open Artifacts of Harmony

[Steel Accord 6,660]

Addem chuckles dryly, inching away from the place the spear had shot out of. "I'm not exactly trying to trigger them." Making his way back to the stone wall, he asks, "You can hear me, right? Can you open this door?" He pounds again, adding, "It's not much good on my side."

"It IS good on your side! The door is operated by some kind of mechanism triggered by the torch holder above you." Steel explained. "I don't know how this stuff works, maybe you have some kind of device that can help? If you can jury-rig something to keep the door from crushing us, we might be able to force it open and you can slip through!"

 

((OOC: You guys want to hold off until Thunder gets back? That trick I did with the door gave us something to do, but I was hoping our absentee narrator would pick up on the lead in I gave.)

Edited January 27, 2013 by Steel Accord

[N8C8 56]

Well, Swish was alone due to all of the others getting trapped behind stone walls. Goody.

 

"It IS good on your side! The door is operated by some kind of mechanism triggered by the torch holder above you." Steel explained. "I don't know how this stuff works, maybe you have some kind of device that can help? If you can jury-rig something to keep the door from crushing us, we might be able to force it open and you can slip through!"

 

"Yeah, you guys want to do that fast?" Swish looked at his torch, which was slowly dying. "My torch is going to burn out soon, and I'm not one for being alone in the dark!"

Swish felt the same breeze he did before. He looked all around him, but there was nothing. Unfortunately, that breeze blew out his torch. He sighed, and threw it to the ground.

"Fantastic. A dark cave... That's EXACTLY the kind of place I wanted to do this in..." He said, taking out his shield.

(OOC: Sorry, I felt like I had to post something, because I haven't been doing much, story wise.)

Edited January 28, 2013 by N8C8

[Faceless 101]

(OOC: Hang on, so who's on what side? Faceless, Steel and Harmonic on one, Swish and Addem on the other, correct?)

 

"Unfortunately, I don't think it will be as easy as flipping a switch. I knew there was something wrong with the boulder. There must be some sort of reset switch, resetting the traps. Quite ingenius, and magic, I should add. I wouldn't find much comfort in this knowledge, though. Finding the reset switch would be useless as there is no way to deactivate the traps without setting them off manually..."

 

Faceless rubbed a hoof against his forehead and sighed. "I suggest we just try and get to the end of the fort. I don't know how we will FIND the end per say, but it would be better than waiting to turn into skeletons like the ones over-"

 

Flyer stopped himself and cocked his head. "Well what do you know. Skeletons..."

[That One Techpriest You Used To Know 2,286]

Those skeletons were currently impaled on a series of spikes in the wall. Best not get too close- they appear razor sharp. A lever juts out of the wall.

 

Of course, you could also pull the torch, but who knows what it will do?

 

You hear a voice behind a wall... almost as if some pony was talking to himself.

[Addem Up 246]

"Magic, huh? There's certainly something magical around here. Close, and powerful. It might be a trap of some sort."

 

 

 

 

Flyer stopped himself and cocked his head. "Well what do you know. Skeletons..."

 

 

"Skeletons?" Addem cocked his head, confused. "How old are they? Do you know how they died?" He presses his ear against the wall, hoping to hear the response better.

[Faceless 101]

"The skeletons seem to of been dead a loooong time ago seeing that there is no actual flesh..." Faceless held a gag and looked over at the wall "Hey guys! A lever!" Flyer trotted over merrily, about to pull it when he heard something behind the wall. "We don't seem to be alone." Flyer pushed his head against the wall to see if he could pick up anything of interest...

[That One Techpriest You Used To Know 2,286]

(IIIIITTT'S AAAALLLIIIVVVEEE!!!!!

                            -Crash, Crash and Bernstien)

 

The voice seems to be a rather quiet, almost wind-like voice. The exact words you cannot make out, yet... there is somepony else here...

 

--------------------

 

"Yes!!!"

 

A green pony stepped from behind- yet another- trap, and into a room with a large, ornate staff in the middle. He carefully walked up to it, looked around it, and then checked for traps. Upon finding one, he smiled. "Talk about anti-climatic." He lifted it up out of the stone- and then heard voices. "Huh..." he started feeling on the wall for a hidden passage of some kind.

[Preeminent Pisces 100]

Quinky Bolts stared down at the ashes below him. He kicked up some of the dust and swirled it around with his wings.

So much for my plan to visit the library, he thought.

He had seen many investigators came by this very location. Quinky knew of the catastrophy. He wanted to help, but he was just a tad too shy of the intimidating ponies everywhere.

Maybe somepony will ask me to help. He stirred more ashed about then sneezed very loudly. That caught the attention of many ponies. Quinky blushed and backed away but tripped over a rock and ended on his back.

What was I thinking? Nopony would ever want my help. Even if I am a magic tracker. I'm far too clumsy.

[Steel Accord 6,660]

"The skeletons seem to of been dead a loooong time ago seeing that there is no actual flesh..." Faceless held a gag and looked over at the wall "Hey guys! A lever!" Flyer trotted over merrily, about to pull it when he heard something behind the wall. "We don't seem to be alone." Flyer pushed his head against the wall to see if he could pick up anything of interest...

 

 

(IIIIITTT'S AAAALLLIIIVVVEEE!!!!!

                            -Crash, Crash and Bernstien)

 

The voice seems to be a rather quiet, almost wind-like voice. The exact words you cannot make out, yet... there is somepony else here...

 

--------------------

 

"Yes!!!"

 

A green pony stepped from behind- yet another- trap, and into a room with a large, ornate staff in the middle. He carefully walked up to it, looked around it, and then checked for traps. Upon finding one, he smiled. "Talk about anti-climatic." He lifted it up out of the stone- and then heard voices. "Huh..." he started feeling on the wall for a hidden passage of some kind.

 

While Flyer was investigating the wall, Steel was trying to divine a way to reunite the group.

 

"Never split the party." Steel chastised himself. It was he who opened the secret passage that led to this predicament, he couldn't blame Flyer for trotting through when he did. That's just his character. "All the World's a stage. Mares and Stallions are players." As Flankspere said. Suddenly it dawned on him.

 

 

"Reason enough for me to rely on the tools I trust." Steel said as he drew his weapons. "Not sure how useful these will be against a giant boulder, but if the scientist says something is up. I'm not taking any chances!" Steel declared. He knew his stories, this was the part where either the entrance sealed behind them, they were brought closer to their goal but in a dangerous fashion, . . . or both.

 

 

 

"As long as we can be assured nopony is gonna fall asleep on some pressure plate or something."

 

HE caused them to be trapped here. He tempted fate! For the same reason one doesn't ever say "nothing could possibly go wrong!" out loud.

 

"Gaaaaaah!" Steel beat his head against the wall in frustration and self-loathing. Suddenly a deep rumbling arose. The wall opened up and there stood the Scientist and the Warrior colt . . . . oh and Harmonic too. Steel rubbed his head. "Well, it's a wonder what one can do when you-" He swiped Addem's glasses and put them on. "-use your head."

 

[Addem Up 246]

Addem fumbled about for his glasses, squinting towards the pony. "Hey! I need those!" He chuckled, shaking his head. "I've got to admit, that was excellently done. Now if we can manage to stay together this time..." He took his glasses back and began fiddling with them.

[Faceless 101]

Faceless looked around and cocked his head. "Did anyone else here that? No?" Faceless shook his head and shrugged. "So, shall we venture forth? We can either go through this way, or back into the corridor we were in before."

 

Flyer looks at everypony, and then suddenly realises something. "Well that confirms somepony has been here..."

[That One Techpriest You Used To Know 2,286]

"And... aha!"

 

A door opened, revealing a green-colored unicorn with a blue mane, levitating a large, ornate staff with a several gems on it. "Well, hello there..." he said, looking rather suspisious. "Who are you, and why are you here?"

 

(Sorry, guys, if that took a while... I feel bad for procrastinating. )

[Steel Accord 6,660]

"And... aha!"

 

A door opened, revealing a green-colored unicorn with a blue mane, levitating a large, ornate staff with a several gems on it. "Well, hello there..." he said, looking rather suspisious. "Who are you, and why are you here?"

 

(Sorry, guys, if that took a while... I feel bad for procrastinating. )

 

"Halt stranger!" Steel said bursting forth from the group. "We are in pursuit of a dangerous criminal. Who is hunting for arcane weapons. And that staff you hold doesn't look like a party favor." Steel drew his swords. "If you are not the one we pursue, speak your defense now!"

[That One Techpriest You Used To Know 2,286]

"Wait... what?" He takes a good look at the staff. "While this is almost certain to maintain magical powers, I can guarentee you I am no criminal. I am a simple... magically-oriented librarian. The books are my life." He shakes his head. "But even I need a break from my books."

[Addem Up 246]

"A magical librarian?" Addem instantly became interested in the conversation, saying, "How interesting. What do you study, specifically? Or do you tend a library full of ancient magical tomes, hidden from the world?" He pressed forwards, attempting to peer inside. 

Edited March 31, 2013 by Addem Up

[That One Techpriest You Used To Know 2,286]

"That is correct... I maintain a large collection of books... that contain rituals, spells, and numerous artifacts. My friend collects artifacts. He used to make them, actually." He looked at Addem. "You appear to be a pony of science..." he said, curious. "Might you enlighten me on what you study?"

Edited March 31, 2013 by Celebi (Thunder Knight)

[Faceless 101]

"So how long have you been down here? I was just about to ask about the lit torches." Faceless waved his hoof around the room, before looking at the librarian closely. "You did light these, right?" Flyer inquired, wondering if any other pony had made their way down the coridoors.

[Steel Accord 6,660]

((OOC: Screw it! If this thread is dead, it's going out with a bang, not a whimper!))

 

Before the staff holding unicorn can respond, he is knocked from the raise the staff was held upon. He slides along the floor to the group of adventurers.

 

"What was that?" One of them asked. Steel's eyes and ears darted around. A low, sinister laughter echoed through the temple walls. Steel widened his stance and relaxed, he could feel the attack coming. Their nemesis had them by the throats this whole time, waiting for the right moment to strike. Now with all his pursuers in one place and far away from civilization, also fittingly in a crypt where nopony would notice a few more bodies. 

 

Steel's ears perked. His right wing began to move before his brain told it to.

 

He had no right to hear this sound. It barely counted as a whisper, but a familiar whisper it was. It was the soft whisper of steel. It was both the swordpony's favorite and most dreaded noise. It was the sound of cut air. And it was then inches away from Steel's head.

 

*CL-RIIIIIIIING*

 

Steel blocked the blade, any slower and an artery would've been lost, but his foe just disengaged. The attacker was a blur, twirling and striking with such unnatural speed that Steel's eyes couldn't perceive him clearly. Fine, all Steel needed was his enemy's blade upon his own, then he could "feel" where his attacker was.

 

Left high, center high, right low, rear high, NOW!

 

Steel riposted, not with his swords, but his hooves. His attacker was not injured, but the force of Steel's blow forced him on to the raise in the Chamber's center. Finally the mysterious arsonist was revealed to them. 

 

Certainly he was no pony. He stood upon two stubby legs, had two short arms, and had a spherical body. He wore a metal mask, behind which, only two yellow eyes were visible. His bat-like wings folded backwards in a relaxed motion and seemed to meld together into a completely natural looking cape. Lastly his sword was a nasty looking bugger. Polished to a golden hue, made of no Equestrian metal for sure. It had six, short, upward spikes running along the blade. Only a few inches shorter than Steel's blades, it was decidedly not a dagger. From what Steel gathered from that brief skirmish the weapon fitted the marauder's style perfectly. Showy, fast, and vicious!

 

"Who are you?!" Steel demanded.

 

"I am known as Meta Knight." Came a wispy, accented voice. "Star-warrior, and swordsman extraordinaire." He twirled his blade, threw it into the air, and caught it again.

 

"So . . . I guess you are some kind of alien?" Steel supposed.

 

"In a sense." Meta Knight began to pace back and forth. "I roam the multiverse. Visiting different worlds, challenging their fighters, and . . . collecting their most legendary swords; magical or otherwise." He brandished his blade. It gleamed in the dim torchlight of the chamber. "This is Galaxia. I took it from a weaker Star Warrior, unworthy of it's might."

 

"That just leaves one question." Steel said. "Why are you in Equestria?" He feared the answer.

 

"I seek Isos. The blade forged by the unicorn: Pyrefrost, the earth pony: Baymane, and the pegasus: Ironwing." Meta Knight said.

 

Steel's wings shot up in anger. "That weapon doesn't belong to you! It belongs to . . ."

 

"Red Pommel." Meta Knight interrupted. "Yes, the Master Swordpony. I have done my research on your world as well. The medieval farm boy who rose to become the Princesses' champion fighter. However, since his death and Luna's banishment soon after, none have claimed his vacated position. Perhaps it has become obsolete to your people." Steel winced and looked away. "Oh? You are saddened by this. You wish that title for your own." Meta knight mused at Steel's transparency. "Well once I claim Isos and move on to my next prize, I'll leave a recommendation to your Princess about reinstating that office." He mocked.

 

"Red Pommel carried Isos to his grave." Steel took a fighting stance again. "I will NOT allow you to take it from the hooves of it's rightful master." The Star-warrior stopped meandering and regarded the pegasus more seriously.

 

"If you're going to threaten me, boy . . . prepare for the fight of your life." He swung his sword fast as a blink. Steel chuckled.

 

"You say that like it's a bad thing." Steel's own swords seemed to shine with the same anticipation he felt in his heart.

 

"Well then . . . let's see if you really are worthy to claim the title of Master Swordpony." Meta Knight lowered his blade to a striking guard.

 

"All right you spherical, sword swinging, psychopath . . . let's dance!"

 

 

 

 

Meta Knight twirled with his cape and disappeared. Almost instantaneously, Galaxia came at Steel's low right. 

 

BLOCK!

 

The attack was blunted but it still sent Steel reeling off balance. The Star-warrior pressed his foe.

 

Threat high, parry! Threat left, parry! Threat right, parry! Threat high, parry! Ripo- Threat left, parry! 

 

It was too much for the errant swordpony. With a swift and powerful swing, Meta Knight made a clean cut across Steel's chest. He fell back with his fellows, clutching his wound with a hoof.

 

Meta Knight spread his wings. 

 

"Come." He taunted. Steel was not going to be beaten so easily, but he needed to pull out his trump card.

 

"I know at least one other of you has a sword." Luckily they did. Steel was given a sword which he took . . . in his mouth. With a mighty flap, Steel dashed from his position and closed on Meta Knight. Steel's triple-threat flurries now put Meta Knight on the defensive. Steel slashed with his center blade, Meta Knight blocked it downward, but then Steel thrusted with both wing mounted blades. Meta Knight's mask took the double blow, but now it was his turn to be sent flying back. He recovered and felt the deep chips in his mask.

 

"Impressive isn't it?" Steel clearly spoke despite his mouth being occupied. "Pegasus trientus . . . three sword-fighting." He grinned wickedly around the hilt.

 

Meta Knight actually seemed to smile behind his damaged face plate.

 

"Now THAT'S more like it!" He flapped once to ascend, then threw his wings back while thrusting. He corkscrewed through the air at the pony. Steel flapped once and did almost the exact same technique. The two swordsmen flew at each other in a spinning, flying joust.

 

Ti-Ti-Ti-Ti-Tink-CLANG

 

They both landed where the other once stood and each had several cuts along their bodies. Panting heavily and turning to each other, they both cracked a smile and took to the air. Despite himself, Steel was actually enjoying this! Meta Knight was a far cry from the pathetically predictable nobles he usually put in their place. The Star-warrior was highly skilled and had a passion for the sword, not unlike himself. Steel wondered, enemies that they were, if they could have been friends under different circumstances.

 

Both swordsmen were taking advantage of their flight as they dueled above the onlooking party. Steel however, had two of his weapons mounted on the very things that kept him airborne. Every other time he had to parry or riposte, he sacrificed altitude. Meta Knight's wings were unburdened, but they were also unarmored. He had to work thrice as hard to keep Steel's strikes away from his vulnerable wings with only one weapon to Steel's three. 

 

Wh-TANG

 

Meta Knight and Steel locked in a bind. Galaxia and Steel's mouth blade biting into each other. Both flapped furiously to press the other into a weakened position.

 

"EeeeNOUGH!" With a grunt, Meta Knight disengaged and pushed with his feet. Steel fell to just above the floor while Meta Knight almost scraped the ceiling. He raised Galaxia and the blade began to glow and spark violently. With a mighty swing, Meta Knight brought his blade in a downward swing; a glowing, destructive arc surged forth.

 

Steel banked to his right and landed straight into a roll. Where he was moments ago, was now a fissure. The entire room shook and small bits of debris tumbled from the ceiling.

 

"Careful!" Faceless said. "This whole place could come down on top of us!" Steel barely noticed the threat of collapse. He was starring slack-jawed at the scar left by Meta Knight's technique. It was not smoking, there was no heat. It truly was like a giant cut that extended past the blade. Addem adjusted his glasses. He seemed to at least appreciate the phenomenon, if not in the same way Steel admired the technique behind it.

 

"Can you teach me that?" Steel asked, but then shook his head. "I mean . . . have at thee, villain!" Steel once again charged his foe.

 

They clashed again, but unlike before. They were both getting tired and slowing down. Meta Knight had hoped to take his foe down before his own reserves of strength had been depleted. Now he and Steel were on the same level; mostly just fencing with each other at this point.

 

"Good guard."

 

"Nice parry!"

 

"Keep the blade up." Almost all actual hostility had disappeared, despite the fact that they were still (in theory at least) trying to kill each other. Before their bout could continue, however, the chamber began to collapse.

 

"We have to get out of here!" Adem declared.

 

"I can get us all out with the staff!" Quinky hollered over the rumbling. Addem and Faceless grabbed Steel and pulled him toward the unicorn conjuerer.

 

"No!" Steel struggled against them, flapping his wings to try and free himself without hurting them. A midst the falling stones, Meta Knight stood resolute. He seemed unconcerned with the possibility of entombment.

 

Quinky focused his spell through the staff and they all began to glow as they teleported away. Steel reached out a hoof to the Star-warrior. Meta Knight nodded in respect, before a boulder came down between them as Steel and the others vanished.