open Beyond these Walls: An adventure through Equestria. (Applications open!)

[Umbreon 569]

@, 

 

Zintiik

 

Zintiik banged his head against the wall, still not really feeling the physical pain over the barrage of emotion against his mind.  "Willow...  They won't stop STARING AT ME!  I said I was sorry...  But they won't stop..."  He was still sane enough to know she likely had no idea what he was talking about, and he struggled to put it into words as he slumped down against the base of the wall again.

 

"All of them...  Ever since I was little, even the very first one...  I didn't have a choice!  If I didn't feed I'd die!  WHY DON'T THEY UNDERSTAND!?  I...  I never meant to hurt anypony...  Willow?  Are you still there?  Please, I can't stand being alone with them!  I'm going to find you!"  

 

Stumbling back to his feet, the changeling starts to blindly make his way down the wall.  He thumps against it every few feet, as though to let Willow know he was still there.  Surely there's a way around...  I don't want to be alone with those judging eyes...

[Geek0zoid 1,468]

@,

 

Blast

"I guess you're right, Aphrodite. If it was happy and peaceful all the time, there'd be less adventures and evil to take on." Blast said, becoming cocky, but trying to keep his ego in check. "But, all I really want in life is for the ponies of Equestria to be safe, even if that means putting myself in harm's way to do it."

[Ihei 713]

@, 

 

Willow Starsinger

 

"Zintiik.. you're going to be fine. That might explain why my magic is worse when I'm around you, but it's okay. You're not a monster. You're doing what you're supposed to do.." Willow smiled, starting to grow weak. Her newly formed wings started to glow.

 

@,

 

Aphrodite

 

"Well, that's what all of us want. Trying to keep it out of that stupid alicorn's way is our goal now." Aphrodite smiled, her eyes darting around for a moment and kissing his cheek. She quickly trotted away with a blush on her face.

[Geek0zoid 1,468]

@,

Blast watched as Aphrodite quickly walked away. He put his hoof to his kissed cheek and blushed as red as a tomato.

"Ohhh. Looks like Blasted Nova DOES have a marefriend now." Eclipse said, teasing Blast a little bit, but in a playful matter.

"Shut up, Eclipse." Blast said, shoving him aside. 

[Umbreon 569]

Zintiik

 

@,

 

It was no use, Zintiik had run into another wall.  He couldn't find a way around to Willow.  But he couldn't stay by himself - he knew something very bad was going to happen if he were lost in here by himself!  "Willow..."

 

Something in the changeling's addled mind told him to look up, and that was when he noticed that the walls didn't go all the way to the ceiling.  There was a small gap, but large enough he could possibly fit through...  If he could get that high.

 

His insectoid wings start to buzz loudly as he struggles to lift himself off the ground - the aura in the temple making it difficult for him to fly.  It hurt, and he felt much heavier than normal, but Zintiik slowly started to ascend off the ground.  

 

His temporary flight was brought to a crash as his wings promptly changed into those of a pegasus without his consent, causing him to lose most of the altitude he had managed to gain.  Stubbornly he tries again, wincing through the pain of trying to fly in a place that was so obviously trying to keep him from doing so.

 

After many crashes into the wall and a lot of fighting for every inch, Zintiik finally manages to hook his hooves over the edge of the wall.  With one last strain he pulls himself up and drops limply to the other side, the side Willow was on.  The changeling crumples weakly on the floor as he lands, making no effort to slow his descent.  Buzzing weakly he slowly lifts his head, looking around shakily.  "W...  Willow..?"

[EcstaticWind 572]

Aegis Dare

 

Aegis resumed his near-silent vigil over the group, perplexed by Aphrodite's change in personality. She was such a cheerful and bubbly pony before. As he mulled it over, he remembered the others talking about how that wasn't her original personality, then everything clicked into place.

 

'Well, hopefully she won't get lost anymore...' He thought.

 

"Stay alert, everypony. We have no idea what's coming next." Aegis called out, inadvertantly borrowing Pavisa's job.

 

 

Noble Persona

 

Noble ventured deeper into the tunnels, pursued by his own shadows. His magic wasn't working, his strength and speed were reduced below expected levels, and his ability to think was hampered by a pounding headache. Right now, he was no stronger or faster than an average pony. He was fortunate that his intelligence was unaffected beyond pain making it hard to think.

 

"Persistant devils... I don't have time to waste on you!" He yelled, sprinting away from the shadows chasing him. One leapt at him in a manner remeniscient of his Pegasus brother. 'How inconvenient. Just when all tasks at hand had been cleared...'

 

The shadow made contact, forcing Noble to relive a day that only he knew about...

 

His father lay there in a pool of blood, and his mother screamed. Noble stood there, eyes glowing as he met his mother's gaze.

 

And one word passed his lips, echoing through the air while time slowed down.

 

"Die!"

Edited November 16, 2013 by Windbreaker

[Mephisto 56]

"Hmm... Oh!" Blake exclaimed as he saw a massive wooden board. He picked it up with surprising ease considering his weakened state, but still strained. He couldn't see the other side, but he hoped the board was long enough to reach the other side. He set it down at the edge and moved it until he hit something solid. 'Score.' He pushed on the board a bit to check how sturdy it was. It was solid. "The builders of this place must've used these as models for the bricks." He thought aloud.

[Midnight Scribbler 1,705]

@,

@@SilverHeart,

 

As Willow crested the top of the stairwell and came into view, Scribbler sighed with relief. He smiled "You're going to get your workout today, Mirror. No magic allowed in here it seems. I can't even light my horn. It's going to be interesting.. We need to stick together on this one or we could be in trouble. There's no telling where those bandits are, and it's dark in here too." He tilted his head as she walked in towards him, quickly throwing her hood up. He noticed scarring on her right side where the cloak didn't hide. He suddenly felt the realization hit him. "So that's why she was so jumpy before.." He chose to say nothing, and pretend not to notice, he knew better than to draw attention to it in front of somepony else. He turned to Orion, and walked over. "Orion, perhaps I should lead us. My vision seems to be the best in here right now. I can detect things in the dark that nopony else will, because my eyes are accustomed to it. Last thing we need is to get stuck in a trap or something."

[The Elusive Cinder 1,328]

Kricket.

 

@,

 

The Elemental Drake wasn't confined by the same magic as the ponies were: It fed from it. Not quite understanding the command, it instead flittered through the magical wall unimpeded and peered at the not-very-tasty changing creature. Before it could do anything else though, the changing creature had dissapeared over the very same wall.

 

"Ark-aak?" It said inquisitively before flitting back though again.

 

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

 

Orion Starsinger.

 

@@Midnight Scribbler,

@@SilverHeart,

 

Nodding towards Midnight, Orion realized the stupidity of such an action - given the lack of light - and spoke instead. "Yes, please. I cant see a thing - never did have good eyesight before I found the book for the first time..." He agreed. "Remember - Willow and the Litany. Zintiik will probably be with one of them..."

 

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

 

Kingfisher.

 

@EveryonePresent

@,

 

Moving onwards as quickly as she dared, Kingfisher stumbled to a halt at what appeared to be a put of some kind - scrambling to regain her balance as she stepped away from the edge, eyes wide with the shock of what had almost happened to her. One of the ponies was holding a...

 

"... Is that... A piece of wood?" She asked in a deadpan tone - looking over the makeshift bridge. "Will that... will that even hold us? It doesn't look particularly... sturdy..."

 

There didn't seem to be anything else around - and if this was anything like the stories in books then the most dangerous way was no doubt the right one...

Edited November 16, 2013 by Cinderscribe

[Midnight Scribbler 1,705]

@,

@@SilverHeart,

 

Scribbler nodded, feeling positive his natural talents were really going to shine for him now, when they needed to the most. "I'm on it. Stay close, I'm sure they can't have gone far." He began to walk cautiously forward, listening for anything over their hooves and the rushing of water coming from the falls outside. It was loud in the entrance, but gradually faded to a low, rumble in the background as they ventured deeper. Scribbler scanned across the hall as they went, noting the walls did not fully meet with the ceiling. Nothing seemed out of place yet though. "I wonder who could have built such a powerful magical aura.. These walls aren't natural, they seem to be magical in nature." He said, running a hoof down the finely cut stone blocks. "If only I had my magic.. This would be so much easier" He thought. He felt frustrated by his inability to use things that were natural to him. It was as if somepony had taken his right arm, and was learning to draw left hoofed after a whole life of never using it.

[Ihei 713]

@,

 

Aphrodite

 

Aphrodite smirked when she heard Eclipse teasing Blast behind her. She stole a glance to see that Blast was blushing, then called out, "Hey, hurry up over there, slowpokes! At the pace you're going, we'll still be looking for the Litany by the next Summer Sun Celebration!"

 

@,@,

 

Willow Starsinger

 

"Zintiik!" Willow smiled hopefully, hugging the changeling. "What's happened to you?" Willow asked, folding her newly-formed (and uncomfortable) wings. She noticed that Kricket had flown back through the wall, and she looked at the Aspect with amazement. "You can fly through walls..?" Willow asked questioningly, putting the Aspect in her mane again. It seemed to have wanted to stay with her.

[Mephisto 56]

@[/b],

Moving onwards as quickly as she dared, Kingfisher stumbled to a halt at what appeared to be a put of some kind - scrambling to regain her balance as she stepped away from the edge, eyes wide with the shock of what had almost happened to her. One of the ponies was holding a..."... Is that... A piece of wood?" She asked in a deadpan tone - looking over the makeshift bridge. "Will that... will that even hold us? It doesn't look particularly... sturdy..."

There didn't seem to be anything else around - and if this was anything like the stories in books then the most dangerous way was no doubt the right one...

Blake nodded. He checked the board again. "We should be fine as long as we go one at a time. It will be a bit of roulette if we try to find a way around, especially if we have a time frame." He knelt down by the board. "Here, I'll hold the board while everyone goes across." He said smiling and placing his hooves on it.

[Umbreon 569]

Pavisa

 

@,

@(Everyone Else)

 

Swallowing nervously, Pavisa steps forward to test the makeshift bridge.  "I'll try it out first."  Before anyone else could protest, she steps past Blake and onto the board he was holding.

 

I really hope this plank isn't rotten...  Just in case, Pavisa reaches into her saddlebags for a length of rope.  It wasn't much, but it was more to make herself feel better than anything.  Tossing one end of it back towards the others, she holds the other end in her mouth.  "Somepony hold on to that, just in case.  Once I get across I'll try'n find something to secure it to."

 

 

Zintiik

 

@,

 

Zintiik groaned quietly as he opens his eyes, looking up at Willow.  He looked much more pitiful than a monster by this point, his body still changing of its own accord every couple minutes.  "Willow?"

 

Overcome with relief to suddenly not be by himself anymore, the changeling returns Willow's hug gratefully.  "Willow!  I don't...  I don't know what this place is doing to me...  All of the ponies I've ever fed on...  I can feel them judging me!  I never meant to hurt anypony...  Why won't they leave!?"

[Ihei 713]

@,@,

 

Willow Starsinger

 

 "It's okay, Zintiik. You needed to feed on them.. but that hurt ponies. It's just your guilt. They're not judging you, that's in the past now." Willow assured the bug. "No need to feel guilty. How do you think me and Orion are still your friends?" Willow smiled, nuzzling the changeling comfortably. She hoped Kricket wouldn't come out now, since it had tried to eat Zintiik earlier. She chuckled at the thought.

[SilverHeart 741]

(OOC: If I'm colorblind and screwed up the colors, sorry.)

 

@@Midnight Scribbler,@,

 

 Midnight's words struck a chord within Mirror Image causing her to falter. He had said that he could see well enough to lead the group. She was confidant that the others wouldn't be able to see her well. He may be a problem. She came to a stop before speaking, her voice sounded strained even to herself "Mr. Scribbler, can you see clearly in the dark?" Mirror had already begun to reach for her mask, the one she normally wore during her performances. The mask was old now but still looked as if it were new. It had been hoof painted by the finest artisans of Equestria. It had decorative points at both temples and one on the forehead, designed to give the wearer a whimsical look. The mask had been painted gold, light pink, dark pink, red, orange, light blue, green and purple in a harlequin pattern. The diamond shapes were separated by a white paint. The mask glittered faintly in the limited light.

[EcstaticWind 572]

Noble Persona

 

'It's all just self-satisfaction...'

 

Noble stumbled through the tunnels, barely able to see anything. His headache was getting worse, he'd lost his way in the darkness, and he was feeling tired with his abilities drained. He sat down and leaned against a wall, pulling out a small crystal he'd prepared. At his touch, it began to glow in the gloomy darkness, though it would burn out in around four hours, as opposed to the eight he'd hoped for.

 

He sighed. "Not quite as I planned, and there's still quite a ways in front of me." He wrapped his cloak around him and drifted to sleep. He'd need all of his strength to get to the Litany.

[Geek0zoid 1,468]

@,

Blast 

"Oh, I'm slow? I'M slow? You must not know who you're talking to, Aphrodite!" Blast ran to Aphrodite in a few mere milliseconds and smirked when he got to her side. He felt as if she was actually attempting to be happy for once.

 

Eclipse

@,

 Eclipse grabbed the other end of the rope with his psychokinesis. Since they were getting closer to the Litany, the rope felt oddly heavier than it should be.

"Don't worry, Pavisa, I got this." He assured her.

[Ihei 713]

@,

 

Aphrodite

 

"Very slow. Legend has it that there was once a very SLOWW pony, who was named Blasted Nova. He was SOO slow, he could barely walk without sweating like a pony dieting on cakes!" Aphrodite taunted, smirking. "In your dreams, Blast. Maybe you'll be faster," she winked. 

[Midnight Scribbler 1,705]

@@SilverHeart,

@,

 

Scribbler kept on walking foreward. He glanced over his shoulder, seeing the unease in Mirror's scarred face. He began to wonder what had really happened to her, and why she was so worried about anypony finding out about it. Though he wasn't going to lie to her, even though he felt it might bring her mind to ease, it would be better to be truthful, he had already said that he could see to begin with, so lying now would make him look suspicious, and that wasn't what he wanted at all. He went with his better judgement instead.

"Well, er..yes. I can see quite clearly in here. My eyes are attuned to the darkness, the light burns them in fact.. That's why I wear those goggles outside." He noted truthfully, and looked back to the path ahead.

Edited November 16, 2013 by Midnight Scribbler

[Umbreon 569]

Pavisa

 

@,

 @(Everyone else)

 

Pavisa nods to Eclipse with the rope still in her mouth before slowly starting to make her way across.  The creaking board causes her to grit her teeth tightly in nervousness, but she manages to make it across without any major issue.  Feeling around for an outcropping she ties off her end of the rope before calling out across the gap.  

 

"Hey, I made it alright.  The rope's secured on this end, somepony else can start crossing."  Not quite trusting the outcropping to hold, Pavisa takes ahold of the rope again as extra security.

 

 

Zintiik

 

@,

 

Zintiik smiles slightly at Willow's words, bringing a hoof up to wipe the tears out of his eyes.  He still felt terrible - a lifetime's worth of guilt hitting you in a single moment leaves a pretty noticeable impression, after all - but he didn't feel as bad with Willow there to console him.

 

"Thanks, Willow..."  The changeling hugs her again, this time noticing the wings folded against her sides.  "Um...  Willow?  You look different..."  He tilts his head slightly as he looks back to her, still reluctant to move away from her.

[EcstaticWind 572]

Aegis Dare

@, 

@Everyone present

 

Aegis stepped up to the makeshift bridge. "Wish me luck, guys. Into the hands of chance, I place my trust." Taking a tentative step forwards,  he opened his wings for balance, pleased that he still had some use for them. Slowly but surely, he made his way across, stepping off the bridge and standing next to Pavisa.

 

"Hello again, madame," Aegis said, entirely oblivious to his choice of words.

[The Elusive Cinder 1,328]

Kricket.

@,
@,

Kricked sat snugly in Willow's mane - quite content to feed on the magic field that hung about in the air: forming a very small pocket around the mare which was not affected by the anti-magic field. It sniffled curiously at the wings again but decided that they weren't all that interesting.

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

Orion Starsinger.

@@Midnight Scribbler,
@@SilverHeart,

Orion followed closely - his eyes adjusting slowly but still practically blind in the dark. He might have been able to manage a few minor spells - but didn't dare risk one on a light - not when Midnight could see so well anyway.
 
"It's the Litany." He said simply. "The other ruin, where me and Willow found it first? It was out near Dodge City, down south. Two words: Sand. Elementals." He smirked a little. "On the bright side, I could still cast spells that time."

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

Kingfisher.

@EveryonePresent
@,

@@Windbreaker,

 

Looking apprehensively down into the dark pit, Kingfisher stepped onto the plank and started to inch her way over to the other side. After a couple of steps, she felt a warmth well up in her chest. This felt... it felt natural almost! 

 

Quickly hopping down on the other side - still smiling a little to herself - she looked at the other two.

"Hey Pavisa!" She chirped in a tone that was brighter than the situation called for. "Aegis, back there, that was great!"

Edited November 17, 2013 by Cinderscribe

[Ihei 713]

@, @,

 

Willow Starsinger

 

"I look different?" Willow asked, looking at her wings. She pulled away from the hug. "Oh. These wings appeared a few hours ago.. I don't know where they came from. I'm guessing it came from the Litany..? Well, I guess me and Orion are equals with our matching wings now.." Willow said laughing, itching at her mane nervously, forgetting that the Aspect was there.

 

(( OOC: Cross-post.. xc ))

Edited November 17, 2013 by Shaymin

[Mephisto 56]

"Everyone be careful! We don't need anypony tumbling into a pit like me!" Blake shouted. Every once in a while he felt something shake, but he'd done this enough times to know that it was just wind passing in. He waited while the several ponies left in their group crossed. He felt a strange sense of trust between these ponies. He'd just met them, but felt like he could lay his life in their hooves. "I'll go next." He said balancing perfectly, inching his way across the bridge until he set hoof on brick. He trotted next to Kingfisher, remembering something that had happened earlier. "Hey, I'm sorry about what I said back at Splinterhoof Hills. I heard the word captain and immediately assumed that he was a Guard Captain. I tend to assume the worst, especially when the guard is concerned." He rubbed the back of his mane nervously. "I realize that we all have some hard pasts... I just don't want there to be hard feelings between us." He said raising his hoof in a friendly gesture.

Edited November 17, 2013 by Blake Diamante

[Geek0zoid 1,468]

@

 

Blast 

Blast simply let out a 'heh' at Aphrodite's statement.

"Whatever. Let's just get moving already." Blast grabbed onto Aphrodite and began scaling the rope with great ease. He made sure his grip was on tightly, as the only thing waiting for him down below is certain death.

 

Eclipse

Eclipse began making his way across the rope as well. He tried to hold onto the other end of the rope with his psychokinesis, but it wasn't helping much. The further he got, the more the rope was breaking. He knew that the rope would eventually snap.