EQ_Theta

@Blitz Boom No need to worry or apologize. I didn't expect that kind of reaction from Elder Zhao, but it was interesting to see that! I'll try to work in something based on Elder Zhao's response for my next reply! Sen, in his current state, wouldn't like what he just heard!

Whoops. Sorry about that! Let me correct my reply, but thanks for bringing this up!

@Blitz Boom It was a strange thing, Omen asking for the names of Sen’s parents. At this time, deeply mired in a tense memory, Sen didn’t see how it was important, especially given his current circumstances. As his body shifted into the younger self that was present at the time this memory happened, even he was seeing things rather differently. It wouldn’t be apparent to Elder Zhao or Omen, but to Sen, he was seeing the two as simple hunters like those who grabbed his parents. Right then and there, hearing one of the two guards asking for his parents’ names was rather out-of-place and unexpected. He’d resist all the same, using what strength he has to continue to break free. Still, there was a remnant of the real Sen’s cognition poking here and there. To some degree, he could still recognize Elder Zhao and Omen’s presence, and the longma wanted to do what he could to help despite his focus being placed on the situation unfolding before him. “What does that matter?!” Sen replied, his anger more than evident, as his mind is still convinced he’s experiencing the tense standoff from his memories. “They’re Nobu and Jia, not that you’d care! If you see how wrong this is, let me go and stop them from taking my parents away!” The tight grip on the longma meant there was no risk of him breaking free, but with Sen focused on the situation more than the surroundings, he’d only continue to see things from a narrower perspective. As for Lin, she didn’t appear to be anywhere within line of sight, though something was off. One would notice her rapid breathing, reacting to the events unfolding before her as if she were present that fateful night. So far, nothing here lined up with her brother’s claim that he ran. He was there, held down perhaps, but he didn’t run. Yet, there was guilt in his answer; he couldn’t look at her as he gave it. Even so, it had been so long since she last saw her mother and father; her memories of them were incomplete, barely able to remember their faces. It was through her brother that she slowly began to see them as they were. As these events went on, the hunters positioned closer to Elder Solasan, and the siblings’ parents continued to pull the two apart. Solasan didn’t seem affected by the pleas of the two, nor those of Sen. You don’t need to do this, elder. Let this matter go! There was nothing there! And let you go like nothing happened? You know our laws on those forbidden places. Who’s to say you placed a curse upon us all? No, you must be made an example of to the rest of the village. You are our elder! What do you hope to gain by punishing us like this?! You could have avoided all of this. You only have yourself to blame. There were no further words from the elder as Sen’s father was being pulled away, his mother crying out for him and begging for his release. All this time, “Lin” could only watch in horror as she was powerless to do anything to stop this. Likewise, Sen continued to struggle against the restraints put on him due to Elder Zhao’s tight grip. While all this happened, a little dark weed slowly and quietly manifested on Sen’s body. Or rather, this weed crawled up on him, implanting itself onto his chest, thorny tendrils wrapping themselves on his limbs and wings. It appeared the entity within the mindscape had also grown interested in the events unfolding before everyone, and this one was intent on giving some much-needed “assistance” for the young longma. Elder Zhao may begin noticing Sen’s strength growing, slowly beginning to overpower her hold over him. Sen felt this as well, as he could slowly try and overpower his captor.

@Blitz Boom “I… I don’t know if I can, not when it could do more harm… Lin, sister, I… I don’t-” “Lin” placed one talon over her brother’s mouth, trying to shush him for a moment as he stammered to come up with some kind of response. He could barely make eye contact with his sister, most likely in an attempt to hide the truth. How could he? Sooner or later, it had to come out, and the worst part was figuring out how to navigate Lin’s response on the matter. It was bad enough that he made up a falsehood, but with the truth about to be revealed, he had to come clean no matter what. As for “Lin,” she braced herself for the moment, somehow only convinced the fabrication wasn’t as bad as Sen believed. Then again, there was the possibility that it was much worse, but just like her brother, she had to accept that there was something off. A fabrication, one made to spare her the gravity of the situation, was no different than a lie made for convenience. And, in truth, Elder Zhao’s comment that they are stronger together despite conflicts, may simply be wishful thinking. “Sen, please, tell me. What really happened?” “Is this what you want? The truth?” No answer, not for a moment, at least. “Lin” hesitated for a moment, knowing the gravity of the situation, but the answer would have come regardless of how she responded. Taking one deep breath in and out, she nodded, “Yes.” There was a pause in Sen’s thoughts. He wanted to spare her the details, make things sound less terrible than they really were, but not anymore. He had to come clean now, or risk making things worse for them when they have to restore the memory. He remembers the sister who looked up to him when they were children, but how long could that image stay before it comes crumbling down? Perhaps now it would be best to let it simply be, rebuild what’s left of that image when all this is over. His sister gave her answer, and now he must abide by her choice. “I didn’t stay and fight. The truth is, I ran. When our parents needed us most, I ran.” “Lin” remained silent, a look of disappointment evident on her face. There were no words that could get her to shake the feeling of her heart sinking. Deep down, she wanted to believe that this wasn’t true, that maybe Sen was just making something up. Sadly, her brother’s voice had a pang of guilt, making him sound similar to the previous times he talked about their parents as if there was truth masked by grief and regret. The two siblings couldn’t look each other in the eye, but they both took up positions by the crystal; they needed to see that memory and what truly happened. Sen quietly gestured to Elder Zhao and Omen that he wanted to get started on restoring the memory, uneasy about what just happened and somewhat regretful that he had to spill the truth before they even started. In his mind, perhaps it was a mistake to say it. With the two readied and prepared, Sen began to bring the memory to the forefront. He felt one paw and a slender tongue by him, a small comfort for what was to happen. The stage was set as two large hunters marched into their home and began forcefully pulling out a young adult longma, chased by a second, female, crying in desperation. Two more hunters came to hold her back as the young couple were being separated. What’s going on?! Let go of him! Elder, what’s the meaning of this?! You can’t do this to me! A third figure, fairly short and advanced in age walked by the two, though his gaze was fixated on the young male longma. His words were inaudible, though some unintelligible murmurs could be gleaned. Given how he moved and carried himself, he didn’t seem to need to raise his voice to get his message across. Omen may recognize this one to be the former elder, Solasan, from previous dealings with his doppelgänger some time ago. You have it all wrong! Nothing forbids us from going there! Guards, I’ve had enough of this. Take him away. The young male longma struggled to break free, while his partner could only watch and beg as they were being pulled away from each other. And in the midst of this was a young longma child, seeing this unfold, and running as fast as his legs could carry him. He had to be there, to stop this madness, and to make sure his parents were all right. The odds were stacked against him as more hunters emerged, all doing everything they could to stop this interference. Let them go! Let them go! Outside, Sen’s body began to twitch, and as it continued, Elder Zhao and Omen could see his body begin to match the younger longma in the memory, right down to exerting as much effort and struggling with his might. They may be seeing events unfolding from a fair distance away through what appeared to be someone else's eyes, but any kind of emotional feedback was felt through the Sen that was close. Them holding him looked too similar to two hunters grabbing the younger longma, and him fighting to break free there was just like Sen fighting to break free from the kitsune and ki’nathar’s hold, as the two would begin to notice.

@Blitz Boom Sen remained silent for some time, still unsure what the entity wanted to achieve from this whole setup. If it gleaned some aspect of his trauma from Lin or it intended to stop him from fully restoring his sister’s memories, he knew not. However, one look at the view from the bridge was enough for the longma to figure out the contents of the memory that needed to be restored. It wasn’t a good one despite the warmth and fondness that the sight of his home carried. There was no guarantee that this may be the end of the path for them, but he had to go on, and Elder Zhao’s and Omen’s support was a start. The longma sighed, unhappy that he would need to go down this memory but knew there was no other choice. “It was… is… my home. Not how it is now, but what it was before. I’ve had many fond memories growing up there, full of love and support. Those should be the things I must feel about this place, but whenever I see it now, I’m reminded of only pain.” “Omen? You may remember me mentioning this before, but this is how my exile from the forest began. Ahead of us…. that’s where my father was taken away, where my mother’s heart was broken, and where everything fell apart. Our elder, the previous one anyway, was the one who ordered it; no matter how much I wanted to fight it, I couldn’t save my parents.” “Sen…” “Lin” began, believing there was no more to the story after hearing how it went previously. “You’ve told me about this before. You trained to be a guardian for the village and fought back as best you could, right? No one could fault you for doing the right thing.” “That… that wasn’t how it happened…” Tears welled up in Sen’s eyes, knowing that if he were to tell the truth, it may as well do more harm to his sister and their bond. Unfortunately, it wasn’t going to keep “Lin” from prodding for answers, as even she was now curious as to what gaps were present in her memory. For all she knew, the blame was squarely on Solasan, and they already took care of him a while back. What could still eat at Sen’s mind to make him feel guilt after supposedly settling the matter? Yet, there was this look on Sen, evident enough that everyone could see, that there was more to the story. “It wasn’t? But, you told me that’s how things went. What aren’t you telling us?” As the group continued walking down the only path through the footbridge and by the entryway to the siblings’ home, they’d soon come face-to-face with what might be the last crystal that needed to be used. One more memory to be restored, but this one seemed to be warping even its very surroundings. What might be a sinister, yet serene abode now began to change; heat emanated as if the place was on fire, the crimson sky now darkening into a more oppressive night, contrasting the sight of flames surrounding the floating isle. The closer the group came to the longma siblings’ hut, a host of shadowy figures came into view. There would be no use interacting with them, as they didn’t even appear to be real. Everything was morphing and setting the stage to recreate that fateful night. The more Sen and “Lin” moved closer to the center, they experienced what felt like pins prodding their minds, extracting more and more details from memory and reconstructing it for all to see. It wasn’t a good memory, but whatever was doing this was content to let this old wound fester in the open. When everyone had gathered in front of the crystal, Sen hesitated for a moment, evident that he was tempted to simply leave this place without doing anything. But he knew he had to act, and with every bit of his resolve, he needed to act. The longma turned to Elder Zhao and Omen and looked at them with stern conviction, yet there was regret in what might happen next. “Elder? Omen? Before we proceed, I… I’m sorry. I need to apologize for what might happen because when I touch that crystal, I need you two to hold me down and stop me from doing something I’ll regret. I’m afraid I will hurt you while the memory is being restored. This is a very personal and deeply difficult thing to relive, and I will try to change it to something it should not be. Whatever happens, please do what you can to stop me from incorrectly restoring this memory.” “Lin” readied herself to see this memory for what it was, positioning herself by the crystal and ready to touch it when everyone else was. There would still be time for everyone to go over any final preparations, and Sen would answer any lingering questions before proceeding. Frankly, it seemed like the longma was looking for any excuse to delay or find another solution, but everyone’s come too far to back out or reconsider.

@Blitz Boom “Huh? Clever putting something up there when we didn’t expect to look upward. That’s a great find, Omen! I believe I have an idea of what the solution might be, but let’s keep an eye out for other important things in this room.” On Omen’s observations, “Lin” looked up to find another silver surface, faint and rather scant in size, but still worth noting. The light could not bounce off the surfaces of the crystals at ground level, as her testing had shown. Now if it were to bounce off that surface on the ceiling? Omen was on to something, but how would they get the light to go up there? Perhaps they’d find their answers upon further experimentation, as Sen would fiddle with the handles on the central platform near Elder Zhao. Seeing the elder remove a handle, and then suggest using them to lock the other crystals in place, got Sen wondering if that would do to further their path forward. The silver surface on the ceiling combined with their new knowledge matters at ground level were enough to get started on further testing. Sen pulled out one of the handles and brought it over to a crystal along one of the corners, where he’d place it on a hole. Shortly after, the stones around the crystal’s base rose and locked it in place. As Lin tried to rotate the central crystal, only that locked crystal stayed as it was; the rest continued to rotate. Some further testing will be necessary, but this one might be their way out. “There doesn’t appear to be any other notable things here. Sen locking down that crystal means we just need to rotate the crystals without blocking any beams. I think we have what we need to continue; Sen, I’ll need you to grab a handle” “Here’s hoping we aren’t going to run into more complications.” Lin turned the crystal once more with Sen joining her. With the rotations, the siblings were able to bounce the light to the crystals most distant from them, and then back to the central crystal. From what they noticed with this attempt, the centerpiece could act as another reflective surface, allowing them to bounce the light around at angles they normally wouldn’t have considered initially. Each bounce led to another crystal, which then redirected the light beam off another surface in a zigzag pattern upon using up all four handles, locking every side crystal in place. Omen mentioned the slanted edge of the central crystal was the last piece of the puzzle, and they were banking on it being the solution. After all, one edge of the central crystal was acting as another reflective surface… Fortunately, it worked, and the light bounced upward to the ceiling, which then reached the far wall’s surface. Once their solution was enacted, the room shook, and the glyphs on the walls glowed blue like the light beams. On the other side, floating on a suspended island with what might be the entity’s body holding the other landmasses together, was another of the crystals they’d come to expect. Dimmed and lacking power, inert but seemingly unprotected. The only way to it was a suspension bridge hanging over an endless chasm below, obscured by dark clouds and red skies, stars no longer visible. Sen looked on in horror as the realization dawned on him upon the sight behind the crystal: his family’s home. “Oh no… Not this,” the longma slowly walked forward, his voice growing heavy. Each step slowed, growing more hesitant than the last. It was as if he knew what this meant, especially when he remembered what the entity said through Lin’s message about reconsidering their actions and a painful truth. “Please…. Anything but this.”

“Wonder what that thing’s got planned for us. If it’s listening in, what could it want through this?” “Does it matter? It won’t get what it wants as long as we keep moving forward. And right now, there’s no other way forward but there. Come on, help me with this.” The longma siblings grabbed one handle on opposite sides of the rotating platform and began slowly moving clockwise, per Elder Zhao’s instructions. They’d give some room for Omen as well if she wanted to help out. It was the only way they could move it, but it took a lot of effort heaving and pushing the handles. The rusty metal creaked and echoed within the confined chamber, but it got the crystal in the middle moving. It turns out there was more to the mechanism because the crystals in the four corners of the room also rotated along their axes; one movement governed the motion of the rest, but there weren’t other curveballs that complicated the motions… yet. For now, the straightforward motions of the rotating platform moved the glowing crystal, allowing its beam of light to move around in a circle. Once it came into contact with another crystal, the beam bounced off it to another part of the room. It seemed like this was going to be their plan forward, though given that all of the other crystals rotated around their own platforms when the central crystal rotated, the solution wasn’t going to be as straightforward as the siblings thought. The light bouncing off one crystal on the left side closest to the door redirected it to the others, creating a square made of light beams. Not one angled the light to the center. “Let’s stop for a moment. I don’t think we’ll be making progress if we just keep pushing these handles and rotating this crystal. If we keep at it, we’ll just be going around in circles, literally speaking.” “You’re right about these,” Sen turned to Elder Zhao, then examined the nearby crystals individually. “The light should bounce off these side crystals, but from what we’ve seen so far, it isn’t as simple as it looks. If we move one crystal, we move all of them. Maybe we need a way to stop the others from moving?” “We’re missing something. Maybe we should test something. Elder? We may need to deviate from your plan for a moment. I just need to make sure of something.” “Lin” began moving the central crystal once more, allowing the only glowing crystal’s beam of light to bounce off it. Once it did so, the light moved to another crystal in the distant corner, which then moved to the one opposite it on the right side of the room. It seemed like she might be in the right direction until the angle returned the light to the central crystal and into another beam, blocking it. This may not be progress, but it was enough to give an idea of what they can and can’t do. “Hmm… It looks like we can’t let the light beams cross each other, and that silvery surface on the far wall might be where we need to bring the beam. Seems like we may need to stop some of these crystals from rotating after all. Omen? Can you help us look around? Anything that could stop the rotations or hint at how we could do that will be of great use.” A closer examination of the rotating platforms on the corners reveals each having a hole; something could be inserted or jammed into them, though what effect this will have was yet to be seen. Likewise, the handles on the rotating crystal’s brass barrier were also worth a look. They may appear to be affixed to their current positions, but if one were to examine them, the top parts could be loosened or even removed. And it just so happens that their diameters appear to be a match for the holes in the ground near the rotating platforms… It was also not apparent to the siblings, but the central crystal had one edge that appeared more slanted than the rest of it. A coincidental aspect of its formation, but even that hinted at something if one were to look up and find another silvery, reflective surface above them.

@Blitz Boom “Lin” paused and nodded after giving the matter some more thought. She wasn’t sure of what to believe anymore, but the certainty and conviction in Elder Zhao’s voice were enough to let her avoid going down the path of despair. Perhaps that is what the entity wants from them; then again, even that wasn’t set in stone, and only it knows its intentions. For now, it seemed content to let them wallow with doubt, but it wouldn’t settle for that. It showed them something about being in control of their thoughts. Maybe this was the first step. Sen had some inkling of what was going on, and he kept his thoughts on the matter to himself. Unfortunately, all that was just something to keep them from going after some key memories. The entity was content to let them meander with other memories first, then give them pause or doubts about restoring something important. After all, why would it mention something about painful truths and reconsidering altering memories? That was what bothered the longma most, and he hoped this was all just bluffing. Somehow, the thought of having Discord in mind was oddly comforting, but the siblings didn’t have that comfort. Still, having Omen give her perspective on relevant matters was reassuring all the same. That, and Elder Zhao being here means they can find their resolve and steadfast belief that they can overcome this uncertainty. “All right, Elder Zhao. Whatever this entity is telling us, it won’t win us over.” “And the sooner we can finish what we set out to do here, the better it’ll be for all of us. I don’t think I want to stick around with this... thing messing around with Lin’s mind.” The siblings looked at each other and relented. They would prefer to be directly involved in this matter, but they also understood Elder Zhao’s concern for their mental state at the moment. Omen wasn’t affected, and it was more than evident that her perspective gave her a clear head, the right kind of mindset needed to continue where they can’t. The decision was unanimous despite their reservations. “Lin” sighed, looked to the Ki'Nathar, and nodded in approval of Elder Zhao’s suggestion. “Omen, go ahead. We put our trust in you.” “However, if something goes wrong or if you’re unsure about what to do, please let us know. We’ll help you out however we can.” Licking the glowing crystal was something the siblings expected to do something that would let them advance a little bit. Unfortunately, peering into, whatever form that took, didn’t do anything. There was no vision or memory to view, and there was certainly no effect that appeared to take them out of the present. Despite how all of this looked like something they had done previously, this one felt like a dud or a dead end. At least, it might appear that way until one were to examine the bases where the crystals were positioned. Each one affixed at the four corners of the room was situated on what appeared to be a rotating platform, and the central crystal had four rusted handles around it, all held by a circular, brass barrier. The same could not be said for the four other crystals, but it seemed that the central crystal could be moved. Rotations along its axis meant that the glowing crystal’s light would hit a wall in the room, or it could be made to bounce off the other crystals. A close examination of the far wall opposite the group also shows a flat, reflective, silver surface that was unassuming at first glance. However, it could be one piece of a much larger puzzle that was present in the room, allowing Omen to view the memory, as they have come to expect. Unfortunately, even the siblings have come to suspect that this may be just as much of a test for them as a learning opportunity for the entity. After all, speaking to “Lin“ and her relaying its messages to the rest of the group made it sound like it was observing their progress.

@Blitz Boom “That’s not a nice thought, but if that’s how we turned out…. Dragon traits on a pony body? And the longma already having hunters? They made us that way, made us look like that. If anything, they may have given us our draconic traits to hunt down their enemies. It’s like they wanted it like this from the start. Then that means none of this is natural, and we are just someone else’s playthings. If they didn’t have their way, then we weren’t… meant…” The next thing in “Lin’s” mind gave her pause, perhaps wondering if all of this was leading toward some kind of revelation that shattered any faith in what was real. The entity showing them this could be playing with them, weakening their resolve to make them give up. The chances of that felt slim at first, but now? Maybe they were starting to succumb, lose their strength, or possibly even question themselves. After all, what was there to be gained by this knowledge? Sen, for all of his anger, felt he was starting to slip as well. What felt like a strong start was now leading to pauses and lapses in his drive to help Lin. He’d still try however he could to power through to the end, but his grip on what he knew and what he was learning was just too conflicting to reconcile; compounded by a torrent of different emotions hitting him all at once, and it was sapping him. As for this “tank-mother” and implanting memories into them, they don’t have any recollection of any experience like this, but one could surmise that all this was just a ploy to gaslight the longma siblings into accepting a reality that may not even be real. “I… You’re right. I don’t like any of this, and I might go so far as to say that maybe all of this is a lie meant to weaken us, but you’re right. We’re better than this; if we can’t fight this thing head-on, pushing forward is what we can do next.” “I am with you, brother. We all are. With any luck, we may just see the end of this path if we keep pushing.” “Lin” smiled at what she heard, nodding and proceeding forward. She’d stand by her brother and help him move, always ready to pause and proceed at his pace. She may be shaken at what she’s seeing, but if her form of rebellion is to see this matter to the end, she’d stand by her allies now. Even Zhao’s claw on his shoulder was a reassuring gesture, and the longma felt some of his strength rebuilding within him. It was a good feeling, one that could galvanize his resolve when it was wavering. As for the entity inhabiting this place, it would continue its attempts to question and weaken them, though it is convinced of its truth as the only thing that must be accepted, and it’ll pull out some old memories to hammer it home. The path forward stretched in a seemingly endless path, lit only by cold flames lining the walls. Even the goings-on in the room behind them was no longer audible. There were only echoes along their walk, but it was certainly the voice of the fractured being they saw earlier. …The samples gathered from various specimens will be of excellent use. The physical shape of an earth pony, the flight capabilities of a pegasus, the magical catalyst of a unicorn, and the physicality of a minotaur combined with the ferocity of a dragon will make for an ideal base. Within the creature’s cognitive center will be a specialized organ that will register a unique control signal, magically induced or otherwise…. …There won’t be any chance of rebellion or insubordination when obeying is all they’ll know. And if necessary, this will make it easy to control them. It is as the saying goes… ‘the mind can resist control on the body, but when it is the mind that is controlled, the body naturally follows.’ There won’t be a need to rely on others, as these creatures will always need a master, and they’ll know their place out there as long as someone has the reins… The siblings remembered this from their time as thralls, though Omen might have had this memory expunged or forgotten. Sen could feel his anger welling up inside, but he took Elder Zhao’s words to heart and kept himself from making any rash decisions. It was clear these echoes were now pulling from personal memories, and it was all the more tempting to lash out and fight. As for “Lin,” her struggles with maintaining a cool head were slowly wavering, but she appeared to fare better than her brother. However, even the echoes of the entity may be ringing true, as she sped up her walk until she was in front of the group, immediately proceeding to look ahead and see what appeared to be another room. At the same time, she began hearing more whispers within her head, another message being passed on to her while greeted with another familiar sight. However, a few more crystals jutted from the ground, one for each corner of the room, with only one visibly glowing. “Look! Another one of those crystals from earlier; might be another memory to restore. The voice from earlier also spoke again. It said it is impressed that we have made it this far, but it advised us to reconsider our goal of altering memories. The truth may be more painful if we pursue it, and we may regret doing so, but it also says that living a comfortable lie would be better. My guess is it might have something to do with this?”

@Blitz Boom Sen paused to ponder on who this “Tank-mother” was, but she may have had some ideas brewing in her head. There was no telling what the true nature of these creatures could be, but from what everyone was gathering so far, it wasn’t anything comforting. Knowing these creatures were attempting to create some kind of perfect specimen, one could question where their samples were coming from and how they were using them for their experiments. None of this made sense so far, but every little bit adds to the story, and finding out about this “tank-mother” should give them more to work with. Lin approached the caged longma specimen, still unable to notice or acknowledge them but capable of answering just the same. It was better than nothing, and she hoped it could continue providing answers. “You mentioned a ‘tank-mother.’ Who is she, and have you seen what she looks like?” “The voice… tells us what we must know. Tank-mother… gives knowledge; we take what we learned… use them as master sees fit. Tank-mother is the voice, and after that, we serve master and follow their commands. It is as she says.” “Hmm… so it seems we are dealing with someone imparting knowledge to the created longma before they are released from their tanks. But if they are learning before they get out, that could mean they are being made fully grown. That doesn’t explain how the longma we know can have children. Maybe we are dealing with a different group?” “We can’t be certain, but we should try looking elsewhere. Let’s see what that other creature over there is doing. It could have some information we are missing.” Sen drew attention to the other side of the room, now seemingly appearing bigger. The other creature he mentioned was present, though featureless; it would be difficult to ascertain what it may be, though if the earlier instance of a fragmented quadruped with pieces of its body floating mid-air hinted at something, then the two were connected here. Their general body shape and fragmentations were identical, likely pointing at one’s similarity or connection with the other. The familiar sight of a glowing horn marking the use of magic came into view as it manipulated the tanks, opening it to reveal three fully grown longma emerging as the liquids from inside the tanks drained away. “…A new batch completed. Let’s hope this one turned out better.” The fractured creature approached and examined the new creations, looking over them with deep intent, likely having a keen eye for details. Its attention was drawn to the third, noticing imperfections in its wings and lankier body There was no doubt to its imperfections despite the differences being only minor, but it was as it was in the eyes of the fractured creature. *sigh* “A shame this one’s imperfect, but it will need to be disposed of. The other two can be put to work as hunters and laborers. Now go.” “As you command, Master. For your glory and the coming empire.” At once, two of the newly created longma left, the images dissipating into shadowy wisps, while the one remained in the area and walked to the cells. It stayed put in its prison, simply left to wait until something was to happen to it. Sen didn’t want to know more, and it was clear his anger was building up, while Lin could only stay quiet and keep her shock to herself. Beyond the room was another hallway, dimly lit by torches sporting cold flames. The way forward was made present through the path walked by the two longma, though knowing how the mindscape worked, it may not even lead to where the two disappeared to. It was their only path out now, as even the path they used earlier was no longer present or visible. “I can’t stomach this. There’s nothing wrong with him! And they’re treated like tools to be used and thrown away? I’ve seen more than enough!” “Omen, Elder Zhao, do you want to stay a little longer and see what else we can gather? To be honest, I'm disturbed by what we just saw, but all I can tell from here is that this might be what awaits the longma if that creature had its way.”

@Blitz Boom “I have plenty to be thankful for, now that my memories of our adventures are returning. Knowing that something is revealing my inner thoughts, trying to make us doubt or turn us against each other… I can’t help but feel that there is truth in what you are hearing. I am responsible for them, and it’s only right that I should reassure you of who I am, even if the truth could hurt.” Lin wasn’t happy that she was in this predicament, being put on the spot like this. However, hearing Sen and Omen voicing their understanding and willingness to listen softened that pain. She was content with that, and though she would have to explain herself, the conversation that would ensue may not turn out so bad. She would reach out one claw and place it on Omen, her way of reassuring her that this is truly her as opposed to the entity making her sound worse. Her being in bad form didn’t appear to be bothersome in the slightest. For what he felt, Sen simply accepted what her sister had to say. Despite the stinging he felt in his chest, the reassurance in Lin’s words was enough to get him to see that the entity airing her deepest thoughts couldn’t get him to turn on her. After all, he couldn’t find it in himself to fight her over words spoken in silence, and his approach to restoring her memories didn’t waver. They’d be restored to the way it should be, warts and all. If things were to get heated, it would need to be in a controlled environment, not here and not when they still had work to do. Sadly, this moment of reassuring comfort didn’t last long, not when disturbing sights and sounds drew their attention to another matter. “If there is truth behind this, I’m not sure I want to know. Unfortunately, we have to see what this all means. A perfect creature to be put to work? If this is what I think it means…” “The longma were not only created, but they were also enslaved. That can’t be right, can it?” The siblings looked around the room, and then within each cell. Sights of improperly formed creatures howling in pain, some having no drive but to await what came next, nearly broke them. What could they possibly say that could make this better? The dingy laboratory, primitive as it may be, only offered hints at what could be the longma’s origin. Steel and stone in an equal measure made up the equipment in the room, while magic seemed to be the means that brought traits of different creatures together to create what would be a longma. With Omen moving toward a captive, speaking to one didn’t seem to elicit any response. Frankly, it didn’t even appear aware that there were others outside of the cell. However, it eventually muttered a response, not quite addressing or acknowledging Omen’s presence, but it was close enough to what the Ki’Nathar asked that it drew Sen and Lin to listen. “Imperfect… failure…. Useless to master and tank-mother. Can only wait… for the darkness, for there are no more commands.” Sen studied the creature’s words, likely channeling what he knew of how Lin operated in the waking world. If she were the one listening, she’d try picking apart the words to see what could be gleaned from it. And here, the use of the word ‘master’ was interesting, if not disturbing. “Lin” also noticed this, and didn’t like the ideas coming into her mind. There was more at work here in this place, but Sen would stay close while looking around. The equipment in the area was seemingly advanced for something that could have happened long in the past. “I shudder to think of the kinds of things expected of them from their master if they are deemed useless. It doesn’t seem to see us, but let’s try asking it something else. Who is your master?” “Broken things… wanting lost glory. The voice of tank-mother says so.”

@Blitz Boom “I… No. Lin’s smart to keep these thoughts to herself. I don’t agree with her choices or her words, but what she said… They’re not something I haven’t told myself.” “If that’s true, then… If you would let me explain, I-” “Don’t. If what we heard is how you feel… if that’s what you think, I can’t stop you from having those thoughts. Let's leave it at that for now, and we'll talk about it when we are in the clear.” *sigh* “All right. I hope I can clear this up.” "Lin" looked to the Ki'Nathar, somewhat relieved though still heavy with remorse, “You too, Omen. I... feel I should explain myself to you. I owe you that much.” Though true in a sense, shrugging off “Lin” wasn’t something she expected, especially from her brother. His demeanor hinted at understanding, but something about also showed vulnerability. She thought her bond with him was capable of weathering any kind of challenge, but now some cracks have begun to show. It seemed even now they were being tested, but “Lin” accepted that they’d need time to process this on their own. Meanwhile, Sen knew Lin had restraint, and she could easily become unfiltered in airing her honest thoughts. He had to believe that the sister that was in their midst was still the same, even when something was trying to drive a wedge between them. Right now, the longma genuinely envied Omen and her perspectives on the matter. As for the other elephant in the room, if the creature that took over Lin’s mind was observing them, it might to the conclusion that its efforts led to mixed success. However, this wasn’t the truth it hoped to show; it had its fun toying and learning from everyone present, but it had to get into what it really wanted to do now. The tunnels and walls expanded into a larger room, though the path remained linear. What was absent in an empty and barren tunnel gave way to the sounds of distant screaming, maddening disembodied sounds echoing through the shadowy path. The siblings caught on to this, wondering what they were now in and where the sounds came from. Each step forward was cautious, and eventually, they were in a much larger room lined with cells on either side. One look inside the locked rooms did their eyes catch something they didn’t expect to find. “Are these longma?” “They look deformed! It’s like someone just rounded them up and locked them away. And look at their necks!” “Metal collars. What’s going on here?” Inside was the unmistakable sight of longma, some clutching their heads in pain while others were attempting to hide their disfigurement. Their sunken eyes and disheveled looks hinted at neglect, especially for those who appeared to have come out looking aged and wrinkly. The one thing that stood out was how they came out chimeric, a mish-mash of different creatures that didn't fit together, and that mismatch translated to physical pain. Further ahead, there was a row of much larger tubes with amorphous creatures suspended. It all seemed disconnected until what appeared to be another longma-looking creature emerged, disfigured and struggling to crawl. The sound of pained breathing echoed into the chamber until it simply dropped to the ground and awaited what came next for it. Another failure, just like the last few batches. As difficult as it may be to find, harmonizing traits of various creatures is of the utmost importance. Prepare a new batch of samples for the next round of experiments. The perfect creature will be made real; this one is but a template for something much more grand. And when that’s done, they’ll be put to good use. The voice that spoke was not of Lin’s inner thoughts anymore, and neither was it in her voice. It was much deeper, though the reverberations and inflections made it sound like something much different was at work. Whatever they were in now was much different, and the creature at the center of the mindscape wanted them to see something completely new. They’d be free to explore the room, and it seemed like whatever spoke wasn’t physically present, though its handiwork was more than tangible, as if inviting everyone to investigate. “I don’t like the look of this place, and I’m afraid of what connects this to the longma, if it does. Omen? Elder Zhao? I don’t know about you, but this could be what the creature meant by what it said earlier, right? A truth ‘our kind’ were denying.” “There’s no way this is it. The longma are not denying anything. What could we even get out of knowing this?”

@Blitz Boom “If that creature in the distance knows about the longma, it’ll have to do a very good job convincing us to accept something we don’t know about. Then again, it could be lying to get us to lower our guard, but I find it unlikely that it knows something.” Sen wasn’t quite ready to stake his beliefs on the claim that their adversary was lying to get them to listen to it, but there was no telling what it was capable of doing. Perhaps it may not be trying to convince him, but it only wants to make him more susceptible to its own suggestions. There was no telling what it was doing now or whether it was learning from the longma’s interactions with everyone present. What was happening now wasn’t too elaborate, but the simplicity of events was enough of a start to see what the hostile entity intended to do. The sound of inner thoughts, there was no doubt about it. Sen was aware of some of those thoughts, as Lin already disclosed it once in the past. Her grievances with the longma were already given, and this was her motivation for seeking out Malvernis and his dark powers through an old grimoire. Much of her current predicament could be traced back to this, though hearing about her thoughts on Mother and Discord was surprising, especially because Lin overtly treated them with fondness of varying degrees. “I don’t doubt that your words, Omen; Mother made herself clear about it. Regardless of how she saw Mother, Discord, and the longma, these are our sister’s inner thoughts, and she didn’t act on them. I believe her, too.” “Lin” relaxed, exhaling and releasing some tension built up from her panic. It seemed evident that her siblings’ confidence and bond were strong to get them to take her side over the entity exploiting her own thoughts. However, it wasn’t done with them just yet. Moving down the corridor further, eventually let to the place’s walls shifting into a cave lined with crystals. It all appeared normal at first until even the gems crept like some kind of unnatural creature. A nook in the wall showed what looked like Sen and Lin arguing with each other, along with their outbursts. ...Your rash thinking could've affected the parasitic crystals, maybe making Omen's unresponsive state permanent! You don't know that! I did it because it could turn out worse if we did nothing! Did nothing?! I'm the one going in there because your innate healing factor could be a potential hazard! You nearly trapped me in there! Sen paused as he saw this unfolding, aware of the event in question and the argument. Lin’s words stung, but he knew it was true. There was silence for a moment, the vision fading from view until Lin’s inner voice continued. There was more to dread, especially if the entity was learning about how best to lower their trust in each other. Brother couldn’t help himself… Always has to do something. Maybe he should’ve stayed behind in the village. Same with Omen. Wouldn’t have been in that situation if she just stayed put. Spirits, I’m surrounded by stupidity, even from those closest to me. They’re not going to get things done on their own; it’ll only make things worse for me and for others. He couldn’t even trust Omen to defend herself. What kind of brother is he, always making it about himself? He’s a danger to Omen, to me, and others… Those words stung, and Sen couldn’t believe what he was hearing. It was different having already been made aware of something unsavory from Lin’s thoughts and hearing something for the first time. “Lin” couldn’t look at her brother and sister straight in the eyes, trying to shy away from those words projected from her inner thoughts. Those last few words were something to ponder on. Though Omen and Sen had a conversation about putting trust in each other’s capabilities, it still left room for them to wonder if Sen could keep his word. The look on “Lin’s” face said a lot despite her silence, hinting at some kind of truth and regret behind what they were hearing. As for Sen, he had to stop and distance himself, certain that what he was hearing was the entity toying with him. It was the part where it was all wrapped up in Lin's inner thoughts that made it difficult to filter out and continue onward. To him, Omen had an advantage here, as she wouldn't let those words get to her. “Is this true, Lin? Is this what you think of Omen and me?” Tensions rose once more, and Lin couldn't get an answer out. She only looked to Omen and Sen, afraid that what she said could make things worse, and she was scared of how they'd think of her right now.

@Blitz Boom Sen had anticipated something like how Elder Zhao described, though even he shudders to think about what Lin could be hiding. It wasn’t his place to know, but the thought that the creature beyond could be using it against him… one could only imagine what designs it had for them. Elder Zhao would likely be the one spared from all of this, a benefit of having no close relations to Lin. Then again, what it could not do against her mentally, it may try physically. He’d keep himself prepared for that possibility, though the words used were rather odd, nothing something that was directed at just him, Omen, or Elder Zhao. “I suppose this means we all go into that tunnel together, though something about it seems off. The creature said ‘your kind,’ like it was talking about more than just the three of us. Not sure if there is more to it than that, but we should be more careful. There’s no telling if it wants to show us something beyond personal memories.” “I don’t know what else it could possibly show, but please be careful, everyone. Maybe it wants to sway you with things only it knows.” Sen nodded in agreement. Looking toward the others, he was now certain of the path forward and led everyone into the tunnel. “Lin” was no longer bound to the area and followed, though she opted to stand behind the others and stayed back in case anything were to jump them. In this tunnel, blue light emanated from the walls, lining the cracks in the stones and leading them down a linear path. For what felt like minutes, nothing seemed out of the ordinary until a faint female voice pierced the silence. The longma… so stupid and short-sighted. Brother should’ve let me be, and that forest should’ve burned to the ground. And when I’m done, let them wallow in the suffering of their own creation because I am long past caring for them… Where do I even begin with Omen? Too naive for her own good. She’s not going to survive, not unless I teach her. Mother didn’t give her enough to get by, and Discord was useless. Or maybe it was Mother who made the mistake of not teaching Omen enough of the right things. All this falls to me then, and I’ll start with the first lesson: exacting revenge. When those words echoed in the hall, “Lin” tensed up and halted, gasping that even her innermost thoughts were now out in the open. She looked to the others, horror in her eyes, and tried to calm herself. There was no telling just how the others would react to how she thought about them, and that was after she admitted to being safe with them. Now, it doesn’t feel like that is the case, and she’d bear the wrath of those she thought she could find comfort in. As for Sen, he turned to see his sister attempt to find someplace to cower behind or make herself appear smaller. Perhaps she meant those words despite uttering them to herself at some point in time, but nothing could say if it was a fabrication of the creature messing with her memories. If this is the truth it mentioned, there may be more, and this is its way of testing its limits on them. This may be the entity trying to turn them against each other, and they haven’t made much progress yet, let alone seen actual memories. How Omen and he would navigate this conundrum would be up to them. “I didn’t… There’s no way I would teach you to get revenge on those who did you wrong. You have a good heart, Omen, and I don’t want to take that away from you. Please, you have to believe me!”

@Blitz Boom “If you put it that way, it makes sense what that creature in the distance is doing, but I still don’t understand why it wants me. But, you are here to stop it, and that makes you better as allies. I will stick with you, then, because you can help. That’s already better than being stuck here. Still, I do not feel a difference even after your companions have done more at those crystals.” “Looks like Omen and I did what we could do for those crystals. The whole area is glowing, but nothing more. I overheard you mention that your memories felt missing, and maybe it should be you who needs to examine the crystal. Might that be the way to restore your memories?” Sen approached shortly after, examining the central crystal glowing when it didn’t just moments earlier. It seemed like they did something right, but whether it will yield any notable results remains to be seen. The most likely task they could do now is to do the same to that crystal: examining it for themselves to see if there is more to replace, but it wasn’t Sen’s or Omen’s task now. There wasn’t anything to lose for their friendly but partially amnesiac ally, and so she approached the newly glowing crystal. If this were to work, maybe she could leave and fulfill her end of the deal. Once face-to-face with the crystal, she reached one claw out, touching the cold surface and examining what it was inside. In a short moment, she felt the surge of energy rushing into her head, seeing the things both Sen and Omen saw in their attempts to restore Lin’s memories. Emotions, sights, smells, and sounds filled her until each moment became clear, remembrances that turned out exactly how they were meant to be. It all seemed to happen so quickly to all those who watched, but before them, the creature within the subconscious began to form. Cloudy and smoky parts filled in specific details of the quadruped, creating a clearer picture of who this one truly was, but it wouldn’t be a surprise to everyone present. The image of Lin came to the forefront, clear as day, and the barriers around the ruins lowered until even the blue glow dissipated into nothing. “Everything feels a little more familiar, and when I am here with you all, I feel a kind of… warmth, I think? It’s a good feeling, like knowing I am safe with you all.” “That’s good, and you have a much clearer appearance. Restoring your memories also appears to do that to you directly. It’s not completely clear because some part of you still appears to be incomplete, but it’s a start. Restoring your memories will also allow us to continue moving closer to that creature in the distance. Could you tell us more about anything else you knew before your memories were taken?” This representation of Lin within her own mindscape, about the most apt description of what everyone could see now, sat and pondered what information she could gather, though a lot of it was already disclosed to Elder Zhao. There was a voice that was trying to “fix” her, but it did so whether she wanted it or not. It occasionally spoke to her, but no one else could hear it, and right now, it was speaking. “Lin” looked rather unaware for a moment, her eyes glazed over as she stared in the direction of the tentacled creature in the distance for about a minute or two before her attention returned to everyone else present. “The voice spoke again. It said all we know are delusions, and if we continue, we could find ourselves stuck in this place for a very long time. However, it is offering us a choice: take one path to accept a truth ‘your kind’ are denying or continue fixing memories on our terms with no telling how long it will take. If we take the first, it said it will swear to leave most memories intact and only those that were heavily tampered with will remain for us to fix. What do we do?” Two paths have now manifested at the ruins. One leads further away to another floating landmass, and the familiar sight of crystals would still be present, just like earlier. The other was a stone staircase going downward into a dark tunnel. If one were to look over the edge, there would be more floating landmasses below them, appearing to be connected to the tunnel and leading straight to the middle of the mindscape. Knowing what they knew, the safe option was to continue to the other crystals and repair them, but there was no telling how much of Lin’s memories were tampered with and how long they’d take to finish fixing them. Alternatively, whatever was altering Lin’s memories was offering them an alternative, a possibly faster way to settle the matter. Sen paced back and forth, but he was no closer to a firm answer. “I do not trust that creature, but it does have a point. Who knows how long we’ll be here if we just keep doing what we are doing now? Elder Zhao, has something like this happened before in your experience? And Omen? How do you want to go about this? I hate to admit it, but I am tempted to go down into that tunnel.”

@Blitz Boom Sen nodded and left Elder Zhao with the creature, perhaps content that they were in a relatively safe place at the moment. There was some hope that this was Lin fighting to regain her memories in her own way and that they would have a little more strength to face the central threat further away. With Omen heading off to examine the right crystal, he’d take the left. A glowing crystal like this likely meant it was active, and examining the memory within harkened back to an older childhood memory from what felt like another lifetime ago. It was a simple time when they would play in the forest with what they could scrounge up to use as makeshift toys, though it was somewhat off in that she was much more outgoing instead of the reserved and studious Lin of her younger years. This one was a simple fix as far as Sen was concerned, and after stepping away from the crystal for a moment, he’d get right to repairing this memory. Omen’s examination would likely be the same on her end, at least difficulty-wise. The crystal she’d examine would reveal the imagery of them at a fishing pond surrounded by many other shadowy longma. However the sight of a fractured carnival booth and someone attending to it would reveal this to be an incorrect recollection, likely something spliced together from cobbled remembrances at different points in time. Fixing the earlier crystal was capable of bringing remembrances of Omen into the memory, making it a little easier for her to recognize herself as part of this scenario. The more that would be fixed in this memory, the more the proper sights would come into view, culminating in them walking away with their rewards. Sen would have his done, showing his crystal glowing more intensely, radiating light from its position and illuminating half of the third crystal within the ruins as well as some of the glyphs within the area. If and when Omen also repaired the memory she would glimpse into, the result would be the same. The sights would be reminiscent of their encounter after coming back from Rosa’s home in Canterlot, but any other changes to the place wouldn't be visible. Then again, it might just take a little while for something more to happen once both crystals glowed and the memories within them were restored to how they are originally. “One moment, I was in my home examining some kind of stone orb. It glowed blue when I touched it, though I didn’t get to see what happened after. My vision blacked out, then the ground shook and pieces of my home started drifting away until I saw what we are seeing now. Everything is floating and separated, but that thing in the distance is holding some of the land together. As much as I want to leave, I can’t.” The unknown creature would move to the nearest archway and exit. Once she tried to reach one claw out, a magical barrier was erected before she could get a body part out. Even attempting to shove or ram her way out was met with the same outcome. She would then gesture to the nearby break in the wall to get a better view of the tentacled mass holding the other pieces of land together and draw Elder Zhao’s attention to it. “Something is speaking to me; there’s this voice that comes in faintly before going. It says it wants to ‘fix’ me, that my memories are wrong, and I must remember things the way they should be. Do you also hear a voice in your head? It is calm most of the time, but if you try resisting it, it gets very angry and will try to force its way. I think that’s why I am stuck here; it said that I needed to forget some terrible memories, but I refused it. Then, I felt something ripping into my head until parts of my memory felt missing. All this? I don’t know if it’s because of that creature in the distance, but maybe it is also where that voice is coming from.” “May I ask you something? Are you and your companions also missing memories? It’s strange to find others in a place like this and to be honest, I am not even sure where we are right now. The world I remember did not look so broken.”

@Blitz Boom There was truth in Elder Zhao’s words, though it didn’t give a more complete picture of what could possibly be after the longma. That was what left some frustrations in Sen, as there wouldn’t be enough details to go with, especially if Elder Ghilan or the other elders were to be told. If anything, he’d be reprimanded from delving into ruins. It wasn’t something he was looking forward to, and it was rather embarrassing to know that he’d be on the receiving end of a stern verbal rebuke. One more thing to add to the whole unflattering image of an exile returning home, and it wouldn’t set a good example. But there would be time to discuss that with Ghilan, preferably in private. Fortunately, there was Xin, who could vouch for them and their activities. Sen still wasn’t sure of him, even when his actions indicated remorse and a genuine desire to work together, but he hasn’t done anything that would hint at ulterior motives. For now, he could be considered an ally. “Thank you for your guidance. I’ve meditated a number of times in the past. I recall my last visit to the kitsune some time ago while waiting for Lin and our friend Rosa to recover when Omen took us here, a few kits were rather curious about me. I spent some moments meditating while they tried to rouse me from a moment of calm, but they didn’t succeed.” “Still, it is rather concerning that whatever’s got its hold on Lin could use the rules of the mindscape to its advantage. I take it that it’ll be vigilant for other things to use against us from now on….” From there, they’d move forward until they saw the odd creature lingering by the crystals and the ruins. It didn’t seem to be hostile to them, though it might have understood Sen, Omen, and Elder Zhao as hostile. It poked its head out by the crystal she hid behind to see what they’d do. Sen followed Zhao’s suggestion, nodding at what she said before moving forward, taking one step at a time and slowly making progress. By the time he reached the ruins, he’d be a few feet away, raising one claw up forward as a gesture that he wasn’t a threat. “Hello? Don’t be afraid. My name is Sen, and I’m not here to hurt you. I… I just want a better look at this place so I can help my sister.” “Help? Sister? I… I don’t know what to make of this place, but these crystals did not glow earlier. After some time, they glowed without me doing anything. Did you have something to do with it?” “Yes, but not just me. I’m not alone.” “Your… companions? The ones I saw with you as you arrived. They also helped you. May I see them? I would go with you, but I cannot leave this place, not even step one foot away from the stones here.” Sen wouldn’t press his luck trying to see if this featureless creature was telling the truth about not being able to leave. For the moment, she seemed harmless and unlikely to attack him. He waved over to Elder Zhao and Omen to let them know that it was safe to come closer. Once everyone was across, the creature would have a closer look at those gathered with Sen, coming to the conclusion that it was safe to be around these odd visitors and that they may know more about what was going on and help clear up the cloudiness lingering in her mind. Conversely, whatever this creature spoke with a reverberating voice, though the sound was fairly close to Lin, only pitched a little higher. There wasn’t enough evidence to say it is Lin definitively, but nothing would suggest otherwise either. Perhaps piecing this puzzle together might do more than just help the creature remember. “You know of the crystals in this place? I thought I could get to see what is with them so I can remember, but they don’t appear to do anything. Something about this place tells me that… thing… in the distance is related to these ruins. I think I can leave this place if I can fill the gaps in my memories. Can you help me? I… know I am asking a lot for someone you do not know, but maybe I could help you too when this matter is resolved?”

@Blitz Boom “Distance them from sister? What’s to be gained by removing anyone who isn’t longma from her memories? Whatever’s doing this hinted at wanting to enslave the longma, but I don’t think it’s going to go far if it only gets to Lin, not yet for now. If it is removing memories of those who aren’t us, then it might be preparing for something. I can’t claim to know what kind of creature is out for us, especially if our kind are trying to maintain their isolation.” One could only imagine the answers to the burning questions, especially if it is about the kind of creatures that are targeting the longma now. They know of them, and from what the entity that possessed Lin earlier, there is familiarity, as if there was prior contact. The ruins back in the first, along with the orb that they found, all hint that there is a connection they can’t see yet. A step pyramid, directions pointing to it, and the glyphs that seem to show more, they were matters that were just as important, but how they are linked is yet to be seen. All this only made Sen’s head throb while wracking himself with finding the answers. For now, the pursuit for answers will have to wait, not until there is another immediate threat that needs to be taken care of. The creature slowly began overpowering him, while Sen maintained what strength he could. His strength waned, while his attacker gained an advantage, tossing him to a nearby tree. It only seemed to grow stronger with each passing second, possibly even learning about how to stop him from fighting back. The longma listened to Elder Zhao’s advice, understanding most of it aside from them being in a mindscape. It didn’t seem right that a place like this could influence anything but Lin’s mind, but there was soundness in the elder’s words. Calm mind, focused, just like his meditations…. Now if he could only harness it within the heat of battle. Only one way to find out; he wiped the sweat on his head, then slowly approached their adversary. Elder Zhao moving in and swiping the creature away with her tail got him to try what she said about enhancing his strength. Without missing a moment, he quickly and quietly circled around, then tried to put the creature in a headlock again. If this went right, he could neutralize the threat. Summoning every bit of strength he had, Sen focused, channeling his mind into strength for his body and feeling stronger and more energized. This time, he kept his cool, regulated his breathing, then applied the pressure, getting into the headlock and pinning the creature to the ground. The two would wrestle, vying for control over their predicament, but the longma maintained his advantage and strength until it no longer moved or fought back, even showing a few cracks in the crystal where Sen locked it down with his forelegs. Sen let go, stepping back and letting himself bask in the relief of a moment’s respite before examining their attacker. “I’ve never seen anything like this. Sharpened wings and able to move without its body parts attached. Is this what it’s like? To let being in the mindscape alter things like one’s strength and shape? Because if it is, I think whatever’s in here may know about it.” Soon enough, the red sky calmed, returning to a navy blue shade. The islands now floating in this expanse moved once more, linking with each other to form a larger land mass and connecting to their starting position. In the distance were three more crystals, faintly pulsating within what appeared to be stone ruins, but two were more pronounced than the others. Still, the ruins themselves were interesting in that they had what appeared to be glyphs, dust-covered wooden tables, and a stone staircase, though that didn’t appear to lead anywhere. The remains of the hostile influence’s creature broke, turned into a fine dust, and spread itself out, eventually turning into another bridge and their way forward. “I guess our next stop is in that direction. Those ruins look familiar, don’t they, Omen? It’s where this whole mess started.” Once everyone was across, they’d come to find three pulsating crystals within the stone ruins. However, only one had an amorphous, seemingly transparent distortion tied to one crystal, leaving the group unable to interact with it. Likewise, the distortion had the body of a quadruped, two stumpy horns, and a pair of wings, though specific facial details could not be identifiable. This one silently looked around, worried, as if it was lost but was convinced whatever it was looking for was in the ruins. Upon seeing Sen, Omen, and Elder Zhao, it instinctively jumped back, and then hid behind the crystal closest to it.

@Blitz Boom The scene regained clarity, the trapped miners were freed from their crystal prisons, and Omen’s physical visage became more complete. An odd thing to note, but it would be best for Lin to remember who Omen is. Sen added his own memories of that event to the whole, even his disagreement and the angry rebuke he got from her about his rash and ill-advised choice to rush in, one that nearly trapped Lin in crystal. Then, the memories of the later battle became just as complete, Lin fighting side-by-side with Sen, Omen, and Rosa, utilizing unorthodox methods of battle to gain the upper hand, all these weaved pieces of Lin’s self as much as her memories will allow. She was trained in survival and picked up some lessons in combat, but most importantly, she needed to see who her friends and allies were when she faced unexpected odds. This was a good memory, even with Discord in it, as she had come to see him as a friend when they needed him most. “We couldn’t sit idly by when Omen never came back, later learning that she was in trouble. This whole situation led to something much bigger, but it was a good memory nonetheless. It reminded me that it was worth fighting for the things that matter, even if it meant giving some peace to the things that troubled our friends. I didn’t have a lot to live for, but defending my friends gave me purpose, and so I fought for it.” “I remember the sister who would stay up at night to learn and teach, and she is the same one who would clash with me about our differing views on magic, among other things. It would be a disservice to her if I didn’t stand by that.” Sen paused, smiling and content with his words. Though not a hunter for his village, there was something about his training that never seemed to click. He trained as others did and honed his skills as expected, but never once was he taught why he had to do it. Some would give the obvious answer that it was for security, to keep the village and its inhabitants safe. In a way, that was true, but it was never a reason that he made his own. Strange that he learned of his reason when he was outside the system, but that contentment meant he didn’t need the satisfaction of being a hunter to continue believing in what they stood for. This positive moment would be halted, however, as the sound of a loud roar emanated once more from the central islands. The mindscape’s sky dimmed, turning a dark shade of crimson. The entity keen on maintaining the lies behind Lin’s memories would take action, sending forth red globules flying from itself while retracting its tentacles, leaving the islands in this sea of stars further isolated. One such globule ended up crashing into the vicinity of Sen, Omen, and Elder Zhao, taking on the appearance of a crystalline stallion not unlike those found in Canterlot before morphing into some disjointed and broken creature. Now sporting jagged, dagger-like wings and separating its legs from its main body, the creature reared and let out an intimidating roar, preparing to charge. Sen stepped before Omen and Elder Zhao, bracing himself for the first strike, and the creature ran quickly into Sen, knocking him back and taking the wind out of his breath, though it wouldn't be long before he recovered. “I’ll hold this one back and keep it off us, but it looks like there’s no way forward like the last time we restored a memory! I hope whatever is keeping us from progressing will weaken if we beat this creature.” The longma raced forward, fighting back with his own strength, and aimed to pin their attacker to the ground. If he could get it into a headlock, he might be able to weaken it enough for Omen and Elder Zhao to find a way forward. All the while, he’d scan around in case a path did manifest without anyone noticing earlier.

@Blitz Boom “It’s more complicated than, uh… spawning… Omen with Discord. Omen came first before Discord formed her into who you saw physically. I can’t claim to know the details behind that because it all happened long before I was born. I guess that will be a discussion for Mother and you, not for me; but I will let Mother know of your wish to meet her. Letter her know ahead is better than barging in unannounced.” Sen recalled a similar sentiment he shared with Omen sometime in the past, back when she offered to prolong his lifespan. It wasn’t an easy decision to turn down, but some part of the longma preferred to live in his own skin with all that entailed. Perhaps there may be a time when he’d possibly see his mother and father again when his time would come, and when it does, he’d get to regale them with the adventures he, Lin, and Omen shared. He’d keep that sentiment in mind, but he knew Lin would always look after Omen, having come to see them as sisters. For the moment, good memories filled with learning were what he needed, especially to recall such would be paramount to restoring Lin to before. That would be the ideal outcome that will aid them all in the future, and they had at least a hundred years' worth of experience to build and learn from before passing them on. As Sen reached the odd ball of yarn and heard Elder Zhao’s words, it turns out Omen’s in quite an odd predicament. Even Sen, who had seen and heard some odd things, had some trouble wrapping his head around what he saw. “Omen? I didn’t expect to see you looking like... this. Seems like you’ve found a crystal that lets you see into Lin’s memories, but you’re right. Something about it is wrong, and we will need to help her remember how it really went. Not all of these crystals could be the primary memories we need to restore, but if we want to move closer to whatever is giving her false memories, we need to clear the important ones. “Elder Zhao, I’m ready. Let’s see what this crystal will show us.” Once everyone else was poised to proceed, Sen reached one claw forward to see into the crystal and Lin’s memories. This one appeared again in, or near a cave, with Lin entering the darkened path. It was a quiet walk, but everyone could still see Sen through Lin’s eyes, their attention now along the walls of the cave lined with gemstones. They’d see Sen walking off on his own down a different path while Lin picked up a crystalline orb from the ground. She’d examine it first before heading outside into a clearing in a forest, Sen now in tow. The sight outside was just as similar: crystal deposits around the two, large slabs all over the ground like a public display, though something seemed off about it. Sen couldn’t quite figure it out yet, though he’d watch further, as this memory looked familiar. Look at this, brother! A crystal ball! I bet no one would mind us taking this home, huh? Someone took all this time to make this display, sister. You think we could show a little more respect to whoever did this? Come on, leave it. You’re no fun, Sen! I swear, your training’s making you a little too responsible, and it’s not a good look for you. One look at the crystal slabs outside the cave, and it looked like they were vaguely in the shape of quadrupeds. They didn’t look like much, but a closer inspection might lead to the realization that they were pony-like in stature. Images flickered in and out, but the seemingly featureless crystals soon morphed into faces locked in panic, the slabs now resembling tombs housing unfortunate souls. A very specific one appeared to do more than just flash details in and out; a clear mass of crystal morphed into a dark statue, then back again, though it would do this periodically only whenever Lin held the crystal ball near it. What seemed most perplexing was the sight of a chimeric creature in the background that neither Sen nor Lin noticed, but anyone else would be able to see it. Mismatched horns, wings, and extremities on a bearded serpentine body. It could only be described as chaotic like a certain draconequus. “A cave and some crystals… Lin holding an orb, but those crystal statues are shifting. Where have we seen this? Omen? Does any of this look familiar? I’m certain it's got something to do with us.”

@Blitz Boom “Thank you for your guidance, but it looks like there is more to do. And by the way things look, I believe that might be our way forward.” With the crystal structure having been restored through the transfer of true memories, the way forward was much clearer. It manifested as a glowing path, transparent in appearance similar to clear glass, then giving way to a more noticeably solid form. The rest of it turned into a more frosted appearance, though it would remain warm to the touch. The central structure further ahead, a visceral and seemingly living neuron-like nucleus was what Sen gathered to be the source of the blocks, as one tentacle receded, followed by a loud and angry roar. “Something sounded angered just now. Whatever it was, it knows we’re up to something…” There, the longma paused, scanning around for threats, but nothing of the sort appeared. It was only Zhao’s question that got him to avoid thinking about the present concern and possible danger. “The towering creature? That’s Mother, Omen’s mother, as well as mine and Lin’s, in a way. I know it looks odd, but she is a comforting presence in moments of uncertainty, guiding us whenever we need her help. Some time back, she took us in when we helped out Omen and also got Lin a new body.” “She doesn’t reveal herself, as she remains within her own realm. However, if I could bring us back to your words earlier about trust for a moment, can I also trust you to keep knowledge of her a secret and not look for her? I am afraid of what might find its way into her realm, and back then, something did worm its way into her realm. Mother is powerful, but I don’t want anything untoward that could cause her harm to find its way to her or her children. Please forgive me if I am holding back on information, but understand that I am only doing what I can to protect her and those dear to her.” Perhaps there was more to say about Mother, but the longma didn't want any trouble to arise from disclosing information about her other than speaking of things that happened when Malvernis's influence or Legion's possession manifested within Mother's shadowy realm. A powerful creature she was, and one that no one ought to trifle with, but she had a kind heart. It was always difficult to see her sad or in pain, and that was what Sen wanted to avoid. As much as he was being so hesitant to divulge more details, he only hoped Elder Zhao understood the why and trusted that whatever he could say would be enough, even as a secret. Sen constantly kept himself ready, occasionally moving just a few steps ahead to see if something was coming, though nothing would arrive. The longma remained cautious for anything that could come to face him and Elder Zhao, but for now, it was clear and safe. On the other side of the bridge was another island with no visible connections or anything that would clearly indicate it as another memory. What was present was a ball of yarn, knitting needles, and a… tail? Sen wasn’t sure what to make of it, though going by Elder Zhao’s words earlier, it was either Omen or something that could be construed as a point where a memory needed to be restored. “Hmm… another memory? Or something different? Wait, you mentioned something about working with a ball of yarn. Could that mean that this is Omen?”

@Blitz Boom “I hope I am not doing a disservice to my sister, but… there’s no going back now. Let’s get started.” Sen understood the part about trust and the memories that would test that, but something about what Elder Zhao said had Sen worried. It wasn’t the misuse of memories that got the longma to doubt himself. Some specific memory, if shared between her and him, might be easy to work with, unless it was something that Sen dreaded. Going by the elder’s words, key memories were going to what would lead them further inward, and so it was that he’d start extrapolating the possibilities that lay further ahead. It was too soon to jump to conclusions, but he hoped his fears wouldn’t be confirmed through one specific memory they shared. For the moment, he’d follow the elder’s instructions, more simple than he could have expected, but it was a fairly good place to start. Once stepping back and understanding what he needed to do, he’d once again press his head to the crystal shard, allowing his own recollections of the event to change Lin’s memories. Mother’s realm, though dark and devoid of detail, began to form, swapping out what may be a cave’s interior with the expanse of darkness. There he was with Lin, then Mother, forming from vapors and setting the scene for them to head out and find their solution to Lin’s dilemma. Omen would be there as well, joining them just as it happened. Though there may be some details omitted, the longma did his best to keep a clear head and remember the most important parts of this event. This was when they were setting out to find a place of pure magic, somewhere they’d find the solution to Lin’s problem and get her a new body. Unfortunately, even the missing information about Mother was worrying, but her being part of this memory meant Sen would have to try and impart the right impression of the towering creature, if possible. Something that would show Mother to be a comforting presence despite her appearance… …Absolutely not! You’ve seen what your irresponsible use of magic could have done. Do you think keeping it with you is a good idea?! ...If there is a chance the dark aspects of this kind of magic could be removed, it will be worth it! I know I’m unable to use it properly, but let me do this…. If I had the chance to comfort you and remove those terrible nightmares you’ve had for the last few years, I would have done so! … I can’t help but feel responsible for them. If you don’t want me using magic, so be it, but let me try to do right by you… Once the initial dialogue had passed, the image of Mother would manifest. A large figure enough to send scares down the spine were it not for her comforting words and sound advice, a kind of safety in the midst of uncertainty. That comfort is what Lin needed to recall, even the siblings bickered with each other, as Mother lent a gentle ear, a soft voice, and a warm smile that calmed heated tensions and soothed worries. …Really, you are both right, as well as wrong. You are both blinded by things, and concern drives you to think the other is not thinking things through. Feelings that can lead to anger, and you do not need that now. Not with the battle you will have ahead of you when you get out of here to find a place of pure magic, and the hour of twilight when it is at its peak… ...Sen and Lin, if I can only leave you with one bit of advice more, let it be this: Don't waste your time fighting one another. The times ahead will likely be different for you both, and if so, you will need each other not as enemies or some you hold grudges towards, but as the only thing that matters: family. What that entails is yet to be seen, but I have faith in your future, children of an equine world. Until next we meet, fare well." After some time, the longma would allow the event to play out as it did, having done what he could piece it together from memory until she, Omen, and Sen set out to find the place of magic that ends with her new body. This one went back a long while, but his narration to Elder Zhao meant he was still familiar with what happened next, despite him being absent from the later events. The memory would continue on until it ended, letting it slowly fade into what might be Lin’s consciousness; perhaps that might be how it worked once the longma finished because he would see himself ejected and returned to the mindscape without much in the way of resistance. “I think that might be it for that memory,” Sen started, calmly looking around to see if anything had changed. A path leading further in would be preferable, but he’d wait and see if anything tangible manifested within the immediate vicinity. “I’m not sure if there is more to do here, but if not, what’s the next step?”

@Blitz Boom More complications, but Sen couldn’t argue with the kind of logic that operates the mindscape. Elder Zhao was with him in some manner, so it would make traversal and understanding this realm a little more doable. Magic like this isn’t the easiest to grasp, but the longma didn’t quite get magic anyway, making information a little easier to digest. Still, not knowing what Omen would look like in a place like Lin’s mind was rather odd, as he thought Lin’s basic understanding of what the Ki’nathar looked like would be how she’d turn out in her mind. He’d leave the intricate specifics to Elder Zhao. As much as Sen would like to have a few choice words for the elder, complaining about her whacking him over the head wasn’t a conducive use of time. They were on a mission, and he’d hate to leave a negative impression on her when there was something more important to do now. She did explain why it needed to be done, which was enough to convince him of the necessity. Looks like they’ll find Omen along the way. “I guess you know about this odd crystal then, elder. No other way forward, so I guess this one might be how we find our way in. Here’s hoping we can figure this out right because I’d hate to damage any of my sister’s memories…. Either that or we may end up stumbling into a memory Lin never told me about.” Sen reached out and placed one claw the solid crystal, cold to the touch before emanating a faint glow. Once in, the mindscape was no more, now with him visualizing what looked like a simple memory of them staying in what appeared to be a dark room or realm devoid of other identifying features. It wasn't quite like a cave outside Canterlot, but it was likely the one they stayed at sometime after Ponyville or possibly another place altogether. Some time spent within that small town brought them together for sure despite most of it taking place in the Everfree Forest. After some time in thought, Sen could pinpoint the event: it was in Mother's realm, leaving shortly after to trace Lin's path. The longma certainly felt no different from before, but something was off. He was still the same, though seeing his body in front of him was surreal, especially when his perspective was possibly his sister talking to, well… himself. We need to get you help, Lin… Time is running out, and your body is breaking down because of that magic you insisted on using! They turned their backs on our family! It was the right call when I found that magic! But you’re right; we need to find a place that could fix me… “I remember this. It felt like a lifetime ago, but there is no doubt. Sister found some kind of source of dark magic, and although she learned how to use it, that power was slowly eating away at her until nothing would remain. Something’s not right; we weren’t alone when we were looking for a way to restore her. I am certain about it because we shared my body for a time. Hmm… wait, I think this happened after her consciousness was placed into a separate, temporary body.” “Elder Zhao, I believe this is important for Lin. What happened after this was important for her; it was when she’d get her new body, the same one you saw earlier, and seeing Omen again was what solidified their friendship and brought all of us closer together. What can we do to set this memory right? Do I have to recall how this memory really happened and allow that to change how Lin remembers this event?”

@Blitz Boom “I understand, Elder Zhao. We can’t use magic, and we have to stay focused. I don’t know what more to expect from Lin’s mind, but if you say it isn’t close to being truly broken, I suppose that is a good start already. Repairing shared memories may not be the biggest concern; I can only hope those that I have no knowledge of are intact because I wouldn’t know where to begin fixing them.” Elder Zhao said a mouthful and then some, but the idea seemed straightforward enough: fix memories to proceed. Having to fend off whatever else may be in Lin’s head was another matter; however, the longma could only hope that his physical skill set was enough. A headlock to knock some creature out may be needed, and Sen smiled to himself with the notion that he’d very likely put that lesson to the test. It’ll be something to tell Rosa about when they next meet. For now, the focus will need to be on Lin’s well-being and navigating this mindscape. The longma followed the elder where they needed to go, further upward and into a dark room illuminated fairly by candlelight. This was a rather ominous sight, but the kitsune hadn’t given Sen a reason to doubt them, and so he continued onward, just as the elder instructed. A swift blow to the head and the longma fell flat on the ground, waking up to the mindscape he was told about. The path didn’t appear to be straightforward, and navigation would be complicated. Sen awoke to the sight of what appeared to be floating islands populated by small patches of forest, though some had traditional huts or modern homes or large concrete buildings of places like Canterlot. Trees hung low over his head, planted upside down, and what might be a sun or moon was clearly below him. It was all a shattered landscape among a vast and dark sea of stars, but Sen could see red, jagged shards looming in the distance, connecting these disparate planes with a strange pulsating tentacle-like web. It was a likely sign that whatever was in the middle was the source of the blockage and what influenced his sister’s memories, with the modern-looking locales having larger organic-looking masses over them. Sen would first encounter a simple gem shard jutting from the ground, likely an object that housed a memory of Lin’s. He’d consider touching the shard, but it may not be safe for now, especially if he might end up tampering with a memory unfamiliar to him. There was a life his sister led while separated, one he never had a chance to learn about from her aside from brief mentions. Without a clear path forward and knowledge of the rules of this place, traversal may mean touching this shard and repairing the memory contained within. He would need to be sure and figured it was best to not go into this alone. “Omen? Where are you? Can you hear me?” Sen called out, his voice echoing into the distance. He’d first make sure Omen was safe and in an area he could identify. If they were on separate islands, they could try linking up and make traversal less complicated for themselves. “If you’re out there, I’m on an island with a crystal poking out from the ground. It might be the same on your end and elsewhere.”

@Blitz Boom “Broken? This Mother… took me in as family? But, what about mother and father? I… I’m sorry if I do not wholly believe what you say; it’s just hard to know what is real and what is not.” ”It’s all right, sister. Trust Omen and what she says. She speaks the truth.” Lin clutched her head, as expected from the pain that surged within her whenever she attempted to remember, though something about that caused her more distress. If she were taken in, what would that say about her parents? Were they still around? Two different accounts, but she wasn’t sure what to make of the discrepancy in details, and it didn’t help that her head was being squeezed by whatever it was that took hold of her. Hearing about meeting and being friendly with creatures outside the village like Rosa didn’t seem so farfetched compared to being “fixed.” It certainly explained why she was physically different, leaving her wondering just how true Omen’s words were. Though difficult, that trust may come into play when needed most, and so she'd nod to the Ki'Nathar in acknowledgment. Talk of Scarcity got Sen interested. Her saving kits and asking nothing in return? Maybe he wasn’t entirely convinced that she could be doing so wholly altruistic reasons, but he understood that there may be more good than bad in the mare. Someone wielding influence would benefit from having access to the kitsune villages. What she’d do with that kind of boon was something Sen couldn’t fathom, but he’d rather not go into the minutiae or second-guess the mare. He wasn’t on her bad side, which was good enough for him. Lin would stand still while Elder Zhao probed the recesses of her mind, feeling some kind of tingle with the magic he utilized. It was bizarre, both to her and Sen, to know such magic exists. With certainty, it might feel different from having someone actively control their actions, leaving their conscious minds trapped within their bodies, as Sen could still remember from a terrible past experience. Fortunately, this one was different and preferable. The actual procedure to remove whatever was blocking Lin’s memories was something he’d never expected to do. Going into her mind and removing the block sounded so straightforward, yet it was bizarre all the same. Sen and Omen were warned that they may not return if they didn’t handle this right, but they did, it’ll be one weight greatly lifted off his chest. It was the last part that Sen gulped: trust. It wasn’t that he didn’t have trust in Omen and Lin, but he didn’t trust himself to follow through, even if he verbally stated how he’d try to do better. Sadly, this was no time for second-guessing, not when this could help Lin. It seemed like there was no other choice. “Omen speaks for me, too. Whatever it takes to help and get the Lin we know back, we will do. Is there more you can tell us about this mindscape and what we can expect to see, Elder Zhao?”