Project Starburst

"Well?" The creature inhabiting Cloud Prism asked, a grin on his face. "I'm sure that a couple of you could be a bit more than slavishly devoted to my cause. Fire Ruby, for example, your knowledge has proven to be rather impressive..."

"Perhaps if you give back my friend, I'd consider it! As it is, all I can see right now is a monster that has stolen my form, and done harm to so many."

"Harm? Why I..."

As the two conversed, Mind Shade leaned into Greymane. "Listen: Do you trust me?" at the puzzled expression she got, she repeated, a little firmer "Do you trust me? I'm going to need your magic, and I can't just take it."

"What are you...right." Greymane shook his head quickly. "There isn't time. Do what you need to do."

With a simple nod, Mind Shade called out. "Quickly! Everyone gather around!"

Stopping admist a lecture on the relative morality of pleasure and forcefully introducing someone to it, Fire Ruby backed up towards the group at once.

A smirk crossed Cloud's stolen face. "You again. Is this another changeling trick? You plan to cloak your allies, no doubt; it won't work." his red aura shimmered a bit. "I can sense you."

Rather than responding, Mind Shade closed her eyes, her horn glowing a bright green, the party engulfed in flames. A moment later, only a wisp of smoke remained before Cloud Flare.

Looking around in shock, he turned back to the altar. "Priestess! Find them! Do what you like with them, but they can not be allowed to interfere. Not when we're so far..."

"As you wish." Spiral Dream replied with a deep bow. Her eyes scanned the ruins, and she proceeded to walk away from the group. "I'll be sure that they see the light..."

"Is everyone okay?" Mind Shade asked, looking around. Fire Ruby, Greymane, and Angel Grace were laying close by her, slightly singed but none the worse for the wear. One by one, they rose up, shaking themselves.

"Just what was that?" Ruby asked, once he had collected himself somewhat. "It felt like a teleport, but..."
You can't hide for long. You must reform the seal.
"Closer to translocation." looking around the ruined walls around her, she nodded. "Normally I can only target a fixed point, but thanks to Greymane, I managed to add a little more oompth to the spell. Do you still have all those scrolls and stuff?"

Fire Ruby stared for a moment, then nodded quickly, pulling out several books and scrolls. "Right, of course. I don't understand, though, what's going on? It seems like it's too late...we...we've lost..."

Huffing, Mind Shade pushed him aside, starting to flip through the books one after another. "He was recorded, right? Means someone beat him once before. All we have to do is fine the right way to do it." she growled, pushing the nearest book away. "Damn it, why couldn't they have translated these first..."

The ruins were silent for several moment, the gathered ponies looking at Mind Shade. Timidly, Fire Ruby approached her, pulling over a book. "I speak ancient Equestrian pretty well. I can help you translate these...I'm sorry. I guess I...jumped the gun on giving up..."

Mind Shade gave a slight smile, taking on the appearance of Golden Luck again. In pony form, the mixture of sorrow and concern was much clearer. "...it's okay. I-I want to get our friends back, too. These books must hold the answer..."
They do. You must take it literally! The pieces are all there if you can put them together.
"They'd want us to defeat him again." Angel Grace said, her brow furrowing as she studied the books before her. "They'd have put the key in here. Hidden, so if he did return he wouldn't think to destroy it, but clear enough to find if needed..."

Fire Ruby suddenly gasped out, unrolling several scrolls and starting arrange them. "Of course! That's why they all reference each other." he remarked, nodding at one of the books. Mind Shade pushed it over, and he flipped through it, taking a few notes. "There's something here." she beckoned at Fire Ruby, the two of them scanning the page.

"Yes, I believe this is it." Fire Ruby agreed after a moment, opening a couple more books. "We'll need some time to put together the pieces, and once we do...I think we can seal the creature in Cloud Prism, put it back where it came from."

"Once that's done, what happens to the ponies under it's thrall?" Angel Grace asked, her voice trembling a bit. The real question went unasked, no one daring to even invite that possibility

Shaking his head, Fire Ruby replied. "I'll need more time to figure that out. Several sections of text are still untranslated, not to mention I'm still working on breaking the code."

"Well, hurry..." Angel stopped, her ear twitching; she turned her head slightly. "You better hide. Greymane, make sure they're safe." she said softly, shaking her head.

Mind Shade glanced up at Angel, then looking in the direction she was looking, her head tilted. After a moment, she rose suddenly. "No, Angel! You can't be-" Greymane put a hoof up in front of the changeling, nodding at Fire Ruby. Without any protest, he quickly started to pack up the research materials.

"They'll find a way. Are you sure you don't want me to go? I can hold my own for longer than you can." Greymane said, his horn glowing slightly as he looked at Angel Grace.

Shaking her head, Angel Grace replied "No. They'll still need you to protect them. All I'm doing is buying you all some time...at least I can do that, right?" she asked with a slight smile.

With a nod, Greymane ushered Mind Shade and Fire Ruby deeper into the ruins, and Angel turned from the group, waiting. She wasn't there long before Spiral Dream came into view, horn aglow, glancing around before her gaze fell on Angel with a slight smirk. "I expected you'd do this." Angel gave a quizzical expression, and Spiral approached, going on. "You're trying to protect your friends from Master...but not only is it pointless, there's no reason to. The gift he's shared with us..." she took a slow, deep breath with a little shiver. "It all feels incredible. Once you see, you'll understand."
There is no sharing. He's taken from you everything, and given you a pittance in return.
"The cost is too high." Angel responded calmly, holding her ground. "No matter what pleasure he's making you feel, he's taken something more valuable from you. The very thing we've sworn to defend."

"Free Will, right?" Spiral Dream asked, chuckling. "We all long to be a part of something larger. I know how strong that desire is in you, how much you envy those with purpose."

Angel stammered a bit, clearly caught off guard by that reasoning. Still, her eyes never left Spiral as she responded. "Purpose and obedience aren't the same thing. They're...they're..."

"What?" Spiral Dream asked, moving closer, right in front of Angel Grace now, licking her lips. "You know that I'm right. You can feel it in your heart." she nodded a bit.

Angel nodded in return, her brow furrowed. "Well, yes, of course. I..."

Spiral Dream put a hoof to her mouth, shaking her head. "Shh. No more reasoning. No more fighting it. Just try and relax, and you'll understand." she soothed. "Just let your worries go, and everything will make sense...it always does, after all..." she added softly. Angel's eyes flicked upward, hazy as they were, settling on that still glowing horn. "Yes, I am hypnotizing you. That's pretty impressive for you to understand. It's for your own good. I'm just trying to help you; you'll let me help you, right?" Angel nodded, and she smiled. "Good, that's very good. Let's head back to the altar. Once we're there, I can show you exactly what I mean, why all of this is so good. All you have to do is follow me." She pulled back her hoof, turning and headed the way she came.

Spiral Dream didn't have to look to know that Angel Grace was right behind her, ready to be delivered to her Master.