Shifting Pt4: Confrontation

Pulling down another book, Angel started flipping through it. "Batlike, you said?"

Fire Ruby nodded, the stack of notes having grown, at least, another inch in the past hour. "That's correct." he pulled a leaf of paper gingerly from near the bottom of the pile. "Batlike, Bipedal, with claws and this scowl..." he shuddered. "Even cracked down the middle, it gave me the creeps to look at."

Angel nodded, looking through the collected books. They had pulled down books covering a variety of topics, everything from How the West Was Fun, to From Order and Chaos Sprung Harmony, to Fantastic Beasts and Where To Avoid Them, to Myths Long Lost. A few of them mentioned spirits or forces the could possess a pony; there had even been a brief discussion of the Nightmare Forces themselves before Angel dismissed the idea, given the Nightmare's goals were much clearer than this creatures. With few leads in their research, Fire Ruby had suggested that the statue itself might hold some clues, and so they were looking for any references to it in books detailing the area.

"Batlike...Bipedal...there must be..." her eyes widened as they fell on a page,and she showed it to Fire Ruby.

Looking it over, he nodded. "That's the one, alright." Together, they read over the book, and when they got to the end, they both sat back, in shock. "This explains everything...come on, we have some more research to do before it's too late!"

The two ponies started sorting through the books again, singling out a scant few to set aside. Somewhere in those pages, there was the key to restoring a broken seal, but the clock was already ticking.

Mind Shade and Greymane scanned the street, looking for any clues as to where Cloud Prism and Spiral Dream could have gone. "Isn't there some kind of tracking spell or something you can use?" Mind Shade grumbled as they walked. "This seems...really inefficient. What's with you, anyway?"

Greymane was glancing around with a furrowed brow, muttering to himself. This went on for several minutes before Mind Shade tossed a stone at his head. He came to with a start, magic at the ready before he released his breath. "Yes. What is it?"

"What. Is. Going. On. With. You?" Mind Shade stared him down, the two of them stopping.

He pursed his lips, looking around again, then sighed with a shake of his head. "I don't know. I'm just trying to think what Cloud Prism would do, get in his head. Maybe that's how we can find him..."

Mind Shade looked at him for a moment, then turned away, taking a few steps down the street. "That's a mistake." Greymane made a puzzled sound, raising an eyebrow. "It's not Cloud Prism." she hung her head, silent as she reflected, before going on. "Look, obviously when I mimic someone, I act like them around people who know them. But I have my own motivations. My own plans that I conducted when they weren't looking. Usually kidnapping their loved ones to be...replaced."

She looked back at Greymane, the expression unfolding on his face telling her that he had just come to the same conclusion she just had. The two of them ran down the street, not bothering to knock on the door of Star Sapphire's house. Between the two of them and the spells they used to open it, there wasn't much of a door to knock on anyway.

"Sapphire! We need to get you out of here. We think-" Greymane started, but as soon as they entered the house proper, it was clear that it was too late. Cloud stood over Star Sapphire, who was enraptured by the erection he sported. A sly smile crossed his face as he looked up at the two.

"Well, if it isn't two of the heroes." he snickered, hoof running over the mane of the mare lying before him. "I'm certainly glad to see you. Though, I'm sure, one of you is more glad to see me..." Prism's eyes fell on Mind Shade, who was...glaring at him, much to his evident surprise.

She growled. "What's wrong? Expecting me to throw myself at you? Sorry, but I have a bit more dignity than that."

Cloud Prism studied her for a few moments, then chuckled, reaching for Star Sapphire, only to pull his hoof back; a kitchen knife embedded in the wall nearby. Greymane took a step forward, his horn glowing as another knife, as well as a few other sharp objects from nearby, hovered around him. "Come on. You expect me to believe you'd harm your friend?"

Two more projectiles flew towards the possessed stallion, who dodged them deftly. Greymane's face was set as he tracked Prism across the room, getting his next volley ready. "You're not my friend, and I'm sure he wouldn't mind getting his body back with a few more scrapes." he shot out, along with a spiraling pair of scissors.

Cloud Prism jumped back, holding a hoof to his head. Turning, he saw Mind Shade, her horn glowing green as she focused on him. "Oh, I see. You're a Changeling, that explains it. No more tricks!" with a wave of his hoof, the Golden Luck disguise dissolved around her; she backed up as he advanced on her. "That's why my glamour didn't work on you. Changelings don't feel desire the same way mares do. But..." a red aura radiated off his body.

Mind Shade gasped out softly, a familiar, strong warmth suffusing her. It...it was so hard to focus, that warmth called to her. She had to have more of it. Nothing mattered but drawing as much as possible into herself. She looked up at Cloud Prism, who offered her a welcoming smile as she took a few, shaky steps towards him. She was so close...

Then, it all ended like a splash of water. Or, rather, ice. Shards of frost were raining down on Cloud Prism who beat them back with a flap of his wings, a scowl in his face. Greymane gave a swing of his head, the falling shards rising up in the form of a dragon to crash down on Cloud Prism...

Who was gone when the smoke cleared, along with Star Sapphire. Greymane released his magic, casting his eyes around the room. "Come out! Or are you afraid to face us together?"

"Not one iota." Prism's voice echoed across the room. "But we have better things to do than play tag. How about hide and seek?" his laughter faded away, leaving Greymane to kick a chair into a wall.

"Come on, Greymane." Mind Shade said, as she disguised herself again. "He's not a unicorn, so he can't have gotten far, right?"

A slight smile crossed his face. "There is." he looked up, out the window. "There is a tracking spell. This time, no holding back. Let's hope Angel's found something, otherwise..." he let that hang in the air.

He reformed, leaving his latest catch back in the bedroom. A small amount of energy, barely worth the effort, but it got the attention of the interlopers. That was what counted.

"Soon." he said, walking among his devoted. A dozen-odd mares, each of them having tasted of his power, each of them having been duly bound to him, hanging on his every desire, as well they should. Oh, he treasured them and their worship, but they weren't as valuable as the one he had found. The mare who even now waited for him before his altar. The cracked gargoyle standing at the head had been perverted into his prison, but would once again serve as the keystone to his power. "Soon, they will come for you, my dear. Unaware of the truth."

She smiled at him as he lifted her chin to look her in the eyes. Such slavish devotion was always wonderful to see in his mares...he guided her up to the altar as the disciples gathered around. "Not knowing that you are mine, and will always be. That you will have given the greatest of devotions." Chanting filled the air as she laid on the altar, and he placed a hoof on the gargoyle. "Now, Spiral Dream. Make the offering."

The mare gave sharp gasp, a familiar red glow surrounding her form. Slowly, the same glow surrounded the statue, the crack beginning to mend. The chanting intensified as he leaned in, the glow filling the room, each mare radiating energy. "Yes...hold nothing back. Give your all..." he smiled. This was the moment he had been planning for. He would have liked to add that white mare to the rite, but the trick he pulled on her changeling friend would only work once. It would take some time, but with how long it had been, it was unlikely that any remained who knew how to seal him.

It wouldn't be long before it didn't matter, anyway. Before the artifact would once again fill it's proper purpose, and he would have a Priestess once again...and his form would come soon after. Besides, with his return, he had brothers and sisters who would need offerings. The white mare and her magician friend would make a fine gift for them.

He cast his eyes skyward; even before the temple fell into ruins, the stars and moon had been visible from an opening in the rite room. "How delightful. The full moon shall stand above you when you take your rightful place." he remarked, as the daylight began to fade. "I actually hope your friends arrive before we finish. The look on their faces when you pledge eternal loyalty will be quite delicious..."