Going For A Ride (reviewer characters)

[Ma-Ti]

(ooc: March 11th. Joe & Ma-Ti/Midnight thread. Now open to reviewer characters.)

Midnight was nervous as he was guided to the woods. The past couple days many of the members had tried to tame him to ride him after failing to ride Spirit. And well he had gotten nervous and ended up knocking many of them off. And he was surprised to see the newest person to try was Angry Joe. He remembered him vaguely. Unfortunately the longer he was a horse the more his memories of a human started to fade and that terrified him. He feared one day he'd forget completely and just believe he was a horse. He'd told Spirit who was sad to hear that but vowed to stick by him. He was pulled from his thoughts as he saw Joe walk to him. He neighed softly and looked at Joe hoping he didn't get skittish again and hurt him.

[Angry Joe]

Joe was the newest to try Midnight, and a lot of people were a bit ansty due to the nervousness of the horse. Spirit was just too free-hearted to be ridden unless he really trusted someone so noone bothered to ride him anymore but midnight was different, the younger horse was pretty ok with humans but when ridden he began panicking and forced them off. It seemed the two horses were quite uneasy to tame, yet for different reasons. Joe saw potential in Midnight and though the horse showed skittishness, joe was never one to judge a book by it's cover. The man in the superman T-shirt walked to the horse, who nieghed softly and Joe grinned desperate to assure the animal he meant no harm. Joe rubbed the horse's snout and said "Shh-shh. It's alright buddy. You just had rough times with those assholes back at Facilier's place huh? Yeah, who's a good boy?" He chuckled and went to get a bit and a saddle, then went in. He then showed the saddle to Midnight and said "Alright, see this buddy? I'm gonna try riding you like the rest did. I know you're nervous but I'm your friend ok? I'm Angry Joe by the way, just so you know even though you probably don't understand half of what I'm saying" Unlike Ma-ti, Joe knew animals had feelings but felt they did not understand human language so he assumed he was talking out of his own mouth to be comforting only. He saw the horse back away and neigh slightly and he said "It's ok. I won't hurt you. I promise"

[Ma-Ti]

Midnight looked at Joe and felt himself relaxing. He wasn't sure what it was but Joe was just one of the people he felt safe with. One he trusted and respected. Someone he could speak Spanish with and didn't just treat him like a kid. And he'd been one of the few reviewers to not treat him like crap over the years. He'd forgiven Critic and the others who had but he'd always admired Joe. Sort of viewing him like an older brother/father figure to him. He neighed softly as Joe spoke and rubbed his snout. That felt nice actually.

Midnight looked a bit nervous as Joe brought out the saddle and bit as he was nervous but Joe's words were comforting. He knew how badly he was treated in Facilier's camp and wanted to be his friend. He wanted to spend time with his friends even if it was like this. As he was starting to give up hope of ever being human again. He nodded his head as if trying to show he understood as he realized Joe couldn't hear him.

"This stupid curse. I wish I could talk to him. Let him know i'm alive. That I didn't miss my father as much with him around." thought Midnight.

He shed a tear and sighed waiting for Joe to put the saddle on so they could go for a ride. Maybe a ride would make him feel better.

[Angry Joe]

Joe was glad the horse trusted him and seemed to calm down, Joe was glad that he had a positive effect with the horse. Perhaps having the ride with him would be easy after all! The horse then showed signs of sadness and joe assumed this as some sort of discomfort and felt terrible. Did he scare him? Did he worry him? Did facilier's abuse really hurt him? Joe quickly went over and petted the horse again. "Hey, hey. It's alright boy. Those mean jerks won't hurt ya. Not when you have angry joe around" He chuckled then put on the saddle. He also, gently, put on the bit. He then turned to midnight and responded "OK boy. Now listen. I'm going to get on you now don't throw me off, I won't be mad if you do but it'll hurt my ass so I'd advise you to just niegh if you feel bad or something ok?" He then tried to climb onto midnight.

[Ma-Ti]

Midnight paused as Joe petted him and Midnight just seemed to relax. He smiled nuzzling him before Joe spoke again. Joe asked to not throw him off as he could get hurt. To just neigh if he felt bad. Midnight nodded his head as Joe climbed on him. Midnight felt uneasy and neighed a little but began to gallop around slowly trying to get used to Joe being on his back. He was trying to resist his urge to panic and throw him off. Joe was a friend. He'd been nice to him. He didn't want him to get hurt.

"This isn't so bad. He's not trying to hurt me like my masters were. No. They weren't my masters. They were my captors. Joe's nothing like this guys." thought Midnight.

He kept walking around wondering if Joe would say something or direct him to do anything.

[Angry Joe]

As joe successfully got on Midnight, the horse neighed slightly and Joe gently shushed the horse "It's alright. Easy. You're doing so well" Joe really didn't want to harm the horse but in order to tame Midnight they had to try and ride him to some certain degree. The man hushed the horse as Midnight seemed to be at ease and began galloping. It was slow but Joe was optimistic and took this as a huge accomplishment. "Atta boy! You're doing so well!" Joe cheered, gently patting on midnight's head in encouragement.

As they continued walking, Joe felt accomplished enough to try something a little more harder for the horse. "Alright. Let's go outside and stretch your legs. How does that sound? You like that buddy? You're such a good horse you know that?" He patted the horse affectionately, treating the horse as if he was a lost puppy. But this was his best way of showing affection and encouragement to a horse that was in a bad setting.

[Ma-Ti]

Midnight couldn't help but smile at Joe. The praise he'd craved for so long since being turned into a horse was finally being given to him by Joe. He was treated him like a friend and not like property.

"I know you can't hear me Joe but thank you." thought Midnight.

He realized he was crying but these were happy tears. Perhaps being stuck as a horse wouldn't be so bad after all. He grinned as Joe praised him again patting his head which he found he was starting to enjoy. He neighed out happily and nodded as Joe said they should go outside and stretch is legs. He paused and began galloping out of the fenced in area. The gate was open but he hadn't left before knowing there was no where else he could go afraid of being taken by facilier again. Or worse being shipped off to a race track or farm. He grinned as he began galloping a bit faster.

"This is fun. I didn't realize I could run so fast." thought Midnight.

(ooc: I didn't want him to go too fast at first as Joe would have been unprepared. so any ideas how long this should go? maybe a few more posts of horse ma-ti and then i turn him into a mute human. aside from neighing like a horse. Or should we make this ride a bit longer?)

[Angry Joe]

(OCC: A couple of posts, like 2 or 3, comes to mind for horse ma-ti. Then he turns into a mute human and reunites with IHeart. Sound good?)

Joe was happy to see the horse trust and be happy around him. Joe wanted nothing more than the horse to feel loved. Because joe was that kind of nice person. He didn't hear anything ma-ti said but smiled seeing the horse's eyes fill with happy tears. "Awwww. You're such a good boy. Awww. Why would they ever try to hurt someone as awesome as you?" Joe said questioningly. He liked the horse very much. The horse indeed had the ability to still be adorable and kind.

Joe was a bit confused as Ma-Ti was hesitant to leave the fence but was glad that the horse left and even galloped. "See? Exercise was what you needed. Atta boy!" He enjoyed this as Ma-Ti kept galloping faster. Joe laughed. "Alright. We're gonna go to roses then get back to Critic's ok? I'll show you the way buddy, you're doing well but you need me for directions" He laughed cheerfully

[Ma-Ti]

(ooc: sorry i took so long for this post. was going to start the transforming in this thread without them realizing it. I think it'd be amusing if by the end ma-ti would be giving joe a piggy back ride before he falls over. xd)

Midnight grinned as they kept going. He was really starting to enjoy the praise from Angry Joe. For so long the treatment from Malachite and Facilier had been insults and pain. But the praise was music to his ears. It made him feel worthy like he mattered. First Spirit and then Joe. He was starting to build his self-confidence and self-worth back slowly.

He kept galloping faster and faster as he soon realized they were getting closer to Rose's house. He paused as he whinnied as he felt something was changing. His right leg had turned human and he was now running on three horse legs and one human legs. He gasped as his back transformed human next as he felt the saddle dig into his skin as he winced.

"The spell's wearing off? But how?" thought Midnight.

[Angry Joe]

(OCC: Alrightie. Sounds good to me and no worries about the lateness or anything. I'm just glad joe is the first to see Ma-Ti)

Joe laughed out of pure amusement and joy as the horse was beginning to enjoy himself. "Yeah! This is so awesome!" He commented to himself as the horse galloped faster and faster to Roses' house. He didn't care about how fast midnight was going, he was having so much fun. The horse was trusting him and joe had the ability to ride a horse, it was a win-win in his mind. Suddenly midnight whinnied and Joe was about to ask what was wrong when suddenly one of midnight's legs turned into a human one and midnight's back was much more human-esque and Joe's eyes bulged out of his skull. "What the hell?" He said out loud out of his own confusion. "OK call me crazy midnight but I think something's up with you buddy" He said that out of distressed amusement because he seriously didn't know what else to do. Suddenly as more parts of midnight changed to a human-like body, Joe suddenly realized something. Midnight was someone else before a horse, otheriwise the transformation before him wouldn't be happening. But the only question was... Who was he previously?

"Oh my god. It can't be. It can't be" Joe said, thinking out of his own self-worry. He then realized he was still riding him and the fact they were near roses made this easier for him to say what he said next "Alright, whoa! Stop! Oh my god, I'm so freaked out! Stop!"

[Ma-Ti]

Midnight was trying to listen to Joe but he was beginning to panic as the transformation kept going. He gasped as he was enveloped in white light blinding anyone in the area including Joe and Midnight temporarily. Midnight crashed into a tree and fell to the ground. When the light died down Ma-Ti was now human again. The saddle was still strapped to his back and the bit was in his mouth. Four horse shoes fell off his sneakers and hands. Ma-Ti looked around in a daze wondering what was going on when he realized Joe was still on top of him. He looked up at Joe and tried to speak to him but to his shock all he could do was neigh like a horse. Ma-Ti whimpered and began to sob a little. He was human again but he still could only speak horse. He looked down and felt Joe get off him and the saddle and bit get removed to his relief. He turned around to see Joe and Ma-Ti rushed forward hugging him sobbing a little into his chest.

(ooc: I say maybe after a couple more posts of Joe & Ma-Ti's reunion we could add in others. We could just say Roses, Joe, etc. let people at Critic's house know so they could teleport over to speak to Ma-Ti.)

[Angry Joe]

(OCC: Sounds good to me. We'll bring in roses, joe and whatnot from critic's place. IHeart is going to meet him later)

"Ah! The light!" Joe couldn't help but say as a white flashing light blinded him for a time. Suddenly he and his new found friend, ma-ti had crashed into a tree. Joe was beyond shocked to see a human version of ma-ti once more. Joe's shock caused him to freeze for a while, looking the boy over as if assuming this to be all a illusion. Though the movements of ma-ti proved different and the fact he still had a bit and saddle on him was proof too. As if that wasn't enough, Joe was still ON the kid and he jumped when ma-ti neighed and Joe had a very good feeling that ma-ti was always alive but as midnight and the spell put on the boy was still active, just not entirely anymore.

However joe's detective skills were put to a halt when Ma-Ti started crying. Immediately, as if called upon action, Joe got off and took the saddle and bit off "I don't know how the hell this is all going on but you need to get all that stuff off ya" Joe responded softly. The guilt of having ma-ti in the palm of his hand and not even aware of it started to sink in but Ma-Ti's sobbing and tightened hug on him called him to comfort the boy. Joe started losing it then and started crying also. "Oh god ma-ti. What happened to you? We thought you were gone. Oh god, ma-ti. I'm so glad to see you. You're ok now. You're gonna be ok" Joe promised as he kept rubbing the kid's back as well as holding onto him closely.

[Ma-Ti]

Ma-Ti just hugged Joe back tighter. He tried to speak and all that came out was a neigh. That just got a new wave of sobs from Ma-Ti as he held Joe tighter. He was human again. But he could only speak in horse. He let go of Angry Joe as he stood up. He couldn't stay here. He couldn't face the others again. He wasn't worthy to be in this army or be their friend. Facilier and Malachite were right. He was a freak. He had to go. He stood and took off into a run only to crash into a tree. He winced at the pain staggering back. Angry Joe would be catching up soon or call for help. He had to keep going. He couldn't face his friends or get caught by Facilier or Ask That Guy's armies. He wasn't sure where he was going but he had to go.

(ooc: feel free to stop him. guess we could add others to this thread if we want in your next post. not much we can really do since ma-ti can't well talk.)

[Angry Joe]

(OCC: Sure. I'll just have Joe send in Roses and just call her that ma-ti is here and to help him, then you can send in roses in your next post. Then I can add IHeart in here. I just want one last post of just joe)

Joe hugged the other boy who sobbed and Joe's heart broke for him. Despite his return, Ma-Ti was still suffering. This was not what joe had in mind for the boy. If ma-ti would've been dead, joe wished for the child to have peace, instead the boy was somehow turned into a horse and suffered being one without anyone noticing it. Now he was a human who could only talk AS a horse. Joe didn't know who to blame or kill but whomever was responsible for ma-ti's fate would soon be paid a very angry visit from joe. At the moment, because of the shock, joe wasn't putting two and two together yet. So it was only when Ma-Ti stepped away from him and ran was when Joe decided to actually get help or actually solve this problem.

Joe cried out "Ma-ti! Stop! Don't run! You don't have any place to go! Please!" The man wiped the tears from his face and immediately got his phone out. As he called Roses' phone number, he ran right after the young man who seemed to stagger into a tree, which caused the boy to slow down. "Ma-ti! We can solve this! You don't have to run away!" He then heard a "Hello?" From roses and joe responded "Roses! You're not gonna believe me but Ma-ti is running away from me and I need you to get over here and help me get him to the house"

"You're joking. Joe. Don't make stupid assumptions like that, you know how hard it is for us"

"I'm not lying. He's right in front of me. Come outside! You got to believe me! I wouldn't make shit like this up! And get IHeart here too! She'd want to see this" Joe begged, finally catching up to Ma-ti "You stop it, ma-ti. Let me help you. You've been lost to me once, it's not going to happen again" Joe responded, unaware roses was probably still listening

"I'm not bringing IHeart yet. I want to see it first before I do anything like that. Just hang on. Wait. Where are you?"

"Have no clue. Probably near the backyard. Ma-ti is in a panic attack mode right now and he needs help" Joe responded "Just hurry" He hung up the phone and then held onto Ma-Ti "Ma-ti. Obviously there's magic involved because all this is totally related to magic, that I'm certain, but you don't have to run and hide because your neighing, you need to stay with the people who obviously care about you" He hugged ma-ti "You're not alone. I'm going to find every single way to help you. I've lost you once, buddy. I won't lose you again"

[Ma-Ti]

]Ma-Ti paused as Joe tried to get him to stop. But Ma-Ti shook his head. He had to keep going. But he heard Joe speaking to Roses and soon Joe had his arms around him again stopping him from going. It felt nice to be hugged like this. But he knew he didn't deserve this. He didn't deserve anything. He struggled in Joe's grasp trying to break out but he wasn't strong enough. So he just stopped struggling and just sobbed his head lying against Joe's chest.

"Why did this have to happen to me?" thought Ma-Ti.

XXXX

Roses meanwhile had gotten the phone call from Joe who told her about Ma-Ti.

"You're joking. Joe. Don't make stupid assumptions like that, you know how hard it is for us." said Roses.

When she heard Joe say he wasn't joking she frowned listening to him.

"I'm not bringing IHeart yet. I want to see it first before I do anything like that. Just hang on. Wait. Where are you?"

He told her he was near the backyard and hung up. She paused rushing upstairs gathering a group of reviewers and told them to follow outside. She then made a call to Critic's house to get some of the others to join her. Once outside two flashes of light formed into Goggles and Nella as they joined Roses's group.

"Come one. We have to hurry. It's Ma-Ti. He's alive. He's with Joe nearby. He needs us." said Roses.

Goggles and Nella were speechless still not wanting to believe this as they followed the group. It wasn't long before they caught up with Joe and Ma-Ti.

"It's true. He's alive!" said Roses.

"He's come back to us for a second time." said Goggles.

"Critic, Iheart, and Spoony are going to flip when they see this. We better get them here." said Nella.