A Tale of Something New

As everything comes back into existence, I look around at my surroundings. It seems that my focus on teleportation was successful as myself and my ‘guests’ arrived at the Crystal Empire. The giant magical dome surrounding the whole thing is new, however that’s not what concerns me. No, what concerns me is the giant Pegasus made of ice and molten rock that can be seen in the distance as it hammers its forehooves into said dome. “Comet Blaze,” came an all too familiar voice from behind me, “where is our daughter?”

“Currently holding off Prometheus as a distraction so I could get you, your wife, and that foal out of there,” I say with what little energy I could muster. Seeing as how I now find myself being hoisted up to meet Cross Potion’s gaze, I don’t believe he cared for that answer. “Get mad at me all you want, but I should let you know that it was her idea. Long distance takes a lot of focus, and the amount needed to teleport multiple party members is really draining. Unless you have some method of clearing my fatigue quickly, so I can go back and teleport both myself and her out while under heavy fire from the jerk who used to be my master, then I suggest that you put me down and let me rest.” I then point a hoof towards the direction of the giant monster pony, “Besides we have other things to worry about.” To say that Cross Potion has no courtesy would be a lie as he did indeed put me down. To say that he is gentle about it is another thing entirely as my body reintroduced itself to the land much faster than I had hoped.

“What is that thing?” Asks a very concerned Love Potion as she clings to the foal in her arms. Despite the clear nervousness in her voice and the fact that she was panicked, I think she and her husband are taking the situation rather well. “Why did you bring us somewhere with something like that around!”

“First of all, I was not aware that it was even here. When I left with your daughter in tow, neither it nor the barrier keeping it out were around,” I say to correct her statement. Attempt one to get back up failed, so might as well continue, “Secondly, we, and by that, I mean one of you carrying me have to get over to that side of town.” Of course, my second statement is met with horror from both the husband and his wife. I can understand why, but the fact that I must explain why when we are so limited on time does tend to get rather annoying. I roll my eyes, “Both your daughter and I failed to mention this, but she may be the personal student of a princess.” As I figured, a half-truth seems to peek their interest.

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OK, so I just angered a powerful mage that seems to be able to use land-based magic as if it was water. Running around is proving as useful as being invisible, and I know he can somehow see me. Looking around, I can see that the door is still wide open but who knows if it’ll stay open if he notices me trying to escape. Thinking doesn’t help with these stupid mine spells constantly activating while I teleport between cover. “Give it up,” he says in that stupid monotone of his, “you cannot hope to defeat me. This castle was specifically designed to be my battleground.”

“Yet, you can’t think to add a little livelier color?” The taunt earns me a beam blast strong enough to blow away the cover I had been using a moment ago.

“I never liked many colors if I had to be honest,” he said. “Most of them have no purpose. Black and dark colors, they are used to hide in, and to bring fear in those you find against you.” Just as he finishes I manage to teleport into the air above him and fire off an Ice blast I had been charging. Which is quickly blocked by his barrier and I teleport away from his own blast. “I’ll say this, your attacks have a bite to them. Whomever trained you, has done a remarkably good job. But shiny garbage is still garbage at the end of the day.” Finishing his statement, he seems to have lost my position. Thank goodness for the wall walking spell, but I don’t know how long I can hang upside down. I decide to make a break for the door and jump through just as it shuts. “A spell to allow you multiple angles of movement. You are a clever one,” I can hear his hollow voice say as it reverberates through the door, “but my castle is a maze. How long do you think you can last looking for an exit before I find you?” I choose not to answer his question as I run down the hall.

Twists and turns seem to proceed and follow me as I run around dodging mines and occasionally blasts of magic from him. Twice he almost managed to catch me in the same spell Comet used against me at the train station, and all the while I can’t figure out how to get out. Eventually I find a window and decide to jump, but as I reach it I’m stopped by a mine placed in front of it. “I wouldn’t do that if I were you,” he says as I swear I hear some giddiness in his voice. “We are extremely high up, and you may die if you cannot catch the wall fast enough.” He then seals the window with what looks like a wall of onyx.

“What do you care it’d mean I was dead regardless,” I say as I continue my way galloping down the path.

“Oh, but this is the most fun I’ve had in ages,” he says. He’s toying with me. At the next sealed window, I decide to teleport out of it despite the danger. It seems to work as I begin a decent down what seems like it would be a fall longer than the one I had on the mountain, but then I’m suddenly flung into a teleport back into the castle. “Like my safety spell? It’s a little something I developed studying the remains of the crystal King Sombra used to guard the Crystal Heart. Designed to let things in but not out.” I bet Comet isn’t having as much fun as I am right about now.

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“And you’re sure that this teacher of hers can rescue, Cherry Blossom?” Cross Potion says in between gasps as he gallops at full speed. I normally don’t condone running into a possibly deadly encounter, but desperate times call for desperate measures. I nod trying to save energy. It wasn’t long before we found ourselves reaching a clearing with a large amount of guards putting themselves between the barrier and the royals they were supposed to protect. Taking a closer look, I could see that they weren’t exactly next to the barrier. It took a bit more time as we got closer to see why. Six ponies were standing in front of the guards. Each of them began to slowly glow and float one at a time as a form of rainbow colored magic began to swirl around them. “What’s that?” Cross Potion asks as his examination of the magic slows him down to a slow trot.

“It may be the magic from the Elements of Harmony,” I manage to say, “I hope it’s enough to beat something like that.” As if to answer my hopes, the rainbow light began to swirl even faster as it continued to grow exponentially from a ball to a tornado of spiraling colors. That tornado then grew and grew before it was large enough to engulf the monstrous equine. Out of the corner of my eye, I spotted Conflagration battling with a mare. Judging by the details I can make out, the mare in question seems to be one Starlight Glimmer. Every other move made by Conflagration seemed to be an attempt to get past her whether by teleportation or a short portal spell. Every time, however, she was able to force him back with a teleport of her own, or some other interesting method.

For the most part, they seemed evenly matched. Neither side refusing to give the other any sign of weakness or fatigue that could be exploited. The sight reminds me that I had not severed the mental link with Cherry Blossom. I got your parents to safety, or relative safety when you consider the entire empire being protected by a barrier from a giant Windigo that seems to be fused with lava.

I’m going to ignore everything you said, but the part that their relatively safe. She managed to say, but her voice sounded distant and tired. Comet, you were right. He’s insane. He’s hunting me in this maze of a castle, and he’s enjoying it! If I try to escape out of the castle with a teleport or by some opening he left to taunt me, he has some spell on it that immediately forces me back into the castle. I’ve so far managed to avoid most of his attacks, and I think I’m getting used to the lay out of the castle. No, that’s another dead end. It became silent for a moment before she begins to speak again. Sorry, he found me again. Comet, please hurry. I don’t know how long I can keep running. Her voice sounding desperate.

A voice near me calls to me, “Comet, are you OK? You seem pale.” I turn to the voice and am face to face with Love Potion. Of course, it catches me off guard and I drop myself off Cross Potion. “Comet!” She exclaims with worry. We then hear a loud whinny as every pony, even Conflagration and his opponent, turn to see the prismatic cyclone moving faster and faster as it gets smaller and smaller. It doesn’t take long for me to notice that as it gets smaller, the signs of the windigo begin to disappear. Once the cyclone gets small enough that it changes back into a ball, it explodes with a rainbow shockwave. All at once, as the shockwave covers the land snow melts, storm clouds dissipate, chasms upon chasms are unearthed, and the sun can be seen shining. The Frozen North isn’t very frozen anymore.