Project Starburst

"You're certain you can track him?"

Greymane didn't look up at Golden Luck; he had been asked this question two times already and both times answered in the affirmative. "He's left a distinct magical trace." he looked up at the sky, the moon rising above them. "Are you certain they're coming?"

It wasn't Golden Luck, but rather Angel Grace who answered, coming around the bend with Fire Ruby in tow. "I apologize for the tardiness, but we wanted to make sure we had properly documented everything." Indeed, she was carrying several scrolls, and with the help of Fire Ruby, they were laid out for everyone to read.

"So as you can see." Fire Ruby explained, pointing to relevant passages. "The statue belonged to a creature who once ruled over this part of the land. He was adored by his followers, who would regularly make offerings...hmm, that part was unclear..." he shuffled through the papers, checking a book he had brought along.

Golden Luck tapped her hoof, and shook her head. "I thought you said you got everything documented."

With a glance up, Fire Ruby nodded. "I did. I do! It's just some of this stuff is conflicting, and other stuff I've translated from drawings...an-anyway..." the glares he got all around caused him to clear his throat. "Anyway. It seems like this ruler was adored, but it wasn't until Equestria was being organized that the truth came to light: he was feeding."

"Feeding." Golden Luck repeated, turning around the group to look at the scroll now. A furrow crossed her brow as she scanned the lines, her lips pressed together. "You're wrong."

With a little sputter, Fire Ruby shook his head, pointing out symbols. "No, no, it says right here. The Lord ruled over his kingdom of wonder, Equestria expanded, the new ponies not taking part, eventually learning he taking their pleasure for energy."

Shaking her head and pulling one of the scroll over, Golden Luck started to write. "You're used to Equestrian syntax, so it's a natural mistake. But this symbol in front is a modifier, not this one. The Lord ruled over a kingdom of pleasure, and he wasn't feeding on them. He was enthralling them with pleasure, magnifying his power. That, in turn would given them more pleasure."

Greymane raised a brow in surprise. "I didn't know you spoke ancient languages." he remarked, Fire Ruby going over his translation once again.

Golden Luck walked to the door. "I don't. I just happen to know a few words here and there. The rest was deduction. I'll meet you outside when you're ready."

"She's right!" Fire Ruby said, a few moments later. "I mean, there's still a few words off, but her deduction was almost perfect. He ruled over a kingdom of pleasure, which really puts a few laws into-"

"Get to the point." Greymane cut off. "How was he defeated?"

With another clear of his throat, Fire Ruby flipped through his notes. "It seemed there was an artifact he used in his rites. It kept him...something something...but when it was something, they were able to something." the stares from the other two ponies made it clear that his translation wasn't quite cutting it, and he shrugged. "I've never seen these words used before. I have no idea."

Shaking her head, Angel looked around. "We'll have to figure that part out later. He's got three of our friends, and if he does keep growing in power the way the texts suggest, time is not on our side." she looked to Greymane. "You can get us there?"

Motioning for them to follow, he nodded. "I can. He's actually more or less here, but he seems to have ducked into, or created, a pocket of space. Considering how stable it is, I believe it was, in fact, preexisting, but I can't be completely sure." Golden Luck joined them as his horn began to glow. "It would explain how they were able to disappear so quickly, though. Get ready."

The four of them gathered into a tight circle, and with a flash, they were...elsewhere. Considering they had to pass through a dimensional wall, it was expected they would still be in the city, standing outside of some building or the other. Rather, they were inside a crumbling ruin, fragments of murals dotting the broken walls.

The area just ahead of where they had arrived appeared to have been cleaned up a bit, stones rearranged to benches and beds. Upon a few of them, mares were sitting, looking up ahead in rapt attention. Taking a few steps forward, the object of their attention soon came into view. An altar had been formed, the missing statue sitting at it's head, and...

"Spiral!" Angel said, taking a step foward; Greymane put a hoof in front of her to stop her from charging towards the altar. In front of the altar, standing over Spiral Dream, was Cloud Prism, his hoof on the statue. The entire scene glowed with an eerie red light, which only intensified as the crack crossing the statue sealed. A soft moan filled the entire room, and even Angel shivered as Cloud Prism stepped back, laughing.

"Oh yes. I've known you're there. The only reason you're not on your knees is I have something to show you first." he remarked, his own form shimmering crimson. "You should consider yourself honored. You're going to witness my true rebirth. But first, I needed some-pony special. A High Priestess to serve and attend my every desire, and to bind herself to my idol. With this connection, I am now free of my shackles...isn't that right, Priestess?"

As he turned to face the group, Spiral Dream slowly stood up. Stepping down from the altar, she moved to stand next to Cloud Prism, a smile on her face...her eyes shimmering with a familiar red glow. "That's right, my Lord. With your idol recovered and the collected lust of your followers, you shall retake your rightful place...and perhaps more."

He rubbed under her chin, nodding. "That is true, isn't it. Your kind has made it so easy to cross great distances, spread my power. I could very well rule this entire land...so, the only question remaining..." the two of them smirked, looking over the huddled group. "Do you prefer to serve, or merely be vessels for more of my power?"