open A Darker Fate: Beyond these Walls Chapter Two.

[SilverHeart 741]

 

 

The ice hit the liquid with a slight sound - sending ripples outwards but causing ver little in the way of a splash - as if the water was reluctant to break apart from the impact as it should. The frozen clump floated on the surface for a few seconds - refusing to melt in the strange, warmth as it was carried away downstream. The edge of the stream was more even in some areas than others, but while some areas more suitable for crossing than others, it would not be easy to do so without touching the liquid again... and there was nothing immediately visible on the far side of the bank - as least in the areas which were illuminated.

 

 

 

Mirror sighed. There didn't seem to be any easy way across, at least one that wouldn't get her wet...which would probably be a death sentence at this temperature. It seems like she would have to go back soon...if Scribbler were here, he could do his makeshift bridge spell....maybe she could convince the others to come down here? There wasn't much point to it but it may prove fun....and who knew where it coudl lead...It'd make mroe sense to head into the cave than walking the snow covered plains anyway. Picking up another piece of ice, Mirror imbued it with magic and tossed it into the water. It was a fairly weak spell, mainly to see if the "water" would react to magic.

[Commander Tangent 861]

@,

 

Icarus looked up towards Blast. He seemed to be calling to him. He quietly stood up and walked over to him, then sat down.

 

"This group is a very interesting bunch" He mumbled under his mask as he approached the fire and sat down next to it, looking around at everyone.

[EcstaticWind 573]

Noble Persona & Gwyn

 

He lay awake on his bed, thoughts racing through his mind with no time to slow down. What had happened gave him reason to believe he was losing it again. Gwyn was worried now, and Noble didn't like the idea of lying to her. 'I have to come clean... First thing in the morning, I'll explain it. I owe it to her... I won't become Orion.'

 

A knock on his door broke him out of his reverie. "Enter." He said tersely.

 

Gwyn entered without a word. Judging by her expression, she was upset. "I couldn't sleep. Not without finding out what's wrong. So, tell me, Brother. If you truly consider me family, then let me in. How can you expect to heal these wounds if you won't let me help?"

 

"Fine. You win. When you saw me yelling at the mirror...I saw Orion Starsinger there. Scolding me. As if he has any right to tell me how I should take care of my sister when he tries to keep his own sister a prisoner with nothing more than a wishful promise. I refuse to become like him..." Noble said, his face twisting into an expression of rage and hatred as he sat up.

 

Gwyn put a hoof on Noble's shoulder. "You shouldn't think like that. Your intent may be similar to Orion's, but you are still a different pony than he is. You're just under a lot of stress, and I feel bad about causing some of it."

 

"No, you reminded me that I'm no longer alone. Granted, I could've done without the ambush earlier, but I also can't neglect you. That's why I've decided to hire Strings. With two minds working on this, it will be easier and less taxing on my mind. I can spend time with you and ease this stress." Noble said, with a glance at the clock. His face softened into a smile. "Thank you, Gwyn. I feel much more at ease now. Still, you're up far too late and you should be in bed."

 

"I know, but you needed this, Noble. You truly did. But, umm... do you mind if I stay with you tonight? Just in case something happens." She asked.

 

"That would be welcome. I...I guess I'd appreciate the company right now." He said. Gwyn crawled under the covers beside him. He laid down beside her and, at long last, drifted to sleep...

Edited January 11, 2014 by Windbreaker

[The Elusive Cinder 1,328]

@@SilverHeart,

 

The chunk of ice landed smoothly in the water again - with the same dull sound and the same thick ripples... and continued to be swept away slowly by the gentle current. The shard seemed to glow with an otherworldly light as it went happily on its way before: bobbing through the liquid until it struck the corner of the rocky embankment by chance.

 

A dull crackling sound snapped through the room as the ice flashed a bright light - the magical charge triggering whatever natural properties it held in a fashion the resembled a small thunderstorm.

 

The ice continued on its merry way - unmelted by the somehow impossibly warm water and unbroken by its collision with the rocky bank - the only evidence of the display being a crack where the enchanted ice had collided with the stone.

[Geek0zoid 1,468]

@@Commander Tangent,

Blasted Nova

 

Blast looked up at the doctor. He seemed a bit bewildered by the fact that he was suddenly included. Was it really something new to him? Did he feel worthless among the group. He thought that he should probably find out.

 

"Hey, Icarus," Blast began, putting a hoof on the doctor's shoulder weakly. "You seem down."

[Midnight Scribbler 1,705]

Midnight Scribbler

@,

@@SilverHeart,

 

As he made his way down the winding tunnel, he began to see the walls smooth out more and more. "Hmm, water erosion, this must have been an ancient underground river.. Strange.. I can still hear water, and it seems to be getting warmer.. There might be volcanic activity below here.. Better be wary." He could hear the faint sound of something clacking, like one stone against another. It echoed up the tunnel from not too far ahead. Scribbler could tell, he wasn't far, hopefully it was Mirror, and hopefully she wasn't hurt or anything, that was the last thing they needed. Orion wouldn't be happy with her at all. He knew it might mean the group's separation if he intended to move on.. Would he wait? Or would he impatiently press on ahead with Willow and Zintiik? Hopefully not the latter. Scribbler came to a narrow, squeezing through, he caught a glimpse of something bright ahead. Mirror's light spell no doubt. "Dare I move closer to see her true form once again? I bet she didn't expect me to follow her.. Maybe not.. Last thing I need is to break her trust." "Mirror? Is that you? I've come to find you.. Orion's getting impatient." He knew this would give her enough time to hide herself before he came into view if it was her.

[Umbreon 569]

Zintiik

 

@, 

 

Zintiik chuckles quietly.  He could sense emotions - that was one of the defining features of a changeling, after all.  He could tell there was something Orion wasn't comfortable with...  But he also didn't feel like it was his place to pry.  "Heh, whatever you say boss.  No matter how tough it gets, ya know you can count on me."

 

The changeling grins again, the friendly smile that he still wasn't great at.  His wings start to buzz quietly as he lifts himself off the cavern floor, drifting up towards the ceiling to get out of Orion's way...  Orion was still his friend, right?  There was no sense in sticking around and bugging him...  

[Nomadic 210]

@

 

Denarius watched as Zintiik declined the offer, and quickly decided to buzz away with a small, almost mocking, grin about his face. The changeling soon moved to chat with Orion as Denarius watched and listened waiting for a break within the conversation. It dragged on until finally Zintiik left the unicorn alone once again. Seeing his opening, Denarius slid in front of Zintiik. With a sly smile, he asked the changeling, "Hey there Tactic, or perhaps I should now call you Zintiik. Do you mind if we have a little chat. It won't take long, I can assure you".

[SilverHeart 741]

Mirror stared in horror as she watched ...whatever just happened.... she looked down at her hooves, one being much different than the other. Thank Celestia she had dropped her spell earlier. If she hadn't...well she probably would have died when she drank the water.... Could she still use her spell on herself? It would be too risky, no point in killing herself....she'd just have to wait....a day or two to be safe. Until then she'd just have to wear her mask or stay down here.

 

@@Midnight Scribbler,

 

Cursing under her breath Mirror pulled out the mask and put it on. "Um....alright. Can you come look at something for me.... I um...you may know more about this than I do.

[Umbreon 569]

Zintiik

 

@@Nomadic,

 

Zintiik narrows his eyes in suspicion, but flies down to see what Denarius wants none the less.  He doesn't quite land, but crosses his front legs and rests his chin on them as he hovers in front of what seemed to be the newest addition to their group.  "What'ya want?  Pony starts a conversation with the changeling, he wants something."

[Nomadic 210]

@

 

Denarius looked at Zintiik, and slowly began to soften his gaze. "I seemed to of noticed that you have some misconstrued notions of my own generosity from earlier. That spare coin was merely meant as a gift. There was no ulterior motive for the simple present, and besides would you not want to buy something nice for yourself, or even treat anypony here to something in town once in awhile", he spoke to the changeling in an amiable voice. 

[The Elusive Cinder 1,328]

Read this -->

Sorry folks, but I refuse to let this die without a fight: I'm (hopefully) mentioning everyone to try and kick start this - I've got a story to tell and I want you to help me write it, but we cant be constantly be waiting days on end to progress the tiniest steps forward.

 

Characters who don't make any kind of response will start to be killed off. If you want out, this is a way to go about it without having to drop out.

<-- Read this

 

@,

@@Icy Void,

@@Midnight Scribbler,

@@Frosty V,

@@Snowy Storm,

@@Midnight Scribbler,

@,

@,

@@Commander Tangent,

@@Windbreaker,

 

~~?~~

 

She watched as night passed and one by one, the creatures began to stop moving. We're they dying? If so, they were terribly peaceful... and slow about it.

 

No, they were moving. Just a little - breathing they supposedly called it. And...

 

It was impossible to see clearly - she frowned and focused on the rift - pouring more of herself into it as the bridge between words solidified enough for her to see clearly.

 

"Ah! I was right... Whats that doing here?" She said to herself - watching the light creep up into the mouth if the cave as the huge star rose in the distance - neglecting to keep check of the rift and its strength in her fascination until...

 

"Oh..."

 

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

 

Raw magical energy thundered suddenly throughout the cave, booming and shaking the world around the ponies as purple, blue and white lights seemed to explode from just within the darkness.

 

Kingfisher.

 

"The hay..!?" Bellowed the no longer sleeping Kingfisher as she hurled her prone form in a direction best described as 'vaguely away from' the cacophony of sound and light - towards the light of dawn and the entrance of the cave. Looking up from the ground, the cocky mare couldn't even find the words to describe the situation - let alone make a sarcastic comment.

 

"Move or something!" She yelled as a chunk of the roof of their shelter crashed down in exactly the space she had been laying only seconds before.

 

Falling rocks were the least of their concerns though - the psychedelic light was... doing... something to the world around it - reality seemed to reject it - seeming being attracted and repelled by the light at the same time - it stretched and twisted what it touched in impossible ways that have the explorer a headache just to watch.

 

"Buck that, just move!"

 

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

 

@,

@,

@@SilverHeart,

@@Midnight Scribbler,

@@Nomadic,

 

Orion Starsinger.

 

Orion paused. Just as his mind had started to wander, he had noticed something amiss. Zintiik had just been speaking with him. Which meant that he wasn't with...

 

"Zintiik, where is Willow?"

Edited January 13, 2014 by Cinderscribe

[Icy Void 19]

Midnight Sky

 

His sleep had been peaceful, a rare occurrence for Midnight, especially given the circumstances. But it was interrupted by a sudden burst of light, sound, and something akin to magic. "What now!?" Midnight yelled as he got up and jumped away from the source of this energy, taking some time to get a look at it. "Right behind you, Fisher!" Midnight said as he saw what this energy was doing, grabbing his sister telekinetically before turning to run out of the cave.

Edited January 13, 2014 by Icy Void

[Commander Tangent 861]

@,

 

Icarus bolted awake. he immediately took Kingfishers order and jumped away from were he was sleeping, keeping his attention heightened.

 

"Well, this seems to be a grim situation, what do we do?" Icarus said, running the situation logically through his head.

[Geek0zoid 1,468]

@, @@Commander Tangent,@@Icy Void, @Everypony present

 

Blasted Nova

At first, the light was only a glimmer, a small flash at the end of a far away tunnel. It was all Blast could see in his deepest sleep. But, within small time, that light grew into a flashlight, than a train headlight, and then the sun itself. It jolted the injured stallion awake.

 

"What the..." Before Blast knew it, a giant ray of light was coming right down to him, faster than even him. With his speed cut thanks to a fractured front leg, he was about to be done in...

 

White Eclipse

When Blast shut his eyes, he expected to be taken by the light. But, that was prevented thanks to Eclipse.

 

The unicorn stood his ground against the telekinetic light. His magic held similar properties of this light. If it didn't hold it, he wouldn't have saved Blast like that. However, this light was overpowering the stallion... fast.

 

"Blast, go! You need to leave... I'll try to catch up..." Eclipse said, lowering his head.

 

Hesitant, Blast began to make his way out.

[Umbreon 569]

Pavisa

 

@,

@@Icy Void,

@@Commander Tangent,

 

Pavisa jumps upright as the yelling starts, quickly trying to asses what's happening.  The ex-guardsmare raises an armored foreleg to deflect one of the smaller falling rocks, before jumping backwards to avoid one too large to deflect.  "What the hay is going on!?"  She jumps around a couple more falling stones, trying to make her way towards where the others were starting to gather near the entrance.   

 

She joins up with the others in time to hear Icarus' question, shouting out in reply "Isn't it obvious?  We should be runn-".  She stops in mid sentence as the strange light show catches her attention - how had she not noticed it before?  Too busy dodging falling stones, but that hardly seemed like an excuse...  She started to take a step towards it before stopping herself - what in Equestria did she think she was doing?  Quickly stepping back again, Pavisa shakes her head to try and clear her thoughts.  "Er, running!"

 

 

Zintiik

 

@,

@@Nomadic,  

@, 

 

Zintiik had been about to make another sarcastic comment to Denarius - not out of any kind of hate for the new pony, simply because they were what came the most naturally to him when dealing with somepony he didn't know - when Orion's question caught him off guard.  "She was right over..."  Zintiik turns to point to the spot where she'd told him to return Denarius' dagger, stopping and blinking when he sees that she wasn't there.

 

The changeling quickly glanced around the cavern - he didn't see her anywhere.  Suddenly concerned by her disappearance, Zintiik takes off into the air again to float near the roof of the cavern.  Still didn't see her.  Now Zintiik was worried - she hadn't said anything, did something happen to her?  He cries back down to Orion "I'll check outside - you see if she went deeper in the caves!", already flying towards the mouth of the cavern.  It wasn't his place to make that decision, but it seemed smart to him...  His flying wouldn't be any advantage in a confined space, and with Orion's enchanted eyesight he might actually be able to see down there...

[Frosty V 309]

@

 

Frost felt a rumbling and slowly arose form his half asleep state. "Wha.....what the?!" He yelled as his vision became clearer and he became aware of the situation around him. "Buck me!" He hissed under his breath as he jumped up from his comfortable position, tightened down his bags, and ran. He managed to dodge all the rocks that fell to the ground around him, but he didn't stop running. "Let's go!" He yelled not sure if it was for himself or the others or both.

[EcstaticWind 573]

Aegis Dare

@, @Everypony Present 

 

He looked up, stashed everything in his bags and bolted in the direction everypony else was going, sparing a curious glance at the sudden light show. "That's new."

 

He glanced at Blast, who wasn't in the best of conditions and turned back to help him. "Hey, climb on and hold tight. Can't get Eclipse to tie you down this time."

[RAGESTAR 479]

Crimson cursed as the rocks began to rain down in the cave, quickly rolling away to dodge a rather large chunk of stone that came very close to turning him into the worlds most badass pancake. "Shit! What the hells going on here? What's with the lights?" he asked, dodging another chunk of falling debris. "Fine then, run now, questions later!" he said, before stuffing the firewood back into his pack, then quickly shouldering the hefty load and weaving through falling rocks, running with the others.

[Geek0zoid 1,468]

@@Windbreaker,

 

Blasted Nova

 

Blast limped over to the much healthier looking Aegis with what he had left. He quickly grabbed onto the back of the stallion as the two took off for the cave exit. Blast was worried about Eclipse. He hoped he could live through this so he could search for the truth another day.

 

@Everypony Else Present

 

White Eclipse

 

The stallion kept going toe to toe with this seemingly strong beam of light. What was it about this thing that made it so powerful. It was like a force from a different universe entirely. Eclipse simply let it go after the Blast was saved by Aegis, making his way towards the exit with everypony.

 

"There's the exit! Everypony hoof it there before a ton of rock falls down on us!" Eclipse yelled out.

[Ihei 714]

@, @,

 

Willow Starsinger

 

Willow trotted around the front of the cavern, trying to search around for some sort of food source since it looked like they were going to be there awhile. She hoped it wouldn't come to the point of eating each other.. and besides, everypony looked like they were busy anyway. She's found some barren trees covered in a blanket of snow, but it didn't help much. Can ponies eat bark? She glanced back at the direction she came from and saw that she was pretty far from the cave. "Should I go back? Orion must be worried.." Willow thought to herself. She thought against it and trotted farther away to try to find something.. well, she at least found firewood.

 

Well, she found a rotting apple. That didn't seem to work. Seeing the apple gave her the message that she should head back. She looked around in her saddlebag for the little Drake that was in there a few moments ago when she set off. She figured Kricket must've escaped.. she couldn't blame him. Being in a saddlebag must be pretty mortifying. She began to trot back to the cave but was stopped by a horrifying thought: "How do I get back?"

[Midnight Scribbler 1,705]

Midnight Scribbler

@@SilverHeart,

 

Scribbler could tell Mirror seemed frustrated by something. When she asked him to take a look, he trotted over with a quizzical look on his face. He smiled briefly at Mirror, then looked at what had seemingly captured her attention. "What have we here? He gazed at the strange liquid substance flowing by. It didn't look like water exactly.. at least not pure water. "What in Equestria?.. Mirror, have you touched it or anything. This doesn't look safe to drink. I don't recognize this stuff.. and I have explored quite a few caves."

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

 

Clockwork Green

@,

@,

@,

@,

@@Frosty V,

@@Commander Tangent,

@@Icy Void,

@@Windbreaker,

(I think that's everypony)

 

Clockwork was dreaming, of what he couldn't remember when he awoke. Suddenly his senses kicked in, being thrown directly into survival mode as he realized the danger that had arisen. Everypony else seemed to be waking up, and realizing the same thing.. Something crazy was happening, and nopony was sure what it was. Clockwork watched as some of the others made a break for the cavern's mouth. He stood up quickly, and took flight for the exit. He managed to escape the cavern, though now he wasn't sure what they were going to do, the cave seemed to be deadly, but outside wasn't any more forgiving. "What else could go wrong?" A dangerous thought, he knew.

[Snowy Storm 57]

@,
Icy awake to the sound of yelling and shattering of rocks. She rose slowly, still dealing with some pain. Looking behind her, she saw the strange  mass of light standing where she once stood. For once she was glad she decided to sleep near a fire instead of sleeping by the entrance of the cave. 
She quickly stomped out the fire and began to draw in the cold and Ice about her.  Sadly the warmth of the other ponies and the fire reduced how much ice and cold she could draw in, but it was enough to ease her remaining pain.
"What the heck is that?"  She yelled running back away from it and ran towards Kingfisher.
 

Edited January 14, 2014 by Snowy Storm

[Nomadic 210]

@, @

 

Denarius grew tense with anticipation for response of the changeling. Would he give in to him, or would he continually deny any modicum of a "gift" that Denarius had to offer. It seemed though Orion decided to interject within the conversation, his dismally awful timing had seemingly been consistent ruining Denarius' fun for what brief time he had known him. Giving a slight grumble of discontent, Denarius backed off from the two, he would rather not get involved in any sort of debate between them.

 

He sat back by a few small rocks as the two briefly exchanged a couple of sentences before Zintiik rushed outside to find Willow. Denarius had been left in the room with Orion. *Oh, this is simply an ideal pairing of ponies*, he thought with a roll of eyes. Getting back up, he began to pace around the cavern, not sure on whether he should, or if Orion would even accept, help. Maybe it was best to sit back, and possibly try to keep his cards hidden as long as possible.

[The Elusive Cinder 1,328]

@Everyone in danger of becoming a rainbow coloured stain on the landscape.,

 

As the cloud of pure chaos warped through the cave - indeed passing through air and stone alike as if they didn't exist as all - it seemed to recoil a little when warded... held back for the briefest of moments as the magic merged with that of the other place: forging a link and locking it in place - a connection between itself and the unicorn - drawing in the energy of the spell like some arcane black hole of light before returning to its swath of destruction.

 

It didn't act intelligently, more like some dire natural disaster - sweeping through the world under its own momentum. Tendrils of light and... whatever else it was made from... reaching out at random as if drawn towards ponies.

 

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

 

Kingfisher.

 

"Everypony out! run!" Yelled the mare - scrambling backwards towards the point where sunlight flooded the cave. Whatever this was, it wasn't like anything she had seen on her join vets "Why do so many things want us dead!?"

 

There was nothing for it - as a tendril of light drew too close she felt light headed - every emotion she could name, plus a few they couldn't be described - cascaded through her mind in a dizzying whirl of madness. Her saddlebag was torn from her back and simply ceased to exist as the mare stumbled away.

 

As she slumped into the snow outside, the cyan mare gasped heavily - blood trickling gently from her nose as she tried to make sense of what was happening.

 

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

 

Orion Starsinger.

 

@,

@@Nomadic,

@,

@@SilverHeart,

@@Midnight Scribbler,

 

Orion stared blankly at the changelings suggestion: let him go after Willow? Alone? That... that wasn't acceptable! The leech already seemed to have her enraptured - was he expected to trust him? Recent events suggested that was a poor course of action.

 

But Willow came first - and Orion couldn't fly any more. He could protect her from the insect but not from herself.

 

"If you find her, you bring her back. Immediately." He nodded as the creature departed.

 

Looking towards the remaining member of the gathering, he snorted. "I'll be right back." and rushed into the dark crevasse after the other two in case his sister had decided to wander - as usual - into danger.

 

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

 

Kricket.

 

Sulking, the tiny aspect of frost lurked about the cave. Willow was gone... the changing creature was gone...

 

This was boring!

 

He examined the icicles that hung from the entrance but they didn't taste as good as they looked. He examined the smouldering remains of the fire but it wasn't particularly warm.

 

Boring.

 

"Aa-aak!" Screeched the elemental: joining in with the commotion of the others and finding some enjoyment in the process. "Wra-aak!"

 

And then... he was left with the newcomer.

Edited January 14, 2014 by Cinderscribe