private Journey to the Higher Plane

[Pripyat Pony 2,608]

@, Clover gasped when she saw the Windigoes; she braced herself for an attack. The only experience that she had had with these creatures were the ones who had been controlled by Iceheart the Sorcerer, who had used the Windigoes to cover Equestria in an eternal winter. Clover and her friend Stargazer had been sent by Princess Celestia to go to the Northlands to seek out the sorcerer and stop him by whatever means necessary. This had been back when Clover had still been a unicorn; unknown to her, the Royal Sisters had arranged that she would be the only pony free to carry out the mission; they had sent the mane six to the Crystal Empire to help Cadance raise the shield and maintain the Empire, and had asked the other alicorns in Equestria to help them to keep ponies' spirits up and attempt to keep away the cold.

 

Iceheart had originally been an earth pony, but thru the use of forbidden dark magic had created for himself a horn. Using dark magic, he had summoned two Windigoes to cover Equestria in winter. The young unicorn mare had travelled to the frozen Northlands with her pegasus friend, Stargazer. Once they had found where Iceheart was, Clover had challenged him. Iceheart had defeated her, and to press home his advantage, had ordered that the Windigoes kill Stargazer. Angry that Iceheart wanted to kill her friend in front of her, Clover had reached within her for power she didn't know she even had, and had broken the spell and sent the Windigoes back where they came from with her first spell. The second froze Iceheart where he stood. After that, Princess Celestia had made Clover an alicorn, the Princess of Magic.

 

Clover had good reason therefore to mistrust and fear Windigoes; even after these ones did nothing to hurt the group, she was still on edge.

[Lightning Bliss 1,674]

The whole trip down the mountain was a breeze for Lightning Bliss and Artemis as since she used her wings majority of the time. But once they were on an open vast plain, and with the sun shining, did she finally allow her new grown wings a break, and began to walk on the snow with Artemis riding her back. Some windigos passed their group to which Bliss immideatly hunched down, covering Artemis protectively...not sure if these creatures were peaceful or not. However as the three flew passed them, they clearly seemed to be uninterested in their group...making her relax somewhat.

 

Finally after lifting her guard up Artemis bounded from under her, running ahead of their group to play in the snow. He leapt into it with all his force and completely got sucked down the fresh white powder.

 

"Artemis??" She called to her little pupil with some concern. This only lasted a second when the young foal popped his eagle head out of the snow, and gave out a joyful burst of laughter.

 

"BLISSY!" He squwaked before leaping out of the snow again and bounded back inside, disappearing into the powder, repeating by poking his head out then jumping out again and again. It was like watching a hippogryph dolphin jumping out of the water. "SNOW! SNOW! COLD!!!" He peeped with excitment.

 

"You silly...." she giggled as she walked closer to Hurricane, watching him from a distance as he played.

 

For Lightning Bliss, this journey had leaded her to so many views and changes of heart. She met a pony she never thought would be her friend...and yet here they were walking side by side as if they were always just that. Her magic had been through up and above the call of duty to help those in need with the help of another alicorn like Clover. She found a younger pupil she could take care of and love on like her own...And faced against terrofying odds with her new friends against a mythical foe. If anything from this trip has taught her anything....it was to have courage and faith in others as well as herself.

 

"It's funny..." she said aloud to those who were listening,  "Even if there's nothing there that Star Swirl the Bearded says...I've alreaddy gained something on this adventure...."

[Jack Baker 698]

As the group traveled, more mythical creatures could be seen in the distance. Floating snakes made of ice, known as Ice Serpents, slithered past the group, moving as if they were swimming in a sea of air. The cold wind picked up a bit, sending a small gust towards Raze and the group, which blew cold air and some snow in their faces.

 

It had been a while since they walked. There was nothing but just more snow for miles around. It seemed to Raze that they were lost, when suddenly, they came across something. Something that shouldn't have been there.

 

They had reached the end of the path, which was a sheer drop to an cold ocean below them. Large chunks of frozen ice littered the water, only seperated inches from each other.

 

"This... isn't right..." Raze said, looking through the map, however there wasn't anything to look at anymore. The map trail had ended at the mountain they had left a few hours ago. No pony had probably never located a place such as this before.

 

He looked to his left and right. The path and the ocean seemed to stretch on endlessly. He then turned to face the group.

 

"Well.. what now?" he said. "Got any bright ideas? Anyone, anyone?"

[Hurricane 159]

Hurricane followed the group hovering above them, but mostly kept to herself. She had been through a lot recently. She battled an evil being, was taken hostage by hippogryphs, was slowly corrupted, and eventually possessed. However, she had also found real friends she never intended on finding and that made this trip all worth while, but she would never admit it out loud.

She followed the group lost in thought until, she brought herself to a sudden stop just upon noticing the sheer drop. Hurricane was just as confused as Raze. She heard him open for suggestions. "This can't be it." she spoke up looking around. "No, it has to be here. Maybe concealed by magic or something?" she sounded almost panicked as she turned her head frantically in search of the object.

[Jack Baker 698]

"I wouldn't know of anything..." Raze said, as he flipped through Starswirl's journal, looking through the pages, but found nothing.

 

"No, this can't be it... there's got to be something!" He flipped through the pages more vigorously, almost tearing some of them, until he came to a particular page with a strange marking. His hoof accidentally touched it, and suddenly images began to pour into his mind, his eyes turning completely white...

 

From inside his mind, he saw the same cliff and ocean, but from someone else's eyes, and that someone was moving towards it slowly. He wasn't in control; all he could do was watch.

 

At first, I wasn't sure what to think when I had seen the dead end... a voice echoed inside Raze's head... someone's thoughts... Starswirl? Which, if it was true. meant he was looking through his eyes as well.

 

The thoughts continued. But then I realized... I knew I had arrived... He looked down into the ocean. ...All I had to do was jump. He began to run, and as much as Raze wanted to stop him, he had no control over it. He leaped off from the cliff, quickly approaching the icy depths below. It was when he about to submerge that the vision had ended, and Raze found himself back in the real world, the book on the ground in front of him.

[Lightning Bliss 1,674]

Bliss backed away realizing Raze was having some sort of magical connection. Artemis clinging to her leg in concern as well till finally he came back to them, the magical book falling down in front of him.

 

"Alright I've had enough..." Bliss said pushing the book away from Raze. "You've taken us all the way out here, on the maps and scrolls of a pony who went missing...THOUSANDS OF YEARS AGO!" her frustration finally mustering forth. "Our friends have been put in danger and now this child... We're at the ends of the earth of a cold ocean. We are cold, hungry and tired... I think it's safe to say there is nothing here...expect an odd magical book and shivering us!" She picked up Artemis and slowly began to walk away.

 

"I'm heading home... Who's with me?" She turned to Hurricane and Clover expecting them to follow.

[Jack Baker 698]

Raze was still mesmerized by Starswirl's vision, and it took him a few seconds to actually snap back to the real world. When he did, he yelped, jolting a bit forward...

 

And down to the ocean below.

 

He screamed in terror as he quickly neared the icy waters, entering them with a huge splash. At first he thought it would be extremely freezing... but for some reason, the waters were strangely warm, soothing even. He looked around. There were schools of fish swimming around him in a spiral pattern, which confused him.

 

He drifted downwards for a while, the surface slowly fading from view, until he reached the ocean floor... But something wasn't right. Looking at the ground, he could see his reflection. He gently tapped it, and it made a ripple. Was this... the ocean surface?

 

What... What's going on? he thought, looking down. He swam towards it, and found himself resurface again. He took a minute to get some air and check his surroundings. He had resurfaced in a small circular ice hole. The cliff was gone, and all around him was an icy landscape with a gentle snowfall. Although there were no clouds, the sky was grey and bleak.

 

He got out of the water. Although it looked cold here, he didn't feel it.

 

"Where... Am I?" he said to himself.

[Hurricane 159]

Hurricane listened to Lightning Bliss vent out her frustration. "Bliss, I think-" She was cut off when out of the corner of her eye, she saw Raze jump into the icy waters below. "Raze!" she yelled as she flew down closer to the water to see if she could find him, but she had to keep her distance in case a stray wind current happened to roll by. Many thoughts raced through her head. Why would he just jump? Did some invisible force push him in?After  quickly scanning the water with no sign of him, she flew back up to the cliff with the others. "I don't see him. I'm going in after him." she quickly said. Before anypony could protest, she jumped off the cliff and folded in her wings diving head first into the freezing, blue abyss.

The coldness Hurricane her like a sledgehammer followed by thousands of tiny needles made of ice. She opened her eyes to see, and at first, she saw nothing, but the dark blue of the sea. She tried to swim as fast as she could downward to find Raze, but her muscles were already reacting to the extreme cold, but something stopped her in her track. There was something not far below her. It was almost like a watery mirror. Like there was a lake in side an ocean. She forget about the cold as she was compelled to take a closer look. After looking behind her, she decided to swim through.

[Lightning Bliss 1,674]

@@Hurricane, @, @@Pripyat Pony,

 

Bliss eyes widened in shock as Raze looked like he was thrown off the cliff and into the icy water. But before she could even think of a cause of action, Hurriane already darted over after him.

 

"Gah!" She placed Artemis down and looked over the edge, trying to levitate any pony up from below though knowing she could only lift one...but it was no use. Her magic couldn't sense anything in the water... It was like they disappeared... "Where they go???!!!" She looked to Clover then, "we have to do something!" She turned to Artemis then, not sure how she could leave him up here like this...but she had no choice... Their friends were in trouble.

 

"My little pupil..." she nuzzled his forehead...he seeming to understand the dire need of him to do so, "our friends are in trouble... I must go help them... Please stay here... I won't be long... I promise... I'll be right back... You stay here, no following. Ok?" She licked his forehead and nuzzled him again. There was a light coo of his response, as he slowly cried...but he stay seated as she asked him.

 

With that she turned to the edge...took a big breath... then leapt down into the abyss of the sea. At first the water hit her like a thousand nails all over her body...but as she descended it seemed to have gone away instantly...being replaced by a warm sensation like a hot spring...As she swam down, using her horn as a light source...she could find no signs of her friends... But she did spot an old reflection once she reached the bottom. A lake? Under the ocean? But how???

 

She reached the bottom, her air running low...She feared though if she went up now she wouldn't be able to find this spot again...Not only that...for some reason this spot made her curious...She reached a hoof inward....touching it...then found herself being pulled into it...

 

"GAH!!!" She gasped out, taking in a breath of air once she was through. "Luna Celestia!" She coughed up some water and pulled herself out of the small lake. "Where am I?" She looked around, spotting Raze and Hurricane almost instantly. "Are you two ok? What is this place? Where are...we...?"

[Pripyat Pony 2,608]

Clover watched as one by one, her friends leapt into the icy sea. She knew she had to either wait behind, or follow. Turning to Stormwing, she said, "I have to go with them, whereever they are. I can't desert my friends. Do you wish to come or stay behind with your foal?"

 

Without hesitation, the hippogryth mare replied, "We're coming, too. You and your friends saved our lives so we would not want to desert you now." Nimbus too nodded, her eyes full of excitement. Clover bit her lip, took a deep lungful of air and jumped into the sea. As she felt the shock of the cold piercing her fur, she heard two more splashes and knew that the hippogryphs had joined her. As she upturned and swam down, the cold vanished and the sea felt warm to her fur. She chanced a look behind and saw that Stormwing was catching her up, Nimbus by her side. Together, they reached the bottom and saw the strange lake. Her air running low, saw a lake with a single white feather floating on the top. Lightning's! That meant that she and the others were there, somewhere.

 

Together, Clover and the hippogryths pushed thru the lake and found themselves being pulled inside. Clover did not struggle; the force was too strong and in any case, this was what had happened to the others, judging by the feather she'd seen. Gasping for breath, Clover hauled herself out of the lake where she could see, to her relief, her friends standing by the lake edge. Looking back, she saw that Stormwing and Nimbus had successfully navigated the lake and the tunnel and were clambering out of the water.

[Jack Baker 698]

Quickdraw, Steel, and Royal Flush followed them soon afterward, just as surprised as the rest to see where they were at. Raze walked around, not sure where to go next, but suddenly, he began to hear whispers in the air...

 

Forward... Forward... But only forward...

Raze was confused. Was it the Keeper again? But the whispers didn't sound menacing or carried that heavy feeling of despair that was associated with the monster. So he walked forward, but turned back around.

 

"Still thinking about heading home now?" he said, then sighed. "...And here I thought you all had complete faith in me... but whatever. If this doesn't prove anything, I don't know what will. Heh, maybe we all just swam around in circles or something, right? I just led you all in some wild goose chase, that's it..." he turned around again, and kept moving, saying things under his breath, visibly angry and hurt at what Lightning had said.

[Lightning Bliss 1,674]

Bliss's ears went down in shame for a moment or two as she followed Raze...hearing the same sounds as he was, like a soft soothing voice, something you'd hear from a teacher...gently coaxing them forward.

 

"You can't blame me for what I said though..." She came up alongside him firmly, "we've been through much peril to get to...whatever this place is...We've suffered great things along the way, forgive me if I doubt whatever this place is, may not have been worth it as much as you think... But we won't now till we find out...being here and all. Whatever here is..."

[Hurricane 159]

Hurricane just silently listened to Raze and Lightning Bliss' dispute. Secretly, Hurricane thought Lightning bit was being a  bit unreasonable. She believed that the difficulties and hardships were part of the journey. Plus, there was no guarantee that they would be finding the treasure in the  first place. She wouldn't say that out loud of course. During the trip, Hurricane found that Bliss could be a bit sensitive at times, but she had to admit, Lightning held her ground pretty well. Hurricane just walked silently with the group and listened to the voice directing them toward a mystery.

[Jack Baker 698]

"...Hmph," was all Raze had to say to Lightning. Silently he walked on, the landscape seeming to continue endlessly. After a few minutes, though, he began to see something change. Large crystals were poking out of the ground and were scattered all over the place. The farther he walked, the bigger they seemed to get, and in more numbers as well. Feeling he was on the right track, he kept pushing forward.

[Pripyat Pony 2,608]

Clover walked side by side with Stormwing, wondering just where they'd end up. So far, they'd traveled further over Equestria than she'd ever been before and seen many different things, some amazing, some frightening. Nimbus, the hippogryph filly, seemed to like the new landscape. She frisked about, laughing with joy at the crystals and flapping her little wings.

[Lightning Bliss 1,674]

Bliss sighed and drifted back behind the herd, feeling guilty and alone. Maybe I did react too quickly in all this... She thought, but... I can't be blamed for feeling that way can I? I just adopted a young hippogryph, and he's waiting for me up above the world right now! How can I not feel like we've been through horrors beyond compare?

 

Her frustration grew, along with her bitterness and feeling alone in her thoughts. Her ears drooped down as she finally trailed behind Stormwing and her filly, ignoring the fact they were seemingly enjoying themselves.

[Jack Baker 698]

After a few minutes of walking, Raze saw something in the distance. It appeared to be... a gigantic wall, composed entirely out of large crystals. Aside from that, there was nothing else, save for a few small crystal deposits around them...

 

"This has to be it..." Raze said to himself, approaching the wall, but as he did, a loud roar echoed through the air. From out of the sky, a large creature with wings swooped down and landed on top of the walls, his wings creating a huge gust of wind when he settled atop his perch. It was a dragon, but not just any ordinary dragon. His scales were made entirely out of crystal, and he had gemstones for eyes. His teeth and claws were made of crystal spikes.

 

It was a dragon made entirely of crystal.

 

"Well, well, well..." he said, his voice powerful and commanding, like the voice of a Royal Guard commander. "It appears I have visitors..."

He looked at Raze. "Do you know where you are right now, dark colored creature?"

 

He stared at the dragon, not sure what to say.

 

"No, I don't..." he finally said after a short time, looking at him dead in the eye.

 

"Hmph. Let me tell you then..." He raised his wings, as if pointing to the world around them.

 

"You are in the Other Realm!!! The Edge of Equestria!!!!" he shouted, then looked down at them. "...but most importantly, you are in my domain. And I do not appreciate those who trespass on my domain without my consent. Born from a crystal egg, by creators unknown to me, I have lived on this land for many years. Beyond this wall lies something of utmost value to me, but I cannot find a way to get it... and until I do, I will guard this land for as long as I live and breathe!"

 

He hopped down from his perch and landed a few feet away from the group, shaking the ground itself.

 

"You are thieves that wish to take my prize away from me before I can have it, that can only explain why you are here! But enough talk! You die NOW!!!"

 

Before Raze could respond, the crystal dragon flew up and began to circle Raze and the group menacingly.

[Hurricane 159]

Hurricane was tugging at a decent sized crystal protruding from the ground before the dragon appeared. She immediately backed away from it when she thought he might be mad at her for stealing it. She stared at his magnificence and was taken back with awe at the sight, but it didn't take long before she realized that they were in danger. As the dragon circled above them, she tried to think of a plan. She could understand the dragon's point, but he did also want to kill them. Hurricane had no idea how to attack the creature made out of hard crystal. It had to have a soft spot somewhere. "Any one got any ideas?" she asked frantically with her dagger in her mouth.

[Lightning Bliss 1,674]

Bliss was awed but mortified at the same time by the menecaing dragon that now encircled them... Her mind wanting to keep the peace was all too familiar though and since the dragon made it clear....

 

She approaced Raze and the others. "This is his domain... his layer... we are trespassing. He clearly said he was born here, we've invaded his home! And whatever he's protecting behind that wall? He had claim to it first... whether we like it or not Raze we have no right to be here if what he says is true... Look..." she sat down as the dragon continued to circle. "I'm sorry for what I said...I really am... I was short minded and bitter... I was just upset after coming all this way, and the unknown has scared me. But I can see now Starswirl the bearded was right, and so where you Raze! Is that enough now though?" She then swayed her arm, pointing to their situation, "Look where we are! We're on the edge of Equestria! We made it to where Starswirl did! We are witnesses to it, and we can share our travels with the world! But in order to do that... We have to respect this guardian's wishes... We must leave his home..."

 

Without even waiting for the others to respond to her opinion or theory... Bliss flew up into the air towards the dragon still encircling. She fluttered into his path from the opposite side, stretching her hooves out and wide.

 

"Great dragon of this Domain! I beseech you! We wish not to fight you, or take what is yours! We've travled a long way to even see if this place existed! So we have... and we are grateful to get the chance to see your homeworld, and you in all your glory! We wish safe passage out of your homeland now...and we will go without resistence! I beg of you, will you allow us safe passage out?!"

 

She held fast in front of the great crystal being...not sure if he'd stop...or he'd charge...Burn her to a crips...or eat her whole.

[Pripyat Pony 2,608]

@@Lightning Bliss, Driven by purest concern for her friend, Clover flew up into the sky to hover beside her. "I am of the same mind as Lightning," Clover said, beating her wings strongly. "Tho I would love to see your treasure, if it is indeed yours, I would not dream of taking it from you. I would thank you for allowing us to view it and leave peacefully."

 

Clover hoped that the dragon would not attack but was busying herself to perform a shield spell to protect them all, should that happen.

[Jack Baker 698]

The dragon stopped circling, and hovered just above them. He had begun to observe their faces and, seeing that they were speaking the truth, lowered his anger.

 

"...Perhaps you are right," he said, slowly setting himself down. He sat down on the ground, and brought his head down to their level.

 

"...Forgive me for my hasty judgement," the creature said. "The last visitor to come here, which was many years ago, had tried to sneak past my wall in my sleep, which I would have most likely never known, if he had not stepped on my tail..." He looked at his tail, which was a sharp spike on the end. Unfortunately, he had still managed to pass through, and I had not seen him again. He looked exactly like your kind, so I assumed you were here to try and cross over as well..." He looked at them in the eye.

 

"But your group... you all are different, no? You do not look to be thieves... for the most part."

 

He withdrew his head. "My name is Elok'Tar, in your tongue it means 'The Shard'. It was given to me by my creators; the word reverberated around the crystal shell of the egg I was born in. So tell me... who are you, and why are you really here?"

[Lightning Bliss 1,674]

Bliss fluttered down, smiling to Clover in silent thanks for her support as the dragon spoke to them. Once he was finished, she lowered herself to an even more submitted position. She knew if Celestia ever saw her like this she'd be frowning for not holding herself higher...However the circumstances was needed. And quite frankly she didn't care what Celestia thought.

 

"We were on travel great Elok'Tar," she began, keeping her head down, "our friend here, Raze... Told of us of one of our own, who's legendary in our history, took on this same journey to find your domain. He gathered all of us who were willing, to go on this journey in the hopes to discover our former hero's witness to this wounderous place. We've been through great challenges to get here, facing evil creatures, spirits, thieves...and..." she looked to Royal Flush, Quickdraw and the others, "we even made some new friends along the way. But I was also guilty of doubting this journey we followed," she cut herself short, "I almost gave up on Raze's belief that this place even existed...

 

For that, even if you were to allow us to see your precious treasure you so protect...I am no longer worthy to see it." She sniffed back a tear knowing this was true more then ever. "I am...Princess Lightning Bliss, the alicorn of peace...and it's a honor and privlidge just to stand before you guardian of this domain..."

[Hurricane 159]

Hurricane was taken back when the dragon peacefully descended back onto the ground. She was prepared for a bloody battle from the beast. She looked around confused as she slowly placed her weapon back into her wing. Hurricane kept quiet because she was still stunned they weren't being attacked and also because she was afraid that she would say the wrong thing causing the dragon to turn on them. Hurricane just waited in anticipation to see where this conversation would lead.

[Jack Baker 698]

@@Lightning Bliss,

 

Elok'Tar laughed warmly at her formalities. "You do not need to be so formal, winged one," he said. "As long as you come here meaning no harm, you do not need to worry." He looked around, taking a deep breath. "My 'object' that you speak about... it is not necessarily an object that one can hold. I do not even know what it is, but I intend to find out..."

 

He looked at them. "Would you like to hear about it?"

[Pripyat Pony 2,608]

@, Clover was filled with relief that the dragon no longer seemed to be hostile towards them. She carefully lowered herself to the ground, wishing that she could instinctively fly like Hurricane and Lightning; Clover still had to concentrate on flying as it didn't yet come naturally to her. When the dragon introduced himself as Elok'Tar, Clover gave a little curtsey and introduced herself. Even after this long journey, Clover still felt a bit funny introducing herself this way, tho she did feel better about being an alicorn, thanks to Lightning.

 

"Thank you for your introduction," she said. "My name is Princess Clover, the Princess of Magic."

 

When Elok'Tar spoke of the treasure, Clover felt a rush of curiosity. "I would love to hear about your treasure," she replied.