open A Darker Fate: Beyond these Walls Chapter Two.

[The Elusive Cinder 1,328]

Kingfisher.

 

She could have facehooved - if they had time. Here was the thing that had seemingly swatted aside not just one, but several trains - seemingly with ease. The early ones must have been carrying full compliments of guards and... It was wielding the weather around them as a weapon - and they were actually standing around discussing what to do!

 

"Less talking..." Snarled the mare. "... more running!"

 

It was crossing the frozen lake... well, it was moving through where the lake was. As it passed over the frozen water, it didn't seem to melt or break it so much as remove it from existance. At the rate it was moving, they had less than two minutes, standing where they were. Kingfisher turned and peered into the distance, trying to visualise the map.

 

"There were two ways through the mountains, Full Moon pass looked shorter to walk and leads towards a tundra, but Half Moon pass will probably be better sheltered - it goes inside the mountains." She looked about at the others: none of them really looking sound enough to make a decision on matters.

 

"Anyone? We're running out of time!"

 

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

 

~?~

 

@@Icy Void,

 

A huge wave of negative emotions - anger, frustration and despair - followed the response: as if words weren't enough to convey the thoughts answer. It did speak though, and when it did, the words still sounded the same: bright and gloomy, kind and cruel... as if unsure of how it was supposed to sound in this situation.

 

'Fine!' It responded sharply. 'Good luck! I'll be watching...'

 

And it faded, as simple as that. The surreal ominous presence fading from the air - of course, excluding the towering something still thundering towards them.

 

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

 

Emerald Gaze.

 

@@Windbreaker,

@@Tricksters Pride,

@,

 

"Indeed?" Emerald looked over the unicorn with a critical eye - experience had taught her to step carefully around unexpected offers of kindness or unusual circumstances... and this seemingly refined stallion qualified as both. She might have little in the way of actual connections with the militia (after all, this could ruin her career if any were made) but Sol in particular tended to heed her advice.

 

"I would hope not: we can not be too cautious in these times - I hope you understand the need for my fine escort." She stepped forwards confidently - radiating purpose as her lie reached its pinnacle. "Emerald Gaze, high ambassador to Princess Celestia. You have me at a disadvantage, Artorias, I am afraid that despite the circles I keep, I have not had the pleasure to hearing of you before. What is it that you wish to discuss?"

Edited February 3, 2014 by Cinderscribe

[Geek0zoid 1,468]

@, @@Windbreaker, @,

@Team Brandy

 

Blasted Nova

The injured stallion continued to move with the group from the threat on their tails. He kept track of the unconscious Aegis and the new stallion on the way. He, himself, was not hesitant to shout out his opinion on which route to take. Given the options for him, the second pathway sounded the safest, and the most sheltered. Shelter is what he really needed right now.

"I vote for path B!" Blast said, trying to keep up with the group.

 

(Sorry for the lazy response. There's really not much for me to do under the current situation)

Edited February 3, 2014 by Geek0zoid

[Midnight Scribbler 1,705]

Clockwork Green

@,

@@Commander Tangent,

@,

@@Frosty V,

@@Geek0zoid,

@@Icy Void,

@@Windbreaker,

 

As clockwork galloped along, he'd only made it a short distance before Eclipse rolled off his back, and began running the opposite way.. Back into the face of death. He halted, and spun round, yelling back after him. "You fool! That power is far beyond the strength of our entire party combined. RUN AWAY! I did not pick you off the ground so you could stand in the way of a freight train!" His words seemed to fall on deaf ears as Eclipse returned to Midnight's side, defiantly standing ground against this cloud of death. "PAH!!" He snorted, and turned back and continued running, hoping the group would follow. He knew Half moon pass was in the general direction he was running, having been there many years before on a research trip, but things were much different now. They hadn't been covered in snow before for starters. He glanced over his shoulder as he ran, muttering. "Bloody ingrate, I save his life, and he throws it away. I don't even know why I wasted my time on him.. He did after all waste my wine.." This thought only made him angrier at the unicorn, which he used as fuel to charge on forward, compelled to survive against all odds.

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

 

Midnight Scribbler

@@SilverHeart,

@@Nomadic,

@,

@,

 

Scribbler took Mirror's hoof, feeling her shaking, he looked to her with concern. He was shaking as well, having nearly plummeted to his death. "I..I'm alright I suppose. Just.. Had a little tumble, last minute teleportation to stop my fall. I'm happy to be on solid ground again." He spoke softly "You're shaking, are you feeling alright?" He knew she was cold, but thoughts of that cave water returned suddenly. Perhaps he was worrying for nothing, but he couldn't help but wonder. He glanced quickly about to the others. Seeing Willow had passed out and was being carried by Zintiik. His concern grew now, the little mare had stopped to save him from the cold, and patched him up back in the cave. He hoped she was alright, though the others were there, and would likely be able to look after her.

[Nomadic 210]

Denarius

@@Midnight Scribbler, @@SilverHeart, @, @, @

 

The snow made a slight crunching noise under-hoof as Denarius trotted through the white powder to reach both Zintiik and Orion. He had been only a few minutes behind the insect, yet the conversation of Willow's current state was already well under way. His body swayed over to the pair. His eyes focussed on the two talking, he waited for a pause in the conversation before interrupting the two. "Do either of you have any idea on what her prognosis is, well obviously besides her little fall in the snow just now". He tried to keep his voice relaxed, especially in comparison to both Zintiik's and Orion's frantic display. Despite the casualness of his voice, he did actually care what happened to the mare, and did not wish really any harm to come to her.

[Commander Tangent 861]

@@Midnight Scribbler,

 

Icarus read this situation for a few moments before following Clockwork's example and running. As he ran, he looked back at the group, hoping they would run. Anyone that perished, they could come back and scavenge off of their bodies later. After catching up to Clockwork, Icarus matched his speed.

 

"Any idea were to go?" He asked the earthpony.

[SilverHeart 741]

@@Midnight Scribbler, 

 

Mirror stared at Scribbler when he mentioned had fallen, So he did fall.... Sighing she shook her head before responding. "Well, at least you're alright. And yes, I'm fine. It's just the cold. I think. This cloak is good for many things....adequate protection from the cold isn't one of them." She said with a forced smile. Mirror pulled him up and moved close to him. "We should probably get moving....don't want to be left behind." 

[~Sole~ 852]

As the others began to run back and face the beast, ronin decided that he'd help. "I'm no coward, and if the ones that saved my life are facing danger, then I can repay my debt by helping them." He thought, as he went back and stood by the others as the mass of darkness surged forward. "If we are going to fight that thing... Let me help. I'm not one to let my saviors die so easily, I want to help in any way I can." He said, drawing his blade, even though he knew it was likely to be useless against the creature.

[RAGESTAR 479]

@ @@Icy Void @@Geek0zoid

 

Crimson didn't move for few moments, caught between either helping to hold the monster back, or helping his friends get to safety. "Dammit! If I run away with the others, both Midnight and Eclipse could die! But if I help them fight this...thing then I could have a chance of dying as well...then I'll never be able to stop him..." he stood there, indecisive, for only one more heartbeat, before dashing off towards the monster, alongside Midnight and Eclipse. "The others can get away without my help, but Midnight and Eclipse need my help! This time...this time, I'm not gonna fail...I will protect everyone, and stop this..." he thought, as he straightened his hat.

 

((If this isn't allowed, then tell me and I'll change it, Cinder. But just for the record, it's in Crimson's character to risk his life for friends...))

[Umbreon 569]

Pavisa

 

"Distance now, we should decide when we get there.  We really want to go under a mountain after the last cave we were in, though?"  Pavisa was already moving away from the whatever it was as she was speaking, though her pace does slow slightly when a number of their party actually turns around to go back and face the large moving mass of destruction...

 

"What are you idiots doing!?  Pig-headed stallions...  Come on, run!"  Hoping that at least one of them would listen to reason, Pavisa turns to start running again.  That thing had already struck her with lightning once...  She didn't think she was going to be lucky enough to survive a second round with it.

 

 

Stahl

 

@@Tricksters Pride,

@@Windbreaker,  

@,

 

Stahl keeps his mouth shut for once as Artorias speaks with Emerald, standing nearby and trying to evaluate this new pony and his guards.  He still wasn't sure how capable Sol or Emerald would be if things got ugly, and as such he was hoping that the ambassador would be able to solve things with words...  They didn't seem hostile, at least not at the moment, but Stahl didn't manage to become an officer in the Guard by jumping into situations without evaluating them.  

 

The unicorn starts to build up a small amount of magic in his horn.  Not enough to make it glow, or even enough to be considered a change in his usual magic, but focusing enough that it might shave a second off of his reaction time.  If things did turn hostile, his first concern was going to be trying to avoid a fight in the first place...  He was really hoping it didn't reach that point.

[The Elusive Cinder 1,328]

Kingfisher.

 

Grimacing at the bravado taking place before her, Kingfisher sighed under her breath and started to run. She wasn't stupid: there was no reason to fight - let alone against something to massive.

 

"Leave them to compare horns, we can't go back and risk losing everyone!" Called out the navigator. "We need shelter - I'd rather not find out how long we can outrun that thing for!"

 

She grunted as the sickness she had been feeling strengthened - gripping her stomach in an iron grip. Something to do with the cabin, perhaps? She wondered if that was it: it did seem to worsen as they got further away.

 

...

 

The mountains loomed up ahead: with two routes to choose from. In front of the group was a wide, open route that rose a short distance along the mountainside and appeared to progress mostly straight: clean, but exposed to the weather under the open stars. A few steps to the right, a narrower path turned sharply to the right and followed the valley floor out of sight. This was Half-Moon Pass - supposedly a route which would take them clear under the mountains but had seldom been travelled: the foreboding cliffs that rose almost vertically on either side immediately told the story of why: even outside, the pass was barely wide enough for two ponies to walk side by side.

 

Claustrophobic, ominous and eerily quiet, it was still better sheltered - already feeling safer thanks to the protection from the wind and snow. Ice still cracked underhoof - but while the temperature was no warmer itself, the shelter from the elements was reassuring enough. The way wound onwards: twists and turns obscuring what might be found around each corner while huge drifts of snow and rocks hung precariously from the distant ledges above them.

 

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

 

@@Icy Void,

@,

@,

@,

 

The thundering disaster seemed unimpressed by anything in its path: continuing its march if destruction and literally leaving a trench of immense proportions in its wake: until it came across the ponies in its path.

 

The fog consumed them: immediately severing most communication with its density: blinding the ponies in the thick, grey mist. Such was the fog that even sound was disrupted and what was a terrific crashing of thunder just seconds before was muted to little more than a distant murmur. Without sight or sound, and with water vapour almost thick enough to drink filling the air around them, the ground shook.

 

Something was moving: not with the rhythm of hoof steps but a constant, omnipresent quake not unlike the feeling that had accompanied the motion if the train: movement could be felt in the air - everywhere, and yet nowhere at all - as if a thousand invisible creatures were passing by just a fraction too far away to feel...

 

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

 

~?~

 

@@Icy Void,

 

Despite her claim to silence, the mental voice rang out without fault - seemingly enjoying itself far too much to stay silent.

 

'Now look! Really? Please tell me you've got a plan other than that joke you 'ponies' call magic?' It chirped. '... or we're you planning on trying to reason with it? I don't think that will work - can't see any reason why anything would want to communicate with your world if they weren't trapped!'

[~Sole~ 852]

Kingfisher.

Grimacing at the bravado taking place before her, Kingfisher sighed under her breath and started to run. She wasn't stupid: there was no reason to fight - let alone against something to massive."Leave them to compare horns, we can't go back and risk losing everyone!" Called out the navigator. "We need shelter - I'd rather not find out how long we can outrun that thing for!"

She grunted as the sickness she had been feeling strengthened - gripping her stomach in an iron grip. Something to do with the cabin, perhaps? She wondered if that was it: it did seem to worsen as they got further away.

...

The mountains loomed up ahead: with two routes to choose from. In front of the group was a wide, open route that rose a short distance along the mountainside and appeared to progress mostly straight: clean, but exposed to the weather under the open stars. A few steps to the right, a narrower path turned sharply to the right and followed the valley floor out of sight. This was Half-Moon Pass - supposedly a route which would take them clear under the mountains but had seldom been travelled: the foreboding cliffs that rose almost vertically on either side immediately told the story of why: even outside, the pass was barely wide enough for two ponies to walk side by side.

Claustrophobic, ominous and eerily quiet, it was still better sheltered - already feeling safer thanks to the protection from the wind and snow. Ice still cracked underhoof - but while the temperature was no warmer itself, the shelter from the elements was reassuring enough. The way wound onwards: twists and turns obscuring what might be found around each corner while huge drifts of snow and rocks hung precariously from the distant ledges above them.

---------------@@Icy Void,@,@,@,

The thundering disaster seemed unimpressed by anything in its path: continuing its march if destruction and literally leaving a trench of immense proportions in its wake: until it came across the ponies in its path.

The fog consumed them: immediately severing most communication with its density: blinding the ponies in the thick, grey mist. Such was the fog that even sound was disrupted and what was a terrific crashing of thunder just seconds before was muted to little more than a distant murmur. Without sight or sound, and with water vapour almost thick enough to drink filling the air around them, the ground shook.

Something was moving: not with the rhythm of hoof steps but a constant, omnipresent quake not unlike the feeling that had accompanied the motion if the train: movement could be felt in the air - everywhere, and yet nowhere at all - as if a thousand invisible creatures were passing by just a fraction too far away to feel...

---------------~?~@@Icy Void,

Despite her claim to silence, the mental voice rang out without fault - seemingly enjoying itself far too much to stay silent.'Now look! Really? Please tell me you've got a plan other than that joke you 'ponies' call magic?' It chirped. '... or we're you planning on trying to reason with it? I don't think that will work - can't see any reason why anything would want to communicate with your world if they weren't trapped!'

ronin kept his body calm and his mind clear as he held his trusted blade at the ready. As he ignored the sound of blood rushing in his ears he did his best to focus on positive thoughts. He didn't know the origin of this fog, and he was cautious in making sure it wouldn't tamper with his mind as long as he focused. "Come at me beast. I'll cut you down before you can land a blow." He managed to say perfectly, even with the blade in his mouth. He watched keenly for any sign of movement, waiting for the moment to counter whatever hid in the dark and fog.

[RAGESTAR 479]

@

 

Crimson looked all around him, carefully assessing their options with the current, and rather bleak, situation. After a while, he realized that there seemed to be nothing to stop, slow down, attack, or even speak to, but speaking seemed to be all he could do, so he decided to try it. "Alright...looks like I underestimated the situation a bit...there's nothing I can do to slow...whatever you are, down...so if you can speak, then tell me...why are you after us?! We don't seem to be any threat to you, so why even bother?!" he asked, even knowing that he probably looked crazy, standing there, yelling at nothing. But it didn't matter, if there was any way at all to slow this thing down, then he would do it.

Edited February 3, 2014 by ragestar

[Geek0zoid 1,468]

@@Icy Void, @,@,@,

 

White Eclipse

White Eclipse wasn't in the mood for compromise or talking things out. This thing was going to go out of it's way to kill the others. If he was going to die for them... so be it. He may not have found his past in this life, but the life he was able to live satisfied him enough.

 

Until an idea sparked.

"Unicorns!" Eclipse called. "We need to combine our magic, and attempt to create a force that no being in Equestria has ever witnessed! If we can make something out of it, we might be able to do some damage onto this thing!"
 

[Umbreon 569]

Pavisa

 

@,

 

Pavisa slows down in her rush to escape to stay next to Kingfisher, muttering under her breath as she looks at the two paths ahead.  "I've got a really bad feeling about this..."  It had seemed like everypony else was favoring the pass under the mountain.  Pavisa wasn't going to object if she was the only one feeling differently, but she couldn't help but remember the last cave they'd tried to rest in.

 

Turning to ask the other mare something, Pavisa stalls when she looks at her friend.  She couldn't put her hoof on it, but something seemed off with the other mare...  Still moving towards the direction of the pass Pavisa lets her voice drop near a whisper so as to not worry the others, a look of concern crossing her face.  "...Fisher?  You okay?"

[Icy Void 19]

Midnight Sky

 

Midnight had been fully prepared to bring up the rear and delay that thing if need be, but he had not been prepared for several of his friends to to actually decide to stay and hold it off regardless of whether it's necessary or not. Then as the unfortunately familiar fog rolled in he was left with no way to tell them to leave or to answer to Eclipse's plan. "Great, now I can either leave them and save my own hide while going back on my word, or I can stay and help but most likely die. I swear these Equestrian ponies are going to be the end of me." Midnight muttered to himself. And the voice's input did nothing to help his mood. 'Oh shut it Amethyst! I know full well this is all very senseless and that a magically superior entity like yourself may not understand it, but we ponies have a way of defeating superior powers because we can adapt and evolve our own powers to counter, and we are an extremely lucky race besides! Overall that is.' Midnight snapped at the voice, not even aware that he had just given it a name without asking if it already had one. And Midnight did have a plan that should be enough to keep him alive, though he didn't know how it would effect Crimson, Ronin, and Eclipse who would all surely be hit by the effects as well. In addition this plan would completely drain him of his remaining magic energy, so the only magic he'd be able to use after all of it would be basic telekinesis, and even then only on light weight objects.

 

Time to show some of the best magic at my disposal. I sure hope this works. Midnight thought as he used his telekinesis to build an ice statue of Discord, the only real effective symbol of chaos magic he could think of. Then Midnight created a sympathetic link between the symbol and his magic aura, which was now visible as a bright purple glow radiating out from his horn. In doing this he was using the principle of sympathy magic that symbols often act as siphons for what they represent, so the ice sculpture of Discord was acting as a sort of link to Discord himself, and this link could then be used to dramatically increase the power of Midnight's own chaos magic at the cost of some extra magical energy to maintain the sympathetic link. With this extra level of chaos energy, Midnight's chaos burst spell could now be applied over a larger radius and should then catch the creature within whatever effect it has. Midnight could only hope for the best and that none of his friends would get hurt as he cast his enhanced chaos burst spell. If all went well then after this he'd just teleport to his sister's side and just hope the others find a way to escape as well. And with that last thought, Midnight fired his enhanced chaos burst spell.

 

Sunshine Rays

 

Sunshine had followed the main group as she knew Midnight wanted, and she stayed close to Pavisa and Kingfisher since they seemed to be the ones in charge, though Kingfisher seemed to be hurting somewhere. When they stopped where the two paths split, Sunshine took the chance to look back at where Midnight and the others had stayed behind, but all she could see over there now was a cloud of fog. "Come on big brother, I know you can survive that. Don't leave me alone with just Blizzard to look after me." Sunshine said to herself, letting her worry for her Midnight show. Taking a breath to calm herself, Sunshine looked forward at the two paths ahead of them since she'd just have to believe that Midnight could escape from that whatever-it-was. She didn't really care which way they went, both paths looked scary one way or another and she had a feeling that they'd run into trouble no matter which path they chose. Sunshine just hoped that they wouldn't get separated wherever they went.

[Geek0zoid 1,468]

@@Icy Void,@,

 

White Eclipse

White Eclipse saw the course of action that Midnight was taking and charged up his new, fully controllable magic. Hopefully this had a negative effect on this thing. If it could repair walls and ceilings... maybe it could have an opposite effect on monsters. When charged up, Eclipse released the energy... and hoped for the best.

[The Elusive Cinder 1,328]

Kingfisher.

@,

"Yeah... just feeling a bit rough, thats all. Like I've eaten something that..." She paused to briefly consider what might have happened to her, shaking her head. "I'm fine... thanks." She smiled grimly. "Lets keep moving - I'll feel better with something over my head."
 
Stepping carefully onwards, she continued to feel somewhat sick.
 
@@Commander Tangent,
@@Frosty V,
@@Geek0zoid,
@@Icy Void,
@@Windbreaker,
@@Midnight Scribbler,

This should have come as no surprise though: the shack that they had rested in was cursed with a spirit of decay - from the moment that the ponies had stepped inside, they had not only still been exposed to the elements and started to be sapped of their strength... Far worse than this was that all foods which had crossed the boundary of the building had been afflicted - decaying and beginning to rot within minutes of exposure to the curse: disguised by the potent illusion that deceived all five senses. What had appeared to be perfectly edible had been tainted - and had perished into a sickening state - leaving the ponies who had eaten within the building to face the consequences as the illusion gradually faded...
 
"Everyone else doing okay?" Kingfisher asked as she trudged onwards.
 
---------------
 
The magic in the air seemed to cause a reaction in the fog - it thickened further before dispersing. Rather than reveal the world around them though, there was darkness. pure, pitch black nothingness surrounded each pony individually as if they were isolated in a void of their own.
 
@,
 
From nowhere, a buffeting force slammed into each of the ponies - threatening to steal away their breaths. The earth pony would feel the effects certainly - a wind like no other, in waves that struck from every direction, mere seconds apart... but as dangerous as this might prove, it was nothing more. There was no magic to twist, to bend it it's will. Nothing to sever - no weakness to exploit... the lightning might have worked, but not here: not beside the others.
 
The unicorns however, would no be so lucky.
 
@@Icy Void,
@@Geek0zoid,
@,

 

In the presence of magic, the winds burst into purple tinted clouds, filled with tiny, sparkling lights of impossible colours - which were seemingly drawn towards whatever the strongest source of magical energy was. Slowly closing in on the unicorns, they brought a piercing cold that chilled the very insides - not a physical cold, but a mental one as they drew close - attracted towards any trace of magic as they sought to block it from it's source... to sever the connection to whatever dark corner that magic power was drawn from.

Edited February 4, 2014 by Cinderscribe

[~Sole~ 852]

Kingfisher.@,"Yeah... just feeling a bit rough, thats all. Like I've eaten something that..." She paused to briefly consider what might have happened to her, shaking her head. "I'm fine... thanks." She smiled grimly. "Lets keep moving - I'll feel better with something over my head."

 

Stepping carefully onwards, she continued to feel somewhat sick.

 @@Commander Tangent,

@@Frosty V,

@@Geek0zoid,

@@Icy Void,

@@Windbreaker,

@@Midnight Scribbler,

This should have come as no surprise though: the shack that they had rested in was cursed with a spirit of decay - from the moment that the ponies had stepped inside, they had not only still been exposed to the elements and started to be sapped of their strength... Far worse than this was that all foods which had crossed the boundary of the building had been afflicted - decaying and beginning to rot within minutes of exposure to the curse: disguised by the potent illusion that deceived all five senses. What had appeared to be perfectly edible had been tainted - and had perished into a sickening state - leaving the ponies who had eaten within the building to face the consequences as the illusion gradually faded...

 "Everyone else doing okay?" Kingfisher asked as she trudged onwards.

 

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

 

The magic in the air seemed to cause a reaction in the fog - it thickened further before dispersing. Rather than reveal the world around them though, there was darkness. pure, pitch black nothingness surrounded each pony individually as if they were isolated in a void of their own.

 @,

 

From nowhere, a buffeting force slammed into each of the ponies - threatening to steal away their breaths. The earth pony would feel the effects certainly - a wind like no other, in waves that struck from every direction, mere seconds apart... but as dangerous as this might prove, it was nothing more. There was no magic to twist, to bend it it's will. Nothing to sever - no weakness to exploit... the lightning might have worked, but not here: not beside the others.

 

The unicorns however, would no be so lucky.

 @@Icy Void,@@Geek0zoid,@,

 

In the presence of magic, the winds burst into purple tinted clouds, filled with tiny, sparkling lights of impossible colours - which were seemingly drawn towards whatever the strongest source of magical energy was. Slowly closing in on the unicorns, they brought a piercing cold that chilled the very insides - not a physical cold, but a mental one as they drew close - attracted towards any trace of magic as they sought to block it from it's source... to sever the connection to whatever dark corner that magic power was drawn from.

ronin could feel the air painfully forced from his lungs as he was blasted around by the mini maelstrom like a ragdoll. The only thoughts running through his head was "escape", but with every move he attempted the wind continued to throw him around. But he suddenly got an idea, with the gap of time between the blasts of wind he thrust his sword into the ground and wrapped his arms around the hilt tightly; effectively bounding himself in place. He knew his words were likely to be unheard by the others, but he needed their help if they were to survive. "Damn it. What do we do now?" He questioned himself as he gripped the blade for dear life so as to keep from being thrown around. They needed a plan, and fast.

[RAGESTAR 479]

@ @@Icy Void @@Geek0zoid

 

Crimson felt cold, searing, gut wrenching, pain run through his skull, and stemming into his horn. In all his years of adventuring, fighting, and taking life threatening injuries, Crimson had only felt pain this intense one other time in his life, and that was when his father killed his sister and broke nearly every bone in his body, and even that was a pitiful comparison. "Gyaaaaahhh....ugh...d-dammit!! Gaaaaaahhh!! You son of a bitch!! Uuuuugh!! If you hurt my friends, I swear I'll...aaaaagh!!" the pain was so unbearable that Crimson couldn't stand any longer, he fell to one knee, screaming and gasping for air. "Why...can't I use...my magic!? Gah! It's like this thing's blocking it or something...maybe if I..." he thought, using a hoof to hold his hat firmly onto his head. With no other choice he could think of, Crimson lowered his magical energy in his body, to nearly zero, in an attempt to stop the torture.

[Tricksters Pride 100]

Quiet Stallion

@, 

 

The stallion laughed alongside Aphrodite, apparently amused by her words as well, and his tone carries a trace of pleasant amusement as well. "Yeah you really don't have to worry about feeling left out and don't worry about the questions either, in fact your enthusiasm is kinda cute. Anyways training depends on what you do, nowadays most train for guard duty. When the 'Royal Guard' decided that the outer districts weren't worthy of their protection Strings started to train us in guard techniques, their really strange but they make sense and they work most of the time so i cant complain."

[Icy Void 19]

Midnight Sky

 

Not in his wildest dreams could Midnight have planned for this reaction. He could tell that the chill he felt was internal since his armor would have protected him from external cold, but this vibrant multicolored wind and fog was just plain peculiar. And the feeling that something was trying to not just drain his magic but actually sever it was painful to say the least, though Midnight had a feeling that it would have been worse if he wasn't so low on magic energy at the time. He had used almost all of it in that chaos burst, which he couldn't even tell if it had succeeded or not, and all that was left was enough to teleport one pony and to use basic telekinesis. And based on this pain in his head, teleporting didn't seem like a course of action that would work, so that left only one option. Midnight just hoped it wasn't too late at this point, but he had no choice, the magic at work here had passed his level of comprehension and could only be countered by a similarly incomprehensible level of magic.

 

'Hey Amethyst, I sure hope you don't mind me taking you up on that offer of yours now. To be honest I would still prefer to avoid this but since I still have to protect Sunshine I have no choice but to trust you. Whatever it is you're capable of, I hope it's at least at the same level of power as this thing out here, because if not I don't seem to have much hope of surviving this. That said, I'm just supposed to break this gem and something will happen?' Midnight asked the voice, wanting to be sure before just breaking the thing. At this point he didn't care about preserving the thing, but he'd rather not break it if that ended up being counter-productive. But no matter what he needed to find some way to get out of this darkness and back to Sunshine, he had too much unfinished business to let himself die now and leave Sunshine on her own.

[EcstaticWind 572]

Noble Persona and Gwyn

@, @@Tricksters Pride, @,

 

“As I hope you understand the need for mine. I just wish to discuss future relations with you and your friends here, it would be nice to work together in order to provide protection that the poorer districts seem strangely lacking in…” Artorias said, tapping Bolt on the shoulder.

 

Gwyn surveyed everypony, appearing to be just a curious noblepony who happened to tag along. ‘Careful of the Guard Captain, Noble. He looks like he’s ready to attack.’ She projected along their connection without breaking character.

[The Elusive Cinder 1,328]

Orion Starsinger.

 

@,

@@Midnight Scribbler,

@@Nomadic,

@@SilverHeart,

@,

 

"... thank you Zintiik..." The unicorn managed to force himself to say - more unsure if himself than ever. The Changeling was helping her - there for her when he couldn't be... but he was a vampire! He would bleed her dry of emotion in a moments notice: he was a friend, a companion but... his kind couldn't be trusted. None of them could really - Orion and Willow were alone.

 

"Scribbler!" He called out. "My magic is... I can't heal her. Not without finding it - can you do anything to help?"

 

The litany - or it's power at least - were drawing closer. He might be suited to little more than destruction at the moment but once he was restored, he could become a great healer, prophet or general. The potential was limitless: and just waiting to be snatched right from under Nobles hooves...

 

"If not... we will have to keep moving. We can heal her once our journey is complete." He added remorsefully.

 

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

 

@@Icy Void,

 

'Nope!' Huffed the voice - sounding as if it was highly entertained by the turn if events. 'If you don't want my help then fine! I'm waiting to see how you 'find a way'. If a greater being offered me help then I wouldn't even think about refusing... or I would at least apologise profusely before begging it to save me...'

 

An uncomfortable feeling followed this: like something was rummaging about in his thoughts and memories.

 

'Oh! So thats a sister... she just looks like the rest of you ponies, what's so special? I guess you're not going to see her again, since you're too rude to accept help...'

 

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

 

@@Icy Void,

@,

@@Geek0zoid,

@,

 

Everything stopped.

 

The lights hung in the air - no longer approaching but still casting their subduing glow across the magic users. From the darkness before them a shapeless figure formed - twisting the lights into a firm that vaguely resembled some kind of serpent - like a small Dragon or Wyvern - barely twice the hight if a pony. It watched them - outline shifting and distorting as if it only half existed as a cold intelligence regarded them for a moment.

 

Silence.

 

Either it was waiting to see what they did - perhaps out of some kind of dark curiosity, or it was preparing for something. That, or it simply felt no need to hurry its attack: it had, after all, trapped them in a world of darkness - not unlike its own domain. What rush was there?

[~Sole~ 852]

Ronin gasped and sucked in a breath of air as the wind stopped pummeling him, before looking up and glaring at the mysterious beast. It reminded him of the being known as discord, but much more malevolent and evil. "Decided to come and face us yourself eh? Alright then." He said, drawing his sword from the ground and pointing it at the ready. He wasn't stupid enough to make the first attack, for all he knew the monster was intangible. But if it attacked him, then he knew it likely was a corporeal being. "Come at me beast, I'll strike you down before you do any more harm." He said calmly, ready to either fight or evade.

[RAGESTAR 479]

@ @@Icy Void @@Geek0zoid

 

Crimson felt the pain slightly subside, as the silhouette of, what seemed to be, a large serpentine figure, watching them with what Crimson could only guess as amusement. "Grrr...so...your the one that's been chasing us...hmm...sorry, but I can't say I'm very impressed...at least, not by your appearance...I've seen a lot of monsters and the like in my time as a pirate...your no different...just a little more powerful..." he said, in between breaths, straightening his hat. "You know...since you seem so intent on killing us, do you mind telling me why?! It's pretty obvious that we're no threat to you, so...why?" he asked, narrowing his eyes at the creature.