private Journey to the Higher Plane

[Pripyat Pony 2,608]

"Steel!" Clover cried out and rushed to hug the stallion. "I just wanted to thank you for your bravery back there... even if you do decide to remain here, I just wanted you to know that we are all grateful for what you did." 

 

She stepped back. "Do you want to come back? As I said to Lightning, you are my friend and I would love for you to return, but it must be your choice and your decision."

[Hurricane 159]

Hurricane's eyes widened with astonishment at the sight of Steel. "Steel? Is...is it really you?" she asked as she slowly walked toward him. "Please come back to Equestria with us. I think I speak for all of us when I say you left too soon." Hurricane badly wanted Steel to come back. She doesn't normally get attached to ponies, but this was different. This group was different and Steel was part of that group.

[Lightning Bliss 1,674]

Bliss remained silent as the others rushed towards the transpernt white soul that is Steel Tempest.

 

A part of her wanted to rush and hug him, beg him to return with them. Hurricane and Clover were right, his departure was unfair and too soon. He had so much to live for, he was very much still young, and his future had only just begun to end it now.

 

But she knew, like her decision, he had to make this himself. She simply floated to him, and bowed her head to him in respect and waited for his response.

[Jack Baker 698]

Steel Tempest felt a mix of emotions when he saw his companions. He first felt happiness, then... confusion. What were they talking about?

Coming back...

 

"Hold on," he said, looking at all of them. "I don't understand what you're talking about..." He sat down on the floor. "Start from the beginning. What do you mean 'come back'...?"

[Hurricane 159]

Hurricane walked up to Steel. "You died, stupid!" she tried to explain as briefly as possible. "We all saw you go. Your here cause your dead." she then took a breath. "We're asking you to come back to the normal world with us. This is some fancy, peaceful, holy place where to go when you die."

[Lightning Bliss 1,674]

*Faceplant*

 

Bliss went as Hurricane bluntly spilled the beans to the spirit Steel. There was no letting back now...so the least she could do was approach Steel in a more settle manner.

 

"Cat's out of the bag now... But she is right Steel..." Bliss placed a hoof on his shoulder, "you...you were murdered by that evil creature The Keeper... But you're body is safe with us...and...we brought it here, hoping you would return home with us... It...it was...Quickdraw's final wish before he died that...we brought you back with us..."

[Jack Baker 698]

Steel looked at Hurricane. "First off, never call me stupid," he said to her. "And second... I know I'm dead! I understand that part. I just didn't know there was a way to return--"

 

He paused when he heard what Lightning had said.

 

"...What?" he said, quickly approaching Lightning.

"Quickdraw's dead? After what I did to save him?!" His face showed signs of anger, then sorrow. He sighed.

 

"But... the only reason I sacrificed myself... was so he could live..."

 

Royal went up to the Pegasus. "He knew that, but he sacrificed himself as well to save us. He also knew you had much more to live for, so he wanted to make sure you could live your life to the fullest. That's why his dying wish was for you to come back."

 

The Custodian observed them, then once they were finished talking, approached Steel.

"My child, have you decided what you want to do?" he asked him.

 

Steel looked at his companions, then at The Custodian, then at his body.

 

"If that's really what the old stallion wants... I won't let him down. I'm in," he said.

[Hurricane 159]

When Steel addressed her, Hurricane just smirked knowing that it was truly Steel who stood before them, but as Royal spoke to him, she couldn't help but feel sorry for Steel when she saw his emotions melt to sadness when he heard the news of Quickdraw. Those two really were great friends. Hurricane's sympathy was short lived because of the joy she felt when Steel agreed to come back. She really didn't know what to say except for "Great!"

[Pripyat Pony 2,608]

@, Clover couldn't help herself; when Steel said that he had made his decision to come back with them, she hugged him. After, she stepped back, blushing a little. "Sorry," she said. "But I always hug my friends. And I certainly consider you to be one of my friends."

[Lightning Bliss 1,674]

Bliss could only smile back at the spirit Steel's decision.

 

"It is defiently what he wanted... and I would agree with him honestly." She nodded placing a hoof on his shoulder again, "He wanted you to live... I know he knew we wanted him to live too, but he chose this for us... He wanted this for you and..." she sobbed a little, "we came all this way... Let's not make him wait."

 

She turned to the costodian then, "What happends now?"

[Jack Baker 698]

The Custodian quietly stood behind the excited ponies until Lightning asked what would happen next.

"Normally, I would need to create an entire new vessel-- that is, his body-- for his soul to use," he began to explain. "However, since you've brought me his present one, which looks to be unharmed, I will be able to use this one." He gently set Steel's body on the floor, laying it flat and face-up. "All that is left is to place the soul back inside..." He then took a deep breath, and suddenly his entire body was surrounded by a bright, white aura. He extended a hoof towards the spirit of Steel, which flashed brightly, turning into a small orb of light floating towards the Custodian's hoof. He knelt down and gently let the orb float above Steel's body, just over the chest area. Slowly, it began to float downward until it disappeared inside the corpse, which glowed for a few seconds, the returned to normal.

At first, nothing happened. Then, Steel jolted upward, sitting upright and gasping for breath. He coughed a bit, feeling as if he hadn't breathed in a long time. He looked around, then looked down at his hooves, examining them, then put one of them on his chest, feeling his heartbeat. Finally, he stood up, and looked towards his companions, some of which were a bit surprised.

"...What?" he said, a bit surprised himself at their reactions.

Edited August 3, 2015 by TheKidInTheCorner

[Lightning Bliss 1,674]

Tears of joy fell around Bliss's cheeks as Steel suddenly sprung back to laugh after a few seconds of tension. The small pony was overcome with wonder and joy that he was alive and well. "OH LUNA AND CELESTIA PRAISE THE POWERS THAT MADE US!!!" She leapt and tackled Steel down hugging him tightly. "You're back! You're alive!!"

 

"Steely, STEELY!!!" Artemis chriped as well hugging the back leg of Steel.

[Pripyat Pony 2,608]

Clover also joined in the hugging, tears of joy trickling down her cheeks. Tho Steel wasn't the kind of pony she would have chosen as a friend, during the journey she had gotten very close to him and now he was back, it seemed like the best thing that could ever have happened.

 

Stormwing and Nimbus were also pleased; they had been sad at Steel's death and were overjoyed to see him come back to life.

[Jack Baker 698]

Steel smiled at everyone, a bit surprised that they cared for him this much. Not too long ago, he had left his home, branded a traitor. Now, he was surrounded by friends that treated him almost like family. To him, it was unbelievable. He nodded towards The Custodian, silently thanking him.

 

"You are welcome, my child," he said to him.

 

Steel looked at the others. "Alright, alright, that's enough hugging," he said with a laugh, getting up from the ground. "I think I need to stretch my wings a bit," he said. "May I?" he asked The Custodian.

 

"By all means, go ahead," he said, gesturing for him to do so.

 

Steel extended his wings, bending them and stretching them out. Then, with a powerful leap, he took off, flying right above the others on the ground.

[Lightning Bliss 1,674]

@,

 

She sighed heavily as Steel took up into the sky. He was free as any wild bird could be.

 

"That looks like a great idea," she smiled and hastly with Artemis on her back, trotted to the edge of the plateform, "you ready for a little wing action Arty?"

 

"FLY FLY!!!" Artemis squwaked, pointing to the sky with his talon. Bliss smiled and opened her small alicorn wings out.

 

"Hang on my pupil! Your first flying lesson in a place of paradise!" She leapt off the edge, letting the air catch her in a good updraft, sailing her up towards Steel. Once she met up with him, she gave him a happy wink, then dove under him, like she were swimming, if only on air. The little hippogryph held onto her neck, waving to Steel as they decended under him, then pulled up to weave around him and the others for awhile.

[Pripyat Pony 2,608]

Clover hesitantly spread her wings and carefully lifted herself into the air, making sure that she kept close to Lightning and Steel. Altho she wasn't entirely confident in the air, this was an opportunity she decided could not be missed. After all, she had this chance to fly in paradise. She'd be a foal to let that chance go.

[Jack Baker 698]

((OOC: It's back!))

After flying around for a few minutes, Steel Tempest had finally gotten used to being back in his old body again. It felt great, greater than he expected to spread his wings and take to the open skies. He quickly turned around and flew back to the platform he was on, with The Custodian, Raze, and Royal waiting for him.

 

"Well?" The Custodian asked. "How do you feel?"

 

"Excellent," Steel said to him, bowing. "I can't thank you enough for doing this."

 

"No need. Your friends need you, after all," he replied.

[Lightning Bliss 1,674]

Bliss too came down for a landing, skidding to a hault at Artemis's disappointing squawks.

 

"Now, now, young pupil, is that how we behave?"

 

"FLY!" He squawked in protest.

 

"Not anymore for now, we need to speak to the Costodian on what happends next." She nuzzled his forehead before approaching Steel. "It's great to have you back friend..."