private Journey to the Higher Plane

[Lightning Bliss 1,674]

@@Pripyat Pony, @,

 

Bliss still felt unworthy to be in his place, let alone hear about the great treasure Elo'Tar spoke of, but after Clover introduced herself and was intrigued to hear about it, she couldn't really see a point in just walking away now. She sat down next to Clover.

 

"I suppose if you think I'm...worthy enough to hear about it... Then yes I would love to." She nodded to the great dragon and scooted closer to Clover. She took her hoof and held it tightly as a means for her security, as well as an act of silently asking for forgiveness.

[Jack Baker 698]

The dragon cleared his throat, then spoke.

 

"As I have said before, this isn't an object," he said. "Rather, it is a gateway. A tear in space itself. Where it leads, I do not know... but I intend to find out. I believe the visitor from many years ago was looking for the same thing..."

[Hurricane 159]

"Well are we all gonna stand here or are we gonna check this thing out?" Hurricane blurted out impatiently before she realized how she sounded and tensed up feeling panicked. "I-I mean...your highness." she bowed down tot he dragon not knowing what else to do and hoped she hadn't just turned the whole situation around for the worst.

Edited May 12, 2015 by Hurricane

[Jack Baker 698]

The dragon smiled slighty. "As I have said before, no formalities. I am by no means any form of royalty: this is my home, not my kingdom, and that means comfort." He turned to the crystal wall, and let out a mighty roar. The part of the wall that he was facing sunk into the ground, revealing the open land ahead of them.

 

"Ahead you shall find the gateway," he said, turning back towards them. "Just keeping walking straight ahead, but only straight. Going anywhere else will bring you way off course."

 

He looked down at them, smiling.

"Well, it seems our little visit is almost finished. Our time is at an end--"

 

And your time with me is just about to begin...

 

The dragon was slightly surprised when he heard the voice, but had no time to react when a bolt of green light struck him instantaneously. He roared out in pain, the light seeming to consume him. He could feel himself slipping away...

 

Raze was shocked to the point of disbelief. "No... How..." he said, looking up. From the sky, the Keeper of Souls descended upon them. Elok'Tar was staring at him, eyes wide in horror. He then quickly turned to the group.

 

"Quickly! Make your way inside, before it is too late!! I can feel myself losing control already... don't know... what is happening... hurry... go..."

 

The Keeper just shook his head, then teleported in front of them.

 

"I will not allow you to pass..." he said, then held his hoof out to them. Floating above it was Artemis, trapped in a spectral prison. The Keeper flung him toward the ground, releasing him from his cage.

 

"You may make a mockery of my powers... Avoid me from taking your souls... but I will never, ever, let you through this gate!!!!!" He looked behind them, where Elok'Tar was lying still, eyes closed

 

"And to make sure of this... I will have your 'friend' assist me... ARISE!!!!"

 

The dragon's eyes shot open, now a sickly green. He slowly got up, towering over the group. He let out a malicious roar, and began to slowly approach them.

[Lightning Bliss 1,674]

@,

 

Bliss's ears dropped at the familiar sound of the evil Keeper of Souls...and even more shocked to see her newest little pupil beingl held in an evil green aura cage. Before she knew it, the viocious creature threw him relentlessly towards them, wehre she instincivly flew up and caught him, landing safetly in her hooves.

 

"BLISSY!!!" Artemis screamed in tears.

 

"Artemis my little pupil, did he hurt you??" She checked him but could find no cuts or bruises. "Thank Luna..." she snorted before focusing her attention back on the Keeper. Her anger slowly boild that this beast would attempt such harm against a young child as Artemis. She fluttered down, placing him behind her, staring down the Keeper... Her horn about ready to explode in a fit of vengence... But it was cut short...when she saw the great Elo'Tar...previousily hit with a bolt of green lightning...only to turn now on them all...his eyes glowing green under the Keeper's control.

 

"WE MUST GET INSIDE!" Bliss whinnied, snatching Artemis up again and attempted to fly over the Keeper.

[Jack Baker 698]

The soul collector spun his sickle and flung it at Lightning, catching her by the leg and yanking her to the ground. He pulled the chains off of her, quickly preparing himself for another challenger.

 

Elok'Tar flew up into the air above the Keeper, and fired his Dragon Breath. However instead of fire, crystal shards and dust came out, hitting the ground and quickly growing into full sized crystals, driving the group back from the Keeper.

[Hurricane 159]

Hurricane was shocked and enraged at the sight of the Keeper. She had had enough of him already. Her anger only grew when he had attacked Lighting Bliss. "This is the last time we're gonna see your sick, ugly head!" she shouted at him when the dragon began hurling crystals and dust at them. Hurricane flew straight toward the sparkling, dangerous missiles. She began to fly around in circles around it doing what she did best. A small tornado began to form of the dragon's projectiles. She was dodging crystals left and right. Once her tornado grew to have enough strength, she whipped it toward the Keeper sending sharp shards of crystal hurling toward him with great speed.

[Lightning Bliss 1,674]

"AHHHHH!"

 

"SQUWAAAAAAK"

 

Both Bliss and Artemis screamed as they were flung down to the ground with Bliss hitting down on her back, protecting Artemis at the same time. The wind knocked out of her, she struggled to suck in air before she threw herself into a roll, holding onto Artemis as she dodged crystal projectiles from the hypnotized dragon. Sitting upright feeling secure she missed the crystal shards, she watched in horror as Hurricane attempted to blow the Keeper away with her tornado like attack.

 

"Hang on Artemis!!!" She held tight to her pupil as her wings caught the gust and flew them further away from the action till she clung to the wall, holding on for dear life.

[Jack Baker 698]

@@Lightning Bliss,@@Hurricane,

((Sorry guys, finals week is coming up for me, and I've been really busy with studying))

 

 The Keeper quickly teleported to the side, dodging Hurricane's tornado. The possessed Elok'Tar retaliated by sending a powerful gust of his own. He flapped his wings once, and a strong wind blew towards Hurricane. He roared in anger, flying towards her.

[Hurricane 159]

Hurricane was knocked back by Elok'Tar's powerful wind. She winced as her back hit one of the crystals hanging from the cave ceiling causing it to fall. She recovered quickly from the blow and was hovering in place for less than a second before she looked back up. Her eyes widened at the sight of the fearsome dragon coming toward her filled with anger and ferocity. She had almost time to react when she dodged the possessed beast by swiftly diving to the right and flying toward the back of it.

[Lightning Bliss 1,674]

@@Hurricane,

 

Seeing the black pegasus in trouble, she gently placed Artemis down on a thin ledge of the cave wall.

 

"Arty...I gotta go help our friend...Stay here, be a brave colt...won't you for me sweety?"

 

"Blissy..." Artemis cooed to her and held her face in his talons...She slowly pulled him away and pecked his forehead...She smiled to him, knowing what she was about to do may be the last thing she ever do...for the good of her friends.

 

With that she leapt off the cliff...diving head on at Tar's head...slamming into the dragon's muzzle and proceeded to bite down on his eyelids. She bucked at his eyes, hearing a "cracking" sound as she continued to attack the dragon's face. It was the only thing she could think of to give Hurricane the chance to escape his assault. She bit, kicked and stabbed at her horn, feeling the beast sway his head in agony and annoyance.

[Jack Baker 698]

Elok'Tar roared in pain as he was assaulted on by the alicorn. He grabbed her with one of his hands and raised it high in the air, ready to slam her into the ground.

 

Quickdraw saw this, and looking at the Keeper, decided to do the only thing he could think of. He quickly ran towards him and, taking careful aim, shot at him, close enough to knock the Keeper off his feet and immobilize him.

 

Elok'Tar froze for a second after this, and suddenly returned to his normal state, confused.

 

"What? Where am I...?" he asked to no one in particular.

[Pripyat Pony 2,608]

Clover's part in the battle had been to put a protective shield over Stormwing and Nimbus; since the two could not fight and were liable to get hurt, she felt that protecting these two was the best thing to do, even tho it was agony to watch her friends in danger. When the Keeper was immobilised, Clover immediately hit him with the freezing spell that she'd used on the dark mage that she had defeated back when she'd been in the Northlands to remove the eternal winter. The spell was one that Clover had created herself; its very nature meant that it could not be taken off. Every time the one frozen tried, his or her effort would, instead of breaking the spell, strengthen it. Thus their struggles would instead work against them and keep them imprisoned.

[Hurricane 159]

Hurricane had looped back around the dragon, not realizing what had happened. She furiously flew up to Elok'Tar with her dagger in her mouth. "Put her down!" she commanded confidently as she took her dagger straight to his hand that was holding Lightning. She began to slash around in attempt to release the monster's grasp. The entire time, she was unaware that the dragon had ceased to attack them and that the Keeper was immobilized.

Edited June 6, 2015 by Hurricane

[Lightning Bliss 1,674]

"HURRICANE!!!" Bliss squirmed in the claws of the dragon.. .She could sense his harmony had returned to him. "He's alright he's alright!!! STOP!!! EEEK!!!" She found herself dropping to the ground, landing with a loud thud. Staring up she continued to see Hurricane slashing away at Tar in her anger and panic.

 

Bliss quickly flew up and grabbed Hurricane, pulling her down with her. "Stop please! Calm yourself! The Keeper he's-" she looked down in fear...but she could see the brute demon like being was on the ground, knocked out more likely for the moment.

[Hurricane 159]

Hurricane stopped attacking once she was pried away from the beast. She was breathing heavily still full of adrenalin and anger. She then noticed Elok'Tar had changed and was no longer possessed by the Keeper. Her breathing slowed and she calmed down when she realized that the fight was over. Hurricane turned to Lighting. "Are you alright?" she asked. She also began to scan the area looking for the rest of the group when she saw the Keeper un able to move. She breathed another sigh if relief, but was still cautious knowing that the Keeper wasn't a normal creature.
 

[Jack Baker 698]

Elok'Tar shook his head. He couldn't figure out what was happening. He look behind him, and saw the Keeper still lying on the ground, unmoving. He went back to Lightning.

 

"Forgive me!" he said, looking to see if he dealt any significant harm to her. "I didn't know what I was doing. The last thing I remember was being struck by something, and now..."

 

Everyone's attention was now focused on the dragon. Quickdraw was observing the the conversation from afar, next to the Keeper, his back turned. Suddenly, he sensed something wasn't right. He turned around, and saw the soul collector disappeared. Alarmed, he looked around, trying to find him...

 

Then he felt a sharp, searing pain in his side.

 

 

He was cut by the Keeper's sickle, the force knocking him up and slamming him against the wall of the crystal gate. His gun flew out of his hands and hit the wall as well, breaking it into pieces. Buckshot and shotgun slugs flew everywhere. He grunted loudly in pain. Putting a hoof to his wound, he saw that he was losing a lot of blood at a frightening pace. He looked up, and saw the Keeper staring at him with cold, dead eyes, and began to slowly approach him.

 

He couldn't move. He began to feel dizzy. This was it for him. He had reached the end of the line...

 

End of the line...

 

Suddenly, he realized: he still had his last resort with him. Looking around, he found the bullet sitting next to him. He picked it up, then forgot his gun had shattered. He looked at the Keeper, then knew what he needed to do.

 

Gathering all his strength, he tried to hit the bullet against the wall behind him, hoping the force would be enough for the bullet to go off, but he couldn't get enough for it to happen. He kept trying, hitting it harder, as the Keeper slowly neared his location...

[Lightning Bliss 1,674]

@,

 

Bliss was cut in a few places, but nothing serious. As Ela'Tar approached her she smiled in relief to him to see he had come back to normal...Though he may be suffering from a sore eye for awhile.

 

"I didn't know I had it in me to attack a dragon," she chuckled as she sate up to dust herself off, when suddenly her horn splurted upward with magical enforcement... The single for danger. The Keeper is still?

 

Suddenly she heard a slam up against crystal and turned to see that Quickdraw was on his rump, the Keeper almost on top of him... He appeared to be disarmed and injured...but the Keeper was coming for him...He was going to take his soul!!! She could sense Quickdraw's inevtible fate, as he was struggle to slam one of his shotgun bullets against the wall, hoping to create an explosion.

 

Without thinking about it, and her magic still pulsing with strength at the desperation...she knew what she had to do then...It may not even work she figured...but the magic within her was meant to be used to protect the peace...and if that meant protecing one soul form a being of darkness and hate...then that's what she was going to do. Standing to face the Keeper from the side just several yards away, she pawed the ground...and lowered her horn into a charging position. Just like she remembered to do when the chief bufflo told her when charging oppontants.

 

@@Pripyat Pony,

"Here goes everything..." She gulped down one last linger of fear, replacing it with determination and charged at the Keeper...her horn piercing into his side while her magic was still activated...A bright light, colored in rainbow began to filter into his body...the magic of peace trying to consume him... "CLOVER!!!!!!!!" Bliss whinnied as her Equestrian voice ranged out as her magic began to pour into the Keeper, attacking him in waves of rainbow light, feeling him with the sensation of peaceful thoughts, "YOUR HORN!!! USE YOUR HORN!!! FILL HIM WITH THOUGHTS OF YOUR LOVE!!!"

[Pripyat Pony 2,608]

@@Lightning Bliss, Clover reacted instantly to Lightning's shout. She knew instinctively that this was the only way they could ever hope to defeat the Keeper. She stood next to Lightning and shot magic infused with memories of love and friendship at their hated enemy.

 

The day that she'd earned her cutie mark, surrounded by her friends...

 

Her cutesinera, with all her friends beside her as they ate, drank and danced happily together...

 

Being accepted into Princess Celesta's School For Gifted Unicorns, with her proud parents beaming...

 

And of course, more recent memories.

 

Slowly building a strong friendship with Hurricane and Lightning...

 

Hurricane and Lightning teaching her to fly...

 

Clover and Lightning joining their horns to save Blaze...

 

All these she concentrated within her magic and blasted at the Keeper.

[Jack Baker 698]

@@Pripyat Pony,@@Lightning Bliss,

 

 

The Keeper felt the piercing feeling of Lightning's horn against his side, followed by the barrage of magic from Clover's horn. He shook Lightning off him, and tried to keep moving towards Quickdraw. He charged his horn, which was emanating a green light. The lantern floating under his right hoof opened up, ready to accept Quickdraw's soul into his vast collection. His horn glowing a bright green, he fired a beam of magic, meant to kill Quickdraw...

 

and it would have hit too, if not for some pony standing in the way.

 

Steel Tempest, in a last ditch effort to save his friend, took the attack head-on. His soul was visibly pushed out from his body, which fell to the ground, limp like a rag doll. Quickdraw was shocked, unable to move. The soul began to manifest into a phantom version of Steel, who looked back at him. He nodded once, and afterwards was soon sucked into the Keeper's lantern, who was still coming towards him, although struggling quite a bit from the magic blasting him from behind.

 

Quickdraw took a deep breath, and looked the Keeper dead in the eye. Anger soon filled him, as he raised his hoof holding the bullet high in the air. The soul collector was right on top of him, charging his spell once more. 

 

The gunslinger glared at him and, letting out a loud, blood-curdling yell, slammed the bullet into the wall. A huge explosion followed afterwards, the impact of it cracking the crystal wall. The Keeper lost his focus for a split second due to the explosion, but that was enough for Clover's magic to fully take effect on the soul collector. He was completely consumed by it, and his physical body had evaporated completely, leaving his own soul fully exposed. The lantern, now without an owner, began to spiral out of control. It opened, and was trying to suck the Keeper's soul inside it. He tried to resist, pulling himself away from the lantern's ethereal grip. The collector became the collected, the fear-striker became fear-stricken. He let out cries of pain as the lantern swallowed him up, then, unable to contain any of the souls inside it, opened up wide and released them all. They began to float upwards, sounds of joy emanating from them, until they became dim lights in the sky, almost like stars. The lantern closed, and dropped on the ground, empty.

[Lightning Bliss 1,674]

Bliss fell to the ground...her energy completely drained as the Keeper was totally enfused by the magic of hers and Clovers...As his soul was sucked into his lantern...and finally it imploding, releasing all his captured souls...She looked down seeing Steel was lifeless...and Quickdraw...clearly injured and bleeding profusely.

 

Then she felt a familiar warm, feather hug huddling behind her back. Artemis had flown down from the safety of his perch, hugging her once again. The Keeper was gone...but is disperse came at a horrible price...

 

"Quickdraw?" She sat up holding Artemis, "Are you...ok...?"

[Jack Baker 698]

@@Lightning Bliss,

 

Quickdraw looked around, then coughed up blood. He felt tired, a sort of soothing feeling coming over him. He looked up at Lightning, and tried to manage a smile.

 

"I'd by lying if I said I was..." he said, but with a bit of trouble. "*hack* I reckon this is it for me... unless y'all magic folk can heal me...?"

 

Royal Flush approached him, conjuring a healing card. He crushed it, and held the aura over his wounds. Quickdraw jumped a little, the healing process hurting him a little. "Easy, partner..." he said, reassuring him. He then looked toward the group. "Someone... help."

 

Quickdraw chuckled a bit, then coughed. "I'm surprised, Flush... this ain't what Steel told me at all. Maybe when I meet him again... doesn't look too far off now, to be honest... I'll ask him if he was really telling me the truth..."

 

"Whatever he said about me, I've changed it," he said promptly, still focusing on healing him. "Now come on. Don't give up on yourself like that..."

[Pripyat Pony 2,608]

@, @@Lightning Bliss, Clover felt exhausted, but gamely got to her hooves. She had been horrified by the Keeper's demise; tho he had been an enemy, it had been emotionally draining to keep her magic blasting at him. It was with a feeling of deep peace and relief that Clover watched the released souls escaping. She walked over to where Quickdraw lay.

 

"I will use a healing spell that Twilight taught me," she said, slowly. "It takes a lot of energy, but by Celestia, I will use every drop of energy I have if it will save the life of a friend."

 

Clover focused her magic on Quickdraw, her horn glowing with its green aura. The spell began to work and Clover fiercely willed Quickdraw to recover. She looked over just once and saw Nimbus, the hippogryph filly, walking over to join Artemis. Then she concentrated all her energy and attention on the spell.

[Jack Baker 698]

@Pripyat Pony

Clover's healing spell, along with Royal's healing spell began to take effect, but it didn't seem to be doing anything. The blood just kept flowing. He decided now that he was beyond help, and looked up.

 

"No... it's alright. I've lost too much blood. I'm already feeling sleepy..." he said, with some difficulty. "You... you go on. I'll be fine here... just leave me... leave me be..."

[Lightning Bliss 1,674]

@, @@Pripyat Pony,

 

((OOC You want him to die dude?))

 

Bliss placed Artemis down and approached the group trying to save the earth pony's life. She had no magic in medicines or healing abilities. She never did...but she still felt there was something she could do to help. She sat down next to Quickdraw, taking his hoof in her own and held it tightly.

 

"Surely there's something we can do...can't just leave you here... You-you saved our lives... You saved mine and Artemis's life...You sacrificed your own wellbeing for mere strangers...I..." she cringed trying to hold back tears, turning to Clover and Royal. "Could you use some of my life force? Take it with your magic? Give him some of my strength to help him? Could you...? Could any of you?? Please!" She began to bawl, holding his hoof to her face, "I can't just not let you die like this! I never got the chance to properly thank you...for your sacrifice, for your herioc efforts...I never...got the chance to introduce you to my husband...or share my events with my family in Appleloosa! There's so much you can do here with us...Please don't go Quickdraw!!!"