into the basket as soon as possible... after all this was, as Cepho would say sometimes on one of his weird days; 'not very epic swag.'

[SunnyStreets]

I'm going to Dawn's Edge!
Username: ravenwhisper's wish
Art/Writing: I don't want to goooo! too scary!!

[ sorry it's very simple, it was rushed because my sister said it was her turn ]

[EchoIre]

Due to an exhuasting week Gremlin and I will be taking a break from responses today! (However, I've read over them already and I love all of them, it's so interesting seeing everyone's creativity!) Rolls and responses will be posted on the 9th.

You may still answer today's prompt until rolls and responses are posted on the 9th

[EchoIre]

-Fever Dream Remnants (adds 2-5 glowing symbols or shapes around your lambicorn)
-Eye Crystal (adds an extra eye to your lambicorn in any location)
-Shiny Crystals (adds a pair of crystalline horns to your lambicorn)
-30 gems

@bakuraas.
Though you could see Lambent's large form long before you arrived at the cliff, it isn't until you begin unpacking that they greet you. "Welcome, dear bros." You pause, looking up at Lambent with a raised eyebrow. What? Did you hear them properly? "I see you bring mad snacks. Marvelous." You remember how strange the dream they met you in was. Maybe whatever was going on with their speech pattern was... normal in a way? They seem impressed with the snacks you brought, though, which is nice. "You may continue to socialize until our other bodacious guests arrive." Lambent snaps their claws at you, and a few odd glowy symbols appear at your side in a puff of purple smoke. They remind you of the dream they made somehow. "For your efforts." (+Fever Dream Remnants)

@Ravenwhisper's Wish
Even though that dream was three different kinds of terrifying, and Lambent was massive the smell of sweet treats, the sounds of chatter and laughter, the the sight of colorful butterflies puts you at ease. Lambent noticed your approach and smiles at you. "Yo! You have come to attend this wondrous conference to learn more about this most heinous feud between you team leaders, have you not?" You stare up at Lambent, trying to decipher the string of words they just threw at you. Even if it weren't coming from an ancient and massive entity, it would have been... confusing to say the least. You stammer an affirmation. Lambent nods solemnly. "Radical. You may take a seat wherever you like, homeslice." Their vocabulary apparently oscillates from some ancient time to abandoned 80s slang without reason. You try not to seem too confused. Before you can leave, Lambent snaps a a plume of purple smoke appears before your eyes. It fades, leaving a large pile of colorful gems. "For coming so far." They explain, before turning to speak with another newcomer. (+30 gems)

@DaniCalifornia
There's quite a few other lambicorns there when you arrive. It's impossible to miss Lambent - giant, colorful, looking about the place with their many eyes - though they're preoccupied with another group at the moment. You settle down near the middle to wait for the meeting to start, and Lambent comes up to you a few minutes later. "Homegirl, homeboy." They dip their dead to you, leaving you to wonder if you really just heard an elder say 'homegirl' and 'homeboy'. "Greetings and welcome. Have you come to hear the true tale of this totally most warped argument?" You say yes after a moment, a bit overwhelmed by this strange character before you. Shifting colors, halos of smoke and crystals, magma-like veins, and odd sprinklings of 80s slang make for a very... interesting time. Lambent smiles slightly. "Stellar, friends. We will begin shortly." Before turning away, they snap and shoot a finger gun your way. You could almost swear you heard even make the "peww" sound. Still, a puff of brightly colored smoke appears before you, revealing a few strange floating symbols. They're pretty, but remind you of Lambent's dream in a strange way. "We'll begin shortly, dudes." Is all they say before floating off to greet the next lambicorn. (+Fever Dream Remnants)

[EchoIre]

After a long day of talking with your companions and learning more about the other team than you ever thought you would, you are interrupted by a loud clink. The entire group turns its attention to the elder in the center, who has stood up once more and now floats in the center of the open expanse. They are framed by the setting sun and the space in front of them is darkened from their shadow for more than fifty yards out. Their voice booms across the field as they beckon you closer.
“Come now park yourself on the grass because the exposition bus is about to depart.” You still struggle with the elder’s strange speech, but you comply and move closer. Magenta smoke billows up behind you forming looming opaque walls.
“I pity you, for surely when you pledged your allegiance to a team you thought it was a simple scavenger hunt.” they seem genuinely sad and very serious until they add on: “Big oof.”
“Much like all stories, the origin of your plight begin long ago, in a galaxy far far a… even for my level of random that’s kitschy, much like all stories…blah blah blah origin of your plight bla blah blah. This story begins at a bit past the beginning and a little before the end of time.”
As they speak the smoke around you changes colors and you soon find yourself under a pale blue sky, surrounded by pale tan rocks. Lambent is gone. Before you can so much as stutter, a figure appears before you. A tall gangly navy lambicorn huffs and paws at the ground in frustration. They seem familiar but you’ve certainly never seen them before. The lambicorn’s matted fur sways in the breeze and you realize where you’ve seen those matts before. But it couldn’t be… this lambicorn looked so, you wouldn’t quite say normal but certainly less regal, compared to the Grimm you know. But even without the mask, the second set of eyes and the glowing stripes confirm this is in fact Grimm. A young one but very much Grimm.
“Where is she? Does she assume my time worthless?” the young Grimm stamps again, cyan flames erupting from each angry kick. You wonder who Grimm could be waiting for, if this event takes place as long ago as you’ve begun to suspect there weren’t many other Lambicorns around.
“I have a schedule, I have a planned lunch with Lambent and she destroys it. No regard for anyone save herself…” Grimm paces a top the large rock, still muttering about their lunch plans. Was this it? The reason for the dangerous animosity? A missed lunch date? Before you can fixate on this, a second figure appears.
“Do calm yourself Grimm.” The voice is unmistakably Nai’a’s. Just as airy and cold as you’re used to. Grimm snarls in response to Nai’a’s arrival.
“You are tardy. You have cost me my lunch appointment.”
“Oh what a shame, I do apologize. However I doubt you will require the appointment at all.”
This catches Grimm’s attention, and they jerk up to stare at the pastel Lambicorn.
“Why do you say that?” They growl, rising up to Nai’a who just gives another cold laugh.
“Oh you had not seen?” Nai’a seems to be taking great enjoyment from her torment. Grimm lashes out knocking her back to the ground with a harsh slam of their tail.
“Why must you be so violent old one?” Nai’a practically coos behind her smirk. Grimm lands beside her and swishes their tail frantically. Nai’a for her part doesn’t seem overly phased. “I suppose it is an issue with you older lambicorns. That and your insufferable sense of arrogance. Do you really believe you can help me with the dreams I am to bring? Unlike you I am not meant to inspire fear and anguish. I am to bring wonder, whimsy and joy. What makes you think you are able to teach me anything of value in relation to my job?”
Grimm doesn’t speak, they continue glaring at the other lambicorn.
“what has this to do with Lambent?” they move closer to her, now inches from her nose. Nai’a shoves them away and scrambles up.
“Your arrogance is the very thing that drove Lambent away.” She states coldly “You and your posturing, the constant ‘lay eyes upon me, gaze upon perfection,’ soured their mood. Have you forgotten how they feel regarding their own dreams? How they cry and long to be useful? No? It matters not if you remember, for they are already gone. They slumber now, hidden away Aurourae knows where. All because you would not hold your tongue.”
Grimm has been standing there, shocked silent by her words, eyes open wide. Wordlessly Grimm vanishes into a plume of green fire, leaving Nai’a by herself.
The younger lambicorn’s smirk drops immediately. She curls into a ball and sobs.
“excellent job Nai’a. You have pushed away the only one who might have helped you with these dreams.” Nai’a slams her tail around in a fit of rage. “I don’t need them! I don’t need them to fix this. And why must I lash out so? Lambent would never leave Grimm, the two are of one soul separated in two.” At this Nai’a sobs again and closes her eyes.

The smokescape shifts. The walls change to a pale yellow, as if the sky has been dunked in a dirty bucket of bleach. The scene changes to a pleasant beach of warm sand and bright blue sky. Palms sway gently in the breeze and birds call cheerfully. Then the breeze picks up into a violent whirlwind hurling sand everywhere. The sky fills with dark clouds and loud echoing thunder. The sea violently churns, turning a grey teal and slamming into the beach. The bird calls have stopped, turning to ferocious screeches. The darkening sky fills with swooping pterosaurs, multiplying with every clap of thunder or flash of lightning. A giant wave builds in the distance, rapidly closing the distance to the beach… roaring as it approaches.
And just like that it’s over. The scene fades and Nai’a opens her eyes. She swears and stomps, dust and bits of rock displaced by her sheer power.
“How can I be the first bringer of pleasant dreams when I cannot create more than a simple nightmare? Grimm will never respect me…”

The smoke fades and you find yourself back in the open meadow. The sun has been replaced by the moon and the stars dance across the sky. Lambent flicks the last few wisps of smoke away and speaks. “The conflict you have entered is an enduring one. Grimm and Nai’a have been fighting for a hot second. One hurt by her own self-hate, fueled to push those who cared away. The other mourning a long-gone mate, blaming themselves for the loss. Over time the two formed an uneasy relationship, cordial enough in public but constantly throwing hands behind the scenes. Grimm suspects Nai’a is hiding something. Nai’a wishes to fix her messed up dreams without Grimm’s knowledge. Each has become hellbent on their goal and has forgotten how to be decent beings. I hope this clears things up for y’all. But you best return to your leaders or somebody gonna get hurt. Reflect tonight and I will return you to your camps tomorrow.” They lay down to guard over you as you settle in for the night.

Username:
Art/Writing:

[bakuraas.]

I'm Reflecting.
Username: bakuraas.
Art/Writing: [1040 words]
[ feat. Iso ● and Azu ● ]

Iso could have helped the others clean up, but after what he saw he couldn't bring himself to do that. Instead he was just sitting near the edge, looking up at the night sky. He was silent, all except for his breathing. His mind was swirling with thoughts, both about what he had seen here and all the tasks he had done before. One of his butterflies still flew around him as he thought, landing every so often only to take off again. It was almost like the insect was worried about him as he sat there in silence... and they weren't the only one.

Iso's eyes came back to ground level as he was handed a small cupcake, with frosting that was only slightly melted, topped with some sprinkles that were now drooling food coloring over the sweet treat. Iso took the cupcake, looking up to see Azu sitting down next to him. Once Azu got Iso's attention, he started to question the younger lambicorn in that concerned tone that Azu only used for him. "Hey Iso, you doing okay? I know that was a lot... plus, you didn't even offer to eat any of the leftover snacks." Iso took that in for a moment... it was a lot, he could agree to that much. It took him a bit to collect his thoughts, speaking slowly as to not make anything impossible to understand.

"I just...realized something." He started, watching as Azu got a bit more comfortable, as if he knew this was going to go on for a bit. "I realized that... no matter what I do or what I try to cheer people up or help them, in the end I can't do anything to really help." Azu nodded, putting his hoof around the other's shoulder and pulling him into a bit of a side-hug. Azu's words seemed "Oh, that's not true. You're just seeing it in one situation. This is a situation between elder lambicorns, there's no way someone like us could ever help with that... and most wouldn't even try. If you tried to make Nai'a feel better in any way, you're already so much more help than anyone else is." There was silence after that, and while Azu at first thought it would lead to Iso calming down, he felt the other shake in his embrace. Looking over, he saw that Iso was starting to cry, face squishing up in distress as large tears started down his face.

"Who cares if I try? Who cares if I try if I end up failing? I know things I can do are worthless, and that I'm an idiot for ever thinking I could help, and honestly now I feel more like an idiot because I tried." Azu had never heard this tone from Iso before, not even back in the cave of eyes. The tone he got there was of confused sadness, but this- it really sounded like Iso's heart was shattered, like his world was crumbling, like something inside of him was breaking. "I just wanted to be happy... I wanted to experience the Festival of Dreams... I wanted to go searching for things and explore everything my parents were too afraid to show me." Back in the cave his tears fell on a clean face, and were easily cleaned from his fur and played off as if nothing happened- but now, Iso's face was twisted in sorrow and despair, his face turning red from the amount of effort it took not to scream in sorrow. His voice got even more pained, sounding like every word was being forced out of his throat in a way that hurt.

"I JUST WANTED TO HAVE FUN! WHY CAN'T EVERYBODY JUST BE HAPPY!?"

Iso's scream of torment, especially with what he said, made Azu's heart break. He didn't think too much about how loud it was, causing some of the other lambicorns around to look at them. Azu knew what this was, Azu had experienced it himself and knew how much it hurt. He knew how much it hurt to lose your childhood innocence. To realize that the world isn't perfect, to learn that you can't always turn things into a happy ending, to have reality show it's ugly side.

Iso still had the emotions he needed to let out, and he wasn't able to think right. He got up for a moment, only to grab the cupcake he was given and throw it over the edge with as strong of a throw as he could muster. Azu watched as Iso slumped onto the ground, curling up a bit and almost shoving his face into the dirt. Azu moved accordingly, going to sit closer to the other before hearing his voice again, muffled by the ground around him. "I'm so tired..." Azu nodded, getting up from the ground and picking Iso up onto his back so that he could move him back to where the others were.

Cepho and Pally were fast asleep, curled up on the grass. Azu was kind of surprised that neither of them woke up from Iso screaming, but he didn't think about it too much. Instead, he walked over to where Iso had set up his blanket, setting the other down next to his basket. He looked tired, his eyes barely open as he continued to shiver and cry, though the tears were much more passive now. Azu looked over to his own set-up, moving to grab the blanket he had brought for himself, and laying it on top of the younger lambicorn.

Iso's eyes finally closed, his body shifting so that he cuddled up against the blanket. Azu sat down next to Iso, watching and waiting for his breathing to calm, so that he would know that he had gone to sleep. Iso had never heard Azu sing before, Azu would always claim he 'wasn't the singing type', but Iso always just assumed he was self-conscious. But now, Though Iso's mind was troubled as he tried to sleep, he heard it. Azu's singing voice, a soft, dark tone that was somehow smoother sounding than his regular speech. Azu's singing voice was calming, comforting, and in a way, it reminded him of home.

♪"Hear my silent prayer, Heed my quiet call, When the dark and blue surround you.
Step into my sigh, Look inside the light, You will know that I have found you."♪

[EchoIre]

New prompt is up!

-Fever Dream Remnants (adds 2-5 glowing symbols or shapes around your lambicorn)
-Eye Crystal (adds an extra eye to your lambicorn in any location)
-Shiny Crystals (adds a pair of crystalline horns to your lambicorn)
-30 gems

@bakuraas.
Lambent comes up to a while later. "I'm sorry you got pulled into this, little dude." They say solemnly. They snap, and a large bag appears before you. "Enjoy the rest of the festival." Is all Lambent says before going to another upset Lambicorn, perhaps sensing that there was nothing else they could say, (+ 30 gems)

@DaniCalifornia
Lament nods. "Makes sense, homegirl." A few glittering crystals grow in front or you paws, shining beautifully in the sunset's dying light. You glance up at Lambent, wondering if they made them, but they're already gone when you look. (+Shiny Crystals)

You may now post for today!

[bakuraas.]

I'm going to the Festival!
Username: bakuraas.
Art/Writing:

Iso softly poked at the gem that he had won from a game, staring at it for a bit as he thought. He was confused, he was sad. Was everyone lying- was nobody lying? What would have happened, what even is happening? At this point, Iso couldn't really tell- and in a way he didn't really want to find out.

[EchoIre]

Nai’a is sitting where you and the rest of the team usually stand, looking somber and… small, in a way. Something in the way she usually holds herself is missing, and she has her tail wrapped tightly around her legs, only adding to her smaller look. The clouds around you are the same as they’re always been. It’s hard to imagine how quickly they delved into the storm last night, or to imagine how they could ever be like what Lambent showed you. You silently walk up to Nai’a, stopping just a few yards in front of her.

“Did you have fun at the festival?” She asks gently. “I hope so.” Suddenly, Nai’a lays on her belly, resting her head on her paws so you are eye to eye - well, as much as you can be. “You don’t have to tell me what you’ve decided about the team yet. But, I thought you may have… questions. I don’t know what you or anyone else has been thinking these last few days, or what Lambent has told you, so…” Nai’a trails off with a quiet huff. Her breath blows your fur back. “If you have any questions, I’ll answer them.” She begins to drum against the cloudy floor with her perfectly-filed claws, but tucks the offending paw under the other when she notices. It happens so quickly you barely even realize. “I promise. It’s… the least I could do, and it may be the only chance I have to set everything straight.”

Code: Select all

[center][b]Explain yourself.[/b]
[b]Username:[/b]
[b]Art/Writing:[/b][/center]

*Rolls for yesterday and today will be posted tomorrow! There will be a unique pool of prizes - those who answered yesterday's and today's prompts will get two! Happy writing/drawing <3

[bakuraas.]

Explain yourself.
Username: bakuraas.
Art/Writing: [ 659 words ]
Iso sat down, putting the balloon he had gotten from the festival next to him before looking back up to Nai'a. If anything, he didn't want Nai'a to ask silly questions that Iso would probably not understand the answers to, he just wanted to tell the other what had happened, and why it had hurt him so badly. Before he spoke however, he pulled out the map he had been given, laying it out in front of him.

"I don't know about many of the others... but I was worried about you. You looked so sad when I came back with the gemstone you asked of us, and I didn't know what to do really. I thought I would come up with something but then Lambent came to us and told us that you and Grimm were in... a 'ceaseless war'. He told us to go to this place called 'Dawn's Edge' so that we could all relax and take time away from our team tasks." He paused, looking to the side and pushing the map a bit closer as he continued.

"To be honest, I kind of thought you would be there. That it was going to be some grand scheme to bring everyone from both teams together so that nobody had to fight. Me and some of my friend even brought pastries and sweet stuff because we thought It'd be kind of like a relaxing party... but that wasn't what happened at all..." At this point, Iso began to tear up a bit, his paws going to wipe his own tears away as his voice began to become weak. "And...and then Lambent showed all of us that scene of you and Grimm fighting. You both were so hurt, and I know it's silly but watching you cry really made me feel awful. You've been so nice to me and... seeing those who are nice to me be in pain hurts..."

He shivered, going from sitting to laying on his belly, his paws going to hold his head as he tried to calm his breathing. "And then Lambent just told us to think about it, and at first I was thinking about how to make you or Grimm feel better somehow- but then I realized that it doesn't matter." With that, his tears started to flow more freely, but somehow his voice was still able to be heard clear enough to understand. "I can try to make others happy with whatever dumb idea I come up with as much as I want, but sometimes it won't work- and I look like an idiot for even trying. And I realized that sometimes happy endings don't exist, and that especially with important lambicorns like you, nobody can help make it better..."

Iso was making himself smaller and smaller every time he paused, almost seeming to collapse in on himself as he started to feel the clouds below him become wet with his tears. "This was my first festival... not even that- this was the first time I was ever allowed to talk to lambicorns I didn't already know. And now that this happened, my dads might just never let me go outside like this again! They'll be too scared that I'll be traumatized or that something awful will happen to me! And I don't want that..." From the ground, he wiped away some of his tears, weakly getting up as best he could so that he could look up to Nai'a, making eye contact as best he could."I'm sorry... I know it's not your fault I just needed to let that out again. But, I do have one question."

He softly picked up his balloon, it's light blue plastic decorated with the silly smiley face. He lifted his paw, almost as if offering the balloon to Nai'a, and giving a weak, sad smile towards the elder lambicorn.

"The festival isn't over yet...so can we still have fun as a team?"